Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1352, 1 March 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal intl o\:ictjustico to dll men, Of whatever state or persu.i-.iou, religious or politii.n.l. Here sliili the Press tlie People's rifflit maintain Un uved by influence and unbribcd I)J' grain.

TUESDAY, MAROH 1, 1881.

The case of the ex-Constabulary man Lees, tried in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Cambridge, the other day, sug jests a point of some importance to the liberty of the subject. We may say at once that the circumstances disclosed in that case were such as to leave little doubt as to the guilt oi innocence morally of the person concerned. That conviction, however, is the evolution of a fine, metaphysical distinction of which the law could not possibly take cognisance, consequently the sitting Magistrates acted wisely in discharging him. These proceedings, viewed in relation to the public interest , are not by any mums quite so satisfactory. It is perfectly right merchants, traders, and others doing business on the credit system should be protected against imposition and false pretc-ueos. That is very necessary indeed, and the Legislaldturo has very wisely provided heavy penalties for persons convicted of such offences. On the other hand it is equally plain great care and discrimination should bt> exer cised in setting the law in motion ; otherwise incalculable wrong may be done to, comparatively speaking, innocent persons. False pretences differs in many respects from offences at common law. In those eases, if the aggrieved party condones a felony he commits a wrong, and may he dealt with accordingly. In cases of this kind no such responsibility vests on the person aggrieved, ffe is at liberty to accept payment for goods so obtained ; nay more, he has a right to go into court and sue civilly for recovery of the debt, and most assuredly, if it suits his purpose better to do so, hewill do it. In a word the Act itself simply amounts to a civil contract — a sale on the one hand, and an undertaking to pay at some future dat<s on the other ; and the ci'iminal offence is imported into the transaction by a ' sidewind — a something collateral, j amounting to wilful mißrepresentation. It is not enough to show that the representation was false. It must he shown that at the time the accused made it, it was so made in the knowledge and belief tbftfc it was false, and i*elied upon by the vendor as an esseiUialibus ; otherwise, the transaction stands on' its original footing — a civil contract. It will thus be seen that a great deal of nice discrimination .is necessary on the part of those 'entrusted' with initiating- procedure t\m kind, otherwise, is ' we have feaicl) «feVi'ous hardship -may joe infi}ete.d>and irre,-, parable loss produced'. ' 'We will, ho doubt, be told that judges ai>oyuriߣ are quite equal to all the exigencies l pr suclj. cases, and thai/ at , their hands there is ivo great dangq?^ %© law being stretched. In that opinion, we agree, but then '^SftS^Bout? tfcua. preliminary steps 1 What about the apprehe'risioii, tsw inqiiirylbefore the, MagistrssteV oad^as ttui-ease niay be," ,the committal' for 'trial?'- fhe^evq^e' 1 sufficient to destroy any- -man's reputation, antl blast bis* prospects in Jtfe, ov,J£'ik<ep *re.no<;,' then we, can only i 1 r *, .

s&V ts|( matjij|as reached that delecfcaljle stage JwPen even a conviction or' l^3 cannot do much harm. Bl^S^^iu so much, let us see what protection exists on tho side of the public. A vendor is made to smart .diseojKejgytrro-jn all prabaj,,. Silifcy, sudcjeii-TOscpWy— *Mt hd£is not likely to gel paymentTrsr W' goods. In the heat- of ~his4magina~ tion, it is not difficult to .conjure up the phantom qf, & ifalse jrelpit^seAttition. He communicate^ with, the nearest policeman. The two put their heads together, and without, much care, and equally little discrimination, a "warrant is issued; "and* thp alleged offender forthwith transferred to gaol. Then comes the inevitable adjournments, so that, under 'the most, fortunate circumstances that can' befal : the person so accused, ample opportunity is afforded for branding him a felon in theeyesof the public What we object to is, that so lititle in tho way of precautionary 1 measures shouldexistin the initiation of such proceedings. We are not throwing any disparagement on the members of the police force when we say that neither their training nor their instincts lit them for the prudent discharge of such a grave responsibility. What we require is something in the shape of the Scotch law officer, known as the procurator fiscal — a trained lawyer capable of understanding the distinction which exists in matters of this sort, civil and criminal ; one able to inquire into and make a precognition of the facts of the case before the dire alternative of apprehension is resorted to. Even then in Scotland the preliminary investij gation is conducted before the Judge or Magistrate in Chambers, so that if a prima facia case be not es,tab- [ lished, or the accused is able to give a satisfactory reply to the charge, no great harm is doite. Nothing, of what takes place is allowed to transpire outside, and it is only in the event of his being sent to trial tluifc the proceeding in made publio. Tho point is one the Judicial Commissioners might very well consider with the view of recommending a better safeguard than at present ' exists.

On the 16th day of the present month the Crown Lands Board will ofler for sale about 4500 acres of land in the Pirongia district, at the upset price of 15s per acre. Though this is an act of very tardy justice, it will, nevertheless, be appreciated by the settlers along the west bank of the Waipa, who may now be said to have opened up to them a channel through which they may make some progress. People in the more impi'oved and thickly-settled districts would hardly credit the amount of hardships which the Pirongia settlers have had to undergo for many years past. The land which is now about to be so\l is not a block on the - outskirts of the settlemefc, but comprises all the sections not actually in occupation. The settlers were therefore, however willing, quite unable to increase the area of their holdings and it was equally imposible to introduce any fresh blood into the district. Now a natural change has co'ae over the face of things. Simultaneously with tlie commencement of that most important link in the chain of pro : gre&s, the Xc Rore Bridge, comes the notification of the sale of the Government lands, and a couple of years will witness a marked improvement in Pirongia. The land is not all of equal quality, but there arc portions of excellent soil ; and as the price is not likely to be very high, intending settlers should, at any rate, visit the districts and see for themselves. When the bridge is completed, the district will be brought within a very few miles of a railway station, good roads intervening. There is also fair river communication, theUangii'm making weekly trips thence to Mercer and the Waikato Heads. A school is situated in a central position ; and none need think because they are going to a district which has vary justly been called backward, that they are therefore going out of the world. Mr McMinn, who has always taken a deep interest in the opening of these lands, has gone to some trouble to put himself, in possession of all the information which is required by intending settlers, and will, moreover, be pi'epared to show them over the land personally.

To-morrow will be Ash Wednesday, >,tlio first day of the Lenten Fast. There will be Evensong at §. Peter's at 7 o'clock.

William Phillip Ohepmell< Esq./ J,P., has been Gazetted a member of toe Licensing Courts of Kirikiriroa and Hamilton, and B. S. P, Fergusson, Esq., J.P., a member of the licenityg Oourt for the district of Cambridge, botlj vice ■ John Eunciman, Esq.,' tefiigfied. " ' i

After the return cricket match between fclje Ifgarwawahia aud Wbata- j Whata Clubs on JStfwfoy. the; Wbata. Whata men got up a 4*?c.e §tjtertain their visitor, "but," writes 0«* CQprpfiJ' pendents " through tlie absence pf l^^ies it was rather a tame affair."

Mr Thomas Grice, senior partner iii the,fi?ai;Qf. the, Jiotoratigi E^ate,, h«Uj/ through his eon, Mr John Grice, made a donation of £f>o towards the buildinsr fund of tbe »aw"J. Andrew's Churqh, Oaxabridge. , Tlifs baftd*onj3,'«»bsoription • isj a monk welcorab u'dditiba to,&e mean* at the disposal of the vesti?y.' ' ' s ' '" * I !

A , meeting cif rtbe Hamilton Wesft .School ,Co)x>toitte6' \f as* held cyd'S&tttt&iiy" for the' purpose of voting for camUadte^:ty ftlUluMradancy oii'ttfti'Board of^duokrl tion. There weje) yp^eoep^ — Messrs dwynne,, ;' ,Hnp^ ; O'Neillj 1 1 .an,dj ,{ <J. Edfjecumlje. It was^uuaqimonßljj re'record "th^ Votes bf'thfl oomljirfitteo in fayour of TMeosra , pavg£j,rUle, Thompson, aiad Mdiifc: " " "' '' f *''"-''*

np ' &sj 'oMce'^thoiiijiy { ( at HaiuUtoijL..wvi4<J i?e confebing I,*1 ,* bopiujanJ

outer doMopcn|m Suna«v,!iti ordejr that the privjra poxeffeaitKht J | 3?fie; tr juble ijMdlvoc^ould n<}6 lbse muSh. i ,-.

The cnjptft number/ <s£^thtj Illustrated Nm^Zealnnd Berafd, -vfliich is just to hand, contains a more than usually interesting number of illustrations, and in all things, considered a very creditable

„J We would a|Ea!|^ r rdmm^,©Tyners. of horses tfiaFentraiice feeTaTncT iiomina- . «tion,i Jan->theJEihikihi races must be forwarded to the Secretary, Mr H. Tanner, .before * '8 ojcloojt 'oil Thursday evening UtM\ «*e 3rd'i«sti : f y « i .:,_;,. •

-'-M^Thoni.as : Well&, merchant, Oam- - bridge, entertained his employees, with . *thejr vviv|s, one|eveniog last week, to a suj^per, "on the conclupoh of Stock-taking. •A.^ejcy r ,Bleaaajxt ei'eniug.wa^„spentJJy all prfesent.

The Assessment dourt for the Cambridge Town District was held on Friday, before tit. W. Northcroft, Esq/ one pbjection had been sent in, from the Rev. »W. N. deL. iWi)iliB, acting fox; the General Trusts Board } but 1 , as the' objector failed to, appear' in support, the objection fell through, and the roll was signed.

A meeting of the natives interested in the' Patetere lands, convened by Mr James Mackay, was held in the Constabulary paddock, Cambridge, on Saturday, fdl*'th6 purpose of discussing the statement of accounts, but beyond the indulgence of mutual recrimination, nothing came of it.' Messrs Viaokay, Brißsenden, Grace and Tapsell were present and took part, and of the natives, those who joined in the Conversation were ] Marsh, Mangakahia, Paoro, Te Ngarn, ' Kakawoero, Maki, and Te Kerei.

The Lydia Howards Troupe performed to delighted audiences at Cambridge on Friday, Saturday, and last night, appearing in " Ivanhoe " on Saturday, and .in "Pinafore" last evening. The troupe will re-appear in the Odd- , fellows' Hall, Hamilton, to-morrow evening in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, " HJS!.S. Pinafore." The price 9 of admission have been reduced to 3s 2s and Is, and this fact, taken in conjunction with the undoubted merit of the performance, cannot fail to secure a large attendance. As this will probably be the last opportunity for some time which will be afforded for seeing this popular opera, it should not be lost.

The unfortunate contractors on the Newcastle and Raglan Road tppear to be as far off a.R ever from a settlement. Everything neoessary iix the red-tape Hn« was supposed to have been effected some three weeks ago, when a batch of papor*, &o , weie forwarded to Wellington. The del.vy m\v>.t tww be laid afc tl\e door of ttve Public Works Office.

A bridle track will be finished through to Ohinemutu from Cambridge, via the Patetore bush in about a week's time. This will bring the lakes within a day's journey of Cambridge. The bridges over the Oraka, Waihau and Waimakarere are now completed.

The late Australian match seems to have roused the dormant <md lethargic cricket spirit in Cambridge. A committee meeting of the looal club was held on Saturday evening at MrH. E. Cotton's office, when it was decided to try and manage the return Hamilton match for the 17th inst., St Patricks, D.iy. The return Alexandra and A.O. matches will also couje off during the month. The county match, and a Waikato team for Auckland are all in course of coming to a climax.

We are informed by Mr Hetley, engineer in charge of tho Cambndjrp. R.torua road that on Tuesday last some dogs belonging to the camp got on the trail of a hue Btagr. The dog* had been minced for a short time, when they were heard giving tongue at no great distance from the camp. On nearing the sounds a noble buck was found doing battle with them covered in gore, and fighting desperately for life. The dogs were called off, Mr Hetely hoping his wounds might not be fatal thought to give him another lease of his life, but the auimal snon died from the wounds' received. The occurrence took place on the line of the new road about five miles from Te Papa, and the animal would in all probability be one of thoße "imported into tho "Waikato by Mr Firth some time ago.

Our Cambridge correspondent writes : — " A healthy change has come over the state of the weather ; one, I am happy to cay, which promises to avert a serious nuisance if not public calamity consequent upon the sudden influx of a large nomadic Maori population. A. variety of odoura were becomingperceptible to the olofactory nerve of even the less sensitive, and it was painfully surmised that unless a change occurred in the weather, the state of the place would boon become unbearable. Yesterday (Sunday), we had sbme moderate good showers of rain, and although it did little more than wet the surface and moi'-ten the blade, it has had a most decidedly beneficial effect in cooling the atmosphere. This (Monday) morning the weather h not alone cooli it actually chills so much, that great coatp, and other creature comforts of that class, have come into requisition. The agriculturist is equally jubilant over the change. He talks of it as being the savour of the turnip and other crop* upon which the grazing prospects of the district are mainly dependent. So far as appearances leads one to surmise, they are decidedly in favor of morj rain.

A new railway time-table, and one which will perhaps be move satisfactory in its operation, comes into fprce on the Auckland and Waikato line to-day. The last table was, we believe, framed partly with the r object of enabling Waikato settlers .fco' go to, and return from Auckland in two days. As a matter of faqt,"it ha,s~beei} |oi|nd practically impossible to do this, and that b,eii)g the case, a time-table , sojnewhat resen^linor that in force before September last will be more suitable, and such is that whioh comes iiit6 operation^'- day. The through train will leave Auckland at 8.30 a.m., and will arrive at Hamilton at 2.13 p.m. and at Te xwamutn'at 3 3 p.m. North train wity leivvfl Tg-Awainutu at 9.45 a.m. reaching $$ JO. 43 a..m M an<J Auckland at 4>44 p.m. A train will will leave Auckland at 8.30 a.m. and arrive at , H.nntley at 11.23 a.m., but nothing is indicated on the time-table regavding jta return to Mercer, from which place, #owe,ve,i? ? a, train leayes for Auckland at 5.25 p.m. ' The qfternoon train leaving Auckland at i, 15 will go as isy as Mercer, which station will be reached at 7.14 p.m. and will leave for Auckland on the. return - journey at 6, "25 am. next momiijg. A week or two will demon- 1 strate the' 'y*lue o,f th,e new table,' when we shall take occasion to, refer to it. i

A very, amusing incident occurred at Cambridge xin , Saturday af tovn >on. The .jnemjtjers of , th? Ivydia H^owa de troupe wefrq.busHy rehearses* the nw>ioil part ■pf -" .The , I)ocfco,r , of A'oantara/ ' a nevi (Wmio ioppr»,,whioh they, intend to poajßrfrere,fiongj!dje**^4 JW J W 1= So**"* q| th« . PubKo:H*iUSround,,tb.a,.pU!»<»>, A «POf . -of n»uaio-lpn.rig.n<iitixeB, a^ot;fe l§0 + .made • aslproiW* w»tr.y,)ftTid, BVftrpied rQup^ffche fleyote^^aotoin.^nd jactreww, , ' enjoying to.jtlie i aU,.tl»e pj>e»p;trea,t,,tK9«r, , p^pvided. As some oompensation^oc.tlb^ , disBrtinfojft-yl)^b t ey were the means o f infliotingupon ttia^doora^iain^fißinroffli^; ' Bii)Aftlsj' th»*i{ionß inti'npiiiWd, -w?*" c y ' ' ft".haS».'!''BhiiTaafl>i»jr^f - jbho 1 ■' TcdUjte tb6fce&pon tiwlc up ' a =f oaitiQji o»

the ntsifiol and the natives, about 4p, w<»tf' .through iheir promised performances in * yiighly creditable style.' At the close, Plirts Howard© expressed ft desire to Be> : the Maori woniien dance, but as this nqupst could only be acceeded to on th condition that the ladies of the Troupt would follow suit, it is needless to say i 1i 1 r^tnaiired^ingfiitined ,■ the audience by this jfime hid increased conaidei.vbly, and com priced a larfve number of Europeans. No ,t UTi!h§JL . ara« Beinenjb_ being forthcoming, those present dispersed.

„ At the conclusion of ' the exam 'Unfatidn of Dr Kilgour, a witness in tin jßUrder case which is now occupying tlu attention of the R.M, XDourt at tht Thames,- the Bench put several question with the view of eliciting whethei any steps had been taken towards get tiug him to hold the inquest on the body of 'Himiona at Te Aroha. From the answers given, however, it does not appeal very clear what Dr Kilgour 'was wanted to;do; for although he was asked to gr to 'Te Aroha it was not as a coroner, but as a medical man. Owing to Mr Kenrick't action in acting as coroner on the occa sion referred to, be* laid himseli open tv be subpcened as a witness in the niagis terial inquiry, and the council for the de fence, taking advantage of this, Mr Kenrick was debarred from sitting on the bench and hearing the charge against Procoffy. , The result has been that the hearing of a tedious case has been thrown on to the shoulders of the local Justices It is difficult to understand what Mi Kenrick's object was in acting as he did, seeing that there was no lack of coroners available for the inquest. On the Thames there are two besides Mr Kenrick himself, and the coroner at Hamilton was also available.

It appears that His Excellency the Governor had a narrow esc.ipo from a casualty on his recent overland journey to Mastorton. The Wairarapu Daily says that on Monday, the 7th instant, one ot the hundred odd bridges on the bush road, one of tho'-e limu sap structures which were built in the good old days, collapsed, and a heavy timber wajrgon belonging to Mr Dixon, went through it and snrmshel up in the creek below. Fortunately, in the catastrophe, the drivers and horses escaped serious injury. This particulai bridge is at Lankey's cutting, betweei C.unp and Ekethahuna, and i* almost 50 feet across The county has renewed • greit uiiiny of these rotten structuie , bu* its funds do not pei nut it to do tb whole, and the accident tn.iy be cl iss-d a an exoepted one. This is one of th bridge- His Excellency crossel ovci 1 o the previous Thursday.

I The Dunedin " Echo," says •.— "No sonnet' does a fresh atook of Pame's Vi? of Reason arrive m Dunedin than all tin copies are purchased. Five huiidrnt copies were received by one book&elle lately, and in three weeks none were left And the demand increases In order to satisfy the demand Mr Braithwaite 111 tends to pu lish a Co'onial cdi ion. W suppose most people know ttiat Paino, caring more for the publication of hiopinions than for his pocket, nevei claimed cop3 7 n<rht in his works. WouM he have believed that within a century an edition of the Age of Reason would be printed and published in New Zealaud? And so the world moves.

A correspondent writes :—" Nowadays, hardly anyone will say a good word for the sparrows. The following faots may, perhaps, induce some people to enquire more closely into their habits, before joining in the popuLir cry against them. A gentleman residing in the vicinity of Auckland was informed that there was something amiss with his patch of maize. On going into the field to examine it, he at once found traces of the presence of caterpillars, in eaten and discoloiu'ed leaves, «c, but the caterpillars themselves had disappeared. Further on were signs of more damage, but very few caterpillars were observed. On proceeding to another part of the field, a cloud, of sparrows arose from it, and a very little observation proved that they were busily engaged in picking up the caterpillars, which, indeed, they had almost entirely removed. The owner of the property is confident that but for the assistance of his little feathered, friends, the greater part of the maize would have been destroyed, and this is also the opinion of his servant, who had opportunities of seeing the birds at wort. It may be mentioned that the maize was not even in flower at the time, and that there was really nothing in the field to attract the sparrows except the caterpillars." — Herald.

The ' Bay of Plenty Times' of February 22 says: — "The Kamai prospectors, Messrs Moon and Jones, returned to town on Suuflay, bringing with them about sixty pounds of stone similar to that brought in some time ago, and forwarded through Captain Farquhar to the Thames for crushing. We understand the stone now brought in ia also to be forwarded to the Thames, the first sample sent not having been sufficiently large to enable a proper test to be made."

The "Bruce Herald" says:— We have good news for our local growers of oats, and our intelligence, if we mistake not, will attract the attention of farmers in every part of New Zealand : A. representative of an eminent Glasgow firn i* now in New Zealand, Toe firm to which he is attached are large dealers in oats and oatmeal, and their uaual source of supply is now and for years has been the United States. The demand for oafa is increasing, and the sample" of New Zealand oats t-ent IJome attracted the attention and admiration of dealers in farm produce. The firm referred to, require annually, a supply which amounts to £60,000. Their rppre^entative has received a commission to erect oatme-il mills in the Colony, which must piove a boon to all concerned, but which will be a positive source of wealth to the whole farming interest in the C>l'>nv. The question api^pn, Wijl, our farmer-* — we refer to the whole body, not t » any particular locality — -be comVellpd to. supply this unexpected demand ? If th"y ran give a practical answer in tne affirmative, a source of wealth will be utilised «nd extended, which will open up numeom avenue* of empl >yment. and a 'industry will taka root and flourish in NewJ^eal^nd,"

The promotors of the proposed New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, havo forwarded to this office a circular, containing all the information necessary for those who purpose becoming 1 Member*, which can be seen on application. Fmm it welaapb thst th,e frljo, winjj fjre thf> advanUares to bf> obtained though Tnemb, n r.. t»hip:—l8 f . Public patronage and confidence. 2nd. Legislative | rofciion. 3rd Fair ani remunerative p ices for prof ssional work, and eipeci'illy for Govemineift contract and native land S'irvev.s <tth," Project jo.n fr >mc"npetiti'»n, injur'e3 to the publfo, with fnoeir ( [>^pnt ne.rt.ng. ath. Orgauised combination, in oi'-ior .o promo f e. the general interes'3 ot the pro|fes u ion. and extend ifcs u^pfu'ne-a f 111 1 tMe pnblio v * n }-ag e - n y of the folItwiii^ wiU" bp considepet| >y prelimi ,jiary qaalificatio!Q3 l for martjliQraHi'p ;-;;• , 'fa.) Bfitfur 'A 'tiirveyov ov'-ixdwirw, or, rp^4 (J 0' > e^yffneep if) the einplqVm'iit of ,fche «e«r ,^eaJHi)<^ (-f^vermn>,'nt (h ) 'Suveyova authnrfsed oy the , Govemt.ent. (c.) ,H >l llu# a. dipliraa of oiviLenpineerinj? or hicholor of engineerin fif'f com i an vl of the follnwinsr Univor- ' -Uies t-^Oatnhridwev^ Dublin,^ :Liod<>n, or < <^U(,W? Un|yer.->ifT, Belfast. , fdj Beinsr ."a' member of jine- JTi^rtiri' or of^raapr9y94 sui^ef ors Wi^am

Vußferal^Bia, fe.) llavinjr beeu admitted i member or a»BOt';iaret ■ merfib'er of the fn>titute of Civil Eusfiiienfs, London. f.J Being of high Htanding in the propssinn, hut not having any of the above lUHlifications, if elected un vnimou4y at i my meeting at whii h not let«8 than teu nemberri are present. G-entlemen havinsr ■vny of the 'above gu^liiications cafr*be* >me members" pr&viou^ to the election o| 'ounctl: after whioh. tho-o wi-hing "t*r ecome members will require to enier mder the rules and "bye-laws of the nstftution. A meeting to ovgani-e the institute will be held at the * (^u'een'rf lotel, Wellington, on Friday, the Bth V.pril prox.

By way of amusing the noble iVKge congresmtediu t'orcpnt Cambridge, writes our Cambridge Correspondent md relieving him in a cnresDonding derae of his superfluous cash, a variety of nfertaintuenta have been *et on foot. We have had a theitricfil troupe " doing busiless'' in the Town Hall for the past two ights, and, so far as appearances go, hey have done sufficiently well to induce Jiem to r«maiii one or two more. A wooden building lately eiected in Dukestreet has* been transformed into a dance-room, but, I am very much afiaid it has not Yen a pucceha. At' ill events its doors have been close sealed for the last night or two." An improvised shooting-saloon has been ereet°d in ■lose proximity to the Masonic Hotol, \vhioh appears to meet with lather better encouragement. At all events, up to the Litest d-ite it still continues to "do business"." The ohecks and counter-checks experienced in the tiansaction of Maori timucsi has had the effect of keeping the latter as yet short of coin, and in the )iesent muddle of matters,l udvi-ethetra-velling hhowman not to come to Cam bridge tf he can discover anything like a good >pening elsewhere. We find in a California diary the following glorification of a qiaality we are not sure we should like. A man of tew woids is very well, but a woman of few vords i a maiter ojien to argument : — " I jncountered to day, in a ravine somt> hree miles di«tint, among the goldvashers, a woman from San Jo-.e. She vis at woik with a large wooden bowl, 'iv the -lde of the stream. I asked her how long she lud been theie, and how nuch gold she averaged in a day. She !• "plied, 'Tlnee weeks and an ounce ' Her reply nnmn 'ed me of .m anecdote of bhp lit 3 Judsjo Blvnk, who met a gul returning 1 from maiket, and nsked hei, How deep did yo i n.id the stre mi ? and vh it did vo'i ufHt for your butVi ?' 'Up I "/) iiiv knot's aiidninepene-e,' mm- the reply Vh !' -aid iho judge to himself : ' fhe i^ V t/iil for mo; no woids lost, theie;' nrn»\ V> icVe, )sro >o->e>\. w isaccep'ed, .\ivl i irried the next week ; ai d <i more i ippy c >ii(>le the fonjugiil bomls itever i lit 'd ; the i uptial 1 unp never waned ts ra\ T wa ' «te.nly ,md cl'\ir to the l.i-t. £">■ who paddl" oif m 1 on tor -oven jvar* vnd ire i»->ih ip- p,ip-i/if 1 at la r, take .i >-*on of th^ jul/e. Thit'up ro thf cieesnnd niiie,'eiic (J ,' is MMith .ill the 10 c "tt-T'-i and nn-'l'incholy rhymes e\"i r ponnpd." It h a rema'kable fict tint all trie it Tien have hi I pen. Men Thoiv is m mold story of H<u' ice -lecley hivmsr v hen in power -ent .i lefctei to <i f irmai, )ideria<r him to re hovo i C' itain fen>'e by i oeviiin dite, but sis no one wiihui 500 TMle- could re id i -.m-ile word, til'- farm -r jumped.it the f ouclusion th it G-ie^lev's »yu-tlo vas a ra'lw iy p is-, and actually tra\ellcd fre^ for t^o yo u-, none of the officials beiny ablu to oontia'lict his st item"iit Wuhout gom rto tho land of pea-nuts-md president, how< il7 < 3 r we have a woithy exdini le ouiselvc-> in the perhon of Sir J"hn Robertson. Everyone from Carpentaria down to Wilson's Promontory is aware of Sir John's abilities, and .i urood idea miy be fo mcd of his penmanship [ from the f ict of una of his old sweetheaits having told me the other d.iy that the fir.st lovp letter Hhe ever Jeeeived from Sir John \v<is so knotted up, cri-^s-crosaod, and tangled around in general that she took it to be a -ketch of the Crim^au war, and hai it duly fiamod and hung wp over fcne purlor m mtlepiece. Our hands evidently do not keep pace with our heads and the probahities are, some of us have [ got ur anatomies mixed. Anyway I'll I write and see what Professor Huxley thinks about it. — Fl meur.

New Chrysanthemums. — The Gardener's Chromole of December 4th says : — Mr Bull has a very plojsiug displ iy of Hiry&inthemums in his show house at Chelser, where a few days ago we also saw &o r\e new Japanese varieties, which, as novelties in this family are not over plentiful this year, may as well be recorded. The fiist we have to mention — Madame Clemen.ce Andigeur — is a gieat beanty, bein<* very Jaige add very full, the petals strap-shaped and flat, and the colour pink with a white centre. It appears to be very di-jtinct, and should prove to be one of the finest of exhibition flowers. To-Kio is reiiarkible for its very bright colour— a lustrous scarlet wibh orange centre. The flowers are of medium size, and the habit of the plant aei\ — qualities which lender it a very desirable sort to grow for general decoration. Marguerite Monarch has broad strap-shaped petals, which are creamy-yellow beneath and ruby-red above ; the flowers larpre and full, and very attractive. M. Rieux, a fine orange-coloured flower, with much divided petaK is very pretty ; and Madame Rieux, which may be described as a Japane>e Pompon, la quite a gem, the flowers being symmetrical in outline and very full, the petals lilac on the upper surface, white at the back, and toothed at the apex. Mons. Bi'unet is a large white or blush white fliwer, with bold flat petal- ; and P.iraaol is a good orange-scar-let flower, with broad petals, incurving towards the centre Midwne Enile Dufour, rose-pink, with orange centre, has Ions?, twisted pet <l-> ; andM Bontmy Aine is a piettv little flower that should be urr>wn for cuttinir, the flowers bnn/ 1 1 to in c ilour, very clo-e and i-ptinct. I^vprs of the pietty and most useful P<rnpo - v irietics should in ike a note if Mirie Oi'ozat— a perfect gem in -"happ, with cldiet-ool'"irf»d petils, laced with white ; it is a little beauty.

The Lydia Howird* Cunoiuy n^t'fy another performance in the Oddfellows' Hall tomorrow night. Mr Carter tbe popnlar Jehu, announces a new time table. Tenders for conveyance of the WaiKAto Times from Hamilton to Carnbridga are invited. Mr J. S. Buckland announces that he has zooo fat wetb#rs on the road from Napier, which he will submit to public auction or private contract, about 15th inst. The new pure cash system now b31114b 31114 initiated by (j and C. will certainly pro^e .1 benefit 'to th.c public It hi* been 1 ifreat success in Sydney and Melbqarne and when -.tnctly c lrned* out the customer who buys <it an (.•■.-aMislm-nt where the qfoods arc marked low to ensure a rapid sale m.ist be a trreat c:-uacr. G .uid C sell their draoerv millinan, ,nd clolhinj it such prices for cash is llic on or '.lit* I'll, ant a,r<"i "fa Oiorcholde ii j. co-ui3orj.tr c so jie \, viiihoutthe ri^k of b^tn^ i-ailcd unnn to boira joimhh .i r i!|i;lf)ss should '.'v* vear\ b unei= o-t c jn'-atibfactory. <j-iriiok and Cranwell will aim to retain the coi'idunre which the ouMicha\.« lutherto -hown then, and are rt Hern >ied to ,'»c the p'irf ca^h system a fair Hal, whether thuy gain n- Id->o the first year. Co'invrv ,-iWs qn r'ciiithnj: tsl' vifcl) or'Jt'r 'Vill 00 sun-ilmii vith 'roods at (.<!-f(itQ"<'i r tw pn-oc^ : Just tho nm.' as fhoasjh l!it^\ rayie a personal jlection. ii f u'-nishnig- iroo'd^, suqh is caruet,, I}qo^ cloib>, bedite.i<U, l>ed>ln<<, and ijatieral rgr-,,tnrf>, tha l.tr^o.t noctmn of wlucii is ■ tunjii4 oijl 41 f/i ( c<^y.i \v::ur) t -vili f]e marked at the lowest "urn tnaia'ti c 'inqcs, <^n4 >f i|is<:qutjtot five pe. icnt.'w'i'i be ali'i'vod to those who my af the (mr- jfo.r/-hase. G. 4C. h-win* reahs^d the entire v due of iheir stock daring thiiir i.a'e cash sale, the nrescnt stock is vf.w \vd chevpi y •jouoht. Vn injnection i< invited. — GA.RUCK A.yd Ciaxvtblv, Cttvßfall Famishing Arcade Queen*