New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4872, 2 November 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY. ) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3.

The telegram from the Agent-General of NewtSputh Wales, which was read inlthe House of Assembly at Sydney on-Tues-’ day, indicates-what has been known for some time to be almost inevitable; namely,.; war between ■ Russia' and' Turkey. J ft is, very unlikely, however, that a conflict between these Powers wil> entail !;any serious European complication. The English Ministry will never act in direct opposition to the wishes of the people, and those wishes, are that the Slav and the Turk'should be left to their natural encounter, all ; sympathy being witin the former and against the latter. The existence of Turkey in Europe is an anomaly, and, judged in the light of recent events, a hideous anomaly. The Bulga-. rian atrocities have taken off the skin-deep gloss with which the romance'of politics had’eovered the Mahometan. - The Bulgarians, of- all the subjugated Christian races in Turkey, have been conspicuous . for the meekness with which they have borne their yoke, and steadily devoted themselves to agriculture. Under the wise rule' of Midhat Pasha their, annual tributeVas, doubled, simply because their- industry was encouraged, and their tribute is a share of the: fruits of: their industry. They had neither the untameable disposition for predatory and race war of the Herzegovinians and Montenegrins, nor the national political. life of : the Servians. But when the three Christian provinces one by one arrayed themselves against the Moslems, there was an apprehension that: the Bulgarians might sympathise with the Cross against ’the Crescent.so far as to take advantage of any waning in the latter. The terrible measures by which the ; Turk anticipated any such result have not yet deadened in horror to the world. A.few Russian-agents endea-: yored, but unsuccessfully, to rouse: the Bulgarians, preparatoryto General Tchebnaieit’s invasion, and some isolated murders of Turkish ;policemen occurred. Then followed the fearful outrages—; *, ‘ The inexpiable: wrong, tho unutterable - ” shame, : . • That turns the coward’s heart to steel, tho sluggard’s blood to flame.

Next the Servian troops, ill-disciplined, unequal, and untrained, fell back, beaten and discomfited, before the sluggish but'' stern Turks, and the Pashas, with fanatic. Softas at their back, . demanded nothing short of the sacrifice of all independence from Servia. The position, therefore, arrived at was simply this, that unless Russia came actively to the assistance of Prince Milan, nbt only would the autonomy of his country be destroyed, hut the Turkish power would have been left stronger than ever, after having cheated investors in every corner of Europe and spared neither sex nor age, to exist amongst civilised nations a blot on civilisation. This is what Russia comes forward to prevent. . Her motives may be selfish, and the end she aims at may be national and: territorial aggrandisement, but she has justice on her side, and whatever ends she may propose for herself, her side in the straggle mustinvolve the protection of what is right, just, and true, as the Turkish side involves the perpetuation of all that is wrong and revolting to humanity., British stocks have fallen-in the face of the contest that seems to be impending, but this heed not be taken as indicative of any general apprehension that England will be involved in the struggle. The British funds are more sensitive than thebarometer, and fluctuate with all European rumors. Colonial securities are naturally but slightly affected, and this is satisfactory to know. It may be that after all no war will take place, but this depends upon the Turk learning that he is unable alone to cope with Russia, and that is a most difficult lesson to instil into a people with whom war is but a part of inherent fanaticism, and to whom death on the battle field is but a quick transition to Paradise, Despite the soft untruths that have for years induced Europeans to regard the Turk as changed by the influence of : civilisation, he is just now as brutal under the semi-civilisation which for centuries has been his as he was in the days of his forefathers. His brutality too is of the worst type. So long as his helots do not rise under their bondage, he will not push cruelty further than to enforce the tribute be demands, but as a means towards an end, for anticipating a revolution or carrying out any purpose, the most horrible cruelty, involving deeds that may be whispered but cannot be named, is no more to him than the ordinary means of modern warfare are to civilised nations. He is then an intruder in Europe in a far higher sense than that involved in the position of an intruder who conquers, occupies, and by right of time acquires a title. The Turk in Europe has done all this, but remains an intruder in the very worst sense of the word, because he remains an atrocious ruffian, permitted and protected hitherto by nations who profess to hate his atrocities, as they loathe his religion. His time seems fortunately to have come at last, and he is to meet his punishment at the hands of the Slav, It matters’ little at whose hands he does meet it, so long as his punishment is secure. His relative ruffian who ruins Egypt and scourges all means of subsistence from the unhappy fellahs of the Nile, has with him pillaged the bondholders of Europe, and now helps him in his outrages. It is worse than nonsense to. talk, in this case of the necessity for England protecting the Turk in order to maintain the balance of power, or declining to interfere in Egypt; on the principle of , non-intervention. Let Turkey go to the Russian, and Egypt to the English.; The rule of policy which guides some may be broken, but humanity will be benefited.

In a work which recently attracted great attention we meet with the following acute remark:—“The French can have no aristocracy but a personal one: ours is in the institution ; theirs must be individually, as ours is .collectively, looked up to.” (“ Greville’s Journal,” vol. ii, p. 26.) This observation certainly reaches to the very heart of what is, in every new • country, or rather in every country to which the thing is new, a most difficult question, namely, the heat constitution of a second Chamber of Legislature. From many, indications during the session of Parliament just closed, it has become very clear that the form of our second Chamber, or Upper House , socalled;.will iattract public attention. It is quite likely that next session this will become a question; towhich considerable attention will be directed. Thoughtfulmen cannot, then, too soon begin to form ' the elements of a sound opinion on this matter, r which is so essential to the interests both statical and dynamical of our young State. " That the existing constitution of the Upper House is entirely out of harmony with the. spirit and the form of our polity it may be all- very well for some to assert, but that tho entire evil can be cured ; by simply making the second Chamber on any principle elective we confess we cannot see at all.. The people who thus think that by copying in the form of the second Chamber what is the most striking feature' in, the form - of the Representative Chamber they meet the difficulty, betray equal poverty of political .thought with those who imagine that by ‘servilely copying.the form of the. English House ,of Lords they can secure a good second Chamber; for any country or any people under any conditions political or social. . ... ; On the: one: hand we .have the shallow and extreme view-that if we only make the’ second Chamber elective we" curd every evil and secure every good ; on the other hand’ we ’have the extreme view that by directly copying the English House of Lords we equally reach all these jadiVantages. _The former fallacy is clearly. proved a posteriori by the patent.fact that this principle of election in different forms has been tried and failed in other colonies ; the latter: fallacy might be anticipated a priori by a little. reflection that the English House of Lords lives and flourishes - because it grew up amid •a ’sot of conditions favorable to its life and growth,'and that a similar institution could only exist amid social and political conditions equally propitious. To people who could not use this simple and obvious sort of foresight, the corrections of experience are now coming, and they begin to see that a nominee Upper House will not do for us. ; A/thing may be “good absolutely, but not for us,” as old Abistotlb long ago said. ■ The English “Lords” is an institution. We have, and can have no such institution, for the plain reason that we‘have not the germs of which it. might spring, the soil out of which it might grow, nor the sentiments which would breathe around and give it vitality. What we want is a good chamber’ of review. This is not, in our opinion; to be -got by merely nominating, or, by merely electing,’ any one clasa of persons. Tho peculiar elements of power and sagacity indispensable - for such a purpose ■mustheeds be in a new country rare and widely diffused. They must therefore be sought’ in 1 many divergent directions. Wq would . ’not servilely confine 1 ’ ourselves to one mode of appointment, or ' to a single class of men. It

would be a great mistake- to recognise, in the person to be elected and the persona electing them, only the: principle of wealth. That principle has been tried elsewhere, and must be said to have failed, and that is the principle, although operating only incidentally, which is nowlikely to prove troublesome in our existing House. While we would not exclude the principle of election and the principle of wealth, we would admit election on other grounds than that of mere wealth—for instance, that of education. There is in our existing electoral system an injustice which is -just as- manifestly unwise as it is grossly and cruelly unfair. A person who in this colony becomes the owner of a shanty.is, forsooth, a householder, and can make his voice heard in the legislation of the country; but a gentleman who' has spent the flower of his life and the bulk of his money in making himself an enlightened and capable member of the body politic, whose property consists mainly, perhaps, in a good library, is by our electoral law punished for his folly he cannot vote. Now that the stupid and hypocritical Lodgers Franchise Act is swept away, we would meet the case of these persons by giving them a vote for the second Chamber. Every person, for instance, who is a graduate of any University, English or colonial, we should like to see entitled both to vote in the election of members of the second Chamber and to be elected to it. But while we would not exclude the principle of wealth, we look in, quite another direction for the most valuable materials for the reorganisation of our chamber of review. We see in the class of men who have retired from active service in the political arena, or from other non-political positions, a very valuable element. We think that every man who has been, for instance, Premier for, say, three years in succession, or Colonial Treasurer, or Speaker of -either House, or Chief Justice, should be able, so soon as he is inclined to retire from active duty, to take his seat as a right in the second Chamber. While on the one hand these men would be little likely to be imbued with any sentiments liable to embroil their own Chamber with the House of Representatives, on the other, their experience of administration, of the temper of the country and its real needs, would highly qualify them both to review the measures of the other House and to originate measures of their own. Of course, we are here to be understood as doing no more than indicating the lines along which we desire and anticipate this movement of reform in.the Upper House shall advance. To make the element of wealth wholly or mainly influential in the second Chamber of a democratic country is merely to draw out in form against each other two forces-in their nature antagonistic, and so provoke a collision. At present the class of large owners or occupiers of the lands of the colony is much too largely represented in the Upper House, and this is a fact which, in view of the extensive immigration going on, cannot be looked at with satisfaction. It is an element of political danger. If it should happen that an extensive reconstruction of the Upper House will in time come, we trust that all classes will take up the question in a spirit of moderation. Obstinacy on one side, and extreme democratic feeling on the other, may produce a strife fraught with much evil and much danger to the State.

Some inconvenience was occasioned yesterday by the absence of arrangements by which cheques issued to the provincial officers for the past month’s salaries should be honored at the bank, but a remarkable feature was that the bank authorities did not become aware till about noon that it would be irregular to honor the cheques. A number of officers who went early got cash fortheir cheques all right, but the unfortunates who had no opportunity of attending at the bank till later in the day were disappointed. The matter will be set right to-day. Nothing has yet been done in regard to making necessary alterations in the Markethouse to provide additional school accommodation. Owing to the change in the Constitution, which took effect yesterday, the Board cannot meet until: called together by the Governor, so it is probable that nothing will: be done for some time. It seems almost a pity that the Board should go to any considerable .expense in making alterations to this building, when it is considered that the Council have only granted the use of the reserve for two years. In all probability the money expended on making the building suitable for a school would prove more useful it laid put in other directions, or in the independent purchase of a school site somewhere else. Had the Council granted it for a long term the case would have been different. What the Board really require are endowments from which a revenue could be derived, or at least a fund raised on emergency.

The last transaction between the Provincial Government and the Wellington "District Highway Board is of a graceful nature. The Board, at a time when its district was exceedingly large and its revenues rich, obtained an advance from the. Government wherewith to perform some urgent work ; but shortly after local boards took over some of the moat pppulous parts of the district, and lately the Makara-Karori portion has been cut off, so that, while the expenses of management have not decreased the income from rates has became’ beautifully less. Under these circumstance, the Board found itself unable to meet its liabilities to the Provincial Government, and so a deputation waited upon the Deputy-Suporin-tendeut, Mr. Bunny, and placed the matter before him. That gen tleman enquired into the merits of the case, and taking a fair view of the matter,' saw that the money had been spent in the best possible way for the interests of the province, and decided not to trouble the Board any further in respect to its debt. The Wellington city tramways prospectus appears to have given general satisfaction, for already a considerable number of shares bave been applied for. There is no doubt but the opinions of all those who have seen tramways in use show clearly how beneficial they are to the inhabitants. Mr." Angus Mackay, Queensland Commissioner, says :—“ They are a vast convenience in the city,of over 200,000 inhabitants, (San Francisco), and I. find them equally serviceable in the smaller towns; even Santa Clara, with its 3000 inhabitants, has its street cars. X should like to see similar lines in Brisbane, and every other town of our colony that has over 1000 inhabitants,” &c. Mr. Street, of Dunedin, never saw a greater public convenience than the tram cars of Glasgow. There, it appeared to him, the tram cars had obtained the greatest popularity—-they run in all directions-—" Crowds of work-people availed themselves of the cars in going to and from their work.” Dr. Hector, Messrs. Martin, Seed, Black, and others who have recently seen the working of the tramway system in Europe and America, speak in the highest terms of their wondrous utility and convenience. We have no doubt but other cities in New Zealand will quickly follow the example of the Empire City, and we look forward with pleasure to this time next year, when we hope to see the tramways in full operation. Mr. Richmond Thatcher, agent for Mr. Jos. B. Emmet (“Fritz”), the celebrated American character comedian, arrived yesterday in Wei-, lington by the s.s. Wellington, and goes on to Auckland. . “Fritz” has had an inordinate “ run ” in Melbourne., and Sydney, and ’ the two principle mining townships of Victoria, Ballarat and Sandhurst. _ Mr. Thatcher has arranged to play his principal in Dunedin and Christchurch ; and, if he .can ; come to terms with the i lessees of the Theatre Royal, in Wellington.

A meeting of the College Governors is con* vened for Monday, The Hutt Court was adjourned pro forma yesterday for a fortnight, there being no.business to transact. The ordinary monthly meeting of the KaroriHakara Board will not be held on Saturday next, there being no business to transact. The members of the Lingard Troupe arrived by the Wellington yesterday. They open on Saturday next. An entertainment in connection with the Mutual Improvement Society will be held in the Boulcott-street hall to-morrow evening. An attempt is about to be made to establish another agricultural and pastoral society in the Walrarapa. A meeting to arrange for the forthcoming Waihenga races is to take place at Waihenga to-night. ‘ Yesterday was market day at the Hutt, and as usual there was a large number of visitors from Wellington. The Wellington portion of the Australian mail arrived here last night in the s.s. Murray, which vessel transhipped it at Nelson from the s.s. Albion. The regular monthly meeting of the Loyal Orange Lodge will take place at the Lodgeroom, Foresters’ Hall, on Friday next, at 8 p.m. The members of the Wellington Mutual Improvenrent Society will give a musical and literary entertainment on Friday evening next in the Boulcott-street hall. The business at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday was limited to several cases of drunkenness, the delinquents being dealt with in the usual manner.

The Hutt Local Board are making great improvements in the township. Footpaths are being formed and kerbed and properly gravelled, and level gravel roads are giving place to the hitherto rough stony unshapely thoroughfares. The valuation of city property for the year 1876-7 has been completed by Mr. J. Ames, and handed to his Worship the Mayor. The annual value of rateable property in the city is £169,609, upon which a rate will be struck at the next meeting of the City Council. We are indebted to Mr. Monteith for the following return of patients in the Provincial Hospital during and ending the month of October, 1876 :—Admitted, males 15, female 1 ; discharged, males 10, females 3 ; died, males 3, female 1 ; left in hospital, males 37, females 6. Total remaining, 43. We would direct the attention of hotelkeepers and others to the sale of booths, &c., by Messrs. Beauchamp, Campbell, and Co. for the Birthday sports on the Basin Reserve on the Prince of Wales Birthday. The sale will take place at 2 o’clock, at the rooms of the auctioneers. A meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society is called for Saturday evening. The papers to be read are:—l, on the reptilian beds of New Zealand, by A. McKay; 2, on the drainage of towns, by W. D. Campbell ; 3, on the simplest continuous manifoldness of two dimensions and of finite extent, by-F. W. Frankland.

It is notified by the City Surveyor that until further notice water from the street mains must only be used for domestic purposes. The inconveniences of the incomplete arrangements for the water supply are now beginning to be felt, and it will require a good deal of selfdenial on the part of inhabitants in the centre of the town it those in the outlying parts of the city are to have a continuous supply. It is hoped that the City Surveyor’s request will be borne in mind. We would call attention of members of the Athletic Club to an advertisement in another column, convening the annual general meeting for Tuesday next, at 7.30 p.m., at the Pier Hotel. The members of this club deserve great credit for the spirited and efficient manner in which they have hitherto carried out all their arrangements ; and we trust they will meet with the same well-merited success during the ensuing year as has attended them in their past career. Messrs. Robert Gardner and Co. have early taken advantage of the post cards, which were made a legal means of communication in New Zealand for the first time yesterday. This firm has caused to be printed on the back of these cards an announcement of their having taken over the business of Mr. E. W. Mills. We may remark in reference to the cards that they are too light, and quite different to those used in England. In fact, they are not car, s in a strict sense, but pieces of stout paper, which we fancy will not be found strong enough to stand the rough usage which they must necessarily receive occasionally during transmission through the post. Originally the same kind of card was used in England, but was not found suitable, for the reason just mentioned. The Government here appear to have followed the style of New South Wales, but' it is very probable, and certainly desirable, that the materia!should be changed. i In yesterday’s issue we noticed the receipt of a letter from a resident on, the Terrace complaining of a minister of religion having poisoned his dog and now attempting to poison his cat. There are a good many ministers of religion residing on the Terrace, and a number of them yesterday expressed to us poignant regret that our correspondent’s peace of mind should have been disturbed, but it seems his animals would baveheld amuchmoresecuretenure of life if they were not allowed to go roaming about on other persons’ property. A man who would feed his cat upon'a minister’s fowls would not stick at robbing a church, and deserves to lose his dog and his cat and all that he hath. However, the ministers of religion repudiate the slaughter of the dog, and claim a right to lay poison on their own premises if: they choose to do so. ’ i A correspondent of the Argus gives the following particulars of the capture of a grilse of 31b. weight at New Norfolk, Tasmania “ Doubts having arisen as to whether the Tasmanian salmon would take the artificial fly, it may interest your angling readers to know that Mr. Matthew Seal, accompanied by another of the Tasmanian Salmon Commissioners, has brought into Hobarton a beautiful female grilse, weighing 31b., caught at the falls above New Norfolk. It was taken fishing from a boat, with a small, rather dull-colored salmon’ fly. , After trying unsuccessfully all the morning with the artificial minnow, it was determined to try the fly, as many goodsized fish were observed rising, sometimes two or three together. A fly trace was accordingly fitted with one bright and one dull fly, the rod used being a medium singlehanded trout rod. For a short time nothing stirred, and suddenly the eyes of the fisherman were delighted with the flash and the splash which almost invariably acoompanv the rise of a grilse, and away went the fish twenty or thirty yards down stream, finishing with a breach into the sunlight, exposing the side like a bar of silver. After two or three leaps the steady strain began to tell, and in a few minutes the first salmon grilse taken with a fly in Tasmania was lifted into the boat.”

The Otago Da ! ly Times of Monday last has the following :—The Uev. Mr. Upton Davies, in his morning service yesterday, introduced somewhat of a novelty, by specially directing the intercessions of the congregation on behalf of “ those who have the direction of the Press in this place.” We have often wondered when Kings, Governors, Houses of Parliament, Ministers, and teachers, and all those who influence us and exercise control over us, have been specially prayed for, why newspaper editors and writers should bo so systematically omitted. Perhaps it is that they are looked upon as hopeless, or it is just possible they are regarded as rivals ;' but looking to the enormous influence and power of the Press of the present day, we cannot help thinking that if the Christian Churches showed a little more of the community of feeling and work, which is implied in the recognition of them in public prayer, there would be fewer misunderstandings, and less antagonism. For ourselves, we accept Mr. Davies’ act as an Omen jof. a better, state of things, and thank him for the kindly, liberal spirit in which it was done,

There was a very good attendance at the Theatre Royal last night. The performance was of an unusually 1 attractive character, the theatrical company being assisted by Hegarty’s Globe Combination .Troupe, who gained such popularity on their first visit to Wellington. The first part of the programme was devoted ta the performance of “The Widow's Victim,” in which Mr. Collier appeared as Jerry Clip. Then the Hegarty Troupe amused the audience for the remainder of the evening. Miss Russell charmed them by her acting, singing, and dancing. This lady certainly has no superior in the particular line of the profession to which she has devoted herself, and is in herself the very life and essence of the troupe, although the other members are really good. Encores were repeatedly demanded, and responded to with much good nature, Mr. Hart and Miss Russell appearing twice in succession on two occasions, in answer to enthusiastic applause ; and Mr. Johnny Moran was particularly effective in the songs he sang, especially that one in which he performs such extraordinary and comical feats with theshillelah. Referringto Mr. Hart again, it may be well to inform him that he did not add to the effect of his performance by displaying childish annoyance in regard to some burlesque imitations of his clarionette business. Being recalled on one occasion, he gave the audience some gratuitous information as to the manufacture of that instrument, stating that its invention and manufacture had been a work of two years, and that some “bad principled person” had made one to the pattern. The instrument is no doubt very valuable, and Mr. Hart performs upon it very nicely, but we can see no possible harm in any one else attempting to play on one of the same sort, even though that particular one should have given so much trouble in the manufacture.

Barlow’s Circus opened last evening at the corner of Cuba and Ingestre streets. The tent was crowded, and it is not too much to say that the patronage was fully deserved, for there are many circuses going about that do not possess in some respects the real merits of this one, while at the same time they “ bill” themselves as wonders of the world. The horse riding is very fair, but the chief attractions are the performances of the dogs, monkeys, and horses. They are indeed wonderful. A very old-fashioned monkey, dressed appropriately, and looking full of wisdom, performed some astonishing feats on the back of a fine retriever dog; riding after the most approved fashion, and jumping off and on the back of the dog as the latter went over the hurdles. The effect was very funny. The imitative animal carefully observed every action peculiar to circus riders, and looked withal so thoroughly professional that it was impossible to help laughing at it. During intervals of rest it employed itself in consuming choice blades of grass within the ring, carefully picking them out from a green patch left there, but was very prompt in its attention to the call of its trainer. Mickey Free is its name, and the little fellow was the subject of laughter and applause, to which however it displayed the indifference of some old actor who had become weary of such vanities. The dogs were no less to be admired, two of them performing really wonderful feats, one of them jumping through hoops and over the back of the other, who stood on a chair placed on top of another. To those who have not seen Barlow’s Circus, it must not be supposed that these dogs display ordinary training, they have, on the contrary, been better educated than- most we have seen, and the same may be said of the horses, really' beautiful creatures, which display marvellous sagacity, and are completely under the control of Mr. Barlow, their trainer. The gymnastic performances are deserving of praise. Eugene, the contortionist, whom we recollect to have seen in different parts of the colony, performed feats on the carpet which earned for him genuine applause; and little Norma and Bernard, the clown, came in for a good share. The circus is well worth seeing, and no doubt it will be well patronised during its stay here.

A somewhat unusual case came before some of the Sydney magistrates at the Central Police Court lately. Some time ago a publichouse was built very near St. John’s Church, at the Glebe, and the usual application made for a license. The clergyman and his churchwardens busied themselves in opposition to the granting of the license, and were successful. But by a series of dodges, very ingenious but just as disingenuous, the would-be publican obtained his license, and opened the house as “ St. John’s Tavern,” the name being meant as a joke at the expense of the clergyman. The next thing was a long letter to \ the Herald, by the clergyman, giving -a detailed narrative of the manner in which the license had been obtained, and making the case the basis of an appeal for a reform of the licensing law. Whereupon the tavern-keeper challenged, him in the street, and addressed him in these polite terras ; “ Who are you to interfere with me? I will■ wring your nose. D n you, who are you ? I will wring your nose if you give me half a • chance ; you go sponging in your church, and I want toprevent me from getting an honestrliving ; you drink your grog at home, and want to prevent poor men from getting theirs.” The clergyman, intimidated, beat a retreat more hasty than dignified, and afterwards summoned Boniface for using insulting words, whereby a breach might have been occasioned." But the magistrates, by majority, dismissed the information, and the issue is that the publican has liberty to_d—■ —n the clergyman, and threaten to wring his nose, whenever he meets him. The Press condemns the magisterial decision in strong terms. It is now many months since any information has been made public concerning Miss Rosa, of Maungatua, whose strange illness excited much comment a year or two back, and formed the subject of many newspaper articles. As several enquiries have lately been made as to whether Miss Ross—who is better known as the “ Taieri Fasting Girl ” —still remains in the same remarkable state, we (Otago Guardian) availed ourselves on a recent date; of an invitation from Mr. Boss, her father, to visit his farm homestead, which is situated at the base of the Maungatua Range, about eight miles from Outram. We need hardly enter into a repetition of the lengthy particulars of Miss Boss’s strange and painful affliction, but will simply preface the few particulars of ' our visit which we- have to offer our readers, by saying that the term “ fasting girl,” as applied: to Miss 8055,,, hardly gives a correct idea of her state. On arriving at the house we were made very welcome by Mrs. Boss, whose unwearying attention to her daughter has set the lines of care sadly in her face, but who is ever gentle, kind, and attentive to the afflicted sufferer. We were shown into the room where Miss Ross lies on the bed that has been her restingplace for seven long years. Her face is very white and sunken, but it wears a placid and even cheerful look, that tells of a mind at peace, and over which the trials of this world have no power. We shook hands with her, and, in reply to questions as to her present diet, &c., we learned that a cup of tea and a small piece of softened bread constitute her morning’s meal. At • tea-time she takes a little sago, and at 10 o’clock a very small quantity of thin gruel. Anything beyond this she cannot eat. Her- left side is quite paralysed, the arm up to the shoulder being quite devoid of feeling and beyond the power of control. Her nights are generally very restless, and she never gets more than two hours’ sleep, being awakened at the slightest movement or sound.: About two months since it became necessary to change the mattress on the bed, and to do this it was necessary to raise her while the mattress was being moved. So weak is she that this caused her to faint away, and for six weeks she lost the power of speech. During that period she could not utter a word ; but a fortnight since she again began to speak in a whisper, and can now converse with her family and visitors. We were much struck with her earnest, confiding faith in her Saviour, and her anticipations of a world of happiness to come, and with her complete resignation to her hard fate. But to use Mias Ross’ own words, she has found Christ, and she knows that He has sustained her in her sore trial. Our readers will doubtless remember that during the early period of her. illness Miss Boss was for seventy days entirely

unconscious, and daring that time had no sus» tenance whatever. That was undoubtedly the most remarkable phase of the illness she has so long suffered. She has been visited' by many medical men, but of course nothing can be done to effect any alteration in her present state._ She is, however, wonderfully cheerful, and is very much pleased to see occasional visitors. No one can see and converse with Miss Ross without being deeply impressed with the power of religion to- soothe and comfort, and without feeling that she who has so suffered, and who, through all her long and trying affliction, can say with Eli, “It is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good,” teaches a lesson that many who chafe and fret at the ordinary annoyances of life might well profit by. A bullock bred by Mr. Meredith of Riverso dale, says the News Letter, was recently brought down from the station on his way to Wellington, and promised to average consider*, ably above the common. He knocked up near Blairlogie, and he was left there until the next mob came down, which brought him to Master* 1 ton. Crossing the Rimutaka he again gave way, and it was evident he could not travel to Wellington. He was killed for Mr.. Oakes’ men, who no doubt found him a treat. The animal’s weight, after all his hardships, was 1014 pounds.

“ The delicate organisation of some people is truly wonderful.” The Palmerston (Otago) Times says : —” A few days ago a lady, whose nerves appear to be of a very flimsy calibre, and who resides not a hundred miles from this place, was recounting to some of her lady friends how she sometimes experienced most unpleasant effects, even from the perfume of flowers. ‘1 have,* said she, ‘ a sort of giddy, unsteady sensation.’ ‘Ah, yaas,’ said a would-be exquisite. ‘No doubt, it’s weally vewy sad; it is indeed,’ At this moment a handsome girl came into the room with a flower in her bosom. The lady of delicate nerves lifted up her hands in a beseeching manneij’ and then became apparently insensible. The newcomer was informed that the odor of the flower she wore had caused the indisposition of their friend, but the astonishment of all, when convinced that the flower was only an artificial one, may be better imagined than described.”

It is suspected that fashionable ladies in Paris commence to indulge in arsenic eating, in order to make them “ beautiful for ever.” Dr. Boillett advocates its use as a stomach stimulant, and an aid in respiration. In parts of Austria people use arsenic like tobacco ; they crunch it and suck it like a bonbon, till their bodies, like that of Mithridates, become inured to the poison. Arsenic imparts an agree, able fulness to the figure, and a youthful, animated expression. It makes horses more vigorous, confers on them shining coats, and produces foaming mouths ; oxen, sheep, and! pigs, when slightly dosed with arsenic, acquire an excellent appetite, improved digestion, and hence fatten rapidly.