AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1841, 24 April 1884, Page 2

AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equnl and exact justice to all men, Of \vl atsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's n^h' maintain, Unawed by influence and unbnbed by gain.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2> h 1884.

» If ib be true, and certain representatives of the Southern Press are with energetic reiteration telling us SSO, that the chief issue to be determined by the next general election is " Decentralism versus Cmtr.ilism," it is time the opponents of provincial monopolies »irded up '. jMp loins-for tho fight. Io will bs

observed tli.it " IVoviiiei ilism'' has changed is nwne, but it cannot, nor do its friends desire that it .should change its nature. Gill it by whatever appellation fancy may dictate, the object of its votaries in the greit Southern centres of population is to recover the power ami pationage wresiVd from them in 1 87-3. Provincialism has b 'en dead almost long enough to have become stei'ped in the golden mists which iloit about the '• Long Ag >." As, according to travellers), a distant view of Damascus ravishes the senses, and raises hopes which a nearer acquaintance ruthlessly shatters, even so has Provinoi ilism b 'en viewed, admired, and, so to .speak, "turned down;" and as the receding picture of the ancient city excites the enthusiasm of the pilgrim more and inoio as the intervening <-pice grows wider, even though he knosv that the luxuriant foliage and white domes arc but the husk of lilth and dcgredafion, so also in different degree the backward glance at our old constitution induces a sens ition of regret, even though we fp'el that its pleasant fictions of self-government were but the veneer that gilded all sorts of jobbery and corruption. And now because, though pressing onward, we nrc walking through the sands of commercial depression, we aro told that we ought to fly back to the shelter of those delightful groves, where every prosp ct pleases, and only mani-< vile. This is really in effect whatwcaie besought to do. The people of "Ounedin, of Ohristehurch, and of Auckland clamour for a return to the system which made each a cnlre of politic, il interest, or a machine to rob the country districts, according to the standpoint from which it is viewed. Many people forget, and still more never knew what Provincialism really was ; fewer still know why that famous bill of 187-3 passed into law , very few know the names of those who voted for it and ag tinst it, and of what quality they were. Not many days a<;o the division list on the thiid reidiug of the Abolition of Provinces Bill was printed, in order that the people might know whom to \ote against. We shall repiint I lie list tn show what soi t of men opposed the pissige of a measuie which sought to give justice to the count ry districts and to ad\ance settlement Here it is .—. — Ayes — Andicw, \tkinson, "Ballance, Uasstian, J>owen, JJrown, .T. Yj , J.ryce, Buckland, Oarrington, Curtis, Johnston, W. W., Katene, Kelly, Kenny, Luckie, May, MuUillivry, McUlaslun, McLean, ]), McLean, ('>., Mer\yn, Munro, O'Oonnor, Ormond, P.irata, Parker, Pearce, Pyke, Reynolds, Itichardson, Richmond, iShepluird, J., Shepheid, T. L , Stafford, Steward, AYakeh'eld, E. .T. Williams, AVebb, Cuthbortson, TnglN. Pairs— Kelly, W., Parker. G. P>, Wa'es, Wilson, Oaeroft. Koes — V) v,-\ dsi i.i w, P>rown, ,T. (1., P)iinny, Dignan, Fitzhcrbo -t, Gibbs, Grey, ITun or, Macandrew, Montgomery, ' )'J lorkn, Reeves, li >llo^->n, Swanson, Takamoana, Thompson, Ward, AVliit^, Wood, Yon der lleyde, and Sheehan. Paiis — lieid. Murray, J3randon, Stout. Witli t'ue' J or four excepfions, one of whom b -longed to llokilika (then a Provincial centre), and another to Nelson (also a Pnnincial capital), the men who opposed Abolition belonged to the fo>i us of Dune.lin, Clnistchurch and Auckland. The country members gave almost a block vote in favour of the bill. Oamavu, the second town in Oiago, Thnaru, the second town m Canterbury, "Wanganui, the second town of Wellington, and Franklin, which then included most of the important districts south of Auckland city, were sick and tired of a system which had alwnys promised to give, but never gave them sustenince, and the Meinbeis for these places, M' ssrs ,Y. J. -Steward, E W r . Stafford, Bryce, \V. Uuekhnd, and Joseph May, voted with the ayes ?. one knew hotter than Jiese men what stuff Provincialism was made of. At the present juncture it will be well to ponder a little on the personnel of the friends and opponents of Abolition. These men did not deny, and we do not seek now to deny that Provincialism was in the early days the best and perl taps the only practicable form of Government adapted to the -u anls of a democratic people ; and the reasons for this are obvious enough. Provincialism was a very excellent thing once, no doubt, but to revive it -would mean disaster and disappointment. Nobody objects to the sighs and regrets for the time long- past which Provineialists indulge in. Let them canonize, let thorn apotheosize their idol if they Avill, but let us beseech them not to attempt to galvaniso into life the dry, fleshless bones of a dead and buried political expedient.

Signor Otto Hug, not meeting uit'i any encoiuagement in Hamilton, left for Auckland ye&tprday morning.

The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Pirongia Road District will I c held at H.uapepe on the 3rd May at 3 o'clock p.m.

Mr S. Vaile has written a letter shown q the unfairness of the new railway tanff, in its application to the North as compared with the South Islam!. We hope to find 100 m for it in our next issue.

The lady members of the Blue Ribbon Army in the Cambridge district, aie about to make a house to house canvass for signatures to a petition in favour of females being allowed to vote at licensing elections.

The current number of the Illustrated New Zealand News is a very good one. Among other sketches it contains " On the Track from Wakatip to Martin's Bay," two views of Invercargill, "Mitre Peak, Milford Sound," and " Dunedin from the Octagon."

The anniversary of the Cambridge Baptiht Tabernacle falls on Sunday, 27th inst., when Mr Thos. Spurgeon will preach both morning and evening. A seivice will be held on the following Monday evening, when the ordinance of believers' baptism will be solemnised.

The adjourned meeting of the Piako County Council, which should have bean held yesteiday was fmther adjourned, there not being a qmruir. It is somewhat extraordinary, that ,no less than' throe meetings of this body in succession should fall through fw w*nt pf £ awuro, , J <

The Hamilton Young Mens Mutual Improvement Av>oeiation will hold their •innual mooting on Monday ne\t in Lo C^uesne'.s Hall. Intendng membjis are cordially invited.

Ths Waikato Coil and Shipping C nnp.iny offbr pleasure-seekers every inducement to attend the Cambridge Races to bo held on the 30th inst. and Ist pirn., .as they ,ue going t > run their steamer Delta on those d.itjs from N^<\ruawahia and Hamilton, rotunnng each evening after the r ices.

Th 3 Rev Tlios Spurgeon, of Auckland, will pi each at theannneiwuy .senices to lio held .it the Bjpti»l T.ibem.icle, Ca,m111 1 idgo, on the moi mug and evening of Tuesday, the 27th instant. On Monday ( veiling he will also pi each at the solemnisation of baptism.

The Cambridge Town Board would do well to erect a fence, say, about a chain long on each side of the ea^t approach of the Kiii.ipiro budge. It has been suggested to us that this provision may be the means of preventing hor^ob and traps finding their way into the river in case of accident.

As yet we have heard of no move on the pait of the Cambridge footballers in the way of ,u landing for the coming season. We tnist, though many of the leading footballers ha\e left the district, the manly gam » lias not been lost bight of by those lemaining.

In our report of the meeting of the Ctimhiidge Road Board, held on Saturday, tlu 19th inst., we stated th.it Messrs T.iylor and Vll will had declined to offer theiiLsehesforie election Weareinfoiined by .1 tone->|)i)i)dent that befoie the board rose Ihpy wpie induced to ie-consider their decision, and weie there and then duly nominated.

The season for cattle grazing on thestieut> of Cambridge has now passed, and all cittie owners who neglect to obsei ye the bye-law will have the satisfaction of lui\ ing their property impounded. The domain reserve is now at the disposal of cattle owners who desire to use it, a compaiatnely -small ch.uge being 1 made for the same.

Mr Don. Stubbing has now completed tho Mir\e\ of the Waotu South block, regarding which we have heard so ninch in the « .iy of native disturbance 1 ; and ohsti tiction. Tim siu vey should hnve taken about two month-, to complete, but through the .stupid obstruction of a few natives, who were duly punished for their pains, the work was prolonged for about six ujontlis.

An attempt is being made in Cambiidge to resuscitate the Rinkmg Club of List season. Theie is a good number of liiikeis m the distnot, both ladies and gentlemen, .md the p.i^tnuo is both attractive and cntei taming. No doubt, wit!) a little eneigy on the p.ut of a few enthusiasts, the jnosont effoit will be successful in getting togethei a good club for the ensuing wintoi.

r Maj or Harris, member for Franklin Noith, addicted his constituent-, at Otahulm on Monday night. His speech h.ul lofou'nee chiefly to local matters. Ho, howovoi, pinnmed to b the pie^ent •■yitiMii of oduuatuni, and would advocue the .ippointinont of a Minister for Aj»iicultuie lie would go to Wellington as an independent nieinbei.

An Auckland contemporary infoi ni-> ii-- th.it Mi MitohcKon leaves Auckland by train this nioining for To Aw.umitu , thence to pioceed b\ (J.ukeek •mil Donkm's lino to IS'cw Plymouth ; thou'jo to Ht.utfoid, <md by J\[(miitford\ line thiou<^h the Oiium Valley into Waimea. Mr M^itclioKon expectb to be back in AuckLuid w ltlnn a foitmght. The Piemiei has ana'iged to bo in Auckland in ten or twenty days, and to meet Mr Mitchelsou tlieio.

Only two tenders were received for Mi T. B. Lewis' now house at Cambndge, Smeidon £735, and Wortbington £M')~). It is. somewhat smpnsmg that out ot the miuibei of bmldeis in the distnct only two tendois \icie leoeived, a fact which does not speak much for the competition m the building ti.ido .it piescnt. The now house Mill he erected on the S. Kilda load, and, iiulyiiiff fuun the plans, will be about the handsomest pi lvato residence in the distucL.

A Press Association message H.iy> . -(.leneial (ioidon has written to Hu Hainuol I'aker, under date f^th inst., stating that he lias piovisions for five uuinths at Khaitonni, and a eranwm of ."iOO determined men, besides 2000 iag-t.ig. ITe says that lie is bosicgod hy the Arabs, and suggests that the plutnciats of England and Anieiica should eontubute £2,000,000 for the puipose of huing 2000 Tiukish Ni/ams (legnlar tioops), w lnch should be despatched to Bciber under the conmi.ind of Zobhr Pasha.

His Excellency the Governor is ab piesent on a visit to some of the settlements 1101 th of Auckland. He arnved at DaigawHle on Monday and leceivcd a loy.il welcome fioin the settleis and natives of the sin rounding distnct. On Tuesday the Go\emor met the natives in the Public Hall and listened to a large number of speochi's, assuimg his Evcellency of the loynlty of the natives. The Governor made a suitable reply. Some grievances m connection with the railway works weio ilso lefened to, and the Governor a veined the ;isseinblage that the Government would see justice done.

A meeting of the creditors in the estate of William Cuumiing was held on Monday. it was called foi the puipose of le-coiiaideriiig the matter of gi anting the debtor his dischaige. Between 2") and 30 creditm- weie piesent 01 ie[)i evented by pio\y, and the chair was occupied by Mr Jame^ Hally. A protest w.i 1 - handed in to the chairman, signed by Mr \V. M. Hay on behalf of Mii-.sb Winter, BucUand and himself, against the legality of the meeting, but no action was taken thereon. A lesolution was c.uiied unanimously, granting the debtor his dischaige. A special lesolution was c.ui'iud, requesting the J)istrict Com t Judge to give effect to the wishes ot Hie cicditoib.

On Monday night; Messrs Sandes and ( i rant, repiesentatives of the Noith Now Zealand Co-operative Association, met tlio settloi.s <it Waiuku, Capfc. Hainlin, M.H.It., in the cha.ii'. Owing to the shortness of the notice and counter atn actions, the attendance was small, but the settlers requested Mr (4iant to return on Ra.ttird.iy week. A large numbei of shares were taken up, and great pioniises of hiippoifc weie given. The delegates met the settlois at Pukekohe on Tuesday night. The meeting wiuiveiy enthusiastic, and a laige number of shares weie taken. The movement appeals to be meeting with gieat success everywhere.

A committee of the Cambridge Town Board, has been appointed to attend to the iepair and painting of the Public Hall and library buildings. As the Board did not succeed in laising the money proposed to be borrowed, the expenditure will consequently be very hunted, as whatever money will now be spent must come out of the oidmary revenue of the town, which is of a comparatively limited natuie. The only improvements which will now be carried out is the painting and whatever repairs the woodsvork is urgently in need of. The contemplated enlargement of the Hall will not bo carried out until the Board is in a position to take the matter in hand, and that will not be for some time to come.

WithKthe removal of the native sheds or whares at the corner of Dukestioet, Carubridge, another feature of Cambridge past has been disposed of. These old bheds, which constituted what may be very appropriately termed " aboriginal terraces " ha\ c for a long time past benn a veritable eyesore in the cential position which they occupied ; but if their appearance lias been unsightly, nevertheless they lvive been a source of much convenience in the way of affording shelter to natives visiting the town, who would not have been admissable into the hotels. The site which they occupied was perhaps about the best in the town, and we are glad to notice it is now to be occupied by a building, not only of considerable proportions, but of handsome appearance.

Mr W. Bowron, the Government inspector of dairy factories, has been in Waikato fop tho last few days, and lelt yesterday for the Lincolnshire farmers settlement at Te Aroba, During his visits here he visited the factories at Patarangi and Rukuhia, with both of which he was greatly pleased. Time would not allow of his visiting the Waikato Factory, but it is possible he may return for that purpose. From what we could gather from Mr Bowron, the. palm for best quality will be conceded to the Rukuhia Factory. Mr Bowron, however, speaks very highly of all fctjs factory cheese, and has offered a variety of useful suggestions, fqr improvement to the manager* and directors of each,. Mr H. Walpole, the manager of tha JPukakohe Factory, is also on a visit-to the and has visited the factories at Paterangi,

Messrs Ridler and Livingstone being the only two candidates for the vacant seats in the Hamilton Road District, they were declared duly elected.

The many quick trii>s which have bjen made by parties driving by the new ro.ul through to Rotorua Lhis season has bt'en eclipsed by one of a nust extraordinaiy character, so far as quickne&s is concerned, of which Mr J. S. Buclcland, of C.un bridge, is the hero. That gentleman loft Cambridge at half-past nine o'clock on ' Tuesday morning, and at 25 minutes past three in the afternoon he wired from Rotorua that he had arrived, thus doing the journey, including a half-an -hour's delay at "Oxford, in fi\ c hours' and 55 minutes. This ib an average of nearly ten miles an hour, iihd considering the distance, it is a peice of extraordinary travelling ceitainly. This is, indeed, very good for Mr Buckland, but wo bhould say that it was decidedly bad for Mr Buckland's horses.

Mr Munro, M.H.R , addressed his constituents at Westport nn Tuesday night. He spoke generally in support of the Government. He was of opinion that the deficiency in the revenue should be made up by increasing the Property Tax to Id in the £, and the imposition of a progressive land tax, the latter for revenue purposes only. He was opposed to Mr Rolleston's administration of the Lmd Depaitment. He suggested the i eduction of the Education vote by making the cunicnlum simply elemental y, and confining the school age to fiom six to thirteen years. He agreed that the charge of half the cost of hospitals, etc., against local bodies would be fair, and held that the deficiencies in the Justice and Telegraph Departments should be made up by an increase m the charges for services rendered, not by the reduction of sahuies.

The following special telegrams to the Press Association, dated London, April 21st and 22nd have been published :—: — Mr Douglas, who has for some tune been third officer of Captain Shaw's London Fire Brigade, has been appointed to the command of the Sydney i'lre Brigade. — Messrs Alexander, Boyle, Midwinter, and Murdoch, members of the Australian cricket team, ha\e arrived in London. Mr Murdoch is buffering from a cold. —Mr Hely llutchinson has received the appointment of Lieutenant-Go vernor at Malta. — Sir Henry Pa-rkes lias formed an Australian Investment Company, with a capital of one million sterling. A laige number of shares have already been taken up, and it is stated that one-foiuth of the lequhcd sum has been lequired sum has been sub-^ciibed. Sir H. P.ukes s>ail-> for Austialia towards the end of May.

We (Oamaru Mail) last year published some particulars regarding a shipment of so d potatoes which ai lived here by the Unicorn, on her last trip to this poit, and which weie, we believe raised by Messis Sutton, of Reading. At that time we remarked th.it these potatoes had proved themsehes lapid piodncei^, as witness the fact that Mr Fuuik l)imlo]), who tested them in Ins own g.vidon, was able to send the produce of the seed which lie received by the Unicorn by th.it vessel on her return tiip Home, although the \essel lemnined in poit only about three months. We have now some fmther particuliiis to hand m refeience to the-iO potatoes, by which it will be seen that they aie woithy to be viewed as a very lemaikable kind. Mr Dunlop planted some in hN gaiden on the 11th August last, and in eleven weeks afterwaids he lealised a crop of well-grown potatoes as the ie->ult ; at this time lie planted a •-econd batch, and in nine weeks after warcK he got a second crop ; wheieupon he planted again, and in eight weeks aftei waids he got a thud crop — three crops within the space of 2S weeks.

The Gazette of the lObh inst. contains a pioclamation, vesting the Hamilton East and West Cemetuies in the Borough Council. The boundaiies and aiea <ue elesenbed a-> follows: — Hamilton East and West Cetneteiics. — All that paieel of land in the Piovincial Distnct of Auckland, containing by admeasurement 38 acres 2 roods, moie 01 less, and known :is Sections No. 2-i2 of the Parish of Knikimoa. ]3ounded tow-aids the noithe.ist by Sections- No. 251 of the Pfirish of Knikniioa 1023 links, the teiniinntion of a road 100 links, and by Section No. 2~> l of the said palish 730 links : towauls the south-east by the Waikato Kiver ; tow aids the South-west by Section No. 2-~)2a of the Paush of Kiiiknno.i jifoiesaid, 1320 links ; andtowaids the noith-wcst by the town belt of Hamilton East. 21H0 links : be all the afoiesaid linkages more or less. All that parcel of land in the Piovincial Distucfc of Auckland, containing by admeasurement 2 acres, moie oi less, and known as Allotments Nos. 213 and 214 of Hamilton West. Bounded towards the noith-east by Willoughby Stieet, 30(5 links ; tow aids the .south-east by Allotment No. 215, 5-19 links ; tow-aids the south-west by the town belt 3(i(i links ; and towauls the noith-west by Cook Street, 5 li) links : be all the aforesaid linkages inoi c or less.

A meeting was held at the Hamilton I'lesbyterian Church last night fin thp purpose of advocating the general schemes of the chinch. The chair wa-> occupied by Mr J. 13. Whyte, M.H.R. ; tlieie was only a veiy small attendance. The Rev (t. B. Miuho, of Remuom, delivered a most interesting addiess on the general scheme s of the chuich, the Widows' Fund, the Aged and Infnin Ministers' Fund, the Foreign and Morn i Missions, and concluded by giving a short account of the general piogiess of the chuich iti New Zealand, lie exhoited his heaieis to woik heartily in the great cause of Christianity, to se»k to inform themselves upon .subjects connected with their faith so that when occasion required it, they could stand up in defence of it. He did not desire [to see them use this knowledge by engaging in disputation, the rather should they stnvo to unite with their brethien of other denominations — lie himself had occupied a Wesleyan, a Baptist, and even an Episcopalian pulpit— but they should beablo togiveajjeason for the faith that was in them. The address wa-> listened to with earnest attention, and itevidently produced a deep impression. The Revs. W.Evans and Raeburn delivered biief addresses advocating the claims of the charitable schemes of the church upon the inembeio, and after a few remarks f 1 om the chairman, a collection was. taken up, and the meeting closed with the Benodiction, pronounced by the Rev. W. Raeburn. During tho ovoning the ohoii s>anjr a number of hymns.

This is what the Lybtelton Time? tliinkb of the proposal to introduce .subtropical industries into Auckland : — Eveiyone will wish success to tho company which lias just bjen projected in Auckland for *;he establishment of sub tiopical indubtue>. Tho good people of Auckland, who have been talking about aub-tropigal industries for forty yoars, dusorvo, at Lliti samu tune, a little sympathy. If tins company succeeds, they will be deprived of a subject of bril liant prophetic conversation, which has kept them going for neaily half a ccntiuy. Nevei theles-t, now that they have determined to substitute action for talk, we cannot lefiain from congratulating them. What js more, they have adopted the best course t') ensure success. Under the leadership of Mr Comiskey, who is, by tho way, a perfect genius, they have taken the sensible determination to fight the Government with its own pet weapon. Audacity ib the pet weapon of the Government — "audacity, audacity, and always audacity." The new company has the audaoity, at the outset, to demand an endowment of a thousand aoros of land, and an annual subsidy, fo^five yean, of a thousand pounds. This may not strike the Fup3rficial observer as savouring particularly of independence of enterprise. But it is unmistakeably audacious. It would not be surprising to learn that when a deputation waits on the startled Minister he will be told, in answer to a helpless question about the subsidy, that the capital of the Company is nominal, and that Canterbury and Otago will pay. Mr Federli had a good deal to say when he was down here about the necessity of getting four families from Italy to teach us all about sub-tropical industries; "the olhe and the vine, and the golden orange line'" (if we may paraphrase a little) and that aor-fc of thing Here the idea felt the force of ouv oold climate. The genial mugginess of the North has caused it to develop into a scheme for an endowment of a thousand acres and £5000 a-year ; destined in its turn, no doubt, to develop into something §yen more " rich and strange." This beats the men in Bugkriun with mqsjj practical completeness. Will it gonte baqk |o w in tha shape of a vote in ( the mid.sfc of our railway troubles, and " in spite of sorrow, at our window bid good morrow," in company with another penny on our grain, and another farthing on' our property, and a trifle on our lands ? Ifc would not ba surprising. At present, however, all we can do is to wish our Northern friends every success, and say " Great is Comiskey of the Aucldanders !

T Ms, i» how the United Ireland, Mr Jarnau's organ, welconffl»th3 .Mah(}i : -

better we like him. That the patriotic chief may drive every whey-faced invader that assails him into the Red Sea is the desire of every lover of freedom. We trust our next news may be that Gordon, who is advancing loaded with specie towards Khartoum, has met the same handling as Baker, and nothing would give us greater satisfaction than to chronicle the complete triumph of the Mahdi in the Soudan, and his victorious arrival before the walls of Cairo." "Every whey-faced invader" must mean every English soldier. There is much moio of the same stuff. The Argus, commenting on the above, says : —" While there is little to complain of in the criticisms of the French press, however mistaken the comments may be, there is ceitainly much that may be taken objection to in the Ii ibh paper ; and it is not wonderful that Mr M'Ooan, M.P., should have called attention to the article we have quoted in Parliament, and should have ghen notice of his intention to ask whether the Mr W. O'Br'en, who is editor and publisher of the United Ireland, is the member for Mallow, and whether the part proprietois, Mr Parnell and Mr Bigger, are the members of those names? It is worth our while alluding to the matter also. The Messrs Redmond have faithfully reported that the Irish here dislike outrages. We are sure that with equal justice they may inform Mr Parnell that the Australian Irish detect such biutal sedition as we have quoted from the ' national' Press."

Truth, writing on the subject that is agitating London Society more than anything else just now, says:—lt would seem that Lord Garmoyle, in his letter to Miss Foitescne breaking off his engagement with her, alleged as one of his reasons that the Duke of Richmond had said that she never could be leceived at Couit, and that Ins lordship could not bear the idea of his wife not being allowed to pay her lespects to her Soveieign. Are we to understand that his Grace is himself of opinion that because a young lady has been on the stage she is not fit peison to enter the charmed circle in which he is a. bright particular star? or did he express authoritatively the determination of her Majesty ? The former is the moie probable, for the Queen is the last woman in England to inflict a social stigma upon any profession, or to allow her name to be used m older to affoid a young man an oppoitunity to desert his intended brirle. Be this as it may, assuiedlya little leflection ou<sht to have convinced his Grace of Richmond that he is the veiy last person in the kingdom to give himself airs, or even to allude t) presentations at Couit. History tells us that in the reign of Charles 11, to use the language of Macaulay, " a handsome, cia.fty, and licentious Frenchwoman, whom our rude ancestors called Madame Ccuwell," was sent over to England by Louis XIV. to become the mistie-ss of of Chailes, and to leveal his secrets to the French Com t. It is to the presentation of this nnpiopei female, who to frailty added tieacheiy, that the Duke owes his existence and the estates which enable him neither to toil nor to spin. Had one of Miss Foitcseue's ancestiesses made her money m the fashion, the young lady would not have been obliged to adopt the stage a-. <i piofession, and it would ha\e been impossible foi the descendant of " Madame Carwell" to h.ivr- aided and abetted in breaking off the m.uiiage, on the giound that she ought not to be allowed to come between the wind and his nobility.

The Edinburgh correspondent of ihe Otago Daily Times writes .—-The agitation legaichng the eiofteis and the land laws generally continues to bo kept up A newly-formed " Highland Association ' called a public meeting on the subject in Edinbuigh on Januaiy 30, when some 800 pei sons assembled. Theie was a good deal of stiong language used, and some disoider prevailed, but lesolutioiis were adoptediepiesentingtbe " uigent necessity" for legislation on behalf of " the occupieis of the soil," and calling for an inquiry by the Home Secietaiy into the eviction of two ciofteis in the island of Ronsay, Orkney, for giving evidence befoie the Ciofteis' Commission. The landloul who evicted these men is Gen ral Binroughs. Piofessoi Blackie, who was one of the speakers, said lie was the)e "to declaie wai, loot and branch, and if necossaiy, to the knife, against the laud laws of this country.' He also afh'imed that " the factois weie at the bottom of this whole business." Very satisfactoiy accounts having been received fiom the ciofteis whom Lidy Gordon Cathcart last yeai assisted to einigiate to to Manitoba from her estates in the Western Islands, it is stated that a good many more in the islands, of South IJist and Benbecula intend following their example in the spring. In Benbecula alone 20 heads of families ha\e informed the factor that they will enugiate if Luly Cathcart will take over then belongings at a valuation, which it may bo safely reckoned she will do. It is said that the crofts vacated will be tlnown irto those adjoining them and in that case the relief to the non-eniigiating fxnuhes will be consideiable. The Highland ciofteis generally have also leceived an invitation from South Carolina to enugiate thither, but it does not seem likely that many will go to that pait of America. The Eail of Fife lias sold, for £50,000, the estate of Glenbuckefc, Aboi deenshire, with the adjacent pastines md shootings of Glonlnmghtv. The puichasei is Mr H. Burra, of l\yo, Sussex, who has for some yeais rented Lnd Fife's shootings on Invonnai'kie. Another Abeidcenshirc estate, that of L'^ie Klphmstone, was put up for sale by auction in Abeidoen last week, the upset price being £125,000. As thciewasno offeior, the estate was then put in 38 sepeiate lots, \aiying fiom two to upwaids of 150 aoies, in extent. ]NN T e\ertheless theie weie scucely any bids, and only foiu lots weie sold, the total aiea dis posed of being 11)2 acie->, leilising £(>lO5. It is thus appaient that land is not regarded as a tempting investment in the Ninth) undoi almost ,my circumstances. It is felt that altered legislation on the subject is only a matter of tune, and probably not of a long tune, and as no one can forecast* the nature of such legislation, euitious Scotsmen hold aloof meanwhile fiom brymg land. This of itself is likely to be no mean factor in bunging matters to a definite issue.