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Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 104, 5 February 1870, Page 6

All the efforts of the Russian Government have proved unavailing to put a stop to the extravances of the Skopzi. The Don, a usually wellinformed paper, gives an account of their hist exploits. On the 13th inst. a party of 400 of these fanatics left the town of Balatschow and proceeded to a neighbouring wood to pray. The ccene Avitnessed on their retun was horrible. A madman named Wasiloff declared that he was the son of God, and, after choosing twelve apostles from the party,called for a human sacrifice. Five victims were at once selected, placed on a number cf waggons which had been piled up for the purpose, and burnt alive. A woman who had distinguished herself by the violence of her religious paroxysms seized the shafts of the cart and beat two girls to death ;while another female was first trodden under foot and then literally torn to pieces by the fanatical crowd. Other details are given of the horrors enacted, which are utterly unfit for publication,

Magic Conceet. — A magic concert given in Paris. The audience assembled in a drawing room ; and on a platform was placed a piano, violin, violencello, and harp; but no performers. . At a given signal the overture to "William Tell wac heard issuing. from the orchestra. Unlike the socalled spiritual manifestations, the affair took place in broad daylight. The effect was produced by artists in another room playing on identical instruments connected by means of bars of wood with the instruments in the orchestra. The vibrations were carried through these rods (which were enclosed by non-conductors), sympathy causing the instruments to first shown to the Royal Institution of London, by Sir W. Wheatstone. — " Musical Standard." At a meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce on Thursday last, a discussion took place as to the measurement of flax for the purposes of freight. A letter was read from Mr. Inglis, chairman of the sub-com-mittee, stating that it was agreed that 100 feet measurement should be the standard ton of flax. Mr. Macphersaa moved as an amendment, that when flax is shipped by weight there should not be less than eight hundredweight j in every ton measurement of 40 cubic / feet. Mr. Walton seconded th# , motion, which was agreed to. / J