NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 172, 14 July 1876, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

We have received from the Government printer four numbers of the Parlianien'ary Debates. Those persons who are interested in floriculturnl pursuits, or matters generally connected with the garden or orchard, would do to look over Mr. George Mathews' calendar for the year, where they will find much useful information for their guidance in planting, pruning, or sowing, and will be made acquainted with the names ana ■descriptions of many valuable and beuutilul trees and flowers.

The katipo seems to be particularly active in the North Island just now. Another case has occurred of a gentleman being bitten by it ; this time at Napier. The bite caused extreme pain, and resulted in paralysis of the parts affected. The correspondence between His Honor the Superintendent and the Hon. the Premier has been issued in pamphlet form. As we have already given this correspondence a place in our columns, it is hardly necessary for us to refer further to it. It, however, appears to us important to preserve it in convenient shape, for the information and warning of future legislators, and, therefore, if only for this, the step taken is one in the right direction. Mb. H. Leah, boot and shoe maker, George street, informs the public in our advertising columns, that he is now making gentlemen's first-class elastic-side and balmoral boots (to measure) for 20s. per pair. This is certainly a very large reduction on the price usually charged by the trade ior first-class work. Air. Lear explains how he is enabled to make so large a reduction, by saying that the " sweet simplicity" of cash payments frees him from bad debts and other evils that attend the credit system, and we believe it. We have been requested to enumerate certain of the more fortunate amongst the winners of prizes at the late Art Union. A large steel engraving of Landseer's " Stag at Bay," together with an oil painting of Nicoll's Creek Waterfall, by Mr" Power of Dunedin, fell to ihe lot of Miss Dempsey, a lady resident in Oamaru. Mr. Gwynne, of Palraerston, won s large chromo-lithograph of Lake Como, in a gilt frame, which, together with "The Sag at Bay" and some other valuable pictures, was presented by his Lordship the Bishop. Mr. Haggitt, solicitor, of Dunedin, obtained a fine oil painting, jntitled " Horses at Water," presented by Mr. McDonough. A raluable oil painring of " The Dunstan," and a beautiful oleograph of the Madonna were won by Mr. Mack>»y, of Queenstown. A large jhromo lithograph of Lake Coniston fell to Mr. O'Shea, of Wellington, md in addition to the niasjnificant portrait of the Bishop, several handsome pictures are destined for Timaru. Many of the prizes have not as yet been claimed, and we have been asked to state that it would be desirable they should at once be sent for, or directions with regard ,o their disposal given. The Saturday Evenings' Concerts at the Temperance Hall continue in attractive feature amongst the amusements of Dunedin. Mr. Sykes' well-known capacity for managing musical entertainments has rendered them a decided success, by obtaining a liberal supply of ;aleut and setting it off to the best advantage. " His Last Legs," as represented on Friday evening last at the Princess Theatre, by the members of the Press Amateur Dramatic 31ub, seems to us to have been done ample justice to. Mr Thomas Bracken as O'Calaghan was simply perfect. To thoroughly appreciate his acting in this part, it is necessary at some time or other to tiave been acquainted *vith one or more individuals of the unfortunate ;lass represented, and which is now happily all but extinct, if not quite so. In former days we remember to have encountered such, and not iven in the originals are we conscious of having observed a more natural intermingling of the pathetic with the absurd. The true iharaeter, however brilliant might have been his antecedents, was inevitably a bore, but, although this trait was here quite sufficiently indicated, the talent of the actor and the wit of the part prevented it troin being apparent in any greater degree, than that necessary to render the role complete. Of Miss Colville and the other ladies, who appeared on this oc asion, it is quite unnecessary for us to speak ; their names alone are sufficient- guarantee for the excellence of anything undertaken by them. When, therefor*.', we have said that in our opinion each of the remaining actors very creditably sustained Liis part we have, so fur as in us lies, given our readers a fair description of a capital performance. TnE sad case of two little girls lost in the bush on the West Coast lately, recalls to us a most melancholy occuri ence which came to our knowledge a few years ago in New South Wales. A gentleman, residing in G-ippsland near the border and in the midst of the bush, lost his little boy. Search was made far and wide and long continued, but with no result ; the child could not be found. At length, when all hope had been abandoned, and about a year after the event happened, the bereaved father was riding home one evening, and in ascending the side of a gulley close behind his house, his horse trod upon something that teemed to him strange, when on dismounting to ixamiiie it, he round hidden amongst the brush-wood the remains of Uia poor little boy. The child had. perished not much, more than a hundred yards from his parents' door, notwithstanding the ardent search made tor him. It will be seen from our advertising columns that Biker's Eibernicon is again iv Dunedin. The pleasure afforded by a visit to this exhibition is no doubt still fresh in the memories of many residing- in this town and neighborhood. Oa all sides were heard its praise, and we believe that its success in Australia quite equalled that gained by it in New Zealand. The views of Irish scenery here presented are unrivalled, and while they afford to natives of the Emerald Isle a welcome opportunity of refreshing their recollections of the scenes amidst which their early days were passed, they furnish to those who hail from other countries means of extendingtheir acquaintance with the beautiful face of nature, so far as this may be artificially represented. There are besides many other attractive features in the entertainment, which on the whole may be said to be one or the most enjoyable ever visited in Dunedin. We have been requested to state that the collection of Peter's Pence iv the Invercargill district amounts to £17. The list of subscribers will be published as soon as possible.