NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 187, 27 October 1876, Page 12

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

A number of photographic copies of the plans designed by Mr. Petre for the conventual buildings about to. be erected in Dunedin are being prepared, in order to be forwarded to the country districts that lie along the route followed by Mr. O. Cummins in his journeys to Queenstown. Mr. Cummins has kindly undertaken to receive subscriptions in aid of the building fund, and we would again remind our readers, that tbe efforts which the Dominican Sisters are now «naking to increase the sphere of their usefulness, are not intended for the benefit of Dunedin only, bufc that the interests of the whole province of Otago are involved in having high class schools established in the capital, where they will be within easy reach of all. In the course of an article, entitled " Our Juries," in last week's issue of our contemporary, the ' Saturday Advertiser,' the following remarks occur: — "Then the Grand Jury deprived the public from having, in the ' Evening Star' case, the law of libel properly laid down There is little doubt among impartial observers, that the ecclesiastical element had some weight with them, and that they usurped the functions both of judge and petty jury. We take leave to say that this is not the way to make for peace, or maintain a healthy state of opinion in a community of mixed religious persuasions. It is a practical illustration of the conclusion at which many have arrived, that it is more than time that the Grand Jury system should be abolished." j The ' Charleston Herald' says : " They have a curiosity in Otago, which had Barnum only known of would have now been at Philadelphia astonishing the Yankees. It is a Water Race that talJcs — at least, so saith the ' Otago Witness' of a recent date. ' For sale : a water race that will speak for itself * * * on the west bank of the Molyneux * * * a good home for two i men/ A rather damp home I should think for two men." Many of our readers will be pleased, but not surprised, to hear that Mr. J. J. Woods, of Lawrence, has gained a fresh distinction. Some months ago a prize was offered for the composition of a melody, to -which the fine words of the New Zealand Anthem, written by Mr. Thomas Bracken, might be sung, and on the appointed day twelve manuscripts were sent in and immediately forwarded to Melbourne, to be submitted to the judgment of certain professional gentlemen of eminence. Each of the judges — Messrs: Zeplin, Zelman, and Siede — was furnished with a separate copy of the various compositions which he criticized apart from his confreres, and it is particularly worthy of remark that the superior excellence of the melody composed by Mr. Woods was recognised by all three critics simultaneously and without consultation ; thus it is seen to be facile princeps. A plan is at present under consideration which has for its object the supplying of the city of Sydney with water from the Upper Nepean River. The undertaking would be a gigantic one, as it would necessitate the construction of an aqueduct sixty-three miles in length and at a cost of .£1,146,000. Considerable alarm prevails in Dunedin arising from the frequent and daring burglaries that continue to be reported. We have no doubt but that the police are fully capable of dealing with the matter and that the measures taken by them for the detection of the offending parties will result in success j but meanwhile it is the duty of all householders to be prepared for the unwelcome nocturnal visitors, so that they may at least be accorded a warm reception on putting in an appearance, if it be found impossible then and there to apprehend them. We do not at all believe in being " stuck up" in the heart of a civilised town. A veet strong reason why drinking direct from water-taps should not be practised may be found in the fact (says the ' Ballarat Evening Post') that a water-snake ran through a tap on Friday, which would, have been a most objectionable thing to swallow. This interesting reptile — which was about a foot long, and about the thickness of a stout piece of cord — was discovered by a man working at the St. George " claim, Sebastopol, which was running off water from a 2in. pipe into a gold-saving machine. This snake is described as being so tough and wiry as to take the strength of a spade to chop it into bits. The ' Southland Times,' in an amusing article wherein it roundly censures the Otago * Guardian,' lays claim to superior excellence on tbe plea that it is quoted by the Melbourne} 1 Argus' more frequently thnu almost any other New Zealand newspaper. Its further states that it is supported by an overwhelming majority of the people |of education, "intelligence and property — though last not least — in its province, and finally it winds up as follows — *' We can afford to laugh at the rowdy ignoramus at Dunedin who has come down southward for wool, and judging by all we hear, has only got shorn." This is language that is hardly " parliamentary" in a journal of such pretensions. It is, however, a pity that the Otago ' Guardian* is not a Catholic paper as in that case "rowdy ignoramus" would in all probability be honored by a place in the enobling columtie of the big brother at Melbourne to which our vituperative contemporary alludes with such pride. ' . We have received from the Government Printer several numbers of ' Hansard,' ending with that dated October 20.