GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5307, 29 March 1878, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The Governor and suite, who have been on a visit to Auckland, inspected the Italian war-ship Christofero Colombo on March Bth. On the following day the ship was thrown open to the public, and in the , evening the electric light was exhibited which illuminated the harbor for a distance of a mile. Within this distance newspaper print could easily be read.

The Hon. Mr. Stout was sworn in on the 18th March'as Attorney-General.: The Hon. Mr. Larnach, who left here by the last mail steamer on March 2nd en route for England, sent in his resignation as a member of the Grey Cabinet and of the House of Representatives. The meeting of the New Zealand Parliament has been further prorogued from the 29th instant to the 23rd of May, but it is understood it will not meet for the despatch of business until the end of June or beginning of July.

; The meteorological returns for the month of February are as follows :In Wellington the mean temperature in the shade was Co'4 ; Auckland, 63'S ; Nelson, 60T ; Christchurch, 57'4 ; Hokitika, 59 ; Dunedin, 55'5. Wellington has had more than its fair shave of moisture. There were ten days on which rain fell, the amount of inches being 5.080. There were thirteen rainy days in Auckland for 1705 inches. Hokitika received 5 - 430 inches in ten days, whilst in Dunedin there fell, in seven days, 1704 inches. February was a particularly dry month in Christchurch. The rainfall was 0'620 inches. In Wellington the temperature was lower and the rainfall higher for February than the average for the same month during previous years.

A banquet was given by the sons of old colonists to Mr. Sheehan on March 12 at Hamilton. It passed off very successfully. Fortyfive guests, of whom thirty-five were sons of old colonists, were present, including several leading settlers of Waikato. In a complimentary speech the chairman stated that the object of the banquet was to do honor to the first native-born colonist of New Zealand who had attained the dignified position of Minister of the Crown iu the colony. A New Zealand Gazette, issued on March 14, contains a notification of importance to immigrants entitled to land under the Act of 1875. Those so entitled in all other respects, but who have omitted to obtain their certificates, or to do any other thing required by the Act, can now get their land, an Order in Council having been issued, empowering the Governor, on receiving proof that the persons referred to had a bona fide intention to comply with the Act, to grant them all the privileges and benefits which they would have had, but the omisshms stated.

The Inspector of Sheep for the Eangitikei District report?, that the number of sheep within his district on which assessment is payable is 288,619, being an increase of 86,926 over last year ; and that the increase in fees amounts to £lßl Is. lid. The flocks scabby are few in number, and earnest efforts are now being made by the flockowners to procure clean certificates. A clean certificate for a flock of mixed ewes and lambs, numbering about 1600, belonging to Mr. Alexander Simpson, Turakina, was granted. The natives between Parihaka and Opunake have 300 acres of wheat which was planted by the Taranaki tribe, and they have bought two threshing machines, Kahui, an influential chief, owning one of them. Kahui states that the intention of the tribe is to go into wheat culture on an extensive scale. Hitherto it has been only “ day dawn,” and they could not see, but now that it is light they intend to devote their attention to these peaceful occupations which they were engaged in before the war. Kahui wishes this to be distributed through the colony, so that Europeans may know the peaceful condition of the natives in Taranaki. At an interview with the Tamahere natives, Mr. Sheehan, in referring to the stoppage of recent surveys, said it must be understood once for all that whoever took up arras or resorted to violence put himself outside the pale of the law, and must stand the consequences. ; The Timaru customs revenue for February is £2439 Is. Bd., against £1638 6s. 9d. for the corresponding month last year.

The Register says it ia expected that the railway will be completed between, the Eimutaka; and Featherston in about four months tilde.

A letter from the Lord. Mayor of London thanks the Mayor of Auckland for subscriptions in aid of the Indian Famine Fund, and says the action of, the people in New, Zealand fully bears out the belief that in any great calamity affecting the welfare of the British Empire colonial aid may be safely counted on. . It has been calculated (says the Hokitika Star) that the Biver Clutha discharges into the ocean 1,600,000 cubic feet of water per minute, being a larger quantity than the Nile, and sixteen times that of the Thames. It is at present navigable 59 miles from its mouth, and presents no engineering difficulties to prevent navigation to its .source, within 55 miles of the West Coast.

Already the telephone is bearing fruit in the colony. Says a Southern exchange :—A sheet entitled “ The Telephone” was circulated in' Arnberley on Friday evening, containing an account, by telegraph, of the day’s racing in Dunedin, from “ The special correspondent.” In addition to the sporting news, local advertisements and answers to correspondents filled up the little paper. It was very neatly got up, and caused no little amusement in the township, The paper was produced by the “ Electric Feu,” a most ingenious and useful invention. The copies, some 290, were struck off in an hour.

Sir George Grey appears, aud no wonder, to have been much surprised with the remarkable evidence of progress he witnessed at Kumara. In the course of his speech at the banquet there he said, inter alia ;—“ It was with feelings of peciiliar gratification that he found himself in the youngest town in New Zealand, and he was glad to see that, as the whole colony advanced, her youngest children went ahead of all that had gone before. He had lived for many years in many countries, but lie had never before seen any town rise so quickly to such a height of prosperity as had Kumara. He could hardly believe his eyes when that morning, he had for the first time seen the place ; he felt that in a short space of time, on a spot which but a few months ago was occupied by the virgin forest, a great work had been done.

It is satisfactory to hear that the railway works on the section between Kopua and Woodvillo, at which latter place the junction with the Wellington main line is to be effected, are progressing favorably although it will probably take a long time before the line is completed throughout. '.The Napier Baity Telegraph says : —We are glad to note that the extensive cuttings and embankments in connection with the railway extension in ■ the Seventy-mile Bush near Kopua are proceeding very satisfactorily, and that one of the largest cuttings is nearly through. Mr. J. W. Porter, the contractor, who has about sixty men. employed on the contract, is pushing on with all possible speed, and that portion already performed reflects credit upon all concerned. Mr. Porter hopes to have the whole completed in about nine or ten weeks. This will bring the line of rails up to the Mauawatu River, over which a bridge of considerable size will be thrown. We hope at a future time to give oar readers some idea of the magnitude of this work.

There is a difficulty it appears about Sir G. Grey meeting Tawhaio. At the last Hikurangi meeting, some cattle were killed and converted into huahua, cooked in their own fat, which were stolen from Douglas Walker's station. Walker seized a bullock-dray loaded with kerosene tins containing the meat, and refused to give, up possession of the team, having lost £SOO worth of cattle.. Te Ngakau demands the restoration of his team, and correspondence with the Government has been going on concerning the matter. Ngakau declares that if the team is not returned, he will drive all the cattle from the run. AValker remains firm. Sir George Grey is not likely to meet the Kingites till this matter is arranged. Some of the cattle killed at the last meeting came from the same run.

The contract has just been accepted (says the Otago Times of the Bth instant) for the beginning of what. there is every reason to believe will grow to a permanent and important industry in our midst. We refer to the pro- ■ jeoted establishment of a rope manufactory at South Dunedin. Mr. Donaghy, who is proprietor of a large manufactory of a similar description in Geelong, Victoria, has been for some little time in Dunedin making the preliminary arrangements for the beginning of operations. Having purchased a block of laud in South Dunedin, he has had laborers engaged in doing the draining and embanking necessary to form a, rope-walk, and the contract to which we referred at the outset is that for building a shed over this walk. Messrs. Paul and Miller are the contractors. The building will probably be begun on Monday. A good deal of Mr. Donaghy’s manufacture of rope has hitherto been imported from Victoria, and by way of a quid pro quo Mr. Donaghy has supplied himself with New Zealand flax for his manufacturing purposes. The machinery for, the proposed works here will be mainly brought from Victoria, but some portions of it we believe are to be ordered from San Prancisco. The machinery from Victoria is expected to arrive here about the end of April, and then no time will be lost in getting things under way. Buildings will be at once erected, and we may expect shortly to witness the establishment by private enterprise of an important, and there is every reason to hope, successful local industry. We notice (says the Canterbury Times) that an expedition is being organised by some practical miners for the exploration of portions of New Guinea. The first remark to be made is that none but practical minors ought to go. Anyone unacquainted with the roughness of mining life, and unfamiliar with the mysteries of gold-getting in all its forms, would in such an expedition be not only useless to himself, but a burden on his comrades. Nobody but miners, we presume, will be allowed to embark. Those who start should be well provided with everything, and should be accompanied, if possible, by some one who, besides practical mining experience, possesses some scientific knowledge of his profession. There will probably be lots of danger, peril of wind and waves, unknown seas, savage tribes, wild animals, unhealthy climates, and many hardships. But these will be no deterrent, for amongst Englishmen the spirit of adventure flourishes. This is what has made them spread over the face of the globe, and it will not prevent them swarming over New Guinea. Least of all have warnings been regarded when rumors of gold are the attraction, to journey into unknown lands. Though gold has not been discovered in any quantity anywhere in New Guinea, we wish every success to the adventurous gentlemen who are about to start on their romantic expedition. We hope they will keep up the character of their race, and return safely when their money is done.

Florence! B. Joseph, hairdresser, Nelson, was on Friday, March Bth, charged with indecently assaulting a girl twelve years and six months old. The evidence occupied till eight p.m., and the Bench reserved their decision until next day, when they committed the prisoner for trial, allowing bail. On being released, he was chased and seized by several men who were present. A rope was tied round his neck, and he was dragged, half throttled, through the streets to his shop in Trnfalgar-street, when Morris Bevy, father of one, of his victims (there are more than one of them) attacked him with a loaded hunting whip) and administered a most unmerciful hammering. The Bishop of Nelson and oae or two others interfered, and the wretched man, bruised and bleeding, with his clothes torn to rags, and several of his teeth knocked out, escaped into his shop. At the Police Court on the following Thursday two well-known citizens were charged with a breach of the peace in connection with the above affair, the police asking that they might be bound over to keep the peace. The Cjburt was densely crowded. Evidence of ill-treatment of Joseph .was very weak. Mr. Pitt made a forcible speech for the defence, and the Bench thought it was clear that defendants had taken part in tumultuous proceedings to the annoyance of one of the Queen’s subjects, but did not think they were at all likely to repeat the proceedings, aud so dismissed them with a caution. Pitt was loudly cheered by the crowd when leaving the Court. 4

A rich specimen of gold in quartz has been found in the Nakioo creek, near Mr. Halcombe’s residence at Feilding, Mauawatu. 1 i; In reply to a deputation at Faeroa, Auckland, Mr.Sheehau said the Government would not repudiate Mr. BroomhaU’s bargain if he kept his conditions.

The Auckland half-yearly Odd Fellows’ report shows II district lodges of the Manchester Unity, with 1108 members. The total investments are £2350.

Several prospecting parties are out through the Hokitika district for gold. These are supported by small weekly subscriptions by the public. One party lias gone by the steamer Maori to prospect the sounds south of Jackson’s Bay for minerals. Judge Harvey was installed at Dunedin on March 18th F.G.M. for the Middle Island. About 300 Freemasons were present, including visitors from various lodges in the North and South Island. A banquet took place after the ceremony.

Tenders are called for constructing a railway and self-acting incline for the Coalbrookdale Coal Company, Mount Eochfort. This will be an extension of the Wellington Company’s line, and will open up some of the best coal in the district.

A new seam of coal has been opened up between Hokitika and Boss, at the foot of the Bald Hill Eange, about twenty miles from the Hokitika Biver. Six applications for blocks of land 200 acres each have been applied for at the Lands Board Office in consequence of the discovery. The Kotorui survey party from Waikato have been taken prisoners by the natives at Horohoro. Their theodolite and chains were taken and seized about midnight, while surveying by moonlight. The natives are very indignant at what they call a barefaced attempt to deprive them of their laud. Samuel Atkins, of Fiji, writes cautioning people against going to Fiji, where the labor mai’ket is overstocked, aud artizans and mechanics are frequently unemployed. Wages are 16s. a day for good tradesmen, but others are working as low as from Bs. to 10s. Bent is four times as dear as at Auckland ; meat is from 9d. to Is. per lb., and bread Sd. the 31b. loaf.

At a meeting of he New Zealand University, held at Auckland on March 19th, it was resolved to confer the following ad ewndein degrees:—B.A.: A de Bathe Brandon, Cambridge University; E. Rutherford Wadell, Queen’s University. M.A.: A. Surter, Cambridge; J. Mclntosh, Aberdeen. The Bowen prize was fixed at ten pounds in books. The Chancellor impressed on the Governor the desirability of a uniform matriculation examination throughout New Zealand.

Forty-four thousand salmon ova and fifteen hundred trout ova arrived at Invercargill on March 19, being part of the consignment per Chimborazo to Melbourne. They have been taken to Wallacetown Pond, but the result of the inspection has not been ascertained. Sir S. Wilson examined them, and in his letter of advice to Mr. Haward says that the ova in two of the boxes packed by Mr. Buckland only 270 are looking likely to hatch out. The boxes packed by Mr. Youle looked splendid, the ova being large and healthy. The Governor’s reception at Grahamstown on Thursday, March 21st, was a most brilliant affair, the whole community, both native and European, keeping holiday. The natives made a grand turn-out. The new country road, which was opened by the Governor, was decorated at intervals with triumphal arches. Business was entirely suspended. The Governor and suite, and the local governing bodies, were entertained at luncheon by the County Council. The Govex-nor held a levee at four o’clock. There was an inspection of volunteers by Colonel Whitmore at five, and a banquet and ball in the evening. The Auckland Working Men’s Club was opened on March 20. The Mayor (president) presided. His Excellency the Governor, Bishop Cowie, Mr. Sheehan, Judge Gillies, and Colonel Whitmore delivered speeches. The Governor, in referring to the.facilities afforded working men to attain the highest positions in the colony, referred to Mr. Sheehan, who had deservedly attained his position by energy and talent. Mr. Sheehan, in the course of his speech, said he regarded himself as a working man, and was the sou of a working man, his father having been a journeyman carpenter at Auckland. He could point to many houses in the city that his father had assisted to build.. The Governor and suite were afterwards entertained at a banquet, at which they drank success to the club in champagne. We have lately had the pleasure of inspecting some beautifully executed pictures in oil and water colors of New Zealand scenery by Mr. E. Brandon, which are on view at Mr. Myers’ establishment on Lambton-quay. Some of the views of Milford Sound, Preservation Inlet, and other enchanting landscapes of the Middle Island, are reproduced with great skill and fidelity. A picture of Lake Wakatipu by a lady amateur is also a gem well worthy of inspection. There are few, if any, countries in the world that can boast of more charming scenery than these favored islands, and there seems to be no lack of local talent in depicting their natural beauties in a truthful and artistic manner. The fourth and last of Count De Zaba’s lectures to the Teachers' Association was delivered in the Thorndon school on Saturday, March 16. The lecturer, after recapitulating the outlines of those parts of his method which he had before explained in detail, for the purpose of refreshing the memory of his hearers, then proceeded to explain its application to populations, incomes, expenditure, and areas. The Count showed himself perfect master of his subject, and elucidated his statements with great ability and clearness. At the conclusion of the lecture a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Mowbray and seconded by Mr. Tooraath, which was heartily responded to by the meeting and suitably acknowledged by the lecturer. A discovery which promises to be ultimately of great importance to this district (says the West Coast Times of the 15th iust.) has been made about twenty miles up the Hokitika River, between Bald Hill and the south side of the river at the foot of a range. Messrs. Grlmmond, Zala, and party, of Ross, who have been lately prospecting for minerals near the locality referred to, discovered on Wednesday last a seam of coal cropping up from the surface of the ground. Samples of very good quality were brought to town yesterday, and some excitement was caused by the news .of the find. The seam is about 18 inches thick, and there is no doubt that the quality is excellent. The spot where the coal was discovered is nearer Ross than Hokitika, as the Hokitika River takes a considerable bend to the south. The distance from Ross is about 14 miles. Application has been entered at the Waste Lauds Office for a prospecting license, and steps will be taken to test the value of the discovery without delay. A meeting of the Wellington Volunteer Eire Police corps was held at the Manners-street Station on March 20th, Lieutenant Asher in the chair. Letters were read from Lieutenant Daly and member Nodder, tendering their resignation, and also from Mr. Bell tendering his resignation as a member of the committee. The resignations were accepted. Three months leave of absence was granted to member Thompson. Lieutenant Asher stated that he had called on several people for subscriptions in aid of the funds of the corps, but had not been very successful It was announced that at the next meeting the half-yearly report and balance-sheet would be laid before the meeting. On the motion of member Pegrum, seconded by member Hardoastle, Lieutenant Asher was unanimously elected captain for the remainder of the year. Member Harriot was elected first lieutenant; on motion of member Wilson, seconded by member Pearce, member Wilson was elected a member of the committee in the room of Mr. Bell, resigned. Mr. Brooks was elected a member of the corps. Member Barnes was chosen fourth lieutenant in the room of Mr. Daly, resigned. We are informed that canvassers have been appointed to wait upon the citizens asking them for subscriptions, the funds of the corps being at a low ebb just now. As the object of the corps is a very excellent one, .and is calculated to do a great deal of useful work in preserving order and preventing the destruction of property at fires, we hope that a liberal response will be made to the request of the canvassers.

All the surveys at Taupo are finished, the natives gave every assistance. ...The Auckland City Waterworks pumping 1 machinery has been tested, and raised 1000 gallons 230 ft. with 2Jibs, of coal. The Hon. E. W. Stafford has issued an address to the electors resigning, his seat for Timaru in the Assembly. Mr. Sheehan has been to the Thames with Mr. Mackay, to endeavor to settle the question of reserves at the Aroha Block, purchased by Mr. Broomfield.

A fearful gale raged at Charleston on March 11th. The Catholic Chapel was blown down, and is a complete wreck. Great damage was done to property in the district. The Suez mail, which arrived on March 7 by the Arawata, comprised 960 letters, 95 books, and 845 papers, via Brindisi; and 506 letters, 138 books, and 1408 papers, via Southampton. The outward San Francisco mail, despatched on March 2 by the Rotorua, consisted of 4053 letter's, 270 book parcels, and 3044 newspapers for London; and 311 letters, 8 book parcels, and 245 newspapers for America. The following is the return of patients in the Provincial Hospital during and ending the month of February, 1878:—Admitted—Males, 22, females, 4. Discharged—males, 19, females, 3. Died—l male. Left in hospital—males, 44, females, 9. Total, 53.

We notice in our obituary column the name of Mr. George Curtis, of Tinakori-road,. a very old settler, and one who was much respected. Mr. Curtis arrived in AVellington in the ship Loudon, Captain Shuttleworth, in 1840, and leaves a numerous family of children and grandchildren to mourn his loss. A meeting of the Wellington Freethought Association was held in the Manners-street Fire Brigade Hall on March 17, Mr. Griffiths presiding. There were about 60 persons present. A lecture was delivered by Mr. Fraser on “The Resurrection of the Saviour.” The lecturer stated that he had been brought up to believe the Biblical history of the matter as taught in Christian churches, but he was now a “Freethinker.”

1 There was a good attendance of members at the special meeting of the Wellington Working Men’s Club, which was held on March 18th at the Fire Brigade Hall, Manners-street, for the purpose of taldng steps to furnish the new premises in course of erection in Manner-street. After a lengthy discussion, in which most of those present took part, it was decided to get up an art union for £SOO. It was also decided to have an Industrial aud Fine Arts’ Exhibition, if possible, on the opening of the new premises. The object is certainly a worthy one, and we trust that the matter will hove the support of the entire community.

The funeral of the late Mr. Thomas Eraser was very largely attended on March 2nd. The fire brigades were largely represented, and a volunteer band accompanied the procession. There were two incidents in connection with the funeral which attracted the attention of the spectators. One was that of starting a pair of horses belonging to one of the fire brigades which would not move slowly, but tried to rush off at a rapid pace, as to a fire, and as it was found very difficult to hold them in, fresh horses were substituted. The second incident was that of a person who was following ’ the remains of the deceased falling down in a fit, and it was feared for a few moments that he was dead, but assistance was procured, and he soon revived.

Mr. Clark, an English hydraulic engineer of reputation, who was brought out by the New South Wales Government to advise respecting drainage and other puclio works in that colony, is now in Christchurch on a similar mission. He has been invited to come over to Wellington to consult with the Mayor and Engineer as to the best scheme of drain-' age to be adopted for the city. His fee is rather a stiff one, £125 per week and actual expenses besides, and also £SO for travelling. If he stays long, hia “little account” will reach a respectable figure. At the same time, if through his coming here a really effective system of drainage is established, any reasonable amount paid to this gentleman will be well laid out. , ,

A; dramatic and musical entertainment, in aid of the Convent schools, was held in the large hall of the Catholic school, Bouicott-street, on the evening of March 5, under the patronage of the Hibernian Society, the services of whose fine brass band were volunteered for the occasion, and added not a little to the success of the evening’s amusement. . There was a very full attendance, the hall being literally crammed, and those who came late had to content themselves with standing room. An excellent bill of fare was provided. The first part comprised selections by the band, the drama of “ The Brigand and his Son,” in which Messrs. Davis, Whitaker, Gibbs, McNamara, Kirk, and McGuire took part, the song, “Thou art so near, and yet so far; the duet, “ I know a bank,” by lady amateurs; and the glee, “ Now is the month of maying,” by the Cathedral and St. Joseph’s choirs, which were each and all heartily received and deservedly applauded. The second part consisted of selections from the opera of “Attila,” followed by the laughable farce entitled “ A Sudden Arrival,” in which Messrs. Whitaker, Davis, McNamara, Gibbs, Bryan, and Neal took part. Some excellent selections by the band came next, and were succeeded by the songs “We parted by the river side,” and “ Sweethearts,” which were charmingly rendered by lady amateurs. The glee “ Good night, thou glorious sun,” by the Cathedral and St. Joseph’s choirs, and the finale “ God Save the Queen ” cenclued a most enjoyable entertainment. .

The manufacture of greenstone into ornaments appears to be carried on in Napier with considerable success by a local artificer, whose principal customers are the aboriginal natives of the locality. The Napier Telegraph of the 2nd inat. says :—“ In Dickens-street, without a signboard, and hidden from sight from the road by an unsightly dwelling-house, there stands Mr. Rolf’s lapidary’s shop. When we entered the other day, we found the proprietor, assisted by his wife, catting into several pieces, by the aid of steam, a couple of huge pieces of greenstone, worth, we are told, £2OO, to a native order. As we stated before, the saws are worked by steam, and the whole arrangements are most ingenious. The engine itself, imported, we believe, from Dunedin, is a curiosity, being two-horse power, and enclosed in a box of small size. The boiler is also a strong and compact piece of workmanship, taking up very little room ; in fact, both engine and boiler could be packed up in a medium size case. We were shown articles of Mr. Rolfe’s workmanship, such as earrings, a splendid native mere, beautifully polished, besides other articles which we have not space to enumerate. The natives have for some time alone kept the establishment fully busy in executing orders, and we only hope our enterprising and ingenious settler will continue to receive Maori support, as also from Europeans requiring the aid of a skilled lapidary.”

A meeting of the Board of Education -was held on March 6th. Present—the Hon. C. J. Pharazyu, the Rev. J. Boss, Messrs. Beethara, M.H.R., Bunny, M.H.K., Dalrymple, Watt, and Toomath. It was stated that the credit balance at the bank was £BB 4s. 4d. The Board then proceeded to open the voting papers sent in by the several school committees for the election of members of the new Board. The following was the result :—G. Beetham, M.H.R., 22 ; Mr. E. Toomath, 20 ; Hon. W. Gisborne, M.H.R., 18 ; Kev. J. Paterson, 17; W. Hutchison, 16; H. Bunny, M.H.R., 16 ; Archdeacon Stock, 14 ; W. A. Fitzherbert, 13 ; Hon. G. J. Pharazyu, 13 ; C. Pharazyn, 13 ; Rev, W. H. West, 11 ; T. Kirk, 10 ; J. R. Blair, 9 ; W. Beetham, 9 ; Rev. B. W. Harvey, 7 ; W. R. E. Brown, 5 ; Rev. J. A. Newth. 5 ; C. H. Ordish, 5 ; H. TJdy, 5 ;A. Koch, 1. Messrs. O. J. and O. Pharazyn and W. Fitzherbert having each polled the same number of votes, a ballot was taken, which resulted in the Messrs. Pharazyu being elected. The total result' is that the following gentlemen are elected members of the new Education Board :—Messrs. G. Beetham, E. Toomath, W. Gisborne, Rev. J. Paterson, H. Bunny, W. Hutchissn, Archdeacon Stock, O. J. Pharazyn, and 0. Pharazyn. The following gentlemen were elected members of the Wanganui Education Board, Wanganui having been made a separate district: —Messrs. Dalrymple, Fox, Sanson, Duthie, Watt, Ross, Bryce, Williams, and Jones.

The Venerable Archdeacon Thorpe, of'Nelson, is about to resign the incumbency of All Saints Parish in that district, in order to take the assistant curacy of St. Paul’s, Wellington. One hundred pounds of dynamite n ere used in one charge for snagging the Thames Rivet near Te Aroha, which has been deepened 4ft. The effect of the dynamite was to throw up the stones and water to a great height. The following agricultural statistics for the County o.f Taranaki are published:—Holdings, 632; land broken up, 1395; acres in wheat, 1586; in oats, 412; barley, 30; grasses, 43,631 acres; potatoes, 464; other crops, 226; total number acres under crop, 46,349. . Sunday, being St. Patrick’s Fay, the holiday was kept on the day following The banka and a few other places of business were closed. There were races at Porirua, and a bazaar aud soiree in aid of the Presbyterian church at the Lower Hutt, but there were no sports on the Basin Reserve, or other pub ic festivities in Wellington. The weather Was very fine, and a large number of people availed themselves of the opportunity of taking a trip into the country. Somebody has astonished the native mind in Wairoa. A correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald states that a “ debt-repudiating native was considerably astonished the other day at the bailiff, armed with a distress warrant, seizing his draught horse and harness, which were in due course sold by auction. The amount realised did not cover the debt, but still the aboriginal thinks he is an ill-used mortal. He never meant to pay, ami this, to him, was a novel means of making him,’* Civilisation surely has its drawbacks. ° A sailor had a narrow escape from drowning in the harbor on the evening of the 9th. Some o£ the ships’ crew were quarrelling on the Queen’s wharf, and one of them who was in liquor fell into the water unobserved by the rest. He was afterwards missed, aud information given to the police. About an hour and a-lialf afterj'-t* Constable Smart heal’d a man moaning below the wharf, and discovered the missing sailor clinging to one of the stringers. He was thoroughly exhausted, and again fell into the water before being rescued. The Timaru Herald, writing on the retirement of Mr. Stafford from political life, says : “ In losing him from her councils, the colony loses not only a politician, ■ but a-maker of politicians. -Without ever claiming any innate superiority, or affecting the part of a Triton among the minnows, there is no denying that he has towered over the highest of his fellows. His lofty intellect, his wealth of resources, his untiring industry, his perfect simple-mindedness ; enhanced V hundred-fold by. that nameless grace which made everybody trust and esteem him as much as they admired him ; have constituted him the very model of a public man, in a country where good models are of incalculable value." 1

We may mention that the football season ia expected to open in the first week of April, or the last Saturday of this month, • the first match being between the Athletic Club as against the Wellington Club. It is to be hoped that all lovers of the rough and tumble sport will give their patronage to the club, as it is intended this season to send away a team for colonial competition. At present every preparation has been made for a vigorous onslaught, and there can be no doubt that under proper management a capital" season’s play may be anticipated. It may be stated that one of the good Auckland “ backs” has been secured, together with the captain of another representative team.

A resident at Omata, near New Plymouth, named Grayling, has been experimenting on the chemical properties af some of the native trees. Years ago we remember a, substance, having something of the properties of catechu, which had been extracted by Mr. Grayling from the bark of the Kowai. More recently he has, according to the JVeics, produced a valuable,alkaloid, possessing all.the qualities of quinine, from the bark of the pukatva (Athero• sperma). It is. in the.form of a resinous extract, and from personal experience our contemporary is able to say that a small quantity taken up on the point of a penknife has the effect of a strong tonic on the stomach. This valuable drug would be in.a more sightly form if it were crystallised, but the high duty on alcohol, which is necessary in order to produce crystallisation, prohibits the idea of that process being carried out economically. Mr. Grayling has also devoted some attention to the ferns, and succeeded in producing an extract containing a large percentage of tannin. By last mailhe received from a Bermondsey tanner an order for five tons of this substance.

The usual quarterly meeting of the Wellington Typographical Association was'held in the Athenasum Buildings on Saturday, March 9. The attendance was very large .considering the unfavorable state of the weather. The report, which was read and adopted, spoke in a most encouraging manner of the condition aud.pros. pects of the society. The balance-sheet for the quarter showed the sum of £2ri2 to the credit of the association. After some minor business had been disposed of,, a motion was moved, having for its object the federation of all typographical societies in the colony of New Zealand. After an able and exhaustive’ exposition of the idea by the proposer, it was decided to adjourn the discussion on the subject. At the adjourned meeting the motion was lost. Though the feeling of the meeting was in favor of federation, they did not think it practicable to carry it nut. A fatal accident (says the Press of March 16th), occurred yesterday afternoon, by which a young man named Francis Cas-idy lost hia life while bathing in the VVaimakami River. It seems that deceased went, with a man named Chappel and two lads, to bathe in the river near the corner of Mr. James Robbie’s laud. He could not swim, and when walking into the stream was seen suddenly to stumble and throw up his arms, and he then disappeared in the current. One of the. lads called out to the other man, who finish- d undressing quieldy and ran to the bank, bat owing to a large flax bush being in the way, could not reach the river at that point. Cassidy came to the surface three times in quick .succession, and finally disappeared. The river is about seven feet deep where the unfortunate man went down,, and as there are a number of beds •> of quicksands at this part, it is supposed he got into one of them. Cassidy was twentyone years of age. He came to Canterbury about twelve months ago, since which time he had been in the service of Mr. Charles Aymes, farmer, Harswood-road. He wa.s single, and a steady and industrious young man. At 2 o’clock on the afternoon of March 3rd a girl named Bella Bell, whl o gathering firewood near the railway station at Blueakin, found a box with a label on the lid, on which was written in large letters the following words ; —“ If you find my motherless darling, I pray for Jesus’ sake bury it in the true Catholic way.” The girl immediately reported the matter to the constable stationed in the district. On going to the place he found a soap box as described. It was tied syatematically with small twine, and on opening it the constable found the body of a male child in a perfect state. There were no marks of violence on the body, and the child was dressed in a neat and respectable manner. It is supposed that the box was left there by a passenger by the evening train on Monday. An exhaustive inquiry is going on touching the death of the child. The whole affair appeared to be wrapped in mystery. The mother is a Mrs. Decosta, of Timaru, and she declares the child died, and that she gave it to a- man who promised to bury it for £5. She did not know who the man was, and she gave it to him to save disgrace, as her family did not know o£ her condition. The night before the day on which she alleges the child died she admitted giving it laudanum. After some further evidence the coroner summed up, and the jury returned the following verdict That the child died from suffocation by the hands of the mother, and that wilfully.” A ludicrous printer’s error, says the Anekland Star, lately appeared in the Otago Daily Times in a report of Dr. Stuart’s speech at the Knox Church annual meeting. The rev. gentleman was made to speak of some of hia parishioners as « members of the church who had passed away to heaven, while others had been transferred to the other place.” The Times in explanation makes matters worse by saying “the other place” is Wellington. We should like to know what the Wellingtouiana have to say about it,

The Customs receipts at Christchurch for February were unusually heavy, exceeding £30,000. ■ The Board of Governors of the Canterbury College have adopted the plans for anew High School building, to cost £6OOO. Mr. Noble, of Taupo, lost himself on the, Tokoroa Plains for three days, when travelling from: Cambridge to Taupo. Ho arrived in a weak and exhausted state.

Messrs. Murray and Garrick, of the Thames, attempted an assent of Tongariro, but were turned back by the natives. The natives feel annoyed at these clandestine attempts to ascend the mountain.

- The San Francisco mail, which arrived in Wellington on Friday, March 15, by ,the Taranaki, consisted of 5281 letters, 845 books, and 9504 papers from London ; and 423 letters, 120 books, and 751 papers from America. A meeting of persons interested in the proposed new road to ICUbirnie was held at Mr. White’s office, Panama-street, on March 19th. It was stated that the treasurer had sufficient funds in hand for the work to be proceeded with, and it was resolved to call for tenders immediately. As a sign of the improvement in the value of property iii Taranaki, owing to the proposed harbor works, the fact is worthy of notice that Mr. Courtney has sold privately 795 acres of bush belonging to Mr. W, S. Moorhouse for £ISOO. The reserve on the same land five months before was £IOOO. The Wellington Acclimatisation Society has liberated the last of the salmon, making in all about 9500 young fish which have been turned out alive. Some of the first lot have been seen lately, and are twice the size they were when liberated. The society desires to thank the various steam shipping companies for their liberality in carrying the fish free of charge, and giving the attendant passages at reduced rates.

Our correspondent writing from Tauranga on March 2 says:—X regret to have to record the melancholy intelligence of the capsize of a boat within the harbor, eight miles from the town, on the passage to Omokoroa, the residence of Mr. T. Gillibrand. During a heavy squall the boat upset, and Mrs. Grillibrand, who was a passenger, was drowned. Her body was recovered this morning, and has just been brought into town by Mr. Gillibrand and the natives, and awaits a coroner’s inquest. A sure sign of the prosperity of Wellington is the high price which land continues to fetch, especially hotel property. The lease of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel is about to change hands at £6ooo,and thatoftheEmpireat£7ooo. The same remark also applies to country properties which are realising high figures, and this, notwithstanding the fact that a large amount of land is being thrown into the market just now. Some of the large settlers both here and in other parts of the colony are cutting up their runs ini o small holdings. This offers a chance to small capitalists of acquiring homesteads and settling on the land under favorable circumstances—a result most desirable to be attained.

Mr. Jones, returned to New Plymouth on Monday, March 4tb, from the Mokau, and he states that Itewi has visited that place. In coming down the River Waikato he remained a few days and visited the Europeans daily, taking food in the stores. He expressed great pleasure at seeing the Europeans settled there and on friendly terms, and said he would advise the Government to do whatever the landowners and settlers required to open up trade. Eewi has now returned to Waikato, and it is expected that he will arrange for Tawhiao’s coming to Waitara to meet Sir George Grey. This is the first instance of Rewi having visited the Europeans on the West Coast since the commencement of the Waitara war.

Mr.R. J.Dunoan offered for sale on March 19 the leases, having 21 years to'run, of fourteen building sites on the Wesleyan Reserve, between the Terrace and the Botanical Gardens. The following sections were disposed of at the rates stated ; —No. 1, £l6, Mr. W. G. Jackson; No. 2, £l4, Mr. C. Tringham; No. 3, £l2 10s., Mr. Exley ; No. 4, £9 10s., Mr. Croskery ; No. ■ 5, £6, Mr. C. Tringham ; No. 6, £lO, Mr. Gilmore. Mr. Roxburgh purchased the last eight lots, at £lO, £l3 10s., £l3 10s„ : £l4 10s., £ls 10s., £ll, £lO 10s., and £25 (two sections) per annum respectively, thus making a total annual income of £l7l 10s. from the property.- The auctioneer provided an excellent luncheon prior to the commencement of the sale, to which ample justice was done.

Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co.' held their monthly land u nction sale on Monday, March 4th, in.their exchange land mart, Grey .andEeatherston streets, when notwithstanding the inclemency of the-weather, there was a large attendance, the mart in fact being crowded. The bidding was spirited, considerable competition arsing for a number of the lots. The following lots were sold:— Allotments 1,2, 3, 10, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 39, 44, subdivision of section 420, Kaitoke, £123 ; lot 69, cottage property, Douglas Wallaoe-street, £9O ; lot 70, cottage property, Douglas Wal-lace-street, £l7O ; lot 71, vendor’s interest in lease, Webb-terraoe, £10; lot 73, house and land, Binham-street, £425 ; lot 82, house and land, Taranaki-street, £llsO. A number of the allotments in Kaitoke were withdrawn at £5 each, and the small-farm sections at £3 10s. per acre. Lot 72, house and land, Wellingtonterrace, was withdrawn after £1125 had been offered. Lot 74, being allotment 4, Kilbirnie, was also withdrawn at £l6O, and the two valuable town acres 334 and 343, with residence, were reserved to be cut up into building allotments, £2900 being the highest offer made. We understand that £3OOO was refused from a speculator prior to the sale for these acres. A number of other lots were also withdrawn, the reserve prices not being reached. These are now open for private sale at the offices of the auctioneers, and application has already been made for several of them.

Tire Manners-street Theatre is rapidly approaching completion. Little' remains to he done by the carpenters, and the upholsterers are well advanced with their work. Wears informed that everything will be completed within a fortnight, and that it is the intention to open the, theatre by the Ist of next month. The decorations will be of the most tasteful and chaste description, and the artists are now busy giving the finishing touch to the theatre, which when completed will he one of the finest structures of the kind in the colony. The stage is exceptionally large, which is in itself a great desideratum, as nothing so much snoils artistic effect as a narrow, shallow stage. It will also afford ample scope for scenic effect. The stage is in full view from every part of the house. There will be no straining of one’s neck to get a glimpse of the actors, as is not unfrequently tho case in other theatres when a party happens to he unfortunate enough-not to secure a good position. We have never seen a building in which such facilities are afforded for egress. Were the alarm of fire raised the building would he emptied in a twinkling. Doors from every part of the Louse lead to broad passages, and at both ends of the passages there are outlets from the building. In this respect alone great praise is due to the architect. Altogether the arrangements of the theatre will be second to none of its size' in the colonies.

The New Zealand Herald of March 7 says:— “ By the last steamer from Sydney two gentlemen arrived here on behalf of themselves and several others with a view of selecting blocks of land to settle upon. They waited upon Mr. Tole, the Commissioner of Grown Lands, and Chief Commissioner of the Waste Lauds Board, who afforded them all the information he could both with regard to the different blocks available for settlement and the conditions upon which they could either select or purchase.' The commissioner also. promised them a perusal of the several recent land laws, and gave instructions to get maps of the land they desired to inspect. Pastoral and agricultural farming operations in the colony of New South Wales during' the last few years have been carried on under great disadvantages, owing to a variety of circumstances, but principally from extended dry periods, making expenditure heavy, with no corresponding return for outlay. This state of things has been so much felt during the last year, that many persons are very desirous of leaving that colony to settle in Now Zealand.’’

The Canterbury waste lands sales, during February realised £74,668. A pigeon race between Ashburton and Christchurch, fifty miles, for young birds, was won by Earnshaw’s Luna, in one hour fortynine minutes.

A steam thrashing machine was working at Whau, Auckland, when a man’s foot was caught in the hopper by the revolving drum. The leg was afterwards amputated above the thigh, but the man expired. The well-known Maori chief Tarapipi died at his settlement, Piako, Auckland, on March 9. Deceased was about 50 years of age, of splendid physique, and over six feet high. He was a man of great influence. The tramway scheme through Christchurch and suburbs promises to be a success. The suburban municipalities aud road boards guarantee the company a 21 years lease, and the City Council are favorable to granting a 14 years lease. The Alburnia claim, at the Thames, after paying a 15s. dividend last month, has declared another of 10s,, with £4OOO added to the reserve fund. This claim is one of the best on the field, and has paid steady dividends for the last twelve months. More moa bones have been discovered near Timaru, They are all of gigantic size, and such as a Samson would have wielded with more effect effect than that miserable jawbone of a donkey, though there are many asses in the world whose jawbones might be converted into bludgeons with the utmost benefit to humanity. Referring to the deposits of shale that have for a long time been known to exist in the Orepuki District, the Southland News says : “ The absolute certainty of possession of a practically unlimited supply of a miuaral in constant demand would certainly afford another reason for. pushing on with the railway between Riverton and Orepuki, without which the gas coal, timber, and other resources of the district are of no more use to the colony than money would be to a man on an island of which he was the solitary occupant.”

The Dunedin Times contains' the following ;—“ As illustrative of an 1 undeveloped resource ’ in New Zealand we have had opportunities of making a comparative test of a tin of preserved peaches from Auckland, for-, warded to a citizen of Dunedin, and by him submitted to our examination. And we have at the same time had by us for comparison a tin of American preserved peaches, the gorgeous label on which is sufficient to whet the appetite before ever the contents are even seen. Nothing could bo more striking than the contrast in the contents. There was a sharpness and acridity in the American product, and an almost total absence of flavor. At least, tasted after the preserved peach from Auckland, it was utterly insipid ; while, for mellowness and luscious flavor the New Zealand fruit is delicious in the extreme. How, or by whom it was preserved we know not, so that nobody profits by our expression of opinion. But this we do say, that with such a product possible, so incomparably superior to the imported article, it is a disgrace to New Zealand that such a foreign importation is necessary.” Colonial children are wonderful creatures (saysthe TimaniHerald). If they do not grow up into a race of giants, mental and physical, it will not be the fault of their digestive organs. Some philosopher has said that a good reliable stomach is worth all the brains in the world; and, inasmuch as dyspepsia interferes more with one’s comfort than stupidity, we believe him. On the theory that the summum ion uni is more a gastric than a moral essence, and that the seat of happiness lies somewhere near the middle button of his waistcoat, the youth of New Zealand ought certainly to have a blissful time of it. The statistics of St. Mary’s parish festival lately show what the Anglo-Saxon can do when transplanted to a favorable clime. Besides bread, meat, and milk, the babes and sucklings disposed of 900 buns, 4001bs. of cake, 400 gallons of tea, 50 dozen of lemonade, a barrel of gingerbeer, and a hogshead of raspberry syrup.. Think of that, ye pampered Sybarites ! and then long for the lungs which after all could give three cheers for the Archdeacon, which were heard nearly to the Washdyke ! The Caucasian is not played out in these parts yet. The annual general meeting of the ‘Wellington Land and Building Company (limited) was held on Monday, March 18. There was a good attendance. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. (Che report and balancesheet were read and adopted, and were of a moat satisfactory nature. The report stated that the directors had much pleasure in drawing attention to the statement of liabilities and assets, by which it would be seen that the balance in favor of the company exceeded the amount of the paid-up capital. The directors therefore recommended the payment of a dividend of seven per cent, upon all calls made by the company ; such dividend to be computed from the Ist day of the month next following the date of each call respectively, up to the Ist day of March now instant; in other words, the dividend payable upon the original issue of shares would reach 10s. 4d-. per share, and the dividend under the further issue (September, 1877), will reach lOd. per share.. In anticipation of an increase in the capital of the company, the directors farther recommended that the shareholders should take into consideration the necessity of equalising in value any further issue of shares, by allotting to each present shareholder as many shares as he now holds, and by making such allotment paid up to the extent of £2 10a. per share, to be derived from the present assets of the company, lu accordance with the deed of association, the meeting would have to elect two directors in the room of Messrs. Burrett and Greenfield, who retired by rotation, but were eligible and offered themselves for re-election. An heiorarimu was voted to the directors, and the two who retired were re-elected. The proposal to increase the capital was favorably. considered and referred for confirmation to another meeting to be held on Wednesday week. A vote of thanks to the directors and officers, and to the chairman, terminated the proceedings. A very useful and instructive lecture was delivered in the Thorndon School, on Saturday, Maach 9, by the Count de Zaba, to the teachers of Wellington and the surrounding districts, on his method of teaching history. The lecture was delivered under the auspices of the Wellington Teachers’ Association. There were upwards of fifty teachers and ■ pupil teachers present. Mr. Toomath, a member of the. Board, - was also present. The lecturer commenced by remarking that it seldom.fell to his lot to address a more interesting audience, inasmuch as ho was about to submit his scheme to those who are engaged in the actual work of teaching, and from the very nature of their profession they could put his system to the severest and best practical test. . The Count then explained at length his mode of handling the subject, showing the great superiority of his system over other short and easy methods of teaching history. Ha then offered to allow a youth, who has been for a short time under his tuition, to be examined, and questions were asked both by the Count and other masters present, and the answers given showed that the student had perfectly mastered the first five centuries of tho Christian era. Want of space prevents us from giving even tho leading points in the lecture. Suffice it to say, that the Count spoke for upwards of an hour, and handled his subject with great ability and eloquence, and was listened to throughout with great attention. ; - An extraordinary accident occurred to:Williams’ coach running between Balolutha and Clinton. When near to the Waiwefa, a slight explosion occurred amongst the parcels, and immediately the coach was enveloped inflames. There were” five passengers, who got out with difficulty. The horses were unhitched, and a portion of the mail hags saved. Only the ironwork of the coach remains. Tho cause of the explosion, or nature of the.material that exploded, is unknown., Mr. Cecil Jackson, late surgeon of the Invercargill Hospital, has been brought up on a charge of procuring abortion in the 'case of Ellen Green, ah hospital patient. ; The evidence of tho housemaid of the hospital, and of an inmate named Mrs. Gutzell, and of Drs. Hanau, McGregor, and Cotterill, was taken ; and all agreethat tho treatment adopted would produce miscarriage. He has been corhmitted to take his trial. Bail was accepted -in four sureties of £250 each and himself in £SOO.

A large bush fire at Northern Wairoa destroyed hundreds of thousands of feet of timber. • ,

A very sad case of death by drowning occurred in the harbor on March 18. A youth about 15 years of age, named Herbert Astridge, whilst sculling a boat, lost his balance and fell overboard. He was drowned almost immediately, although several boats put off to the rescue. The harbor was as calm as a millpond at the time, and had he been able to swim ever so little, it is almost certain that he would have been saved.

A young man, calling himself a Russian Count, who has been staying for some time lately at the' Empire Hotel, and subsequently at Hillen’s Hotel,. Pahautanui, has be.en arrested at Otaki, and committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, on charges of uttering spurious cheques and obtaining goods on false pretences. It is stated that his real name is Jacobson, and that he is a son or other near relative of the present Bishop of Chester. A remarkable accident occurred at the races at Greymouth. A mounted constable had dismounted from his horse, when the latter, in shaking himself, made a pistol in the holster explode, the ball of which struck a boy sixty yards away on the arm, and passed through another boy’s clothes without injuring him, and finally lodging in a third boy’s coat pocket. The occurrence was purely accidental. On Tuesday evening last, says the N. Z. Herald of March 7th, while a person named Bichard Pascoe was leaning over the handrail on the Ferry T, watching the departure of one of the North Shore steamers, he unfortunately dropped from the inside pocket of his coat a small buckskin hag containing 150 American gold dollars and ten sovereigns. The place being marked an attempt was made yesterday at low water to recover the treasure. Alter several hours’ unsuccessful diving the attempt was given up. The case is one of peculiar hardship, as the loser is a miner from California, who by hard work had saved a small sum of money, and came on to New Zealand for the benefit of his health, being prostrated by sickness before leaving America. The whole of his hard earnings are now gone, and the man is left penniless, unable to do much. Pascoe is willing to give the sum of £lO for the recovery of his money, and we trust that as the r e are one .or two driving-dresses in the city they will be placed at the service of the unfortunate man. Mr, Sanders, wharfinger, informs us that it is exactly the place where £2O worth of silver was lost overboard many years ago. The troops were then stationed at the Miranda Eedonbt, and a steamer was being sent away with stores, and a soldier attempted to throw on' hoard a small bag of coin to the above amount, but ho failed in lauding it upon the steamer, and it fell into the water, where it has remahied ever since.

At a meeting of country settlers and others held at the Corn Exchange, Christchurch, on the 2ud inst., amongst other toasts which were proposed was that of the “ Shipping and Mercantile interests.” Mr. Selwyu Smith, manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, responded to the toast. He said if any personal friend of Anthony Trollope had been present that day, he could have written to his friend and told him that he had done the people of the colony a great wrong when he had spoken about their blowing. (Laughter.) He (the speaker) had only had the short experience of two years and a half in New Zealand, hut he had known it commercially for a much longer period. He remembered the time when they used to send their produce from “ the other side” to Port Cooper, now Port Lyttelton, and if they only got a cheese in exchange they were thankful. But since then times had very greatly changed. It had been said that the New Zealand farmers were cockatoos. Well, if they were, they were uncommonly well fledged. (Loud laughter.) He gave all honor to the producers, and credit to those whose enterprise first opened up this grand country which the farmers were destined to make take its place in the world as the Greater Britain of the South. (Loud cheering.) With regard to the shipping interests, it could not be denied that New Zealand took a very high place. No doubt many among them remembered the early days of Now South Wales. He had lived in Australia nearly forty years, and could therefore speak with some authority. 'ln the early days New South Wales registered five 'steamers and very few sailing vessels. But now what was the case ? Why, they had upwards of 500 colonially registered steamers, and they were, lie thought, as good boats of their class as were to be found in any part of the world. Then they had 2000 ships, with a registered tonnage of 300,000 tons. Was not this a groat advance, and were the shipping interests not indebted to the work of that large class who were now sitting round that table? But the colonial ships by no means answered all their requirements, for they had upwards of 100 vessels trading from Great Britain alone. The time might cme when New Zealand might not belong i.o tho British Crown—though he trusted that time would never come (loud cheers) —the time might come when they might he told to protect themselves, and then tho importance of the shipping interests would be shown and fully appreciated. The best men in the British navy were those drafted from the mercantile marine. In the colonial marine there were upwards of 12,000 seamen employed, who if it should ever he required would form the nucleus of a good colonial navy. (Cheers.) _________