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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5374, 18 June 1878, Page 2

The City Council will meet to-morrow (Wednesday), at 8 p.m., for the consideration of Councillor Macdonald’s motion re the Te Aro foreshore, and on Thursday, at 4 p.m,, to consider the advisability of advertising for tenders for the removal of nightsoil. It has been suggested that instead of selling the present Court-house on Lambton-qusy the building should be used as a post-office. Those who favor this say that it would enable the site of the post-office, telegraph, and Cus-tom-house buildings to bo used for a Customhouse and Telegraph office. Somo gentlemen are now moving in the matter, and it is likely that a deputation will wait upon the Government shortly in support of this proposal. In reference to the questions raised by the City Council respecting Plimraor's wharf, it appears that it has been stated to the Government that the Council have been misinformed ns to the encroachment supposed to have been projected. It was merely intended to replace the piling that had gone to decay. Notice would be given to Messrs. Plimmer and Reeves that as their right to occupy the wharf might probably be questioned on an early day, if they continued to make further encroachments it would be at their risk.

Applications for over 160,000 shares in the Colonial Insurance Company have been received, and ns there are only 100,000 to be allotted at present, tho directors will have a difficult task in apportioning shares to the various applicants. The allotment will probably bo finished by tho 20th instant, and it is hoped that the official notes will be posted before tho 25th. The large number of shares applied for is strong proof of the favor with which this company is regarded. Finding no news to chronicle at tho police station on Lambtou-quay last night, our reporter paid a visit to the To Aro depot, but with no better success, for in answer to the usual inquiry if there was any news, the sergeant in charge mournfully exclaimed “ that the cells wore empty, and there was only one horse in the pound.”

A lecture on “ Ireland and the Irish ” was delivered in the Wesleyan Church, Mohnersstraet, last evening, by the 'Rev. B. Hazelton, M.A., Dublin, in aid of Protestant education in Ireland. There was a fair attendance. The rev. gentleman spoke for about an hour and a half, and interspersed an interesting discourse by several well-told anecdotes. At the conclusion of the lecture a collection was made, and the amount realised was £lO 11s. In addition to this amount, Mr. Hazelton, since his visit to \Vellington, has received subscriptions amounting to £63.

A meeting of the Board of Education will be held at 11.30 a.m. to-morrow.

The Presbyterians of Wellington intend to erect a church and school in Adelaide-road, and are desirous of obtaining a suitable site. A meeting of the Builders’ and Contractors’ Society was held in the Central Hotel last night, but the business was of a preliminary nature, and of no public interest. An entertainment will be given at the Boulcott-street schoolroom this evening in aid ot the school’s fund. There will be farces, songs, 4tc., and the band of the Hibernian Society will perform several selections. Exhibits for the forthcoming Exhibition in connection with the Working Men’s Club will be received by Mr. Cary, the manager, at the club’s new rooms, Manners-street, next to the Imperial Opera House, daily. The case against the two lads named Duffy, for stealing a cheque from Mr. Bari’on’s room at the Parliamentary Buildings, stands adjourned until Thursday, bail for their appearance being enlarged until that date. The following business will be taken in the Supreme Court to-day:—ln bankruptcy: reW. H. Hatch, application for a discharge. In banco: Bangi v. Sutton, for judgment; Bigger v. Burgess, case on appeal. The time for receiving applications for shares in the D'Urville Copper Company expired on Saturday. Tha head quarters of the company are at Blenheim, and information as to the total number applied for has not yet been received by the agents here. The total amount promised in aid of the building fund of the Te Aro Eoman Catholic schools was up to Sunday evening £603 10s. This includes some amounts which were not put down on the lists of subscribers made out at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels- on Sunday night. The dinner committee appointed by the Licensed Victuallers’ Association to make arrangements for their inaugural banquet, have decided to hold it on Thursday next at the Metropolitan Hotel, and no doubt the catering of Host Beatty will be found to give entire satisfaction to the numerous guests who are expected to attend on the occasion.

The New Zealand Heralds own correspondent at Buapuke (in the District of Eaglan) writes as follows ;—“ About a quarter past four on the morning of the Bth instant we had another shook of earthquake., A rumbling sound was distinctly heard travelling, as it were, from north to south. This is the second shook within a fortnight—the last was much more severe than the first.” The Neio Zealand Herald ot the 13th inst. has the following in reference to accidents from kerosene ;—Becently we stated that a considerable quantity of bad kerosene oil was being retailed in Auckland and the suburbs, and that it had been obtained by various traders from Cooper and Bailey’s Circus Company, just on the eve of their departure from this city. The stuff was very dangerous, and various accidents have taken place through its use. The last we have heard of occurred iu Newtown, when the lamp of Mr. Goad, bootmaker, High-street, exploded. Fortunately, no serious consequences followed this explosion, but great blame lies upon those traders who, purchasing a. cheap and dangerous liquid, and for tho sake of gain, retail the same at the price of genuine and safe kerosene oil, without giving their unfortunate victims, the purchasers, a word of warning that the stuff they had bought was known to be highly dangerous. Where are the cases of this dangerous liquid stored ? and do the insurance companies know the premises in which it is in quantity ? The handicap chess match was continued last evening at the club room, Panama Chambers, when the following games were played ; Kirk (2) v. Greville (2) —Kirk ; Barraud (1) v. Davies (3) —Barraud ; Hullett (1) v. Horwood (2) —Hullett. The three winners have now to play off between themselves, and when the match is finished we shall publish the whole. It is proposed to commence tho annual club match, Town v. Civil Service, on Monday next.

Concerning the bill of costs iu the case of Eegina v. Jones a correspondent of the Dunedin Herald asks—What is the meaning of “attendance on Messrs. Stout and G. M. Reed, conferring over jury list,” “attendance upon Messrs. Reed and Fenwick” for the same purpose ? What had Messrs. Beed and Fenwick to do with the matter ? How came the Attorney-General to be conferring upon the side of the defence in criminal proceedings, and upon such a suspicious subject as the jury list ? Fancy the Attorney-General of England advising tho attorneys of a prisoner as to a sate scrutiny of the possible jury 1 The borough authorities of Gisborne, Poverty Bay, estimate their revenue for the ensuing year at £IBOB. The principal sources of expected income are —rate of Is. in the £ on property the rental value ot which is £15,802, yielding £790 ; publicans’, auctioneers’, and wholesale licenses, £440 ; Government subsidy for last year, £491. Of the revenue it is expected that over £IOOO will be available for public works. The salaries and printing will swallow close upon £SOO, and there are £l3O of liabilities to be wiped off. The sum of £34 is devoted to the department of weights and measures, and some £l3O will be absorbed in providing for the fire brigade. An ingenious youth belonging to one of the local Statessohools recently perpetrated a joke on his fellow scholars, for which he has been parentally rewarded. It appears (says the Qedong Advertiser) the lad had tickets printed which notified that a concert would be held on a certain evening ; doors to be opened at halfpast 7 ; admission, 2d. The bait took well with the youngsters’ schoolmates, who purchased about one hundred tickets, but on going to the place of entertainment, which was situated in Moorabool-street, they discovered they had been imposed upon. The indignant “ Pater" of this precocious youth had enough to do to drive the juvenile throng from his threshold, until mutual explanations settled the matter by the parent ot the lad offering to refund the money which had been obtained under false pretences.

The Australasian states that the Hamilton temporary railway station was burglariously entered, and a Milner safe, containing £l5O in cash and drafts, was bodily carried away. It was subsequently found in Grange Creek, some 200 yards distant. Attempts had been made to blow open the look with gunpowder, also to burst it open with chisels, a crowbar, an axe, and hammer, but these efforts proved unsuccessful. The safe weighed about three hundred-weight, so it is supposed there must have been two or more persons engaged in the robbery. The till in the booking-office was also burst open, and from certain indications, it is surmised tho burglars were a considerable time on the premises. Mr. Adam Porter (says theN.Z.ZTcmMof tho 12thinst.)has received aletterfrom the Under Secretary for Goldfields, stating that, if the Ohinemuri Mining Association will employ a given number of men at the rate of 6s. per day upon Itona fide prospecting, the Government will pay one-half of this amount from time to time, to an extent not exceeding £2OO, on the production at tho Colonial Treasury of vouchers duly certified by the Warden. Tho Napier Telegraph of the 14th instant says : —ln passing sentence pn Dennis Shannahan, convicted of assault this morning, his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond said that it was only through God’s mercy that the prisoner did not then stand before the Court a murderer. It was by the merest accident that the blow did not strike Cleary on the temple, in which case ho would have been killed. His Honor then took into consideration the fact that prisoner had received provocation in being struck, and in having his people abused, but against this tho prisoner had been fool enough to return to the shop to renew tho quarrel. In consequence of the ago of the prisoner, tho public safety, however, would not probably be again endangered by him, and his Honor, therefore, gave effect to the jury's recommendation of mercy, and sentenced tho man to six months’ imprisonment, with hard laber, A Southern exchange says:—When a certain case against the Colonial Bank was called on at a late sitting of the Dunedin District Court, Judge Bathgate, who was presiding, remarked that he had an interest in the matter, being a small shareholder in the bank. (He had intended to sell out before that day, but had forgotten to do so ; however, he was prepared to adjourn the case for a week, and guarantee to sell his shares before that time. Counsel in the case intimated that they had not the slightest objection to his Honor’s presiding, without parting with his interest in the bank, and the case was accordingly proceeded with. Tho adulteration of beer by glycerine, for the purpose of giving " body ” to it, has become so common during late years in Europe that tho German Society for the Encouragement of Industry has offered a prize of 3000 francs for an easy and accurate method of detecting tho presence of this adulterating agent in beer.

It has been stated upon what may be taken to be good authority that the following changes in the Department of Justice will be made shortly : —Mr. Beetham, B.M. at Napier, will be E.M. at Christchurch. Judge Ward will preside in the Christchurch District Court, and he will cease to sit ot Invercargill and Milton, Judge Harvey taking the former, and Judge Bathgate the latter Court. Mr. Woolcombe, B.M. at Timaru, will retire on a pension, and he will be succeeded by Mr. Mellisb, now B.M. at Christchurch. Mr. Mansford, B.M. at Port Chalmers, will be District Judge at Wellington, and will as E.M., succeed Mr. J. C. Crawford, who retires on his pension. Mr. Isaac Newton Watt, B.M. of Dunedin, will have to do duty at Port Chalmers. It does not appear that the office of District Judge and B.M. at Napier has yet been arranged for. In future justices who wish to continue on the roll will have to take their turn in sitting on the bench. At a meeting of the provisional directors of the West Wanganui Coal Company, held at Mr. Wright's office yesterday, Captain Moore, tha company’s manager, who has just returned from West Wanganui, was present, and reported most favorably of the seam now opened. The coal had rather improved in quality, and was six feet thick. It was resolved to have two punts built for loading vessels, and to obtain an eight-inch lift of pumps for the shaft. This size will be quite large enough to drain all the water that makes into the shaft. An offer to take the mine on tribute, and pay the company 12J per cent, on the gross yield of coal, was received from miners at the inlet, but it was decided not to entertain it, as the company intended to work tha coal on its own account. Captain Moore reported that there was a large demand for the coal in Nelson, and 400 or 500 tons would find a ready sale at a high price. He will return to the mine in a few days, when work will be resumed in raising coal. It has been arranged to have the coal tested by the Eailway Department on the Hutt line. Mr. E. W, Mills had a trial made at the Lion Foundry, and the result was as follows : —For SI hours’ steaming with West Wanganui coal, consumed 13owt. 2qrs. 121bs. Steams well ; free from clinkers ; no stoking required ; and leaves tubes and furnace free from dirt—burning away to a fine brown powder ash. For 8i hours’ steaming with Newcastle coal, consumed 15owt. 3qrs, 201bs. Steams well, leaving tubes dirty, and a quantity of clinkers in the furnace. Constant stoking necessary to keep it going. There was a well-attended meeting ot members of the newly-formed Union Debating Club at the Colonial Museum last evening, and there were also present several ladies. De. Newmanocoupied the chair. Mr. J. E. Fitz Gerald delivered an able address on the occasion, in which he pointed out the advantage and uses of oratory, and dwelt upon the fact that the facility of public speaking could be acquired by patient labor and study, and was within tha reach of almost everyone ot ordinary intelligence, very few people indeed being naturally endowed with the gift of eloquence. This proposition he illustrated from history, showing that many leading orators in times past and at the present moment have acquired the art of so speaking in public as to move masses of their fellow beings by slow degrees, and in many cases after much effort. None, therefore, need be discouraged in the attempt to become fluent and ready speakers. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks to Mr. Fitz Gerald was carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned for a fortnight. It is the object of this debating club to fill the place in this community of the Un’on Clubs at Oxford and Cambridge, which have been the training grounds of many students who, after leaving the Universities, have made their mark at the Church, the Bar, or in Parliament. The attempt to start a debating society of the kind here, in which the young men of the place can practice oratory, and qualify themselves for public speakers, is a most laudable one, and will, we hope, meet with that success which, judging from the start which has been already made, may fairly be anticipated. Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. direct the special attention of buyers of cheap land to the fact that the unsold sections in the Newtown District, withdrawn from sale yesterday, are placed in their hands for private sale for a few days, and that early application is therefore necessary. The rapid growth of this district of the city must greatly increase the value of land month by month. On Clyde-quay yesterday about noon a child narrowly escaped death by drowning. It accidentally fell into a well which had been left uncovered, and from which it was soon after rescued by its father, who is an Italian. The child was at first supposed to be drowned, but it was quickly restored. A doctor who happened to be in tha neighborhood at the time was immediately in attendance. Ths Bijou Minstrel Troupe will this evening give their second performance in aid of the funds of the Amateur Athletic Club. It is to be hoped that the weather will be more propitious than it was on Friday last, and that the Odd Fellows' Hall willbe well filled. There will be several improvements upon the last programme, both by omissions and additions. A stump speech is to be made a great feature. Mr. J. S. Willis, the scenic artist, left for Dunedin yesterday by the Wanaka. During the next four months Mr. Willis’ undivided attention will bo devoted to the painting of “ Zealandia,” a grand. pictorial exhibition of the colony, which Messrs. Willis and Seymour contemplate taking round New Zealand, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom. A vocal and instrumental concert was given last evening in the United Methodist Free Church, Oourtenay-place, in aid of the building fund of the new church which the congregation contemplate erecting on the front of their section of land. The chair was occupied by the Bev. Mr. Bichardson. Several anthems and choruses were very creditably sung by the choir, under the conductorship ot Mr. Hudson. Solos were contributed by Mrs. Sorrell, and Messrs. Kitchen, Hudson, and Bilman ; and the entertainment was as a whole highly successful. The amount realised was about £lO. It may be mentioned that Miss Bradford presided ably at the piano during the evening. The case brought by Mr. Travers against Mr. T. Kennedy Macdonald for a breach of the Law Practioners Act, has been adjourned until Monday next, at the request of the defendant, who was only served with the summons at his private residence at half-past three o’clock on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Travers offered no opposition to the postponement of the case for a week.

The regular monthly meeting of the city rifles was held last night in the Central Hotel. Captain Crowe was in the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The secretary read a statement of accounts for tho past month. A number of accounts were passed for payment, and several others were ordered to stand over until tho next special meeting. The following members were appointed a clothing committee :—Lieutenant Christie, and Volunteers Ballinger, Gregg, Stuart, and J. N. Bell. It was resolved to hand over the capitation allowance of tho late Sergeant Brewer to his widow. Somo discussion took placo in connection with the soiree committee, when it was stated that a full report and bal-ance-sheet would bo brought up at the next meeting. It was proposed by Lieutenant Walden, and seconded by Sub-Lieutenant Christie, —That Sergeant Bowrie be appointed to confer with the bandmaster, and bring up a report at the next meeting. The election of the other committees, was adjourned. Yesterday John Smith, charged with feloniously entering Miss Greenwood’s residence, on Wellington-terrace, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court. He called a witness with a view to proving an alibi ; but as one of the witnesses for the prosecution had previously sworn to the prisoner’s identity, Mr. Crawford decided on sending the case to the Grand Jury. Last night’s popular concert at tho Athenaeum was highly successful. The hall was thoroughly filled in every part, and the audience were satisfied with the performance. A well selected programme was got through in an exceedingly satisfactory manner, and there were numerous encores. Where so many did well it would bo invidious to be too critical, but special mention must be made of the young lady who sang “ When green leaves come again” and“ Sing, sweet bird” with great taste and in excellent voice. Her vocalisation is quite a treat ; she certainly carried away the palm last evening, and richly deserved the encores which wore demanded. “ The Message” was very nicely sung. Madame Moller’s pianoforte solo and accompaniments were skilfully played and with good taste. ‘•Nil desperandum” and “Let me like a soldier fall” were not successes, the latter being quite beyond the powers of the gentleman who essayed it. The, piano and flute cavatina was very well given indeed. A comic song, “Sweet Isabella ” was well received. “ Tho Charge of the Light Brigade” was very farly recited.

Fur has been flying in the Mataura District, says the Sun. On Mr Bell’s estate there have been killed, this year in one large paddock 11,600 rabbits.

At Mein’s meat preserving factory at Christchurch two thousand mutton hams are turned out weekly. Twelve hundred and fifty sheep per week are needed to keep the factory going. Decent exchanges from Cooktown report officially the discovery of a payable goldfield on the south-east branch of Coen River, Queensland, 200 miles north-west of Cooktown. 150 men have lately left Cooktown for the new field.

The Rev. J. Buller has a long letter in the last number of the Wesleyan. We extract a few sentences: — 11 On the first Sunday of the mouth I happened to be free from any engagement, I heard Dr. Punshon in the morning at Brixton—a blessed sermon. What wealth of language ! what fidelity to truth ! what earnest appeals to the heart! We may well ‘ glorify God in him.’ In the evening I walked to Streatham, and attended St. Peter’s —a ritualistic church. What a contrast ! There was a long string of surplioed clergy and choristers, wearing black gowns underneath the white garments, bowing to the altar with crucifix on it as they came into the chancel, and turning to it whenever the Gloria Patri was repeated. There were candles, pictures, images. All the service was intoned. For twenty minutes a curate poured out a rhapsody on 1 Cor. xiii.—‘ But the greatest of these is charity,’ but all referring to the Church services during lent. On the way my soul had been raised heavenward by the music of the ‘birds which sing among the branches,’ but here I could not but think of those who ‘make the Word of God of none effect by their traditions.’ The congregation was large, and no doubt many were sincere. This ornate worship has a deceitful charm for many minds; it is spreading throughout England ; and, alas, to a great extent, I fear it may be said that ‘ the people love to have it so 1’ .Never was a simple, earnest, soul-saving ministry more needed than it is now. . . . Humours float about to-day and produce sensation ; to-morrow they are contradicted. There is a noisy party, both in England and in Constantinople, who are ready to use lying, or any other means whatever, that may lead up to war between Russia and England. We have need to pray, ‘ Scatter them that delight in war.’ ” The Robarton Mercury of 14th May reports ;—“ The usual quiet locality of Bream Creek, in the municipality of Sorell, has been startled by a tragedy of the most terrible character. A youth named Copping on Sunday killed a girl named Stacey with whom he had been keepipg company by cutting her down with an axe, and then attempted suicide by shooting himself. The inquest on the body of the girl Stacey was concluded on Monday night, and resulted in a verdict of ‘ wilful murder’ against Richard Copping, jun., who was committed on the coroner’s warrant to take his trial at the next criminal sittings. In the absence of a report of the evidence, we are at present only able to give the following additional particulars. The young man, who is a son of Mr. Patrick Copping, an old resident in the district, and the girl Stacey had been keeping company, but Copping had become jealous, and harbored an ill-feeling against the girl. On Sunday he went to her parents’ house, where she was living, and there deliberately cut her down with an axe, death ensuing in a very short time. Withoutloss of time he returned home, and taking up a gun began to load it. Finding that there was no shot in the house, he obtained three nails, and dropped them into the barrel as a charge. His mother inquired what he was going to do, and he replied that there was a beast on the farm that he was determined to get rid of. He then went out, but not going in the direction he intimated, Mrs. Copping's suspicions appear to have been aroused, and she followed him. Two or three times she asked him what ha was going to do, but only received vague answers, until at last he boldly told her that he had killed the girl, and was now about to shoot himself. Whether his mother endeavored to prevent him from carrying out his suicidal intention or not wa cannot say ; but the young man, when he got some distance from the house, placed the butt of the gun on the ground, with the barrel close to his mouth, and then pulled a string attached to the trigger. In some way the butt seems to,have slipped, and thus causing the gun to point in a slanting direction, the charge entered more to the side of the head than it would have done. This saved the young man’s life, and frustrated his purpose. His jaw is very much shattered, and he is greatly disfigured ; but he will probably recover. As soon as possible the services of a medical man were obtained, and one of the nails was extracted from the side of the head. The circumstances show that a very coldblooded and heartless murder has been committed, and one that will be long remembered in the Sorell district. Mias Stacey bore an excellent character, and her untimely end has elicited expressions of sympathy for her bereaved relatives from all parts of the district. The prisoner Copping will be brought to Hqbarton as soon as possible, and lodged in the Campbell-street gaol awaiting his trial. Mr. N. Bartley describes in the Brisbane Courier the following singular phenomenon : “A most curious instance of how optical illusions may obtain in a clear atmosphere might have been witnessed this morning (May 15) from any of the high hills near Brisbane. From some cause, the shape of the Main Range and Mount Flinders appeared to be distorted and altered as seen from Brisbane. Mount Mitchell’s hollow saddle-back became flat. Cunningham’s Gap, which is out-shaped, appeared this morning to have perpendicular sides and a square top and bottom. Spicer’s sharp peak was also merged in a square top. The outlying peak of Mount Flinders to the north of it, which is conical as seen from Brisbane, had a beautiful pair of square shoulders growing out on each side, below the summit, and it looked like Mount Lindsay for the time. Mount Burney had not escaped the general distortion, and the projecting knoll near the southern and eastern summit was bulged out of all its natural proportions. The whole scene was like a stage dream, and the mountains appeared enchanted for the time, or as if some earthquake had altered their old wellknown shape during the night. There was not a cloud in the sky, so there was no mistaking the curious illusion, and under a most powerful telescope which I brought to bear upon the scene the appearance remained the same; the rounded corners of the mountains seemed pulled out into square comers, earth, gum-trees, and all. The whole illusion gradually faded from half-past 8 to 9 a.m., when the mountains had resumed their ordinary aspect. But at 7 a.m. the scene was very remarkable, and the more so when we remember that Mount Burney is 90, Mount Mitchell 70, and Mount Flinders 30 miles from Wickham-ter-raoe, whence I saw the appearance named, and which, though I have often looked at the mountains from Warwick, Ipswich, and Brisbane during the last 24 years, I never saw anything like it before.”

The steamship State of Georgia, which arrived in . New York from Scotland lately, encountered an enormous iceberg on her passage. A Nm York Herald reporter visited the steamer, and although he could obtain no information from the captain, elicited some from the petty officers. “ Did I see the iceberg ?” said one young man in the uniform of the service. Yes ; it was on March 9, about five minutes after 9 o’clock in the morning, in latitude 47 deg. 47 min., longitude 46 deg. 52 min. It had been thick and hazy ; in fact, we had been running through a fog all night. About an hour or two before everybody felt a change of the atmosphere, when all at once, at the hour indicated, there uprose before us a great mass of ice. It was fearful as well as beautiful. I had seen a good many icebergs, but was never so near one before. Neither have I ever beheld such a gigantic tower of ice. It was about 200 feet long, and may bo 200 or 300 feet high.” A sailor on the deck said :—“ Nobody know’d we was near it until we was almost on to it. I could ha' chucked a stone from our deck an’ struck it. I think it must ha’ been anear 300 feel high. Wo must ha’ know'd wo was in danger, yet we didn’t slow up. No wonder the officers didn’t want to talk about .seeing it.” This account was corroborated by a deck hand, a companion of the sailor spoken to, who expressed his wonder at the size of the. iceberg, and his thankfulness at his escape. According to a recently published statement, the nominal capital of all the railways of the United Kingdom at the end of last year was no less than £658,000,000 sterling, being at the rate of £39,000 per mile of railway opened. Altogether at the present time there are 17,000 miles of railway, though it is only fair to add that upwards of £38,000,000 of capital returns no dividend, while £54,000,000 gives leas than five per cent., and only £5,000,000 more than ten. Mr. J. H. Wallace will sell to-morrow, as advertised, thoroughbred horses -and valuable milch cows, at Mr, David Knight's, JWaiwetu.

It may be information to some of onr readers (says a Poverty Bay journal) o learn that for “ shouting” a glass of grog to a native in an outlying district a person is liable to a fine not exceeding £SO, or six months’ imprisonment. This statement Mr. Henry James, sheep-farmer, can verify to his cost, as the other day ho was fined in the mitigated penalty of £1 and costs for giving a native woman named Pipi a nip of whisky at Wangara on the Queen’s Birthday. The defendant, it appeared from the evidence, went to sleep, when Pipi helped herself to the whisky, and freely distributed it among some other natives. The committee took the matter up, and having informed the police, action was taken against Mr. James.

A Colorado beetle, it is said, has made good his landing on the coast of Glamorganshire. A Cardiff house-decorator, Alfred John, took one last Sunday, April 13, which had been observed by his wife on a potato, to the police station, and there the health officer. Dr. Pain, declared the beetle to be of the genuine Colorado type. The insect is supposed to have travelled by a vessel now in port with a large cargo. It may well turn, out that the successful landing of this expeditionary force on the coast of Wales, will, as Sir Wilfrid Lawson long ago predicted, be more disastrous for England than the lauding of any naval or military force which we could rationally expect. Indeed, the beetle may prove far more formidable in Wales than even the Bashi-Bazouks in Thessaly. It is not so cruel, but it is even more rapacious ; and the law of the increase of its population is in itself only too formidable. Intelligence has reached Athens from 'Volo of the capture of the notorious bandit Amous Aghas with sixty followers near Pelion. By order of the insurgent chiefs he is to be tried by court-martial for having committed acts of unparalleled atrocity on women and children.