The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1889. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1961, 26 October 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1889. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

If Mr George Buckley, until lately president of the Bank of New Zealand, persists m the action he has taken with regard to this institution, he will without doubt, drive it into the bankruptcy court. He was one of the committee, who a little over a year ago produced a report with regard to the bank’s finances which shook it to its very foundations. The report was so ill-timed, and so indiscreet, that the bank’s escape from immediate collapse may he regarded as next door to a miracle. If such a report concerning an English bank had been issued it would not have survived it for 24 hours, but people in this colony have never experienced such an event as the closing of a bank, they have no idea of the effect of it, and consequently they did not rush the Bank of New Zealand when doubt was thrown on its stability. The bank owes its existence to the forbearance—bred probably of ignorance—of the people of this colony, for had the depositors rushed it then, no power on earth could have saved it, Mr Buckley’s action was then generally commended. We have never commended it. On the contrary, we,

i regarded it from the beginning as i dangerous in the extreme. His con- , duct at the recent meeting of the ’ shareholders was worse than dangerous; I it was mean, mischievous, and con- , temptible. When the half-yearly > report was produced last April, Mr Buckley was President, and in his speech spoke of the soundness of the bank. He has since sold most of his shares and retired from the position, , and now he does not scruple to attack the institution of which until lately ke . was the head. He says that in , addition to £900,000 already written off the accounts of the bank for bad ■ debts there yet remains a further sum of £300,000 which ought to be written off. If some facts which came since . to light had been brought before the f committee of investigation, they would have recommended that the bank [ should be wound up. This is a terrible indictment coming from the president of the bank, and it shows what a narrow escape the bank had, Mr Buckley’s attack looks so much like malice or some other feeling, however, ’ that its weight is considerably lessened. ’ He has sold out almost all his shares, and has now very little interest in the » institution, and it looks very much 1 like meddling on his part to interfere i to such an extent. However, if he 1 persist in such an interference; if, as he shows a determination to do, he pursues the course he has adopted, it ■ will take the bank all its time to weather through it, and for this reason , we think the people may as well be aware of him. Ho one knows what is behind all this. Who knows but that ‘ a syndicate may possibly be trying to ruin the bank so as to , buy it up? Such things have . been done before, and it is possible } they may be done again. If the bank , is allowed to go on there is no fear of • it; if, «n the other hand, such men as > Mr Buckley insist on representing it 9 as a bankrupt institution, it will find 1 it difficult to carry on. There is no j concern in existence so easily dis- , credited as a bank. Its whole existence depends on public confidence, and 5 the moment it loses that it must i collapse. In our opinion it would be s a bad thing for the colony if the Bank i of New Zealand were to come to grief now, when we are beginning to make a 1 little headway. We have frequently ' been pretty hard on it, but it was when 1 we thought it could well bear it, and now that it is down on its luck, it is • fairer to recount its virtues than its faults. There can be no doubt' but that the bank brought upon itself ‘ its trouble to a great extent, through a desire to push this colony ahead, It lent thinking, no doubt, that the prices which then ruled would b® maintained, that by its assistance the ? colony’s resources would be developed, 1 and that with the aid of its capital > it would build here a great colony. It r must be plain to every one that that was the policy of the bank. Its | managers, however, lacked one 5 faculty—they had not the gift of forej seeing events; prices came down by about 50 per cent., and thus the ’ securities of the bank were reduced in value. The failing of the bank, . honestly speaking, leant to virtue’s side, and the best thing the colony can do now is to rally round it and keep it alive. There is one thing it ought to do, however, and it is cut 7 up its lauds and sell them at what they may fetch. It is at -present impeding settlement, and so long, as it continues to do that it cannoti have our entire sympathy, TEMPERANCE COLONY. | Inr Malcolm Island, British Columbia, « a temperance colony is being formed. I The island is twelve miles long by two : miles wide, and has a beautiful climate. ■ An English paper speaks as follows of ■ the scheme:—“ The rules and regala- : tions for the government of this 1 fraternity are of startling novelty, and of a sort to frighten away all but enthusiasts who believe iu the universal brotherhood of man. Eirstand foremost, the inhabitants of Malcolm Island must be teetotallers. All lands, goods, money, and produce shall be held in common for the benefit of the members. The settlement is ruled by a Committee, forming a council of “ Seven Wise Men,” who take upon themselves every responsibility of providing work, medical attendance, food, and clothing for the people of the colony. Theological ' tolerance is carried to the extreme, for; eyeryone in this utopian community is free to hold any religious creed be likes. A settlement without women would never prosper, and being matter of fact enough to recognise this axiom the Seven Wise Men have formulated the law that every girl is to be instructed , in ‘household duties, needlework, nursing, cooking, the piano, and etiquette,’ After this, one is not , surprised to leam that marriage is encouraged, and those who contemplate entering into this union, by giving ( notice to the Committee, will have i residences built and furnished for < them. Truly excellent arrangements ' one and all.” On the contrary we - think that the regulations are such ‘ as would attract people, instead of t “frighten” them away. People may ridicule this, but if the “Wise r Men” govern wisely, and carry out \ the regulations honestly, it will before 1 long be pointed out as the brightest f and happiest spot on the face of the earth. Supposing, for instance, we “ were under similar regulations in this colony, would we not be better off. fc | We should have no poor, no rich, all a would be equal, all would have plenty, li and all would have happiness, peace, tl

and contentment. Why do people desire to get rich ? There are three reasons—lst, to provide for old age ; 2nd, to provide for their offspring; and 3rd, to be able to outshine their neighbors. Putting aside misers, men have no other incentive to accumulate wealth. Under such regulations as are referred to above, men would have no such incentives. The country would provide for their old age and offspring, and as all would be equal there would be no rivalry, and no display. The causes which lead to misery, heartburning, jealousy, hatred, covetousness, anger, and all ether evil passions would be removed, and man would have all he wanted and would be contented.' This is what the world will seme day come to, and perhaps the example of the settlement of Malcolm Island will some day be copied. It would certainly be preferable to the present state, when a man cannot very well rise to a position of opulence and luxury without, literally speaking, trampling under foot the hopes, the aspirations, and very often the lives of his fellow creatures. This is a view of our social condition which is seldom seen, but if looked at straight in the face it will be found correct. , Let us put it in this way: Smith, Jones, Brown, and Robinson start in business on equal terms. Smith is far more enterprising, more intelligent, and more pushing than the others, and he very soon gets the greater portion of the customers to come to. his shop, with the result that Jones, Brown,{and Robinson go to the wall. While Smith heaps up wealth Jones, Brown, and Robinson get poorer and poorer, and' in the course of time are perhaps reduced to the lowest level, when their children want the necessaries of life. Smith still continues growing rich, but is he anj the happier for it ? He is riot. The richer he grows the more grasping and covetous he becomes. He works away and worries his life out in his desire to increase his store of wealth, till at last he brings himself to an untimely grave by causeless anxieties, and all is at an end. Had he lived under a system such as is sketched in the,, paragraph quoted above, be would have been happier, and he would have lived longer, and Jones, Brown, and Robinson would have never been reduced to penury. He walked to wealth on the wreck of Jones, Brown, and Robinson, and found no peace; for there can be no peace under the present social system. It is not the fault of the people; it is the fault of our system of cutthroat competition. The settlement at Malcolm Island has changed that system, and we trust they will succeed. I" 1 ” LOCAL AND GENERAL. Show Exhibits.— Some very fine sheep belonging to Mr C. G. Tripp passed through Geraldine yesterday, en route for the Timaru Show.

Wesleyan Ghueoh, Tkmuka. The Rev. R, S. Bunn will conduct the services in this Church tp-morrow. The subject of his addresses will be found in oar advertising columns. Conscience Money,— The Collector of Customs acknowledges £3 “conscience money” from an unknown person. This is the fourth instance in over 14 years at Lyttelton of such honesty or qualms of conscience.

Train Arrangements for Agricultural Shows. —ln our advertising columns will be found the train arrangements for the Timaru and Ashburton Shows. Return tickets to Timaru, available for return till the Ist November, are now being issued.

Rifle-Shooting. —The members of the Geraldine Rifles commenced the competition for the company’s gold medal on Thursday afternoon. :The medal will fall to the lot of the member winning roost times oat of sight contests, the latter taking place once every three months. Only the two first ranges were got through on Thursday afternoon. The longer range will be fired off at an early date.

Y i An Opinion. —The Sydney Morning Herald, in an article on New Zealand politics, says the redistribution of portfolios is a matter of considerable importance to the Atkinson Ministry, and will tend to strengthen its influence. The . re-election of Mr Hislop and his recall to the Cabinet have done enough to assert the contention of the Ministry against the action of the Committee, of the Legislative Ceuncil in the Ward-Hislop dispute. Security Wanted. -A good story is going about of a zealous official who was stationed at the door of a neWly-opened picture-gallery in one of our large provincial .towns with strict orders not to allow anyone to, pass without first depositing his walking-stick. A ' gentleman came along with his hands in bis pockets, and was about to enter the building, When the official seized him by the arm and said, “Where’s your stick ? ” “My stick I I

haven’t got one.’V “ Then you will have to go out and get one before I let you pass.” -r

St. Saviour’s and St. , John’s Churches.— On Sunday next the Rev. T. A. Hamilton will exchange pulpits with the Rev. T. Jasper Smyth, of Pleasant Point, who will officiate at Winches'erin the morning and at Temuka in the evening, pr«aching special sermon? in aid of rebuilding the Amberley Church, destroyed by the gale of the 9th September. As the preacher has a characteristic eloquence peculiarly bis own the churches will doubtless be crowded, and the offertories large on both occasions, Resigned. —Mr G. Ward lias placed his resignation as lieutenant of the Geraldine Rifles in the hands of Lieut.-Colonel Bailey, who will forward it to the Minister for Defence. Mr Ward has taken the very keenest interest in the corps, having been connected with it since its formation. In all matters pertaining to shooting, or, in fact, anything (bat has tended to benefit the corps, he has always been to the front, and the Rifles will no doubt have some little difficulty in obtaining a successor to 1 their late lieutenant.

Fishing by Electricity. —A Chicago electrician has completed a device for catching fish by electricity. There is a small apparatus attached to the hook at the end ot the fishline. From this apparatus one electric wire goes to the bottom of the water, while the other leads to the point of the hook, wjhero the bait is attached. As soon ns the fish, attracted by the bait, comes close enough it receives an electric shock, winch either kills it immediately or else stuns it, and brings it to the surface.

Proposed New Church at Temdba.— A meeting of the building committee of the proposed new -Episcopalian Church in Temuka was held on Thursday evening, all the members being present. The Rev. T. A. Hamilton was appointed convener, Mr Pinckney secretary and treasurer, and Mr Ash well was added to the committee. The different plans for the church were discussed and one selected, and plans are now being prepared for a building in stone.

Geraldine Literary and Debating Society. —The fortnightly meeting of this society was held on Wednesday evening last in the library of the Mechanics’ Institute. Mr J. Cunningham occupied the chair. -The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr F. Wilson Smith read an able and well-written paper on “Government,” and Mr H. N, Hiskens read a paper on “Shorthand.” Both papers were, as usual, followed by criticism. One account was passed for payment, and the' meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. !; On Wednesday, November 6th, the session will close fov the summer months. On that evening a paper will be read by Mr fl. W. Moore, and a- considerable amount of important business will be transacted.

Mr Spxtroeok. -The Pall Mall Gazette says:—“ Mr Spurgeon may bo interested to hear that be was warmly praised from a Roman Catholic pulpit. The Rev. W. 0. Robjosob; M.A., a distinguished Oxford Vert to Rome, is delivering a course of Sunday evening lectures on ‘The'Protestant Reformation,’ in the Church of St. James, Spanish Place. He illustrated hie subject with several reference! to the case of the Bishop of Lincoln, which he anticipates will have some momentous results. In Father Robinson’s opinion dissolution will be the early fate ; bf the Church of England: “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” Dissent was visibly dissolving into various forms of freethought, and at this point the compliment to Spurgeon came in, for Father Robinson declared that be had from the first admired the noble stand made by the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle ip defence of fundamental Cbriitiau faitb. ;

Sotth Orari School Committee. The tenth monthly meeting of this com* mittee was held on Monday evening last. Present—Messrs McLeod (chairman), Bates, Collie, Batty, and Langdown. The minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed. Correspondence was read as follows ;—From Mr J. A. Fitzgerald, the master, reporting the roll number to be ; Boys, 46 ; girls, 40 ; total, 86.. The average attendance to date was: Boys, 41.4; girls, 35.8; total, 77.2. He also asked leave of absence to attend the Otago University examination. The required leave of absence was granted him. From the Board of Education, rs the insurance of the school. It was decided that the chairman should attend to the same, and also procure window cord for the windows! On the motion of Mr Collie, seconded by Mr Batty, a cordial vote of thanks wai passed to Mr Aitken, 8.A., for his able and instructive lecture in aid of the prize funds of the school. The visitor, Mr Bates, reported everything to be going on satisfactorily at the school, and the meeting adjourned till the third Monday in November.

Perjury.— At-the Waimata Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday last, before Messrs Slee and Hassall, J.P.’s, William Giles Tomlin, of Te--muka, was brought tip, charged with ing committed wilful and corrupt, perjury during the hearing of a civil action brought against him by Messrs Manchester Bros, and Goldsmith. In this action ha swore that the signature to a promissory note was not in his bandwjitißg, and that he bad never signed the document, Mr Salmond defended the accused. It appeared that the accused swore as above, but when be recently idled a declaration of insolvency he included the debt covered! by the same promiaspry note in bis sworn statement of assets and liabilities. He also swore in his bankruptcy examination) that he had never signed the document. John Manchester proved that the promissory note was signed in his presence, and this was corroborated by witnesses, who swore to the signature of the accused.: After hearing the evidence, the Court considered that a prima facia case had been; made out, and committed the accused for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Timaru, bail being allowed, the accused in £59, and two sureties of £23 each.

Irish Delegates.— A meeting of the 1 committee appointed for the reception of : the Irish delegates was held last Thursday evening in the Star Hotel, Temuka. Present—Messrs M. Qninq ;(chairman),i McS. Gentlemun, Scannell, Fitzgerald, : Angland, Rooney, and Twomey. The minutes of the previous meeting were read; and confirmed. The secretary reported that since the previous meeting a circular bad been received from the Dunedin Committee stating that all the arrange* meets for the. South Island would be made in Dunedin. He bad written to Dunedin making inquiries as to whether the delegates would come to Terauka, and he had received a reply stating that as soon as arrangements were completed full in-i formation would be given. He had also written to Geraldine inquiring whether the delegates would be invited to that town. The reply was that the people of Geraldine did not think that of themselves they could give a suit* able reception to the delegates, but that probably if Temuka would undertake to assist them they might reconsider the question. The Committee discussed the subject at some leagth, and decided that, however willing they were themselves to assist Geraldine, they could not undertake to guarantee that the Temuka people generally would assist as desired. It was also decided to adhere to the invitation already forwarded to the delegates to visit Temuka, and a hope was expressed (hat the Geraldine people would help Temuka in the eveat of the delegates speaking there. The meeting then adjourned.

Milk and Thirst.—lt is a mistake to look upon milk as a beverage. It is a liquid food, hoc 1 (bough it qu inches (hirst at the moment makes it more intense

after it has been some time in the stomach and its digestion has commenced. Healthy infants who receive a nufficieDoy of milk often cry for long period*, 10 the bewilderment and dis ress of mothers sod nurses, simply bscause they are thirsty ; and in many cases whore indigestion is caused by weakness or insufficiency of (he gislic juice, the child would be greatly benefited by a drink of water.—The Hospital: Well-Deserted ; Punishment. The parent of a boy attending the Sydenham borough school summoned Mr Baldwin, head master, for assaulting the lad l with a stick. The lengthy evidence given showed that four of the boys at school had mobbed an old woman and had taken article* from her basket. The master seeing thja punished them for an example to the school. The bench strongly condemned the action of the boys and considered that they had not had severe enough punishment. The case was dismissed with costs; j " Missing,—A man named James Clark, 55, a p'atelayer on the railway at Makikihi, has been missing since 6 a.m. on Wednesday, It was bis duty to walk along the line for a certain distance, with another, to see that all was clear, and he left his home ostensibly for that purpose. He di|d not go along the line, however, and though the police and others mads a diligent search for him no traces were found up to Thursday night. He left home without a coat, and as he had shown signs of despondency suicide is feared. He hqs; a wife and nine cliildrea. We understand' that Clark worked on the Temuka sectiobof the line for some time, and was ja steady, industrious man, and much respected. j A Want Supplied. —A French stationer 1 declares that he has invented an ink warranted to fade oft paper in a week without leaving the slightest trace. What a boon that will bo to*all sorts and conditions of men 1 Hot only will politicians have fits of honesty, but lovers will be. able to give full vent to their feelings without the dread fear of breaches of promise before their eyes, and the lawyer’s clerk, who always ends his epistle to his sweetheart, ' “ without prejudice,” cap allow a free reio to his fancy, knowing well that in 10 days all will vanish, and the paper regain its original value. Ordetjs (under cover) will pour into this fortunate stationer. The, Kaiapoi Factor* and the Union. —The Directors of the Kaiapoi Woollek Factory Company have replied to the circulars from the Trades Union of Tailors and Pressers to the effect that they have no intention of opposing the union, ap they recognise that the members arb justified in uniting for the protection of their rights. On the various points at issue they concur except on the one in which the union desire that none but union hands be employed. This the directors think is open to serious obj section, and they will not pledge themselvejj to it. With reference to the proposed log they have no objection to the classification suggested by the union. In conclusion they trust that should any questions arise between themselves and the employes they should be able by employing common sense to adjust such differences amicablyi. The annual meeting of shareholders will be held next week, when a dividend of seven per cent, will be declared and £2802 carried forward. > i An Aroh-Impostor.— Arthur Clampett, alias Sullivan, has furnished the Wanganui Chronicle with what amounts to 1

written confession that bis real name is Clampetfc,'and that recently he gave way to drink at Christchurch. •He gives a history ©f his career under the nama.ej Sullivan, stating he began evangelistic work in Auckland. Owing to the attackfj of the Press, while in Christchurch,. nncj the hard work of the mission, be broke down, and subsequently fell into his . old habit of drink and forgot himself, though he bad only a, week. previously addressed a monster temperance meeting. This waq the only time, he says, since his conversion that be has tasted drink. Sfe asserts that his one object since his conversion has been to do good, and win others to live better liyes. In conclusion Clampett soys, taking everything into consideration, it is his present intention to proceed on a lecturing tour, including, among other items, singing and subjects connected with athletics. - Indmwanx Railway Employes. —At a large meeting of railway employes at Christchurch on Thursday resolutions were passed condemning the proposed insurance bill as unjust and arbitrary ; that if it were brought into force it would interfere with the good work done by friendly societies, and vlrtually reduce the wages of employes ; that if the necessity, has arisen for seeming to the railway workmen a ; larger amount of financial benefit than the friendly societies already provide, the men are quite - capable Of, dealing 1 with the case themselves; and that the employes on the Canterbury se'c-S tions of tbs New Zealand Railways shouldform an amalgamated union and federate! with the amalgamated society of Now! Zealand railway 'servants, as at Auckland,! and that the same should federate with ,' or be affiliated to, all other, labor organisations in this colony, and if possible with the whole British Empire. The mayor! presided, and among the speakers were. Messrs R. M. Taylor, W. B, Perceval, W. P., Reeves, and the mayor of Lyttelton. ■ * The Floobs in Japan.— The following additional particulars of the flood sin Japan are given in the Australian papers ‘A disastrous flodd looourred at Wakapama,iJapan, on 1 August: 20. Owiog to aeavy rains, : backed up by a high'tide,; ;he embankments of the river Kingawa were carried away, and a large number of villages were /inundated, the water rising [6ft 'higher than usual. A very I»rgo listrict was flooded,'and there was great oss of life and property. At Wakayama be water in the streets was nearly 10ft. ligh ; nearly one hundred houses, nine •ridges, and large portions of the roadray were completely destroyed, and 9200 ouses ' were under water. The local fficials have since given assistance to 0,424 destitute persons. Over 1000 ves were lost. The embankments at Lfitizawn were also destroyed. Five' lousand bouses were flooded, 200 were arried away, and many lives were lost.; he embankments of Eidakagawa were so destroyed. In two other towns onjy J houses were loft standing Qqt Q,f mfiny ] < undreds. ‘

Mixed Parcels.— There i« a foony story (siys Truth) going round Washington at J the expense of an impulsive and somewhat light-headed young geatleram attached to the British Legation. The youth made a couple of purchases one day—the one for himself—a matter of clothing—the other a box of roses for the adornment of the Washington belle to whom ho had lost his heart. In a hasty moment lie mistook the parcels, and handed tbp box containing the clothing to,a jmesseqgqr, accompanied by a note addressed to his lady-love, bidding her-' 1 Wear-these tbis'eveniiSg for my sake.” The story stops there. Cosr op Strikes'—B'lys* °tka Elt.ctor..Those, .who so much,zeal and so littlelpgiOjtheqpductien in the hours of labor by law, should calculate.the cost of obtaining desired reform' purely by t action—that, is, by strikes. , Wa. recowmend-; to them, g study ■ of., the figures about labor struggles; we take from thq.jHortb mist,; 'ln the sixyaars eDd.lpg(3 ) Bjq|. ; tfi l era were 3000 strikes, involving 22,300 establishibents and 1 ‘11323j0(X)" irfitJlbyes. In the same period' 2200 !? igiitflblliHi(ribt8 ,b ad lock-.jQ a tß,rqnd 'these; ip;ypljyedj’sfio;9oo employes.. Of the {strikes, per coat, failed entirely; of the look-pups, r 6O par cent; failed. l ' Loss eratifl|jye», £12,000,900 sterling; loss to ployers estimated at nearly £7^o^,ooo^ . Soaring a Witfß.—The states that an extraordinary .mode of ~~ scaring a wife was' adopted by J a 'person named Robert Shilling', a ( fishmonger, on Friday evening. ThCmed wbrkrtlf OBt lho Te Aro reclamation ’’ cob tract 3WBerv.<jd a man come hufaisdly doWri itebiltnalion wall near • the' ‘ Wel’ingtpa : 'Ro.Wing Club’s shbd'asd juirip’ into-; tntr'hifßb'br. Supposing it to* be ,, a i! S'ttiirldal several men ran ’to the . spot , were „tbe inbidtmt' occurred arid’ soon 1 the individual oaf'if l 'the water. Constable Kenny found out thffman’s name and took him to the police BtatiinV 'Hri made an explanation to the effect, that having ■previously bad a few words With l bis - Wife, he thought bo would frighten her, and ic’cofdingly Wfe’nV/ffbpiiTit (J ih‘- fBi l way described. It wrikdikebvered that a similar Statement to] the abdvaijje’ffebt /kadi been made by Shilling to. a there was evidently BojJuicidal intent, the police considered, the, explanation , a satisfactory one, and allowed the man ia go. 1 Shilling is said to bs sri'exsellent swimmer, so that , he would.' probably ! havkb’ome! ite;) little harm even if he had not beexr'Hdtioed. ...The .Sea SestbntAgai^.—The.aei'.Borpeut'hßs cropped up f»Bgainc '\ ; Wbo|f does that; fi»ydt«fibus : bribrisler maHHllelf the whiles I, This time it itselfpoff ■ Matinicus to the *criw of ihe r scheoner Jerueha Baker whose captain (Ctjass)! just descried it. and toolkit, for a whale l|ing oho hundred yards'from, the, vestal.’He called .the attention of bis mate to if, whilb watching it the men suddenly savran enormous head rise from, the ;water, |and the mass extend itself, into; a,"snake-like ferm. They were in , the , presence of a 1 veritable sea serpent I *‘ fie liftedh'tkibig head out of the ; water,’ eaid the captain, ‘until he. could overlook the Jerueba’sdeqk, and then much to oar relief began, slowly to swim.away from us. head and five or six feet mf neck poveracl witliiglistening scales; we could sebakleakV ien feet of the tail, which was smooth and shaped like an oar,; altogether the creature could not be an inch short of 40 feet long. Not being equipped for huntingaea serpents, we kept pn our, course, ans were glad wheu thri strehm of fpainthat tearked the monster’s path through the water had 'disappeared.’ i U I' Kidnafpino l op 1 Children.—A ; coribsI ponddrit' of I‘Notes and QabrieS'"' Wdiifis the following extract,from a letter on 13tt> June, from an English merchant at Pernambuco, in Brazil' - b«hn quiet a reign of terror here during the past fortnight, bwing'td the disappearance of about a dozen children, who have, it is said, been kidaftpped,; spmo lal jfb||o trained 'for a circus,, W lulled for the benefit‘of sufferers ' ftdm leprosy, for which disease l there is cure, but an old superstition-is that a cure may ,b.e; obtained•. j, if ;< the] \ j | person attacked’ 1 oat the iriternaH brgain of a joung, healthy ohildy wash tliemsalyes with its blood, Vnd. Imake grease of its body for anointing their-bodies. • ; Whether there is any truth in the presumed connection between this belief- and- the disappearance of tbe children, .I cannpt tell; anyway, report ..says; there is the demand, and that the price paid for a child is £IC.; '/It seems really,.toohorriblp teb® true ;;anyway, a panic exists; and hardly any children are now, seen ,put, and .tbe publie schools have been almost Resected. Some people who were , supposed to haye bought some children had cheir carriage stepped iu'the' street ,and were stoned. Our children.now.go out for their walks (attended by two servants." , >' n

1 ■' STABBiira'. AkPBAY.—A fatal'. ! ;'stftbbing I affray occurred 1 ' in a 1 lane between 5 C/liet--7 wyrid street And; War wick-'btrOot, \ Melbourne, on fhei 2nd Sept., when'a 'man l| harrie'd Joan Welsford,driivetbf a furniture ‘I van,'was killed by# main r ’ v tailmlid' f k White. The accpnnt.given of the diroiim* 'I stances le'adirig up to the quarrel shows | that in December of lastyeaf White deieff* ' ed his wife, who is comparatively a young ! woman, and she started a business as a •grocer in North FitzreyiifiOar residence, She allowed it to be assumed that she was 1 a widow,: and Welsford became intimate to a -sufficient to excite the 5 suspicion of ‘thb neighbours. About ’five weeks ago White returned from America, and His wifr'Wiiaented to live with’him againj Welsford objected to this arrangement, I .<and ‘ohallonged White to fight in order to decide wbe was most worthy* of the wotbk». White declin ed, attd> - •to’- 1 pfevßtt t•?<t «6y possibility of unpleasantness,- Mrs White aold : out ! h« businesi in North Filaioy, and she and her husband went to live -in the lane ia North Melbourne. There Welsford found him out, and again renewed his pffer to fight. White|ti|raeclinejiiand locked the back gale of bib -yard fq keep Welsford out. Welsford climbed over the fence, and Whitej either in self-defenlqljr in malice,' stabbed him io the left briast with a carving knife inflicting a wound (hat caused bis death within a. few Minutes. Mts White went for the police before *tha fatal stab was ’given, and returned with SeniOr-oonstable 'Rivis and Constable Rosa they found White quietly sitting.in (He kitchen. Ho dr as taken to the North , Melbourne lock-up, and a charge of wilful murder entered against him. Welsford was about 'SQ years of age and a widower, while White is about 4S yeateof age, ■■ ■ ' :: ■ ‘ " t A

Temuka Town Board.— The date on which the contract for general work for the Town Board expires is the 30th April, not Slat March, as stated in our last issue. Fire.—lt was reported in Temuka last* evening that Mr NaughtOn’s bouse, Rangitira Yalley, Waitohi, was burned to the greimd We made inquiries >of, the police, but they had received no intimation of it.., We give' tbs report for what 1 it irworth. \pp Fribdom, The special of the Melbourne Age, who h|B f ■just ".completed a tour of Brazil, writea :-^ 41 There seams to be a; general doojßeniius of opinion amongst politicians of every shade of opinion that the abolition of slavery has worked well. The negro;? now that be is a free man, is less indolent than heretofore i his labor costs less, since bis master can now dispense wkh the army of Overseers and drivers whom he formerly Ihad tp employ, and the negro is a far Wtsr ohatomer to the merchant than at

afiy previoaß time in the history of Brazil. /better, and in tbe southern provinces, at .'any rate, is developing a taste for pretty furniture, bibelots, and nick-nacks gene,rally.: .Some of the negresses whom I aaw wera very wall dressed, were neatly shod, and Wore a profusion of Brummagem and other imitation jewellery. Most of ;tfaem carried parasols, and fans, only they xkrtiad them, not in their hands, but on the"tpps of their woolly heads. Jf.Z. I’M!.—New Zealand flax has got a -hold on the American market (writes a San ifianoisco correspondent of the Post.) It Will retain its grip unless you ship inferior or imperfectly cleaned fibre. Some of the flax that has been shipped to this port has bean inferior. i>wiag to partial cleaning, and to its being out too near tr the soil. It is probably useless to appeal eyed to the cupidity of your fiaxdrsssers by telling them that it will pay best in tbe long run to tarn out Only a first-class ' ayticle. They trill not think of the future, \ bht take phaheos. ! Tbe remedy lies wlthyourselves, however. Let the various Chambers -ol.Oommsroe,establish standard grades and a uniform size and style of baling for flax, and compel shippers to adhere to them, and New Zealand flax will secure for; itself reeognised standing in thp^world’s market. In time flax would bs ordered by standard number just as wheat is ordered by cable at San Franoiseofrom London, Sydney or elsewhere. If this bob done New Zaland flax will net have a recognised place as a merchantable fibre, bat; will be used,; as heretofore,, to supplement supplies of « hemp : and sisal. The present' ehanos for making e permanent place for your flax should not bs missed. The verdict of all who have used the « Jumbo ” brand Baking Powder, is that it makes light, nutritious, and digestive bread oakes, pastry, etc. As the ingredients are'of tbe finest qualities, and no injurious elements being need in'the preparation, bread,’ etc., made with this powder wilt keep fresh and moist longer than with any other powder. Ask for Anderson’s “ Jumbo ” brand Baking , { Powder.—{A btt, 11.