Taranaki.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 232, 25 April 1861, Page 3

Taranaki.

(From the Taranaki Herald, April 13.)

The week has been full ;of excitement though barren of events., .QiiV Monday morning (the Bth inst). the 'd&ffrjfrr Arrived from Waitara, accompanied by<Messrs. Whitaker, Wild, McLean,and ..Steward. A considerable number of popple, wpre assembled to see lnm enter the received him without any dempiistratipn'.' 1 .' 1 ; owing to the anxiety and doubt felt respecting, the-terms of peace. On Tuesday a meeting b/ setfler.s was formed at, which a resolution moved by Mr. Gledliill was passed—“ That: a deputation he appointed to wait on TJ is Excellency to lav before him the state of the settlement and to enquire the views of the Government as to its future prospects.” ; .;.p, On Wednesday the..--deputation waited on His Excellency, and was read by the foreman containing the views, and enquiries of the deputation;;* 'f - ' V His ]Excellency replied,verbally to the following effect,:—He was;,.sensible of the difficulties alluded to by the.deputation, hut would not be induced by any pressure of opinion either in the colony or elsewhere;to swerve from his duty. He desired to da.t-he strictest justice to the s,ettlers of Tarjtnaki vi .\v)jose :r: his warmest sympathy, answer the main question raised in. the pap.er ? ;;jiist rpad more definitely would be to disclose his plans prema. turely, which would be mischievous. 'Hie terms granted to Ngatiawawere determined on v /ith a view to simplify the issue in the present •struggle. -It had beenicahed-pa-land quarrel, but though it arose out bf aland 1 ' quarrel, it was- itself a question,of jurisdiction. It was thought right. .by hjtiiself and his Executive Council to ritl ' the -issue of this extraneous matter at once, ai}d the. .settlers would see shortly‘that tW?s J yits right.:'' The land league he belieyed’w&s broken; up for ever in Taranaki, and as' tlfe hatifesTnbw;.that its pressure was gope’,'Were desftYmj land, all that was rieccessary for the consolidation and security of the would, lie had

great -hopes, .be very sopn obtained. W.- King and his people held very little-of the conquered land, and he saw no important punciple to satisfied in taking that but great benefit'in'the' plan he had adopted He would not Say what terms would be offered King hereafter. He had sent messages to Taranaki and to Ngatiruanui saying lie- had heard they wanted peace, and if so they must ask for it, and they shotild be told on what terms it could be had. No great time for negotiation would be allowed and if the term.s were.not quickly 1 accepted hesliould' put the affairs in Major General Cameron’s hands, and ask him to do; liisT best. It might be that peace would not be asked for, in that case lie would prefeF to have kept his terms secret and if,any were granted at a later dpte they would ndt be the same. With reference to the return of the families lie thought it premature to enter on the subject.. We might he only half through the war, but at any rate it. was for the Commander of the Forces to decide on that suhjeot. He (the. Governgr).thought they-were best away at. preseiir. The reorganisation of the- Militia under ; last' year’s, amended law was under consideration, and that, might meet the wants of those who wished for their discharge. The men were to be classified, and a part would form a reserve. He presumed no one wished to be without a musket to repel an attack, lie had given instructions that British law. should he enforced strictly for the future among the Ngatiawa tribe, hot only as between native and European, but between native and native: and the caution which the deputation suggested had been given to the officer in charge of tho native department. He hoped, however, there was no fear that any scandal would arise from the want of self control on the settlers’ side.—The request that the town pa should be abolished had been anticipated. It was impossible that the existence of.a pa,in the town could continue. The loyal"proprietors would he compensated and the shares of t.he rebels taken from them. A. commission was already valuing it. Mr. /Fliitaker'on the part of the Executive Council stated his belief that, the terms printed were judicious, hut he wished to reiterate that they l;ad no reference to any other than the Ngatiawa men. It was an error to have published them without this caution,’which was contained. 'in a letter to the Superintendent enclosed with them.

The Foreman observed, that, the reply his Excelleuc.y had given did liot, quite meet the anxiety of the settlers. They saw no means by which the wrongdoers could repair their destruction of property hut by. a surrender of territory, and they read the 7th ; article of the terms to jVgatiawa as announcing as a general principle that land was out of tlie question—was in fact iapu. His Excellency replied, timf those term? were quite special ; he'had n.eyer held such an opiuioh as that land was tapu; but he could promise nothing, because if lie had taken territory from the natives it was not.in his power to give it to the sufferers; the General Assembly, they were aware, had control in that. Besides, it. would be premising- to dispose of a bird which was v-i ;n the busin .

Mr. Whitaker, in answer to a question from the deputation, said, that t > answer directly was to expose the intended terms to the rebels. If there were no other means of restitution but the laud, to say that, compensation was part of i heir policy would.be to promise to confiscate laud, which it, might be inexpedient to do.

l’he Foreman had not said land was the only means; he knew there were large herds of cattle'down*south, The sufferers had no right to indicate what, was to he the source of their relief; all they desired was relief, and it would remove anxiety to know-their claims •were admitted. 7’hey felt, that complete compensation was unprecedented, but justice did not require a precedent. Of course they could nOt expect impossibilities, hilt they would be satisfied to know that compensation was part of their present policy.

//is Excellency agreed that-it was most unjust. that loyal pnhabitanis should be left, to suffer great loss, whilst the rebels went off scot. free.

Mr. Hulke observed, 'that the town pa was not the only valuable property held by rebels in the settlement ; there, was land held under a frown grant in the Hua Mock — would that be confiscated ?

His Excellency could nut confiscate land held of the Crown. The land of a rebel convicted of High treason in the-Supreme Court would be confiscated of course. He would refer the deputation to the Attorney. General. Mr.*Whitaker could not promise that the Government would prosecute Mr high treason;. The Cabinet, must- consult on such a question, [t was a doubtful oud delicate one. He would make a nose of the circumstance, mentioned. Mr. Hulke said there was other land reserved fir the use of rebels/not under Crown grant, which he hoped tne //ttdvn'ey' General would make a note of.

After thanking his Excellency for his patient attention, the deputation withdrew.

On ,7’liursday an adjourned meeting re* ceived the report of the deputation, (consist* ing of Messrs. Richmond, C. Brown, H. AtGood, and Hulke.) through Mr. J--0. Richmond, confirming the impression he had received bv the testimony of t-lie Rev. Mr. /Tilson, who approves of the government’s policy. He thought, that in two or three weeks the reasonable desires of the settlers would be satisfied. : On. Friday General Caineroii reviewed the force at JFaitara, and in town. The il/auri prisoners of war were released. •

An answer of an unsatisfactory character has been received to his Excellency’s message to the Southern tribes. VV./Thompson, they say/ made peace and the arrangement is with

him,. .A, Ngatiruanui chief ip town has .suggested terms, including among ’other things to private property While we write the artillery is entering the town

.(From.the Taranaki News, A pril 18,) The complexion of affairs here partakes of so many variations that it is with difficulty and with uncertainty that We- arrive at any .conclusions. Last week we had occasion to give the terms of peace offered to the “ Waitara Insurgents” illustrated by a letter from the Native Secretary, and by the explanations given by His Excellency to the deputation that waited on'him, to ascertain the views of his government; and out of which much that had been previously considered unsatisfactory disappeared and an approach to reliance arrived at. The Governor’s reply is already before our readers. Them there-was no idea abroad of .the immediatfi dppavtni-a rtf TTiav 'R'yaflllfincy. and pro - parations were, making -for punishing as they deserve the contumacious natives of the south, if prompt: and satisfactory submission were not. made. This view of affairs has undergone an entire change. His Excellency has departed for Auckland,, leaving behind him .: some additional, information regarding tlie proposals made to the , Ngatiruanui. and. Taranaki tribes—which .we have furnished in another column; and the Niger has come down ami carried away part of the Gsih, and will it is understood return with the Fawn to embark more. The military force here is to be reduced to some 750 or 800 men to be divided between the camps at Waitara and the town; and the G meral and staff will leave for Auckland before tie end of the coming week.—These are simply matters of detail and we are constrained to confess they •rnt our powers of speculation at defiance. The key to all this is said to be the state of tlie Waikato district brought by the Niger. In the outlying places of Auckland, thefriendly natives have it seems given partial notice of mischief brewing, and those who but the other day said, stay where you are—-now sav, go it is not. safe for you to stay. The movement of the troops then seem - to,indicate ..that the. war if further war is to be, will presently be transferred to the north, ami we must wait with what patience we can muster tlie development of the diplomacy at work.

• Turning to the prospects of the Province iiv ’ the position in which it seems likely it will be left., we see nothing; hut. gloom. Twelve months of military imbecility have sufficed for - the destruction of nearly all that was valuable of property, and by fiction we are described as : at peace with the murdering hordes of Tarani aki and Ngatiruanui. We do not pretend toI offer any solution of the inconsistencies'we have described—but we-foresee that if the Governor’s • pledge that, restitution of property from the natives south be not quickly insisted on, ami accomplished, his peace .proposals* will not prevent the settlers going down to claim their own. A practical' way of treating the matter : which might possibly inconveniently disturb i his diplomacy. f Since our last H.M.S.S. Fawn came up to : the- anchorage waiting for His Excellency,

? who had- it appears made arrangements for a i more .speedy departure than was anticipatedOn Monday the Niger arrived frpm Manukau, ! and as soon as Capt. Cracroft had waited on i the Governor, both steamers left; the Fawn > for Manukau, with His Excellency and suite, ‘ the JViger, for Wajtara. During the'day the S.SfCorio arrived from Nelson with cattle and* sheep for the Contractor. On the 16th Big Te escaped from, tho Court // >use prison, between 6 and 8 a.w.,. and .has not been,,heard of since. The Superintendent has offered a reward of J£lo fir h sapprehension. • A portion of the 57th Regt. stationed at TFaitara inarched into town to join the head quarters. 7’lie Niger left the Waitara with ’ 295 of the 65th Rpgt. in charge of Colonel Young for Manukau; the remainder of the ■ Regt. will follow at the end of the week. The Oorio also sailed for the Manukau, and we understand it is pr posed to run her fortnightly between Nelson, New Plymouth and Manukau. A military Board sat to-day at

the Brigade office from 11 to 3, to receive parties claiming for damages sust lined by the military works about the town .since the commencement of the war. Thursday the 18th inst. is the last day for preferring claims by a notice posted, purporting to be official/from the Biigade office, but bearing no n.niture. It will- no doubt be discovered that the short notice given is quite incompatible with ary idea of justice to the, claimants. 7iie scattered condition of the population requires, and will no doubt, ou the mature consideration of the authorities, receive the sufferance it demands, and full and fair opportunity be given to all just claims. On Wednesday morning it was annonnccd tiiat the rebel 7’amihana of Kaipakopako, and other natives of the l’uketapu true, were coming into towu - to submit to the terras offered by the Governor to IJapurona and the Ngatiawas. Considerable excitement prevailed, and his Honor the Superintendent ; w*s requested to accompany a few gentlemen of the late deputation to wait on Mr. McLean, and remonstrate against their being permitted to enter the town for fear of consequences, and to protest against their being admitted on the same terms, after having refused to; submit within the time prescribed. On: .being- made acquainted with the nature of the visit Mr. .vicAean said/that he was not surprised at the violent feelings entertained against 7'amihana and the rebel Puketapu, and regretted he had uo instructions as to otbsr terms tkaa th»se

made with the JVgatiawa. It was urged that those terms were far too lenient for the heinous offences of these men, and that it would be desirable and prudent to treat with them beyond the boundaries of the town. The deputation left the affair with these premises in Mr. McLean’s hands. We hear that the whole of them have since decamped, advised by their compatriots in the friendly camp that they might find the place too hot for them. General Cameron rode into town to-day. It is stated that he has consented to the return of the families from Nelson ; under what conditions has not transpired, but will no doubt be presently notified officially.

THF NG^TIRI/ANUI. Provincial Gazette , New Plymouth, April 15, 1861. The following letters from the Minister for “for general information. G. Cutfiehl, Superintendent, New Plymouth, AynX 15, 1861. Sib,—l have the honor to forward the copy of a letter (enclosure No. 1) addressed by the Native Secretary by direction of his Excellency to the Taranaki and iVgatiruanui tribes. No satisfactory answer having been received it has been thought proper before //is Excellency’s departure for Auckland to communicate to them the terms on which their submission will be accepted, a copy of which (enclosure No. 2) I enclose tor your information.—l have #e., F. A. JPeld. To his Honor The Superintendent, Taranaki. (Enclosure No. 1.)

To the Taranaki (or Ngatiruanui) tribe. The Governor came down to Waitara at the request of //apurona, IV. Kingi, and other Ngatiawa to state the terms on which he would grant peace to them. The Governor is now at New Plymouth, and he is informed that you have retired from the European land to your own country, and that you desire peace. If this be true, he is prepared to state the terms upon which he will grant peace to you. The Governor will return in a few days to Auckland and you must therefore send me an answer to this by Wednesday morning, tbe 10th April. [The time given to the Ngatiruanui was Saturday, the 13th.] Donald McLean. April 8,1861. (Enclosure No. 2.) To the Chiefs of the Tardnalci (or Ngatiruanui ) Tribe. Before I leave New Plymouth I will state to you the terms on which I am willing to grant' you peace. In dictating these terms I cannot ) overlook the outrages that you have committed. 'Whatever may have been the dispute) in reference to the laud'at Waitara it was aj matter with which you had no concern.! Without even pretence of a quarrel with the j Queen’s Government, or her European sub-) jects, you have taken advantage of the dis- ! turbances caused by another tribe'to. set the! authority of the Queen and the Law at defiance, to attack IN r Majesty’s troops; to* burn, destroy, and steal property; and trea-J cherously kill without provocation Her Majes-I ty’s subjects while engaged in their peaceful; occupations. Moreover, you have driven off) the settlers from land which years ago, you) bad sold and been fully paid for, and have! avowed your intention of repossessing your-j selves of it and retaining it by force, //ow-! ever much - / may condemn the off. ncos committed by the Ngatiawa, 1 look on thos«- perpetrated by you to be of a far more serious nature, and bafore I can consent to grant you peace I shall require restitution and compcnsa-' tion for the past, and explicit declaration of. your intention to conduct 3 ourselves as peace- 1 ful and orderly subjects of Her Majesty fori the future.

I require— j (1) Entire submission to the Queen and the! Law. (2) All plunder now in your possession to' be forthwith given up, and compensation j made for that which is not returned, and for property destroyed and injured. (3) That all mails shall he permitted to pass without interruption, and the mail-car-riers protected. (4) That people, goods, and cattle shall he allowed to pass without molestation. 'The grave offence of killing unarmed set-, tiers and children is one against the Queen' and the Law, and will not be overlooked.! Whenever those men are charged with hav-1 ing committed that offence are taken by the j Officers of Justice tliey will he tried, and the; Law will declare whether they are guilty, and, if guilty, what punishment they shall suffer. (Signed) T. Gore 2?rowne, Governor, Z7p to the?time of the Wonga Wonga leaving on {Saturday uo answer had been received from the JYgatiruanui. Two vessels supposed to be the Fawn and Niger arrived off Waitara on Friday last, to embark more of the soldiers for Manukau. It is said that the two Companies of the 65th lying here are also to proceed 16 Auckland, and that they are to be replaced by a detachment of the 14th. The families of the settlers are to be allowed to return.

Regulations respecting the New Zealand Government Frizes for the best RIFLE SHOTS. Prizes. „, 1. The first Prize to be One Hundred and Forty pounds, the winner also to keep and

wear the Champion Pouch and Belt for the best shot in New Zealand during the year in which he wins it.

The second Prize to be Fifty pounds. The third prize to be Forty pounds. The fourth prize to be Thirty pounds. The fifth prize to be Twenty pounds. The sixth prize to be Five pounds. Time and place of firing. 2. The firing to take place at such hours and places as the Officers Commanding at the different stations may deem convenient, commencing on Monday, the 27th May. Should the weather prove unfavourable at any time appointed, the firing may be postponed at the discretion of the Officer Commanding at tbe Station.

Who eligible to compete. 3. The firing to be open to any person sworn in as a Militiaman since the Ist January, 1860, and to all members of Volunteer Corps (Officers of both Forces included.) iatendiug competitors—to- send in -their names on or before the 23rd May next, to the Senior Officer of the Corps to whitcli they belong, who shall forthwith cause lists to be compiled from the names sent in, but if he considers that any such person, whether a Militiaman or Volunteer, shall not have attended, when required, sufficiently regularly at drills, parades, training or exercise, he is authorised to prevent such person from firing for the prizes. Lists of persons Firing. 4. A list of the competitors to be made out numbered only, and given to the Officer and Marker, another list to be made out and kept by the Officer Commanding and Officer stationed at the spot where the competitors fire from, numbered the same as the other, but in addition to have the names of the competitors written on it.

Competitors absenting themselves. 5. Should any competitor be absent without leave when his turn comes during the firing, he is to forfeit his chance, and a shot is to be fired in the air (which the marker is to score as a miss) in order to keep the numbers on the lists correct.

Arms and Ammunition to be used. 6. Rifles and Ammunition supplied by the Government. N.B.—Spare rifles will be furnished on the days of firing, to those who may require them. Mode of Firing. 7. In any position without artificial rest. Number of Rounds, Targets and Score. 8. Distances—loo, 200, and 300 yards. Rounds—Three at each range. Target—One ; size of bull’s eye, 8 in.; of centre, 2 ft. diameter. Value in points of hits-—Bull’s eye, 3 ; centre, 2 ; outer, 1. Jfooden targets, when required, to be ordered by the Officer Commanding, to be made at the different stations, 6 feet by 2 feet, painted'as shown at the end. Ties. 9. Ties to fire three rounds at four hundred yards at one target. In this case shots to be measured from the centre of the bull’s eye. Should ties occur between the best six shots, the names of all sucli ties to be sent up. Ring Shots. 10. Each competitor firing, to have the benefit of any shot on the ring. Ricochets.

11. Any shots which touch the ground before hitting the targi t (ricochets) not to count.

( Award of score. 12. All differences as to points, &c., to he decided by the Officer Commanding the corps at the station, before any returns of the firing are finally made up. Commanding Officers. 13. Officers Commanding Corps to be onj the ground. One officer to be appointed to] call the names*of competitors at the place of; firing, and another to remain near the target! Marker. 14. A marker to be appointed by the Officer Commanding at each station, who will be under the officer appointed to remain near the target.

Medical Officer. 15. The Medical Officer to attend. Where there are no surgeons of militia appointed a medical practitioner to be employed. Returns of Firing. 16. A return of the firing (the best six shots j and ties) to bo forwarded by the Officer Commanding at each station to the Deputy Adju-tant-General at Auckland, according to the accompanying Form. Caution against accidents. * 17. 7'he attention of Commanding Officers is particularly .called to the following rules to prevent accidents:— No competitor is to cap or cock his rifle before coming to the spot from which he is to fire. No competitor is to let the cock of his rifle down when an um-xploded cap is on the nipple, but to keep it at half-cock. Competitors before firing are to take a few paces in front of all lookers on, and'to see that uo objects are in the line of fire. H. C. Balneayis, Deputy-Adjutant General of Militia and Volunteers. Auckland, 25th March, 1861. *

CHEESE MAKING. We continue the extracts from Mr. Carrington’s Essay. “ 7’he vats which are used during the making process should have numerous holes in the bottom and sides to allow of the whey escap.ing from the enrd. A round flat board, called a cheese shooter, is generally put on top of the cheese vats, under the lever press; but some prefer a cheese shooter made in the form of a cross, which allows of the whey escaping more readily from the upper surface

and middle of the:cheese. { When the cheese has-been under;. £jje lever .about,ten minutes it sholiid fie taken out, sliced fh pieces, "the outside pieces piled on the middle, and then again returned to tbe press. This process may be repeated two or three times, and it will then be sufficiently dry to be ground. A handful of dry salt should be spread evenly over the fiat surface of tlie cheese, and it should then be cut in pieces and passed through the grinder ; by this means the salt is regularly mixed with the curd. It is much better in the summer months to add salt at this stage of the cheese-making. It renders it much more certain of being cured ; for if any fermentation takes' place before the cheese is salted, as it is very liable to do in warm weather, the cheese will never afterwards take the salt. I believe in Cheshire, the cheese is entirely salted at this stage I am decidedly of opinion that it is right to grind the curd ; it regularly breaks it in pieces without bruising itr-ifft<r ]Joea' ( ”u;. iniich better, and is much less labour than braking it with the hands. “If the curd ;is-much crushed and broken witli the hands, a considerable quantity of butter passes into the whey: there is a great saving in this respect by the substitution of the knife and the curd-grinder for the hands. It ought to be the aim of the cheese maker to retain as much as possible of the butter in the cheese. > •-

“ The best kind of curd-grinder is made to fasten on the top of the cheese-kettle. A pan ; within which a cheese-cloth is spread, should be put uuder the grinder, and the curd ground into it; the cheese-cloth should then be lifted into the vat, and a galvanized iron hoop, made for the purpose, placed round it: it should then be returned to the press, and the pressure gradually applied. In a short time it is taken out of press, and about two iuches round the top edge of the cheese is pared off, placed on-the middle, and broken into small pieces ; the middle of the cheese is also broken a little, and it is then returned to the press. This process should be repeated with the

under-surface of the cheese, and the cloth round it replaced by a dry one. It should then be put under the lever press, and be allowed to remain there six or eight hours. The cheese may, by the process I have de scribed, be finished up to this point in three hours-and-a-half after the milk is put in the kettle. After the cheese has remained in the press the time stated, the cloth round it should be replaced by a dry one; this change may be repeated once or twice before the cheese is salted. The cheese-cloths which are used at this stage should be well washed with hotwater, and dried after each time of using, as they are intended to absorb the moisture from the cheese. “ The cheese should be salted about twelve hours after it is triads. The cheese made in

the morning should be salted at night, and the evening’s cheeso as soon as convenient the following morning. Before this is done, it is a general practice to scald the cheese, by putting it into a tub of hottish water, and letting it remain in it till the water is cold. This plan may be of service in the spring and autumn, when the cheose is-most liable to crack, but it extracts souie of ! the fat from the outside of the cheese, and the salt does not penetrate so well when the surface has been hardened, therefore I do not recommend it for general practice.

“ I will now describe the salting process. The cheese is turned out of the vat on a table, aud a thin layur of salt is spread on each side and round thti edges of the cheese. This is repeated night; and’ ! morning for about three days, the cheese advancing a stage further in the press at ea.ch time of salting. The cheese should bepput quite straight-under the presses, of they will not press level. In the last press, little or no salit should be applied, or the surface of , the cheese will be left rough and uneven. 7’he cheese made at the spring and latter end of the year is often too salt. Cheese, like meat, takes the salt much more readily in cold weather, and v therefore does not then require to remaiu in salt so long; but though a less quantity of cheese is then made, the presses are’ often kept full, aud t hus the cheese remains in aalt a longer time than it does in

summer. ; “ When the cheeses have gone through the last press, tliey are immersed for tw-o days in shallow cisterns filled with brine; they are then washed with warm water, and wip ed dry, and taken into the cheese room. Thoy are generally put on shelves for the first weok or two ; they should be kept single for the first two mouths, and, turned regularly every day. When they are nearly sipe they, are better;, put two or three deef). . “ If the clieese is kept warm, it will be ready for sale in three or four months utter it is made. It is better to sell it two (.sr three times in the year; it loses weight very considerably if it is long kept, and the e rvbanced price rarely pays for the great loss of weight. “Itis a practice with many to mb and scrape off the natural coat of the cheese, but if the cheese is properly made (without 1 being robbed of any of its butter), and is alv.vays kept warm, it requires little or no cleaning, and shows to most advantage with its natu iral coat.”

An Educational 2?duci v tional Scheme or Course established by Mr . NVopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis. The pupils ate apples and, put straws up one. another’s backs, until MrJ naade an, indiscriminate totter at them with a birch rod. - After receiving the charge with ■ every mark of derision, the pupils formed in j line and hnzzingly passed a ragged book from ] hand to hand. The book had an alphabet in it, some figures aud tables, and a little spel-

ling—that Us to say, it had had once. As soon as this-volume had begun to circulate, Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt fell into a: state of Coma, arising either from sleep or a rheumatic paroxysm. The pupils then entered among themselves upon a competitive examination on the subject of Boots, with a view of ascertaining who could tread the hardest upon whose toes. This mental exercise lasted until Biddy made a rush at them and distributed three defaced Bibles (shaped as if they had been unskilfully cut off the chump end of something), more illegibly printed at the best than any curiosities of literature I have since met with, speckled all over with ironmould, and having various specimens of the insect world smashed' between their leaves. This part of the course j was usually lightened by several single com-! bats between Biddy and refractory students, j When the fights were over, Biddy gave out j the number of a page, and then we all read; aloud what we could—or what we couldn’t —j in a frightful, chorus; Biddy leading with a! high shrill monotonous voice, and none of us having the least notion of, or reverence for, what we were reading about. When this horrible din had lasted a certain time, it mechanically awoke Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt, who staggered at a boy fortuitously and pulled his ears. was understood to terminate the Course for the evening, and we emerged into the air with shrieks of intellectual victory. It is fair to remark that there was no prohibition against any pupil’s entertaining himself with a slate or even with the ink (when there was any), but that it was not easy to pursue that branch of study in the winter season, on account of the little general shop in which the classes were holden—arid which was also Mr. Wopsle’s gieat-aunt’s sitting-room and bedchamber—being but faint ly illuminated through the agency of one low Spirited dip candle and no snuffers.”—“ Great Expectations ,” iu Dick ens’s All the Year Round. New Version or the 4th Commandment. —In an American school the following is the aceepted version of the first commandment with promise:—“ It is incumbent upon you, young ladies and gentlemen, to be politely attentive to your papas and mampm, in order that you may enjoy a prolonged existence in: the locality which has been bestowed upon youi by providential generosity.”

Great Achievement of Mechanical Ingenuity.— There is now to be seen at Bennett’s, the well known watch manufacturer of Cheapside, a gold hunting watch of so remarkable a character as to well deserve a description in our columns. In addition to being a time-keeper of the utmost precision, with chronometer adjustments, compensation balance, and cylindrical spring, it exhibits on the dial plate the following different indications — first, the equation of time; secondly the moon’s age; thirdly, the month of the year; fourthly, the day of the month, in addition to the hours, minutes, and seconds, as in an ordinary watch. The mechanism is so contrived that any one or the whole of the hands way be set forwards or backwards at pleasure, without deranging the rest. Mr Bennett, the manufacturer of this remarkable production, naturally regards it one of the highest triumphs of modern horological science ; for these extraordinary timekeepers have hitherto been considered ratiier as mechanical marvels than as of practical use. In this case every movement is laid down in the strictest proportion, and based upon calculations of an absolutely scientific character. Although it has taken more than a twelvemonth in its production, arid is enclosed in a handsome gold case, it is within the compass of a pocket timekeeper.—Mechanics’ Magazine. What is Woman’s Mission ? —Tins momentous question being asked the other evening, Spoonley said: ” As Woman was the—aw infewiaw animal, he thought her Mission was to—aw—wait on the supewiaw,—to be —aw —a sawt of uppaw servant, and see about one’s dinnaws, and one’s—aw—furnichaw, and things.” “In fact, said Mrs. Snorter, “ Woman’s Mission simply is to polish the spoons /”— Punch*s Almanack for IS6I Vanity.— What no man, nor *W omaii either, by any accident ever possesses, but what is always very largely developed in every body else.— lbid.

Spiritualism. Surprise has been ex pressed at the fact- that spiritual communications convey no sort of instructive information. The fact is accounted for by the supposition that the mediums are inspired by raw spirits.—