TO THE MECHANICAL. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir — A new method is required for the balloting for a jury. The namcß are placed in the box ; said box revolves. It frequently happens, aa in this session, 4, 5, or 6 of the same names turn up ; this is an error to be guarded against. I would BUggest that the box should revolve whilst the names are being taken out, on the principle of a musical box. Tbo -Reeistrar could stop the rovolutinn when he has the number required. By this process the pieces of card would be distributed. This present system is decidedly unsatisfactory. — 1 am, &c, H. J. L. Auoabde.

We are informed on authority that Mr. T. W. Hislop baa re-joinod the Ministry. What his portfolio will be has not yet been decided. The proposed aoulling match for the Championship of New Zealand between Stephenson, of Sydney, and Hearn, of Wellington, may now be regarded ass definitely settled. Mr. Warby (Stephenson'a backer), in his reply to Mr. Alfred King's lettor, embodying Hearn's acceptance of the challenge, makes no difficulty n bont any thing, andshows by his ready concurrence in the few suggestions made by Hewn that he means business. Ah wo all know that Hearn i« willinpr too, we may depend upon the match being brought off without a hitch. Mr. Warby has forwarded a rough draft of tho articles of agreement. A copy of theso iH now boinsf engrossed, and will bo at once signed by Hearn, and forwarded forfeis>naturo to Stephenson. Mr. Henry BlundeJl has consented to act aa stakeholder, and on signing tho articles Hearn will make a deposit of jESO, which Stephenson undertakes to cover by cable remittance as soon as ho receives tho articles. The balance of tho stake-money is to bo deposited on Saturday, the 11th Decomber. Tho E.M.S. Zoalandia, with English mails of 7th Septomber, is duo at Auckland tomorrow, but as she was a day late leaving San Francisco (22nd September), she will probably not urrive before Sunday, in whii'h oaso it would be Monday boforo the mail reaches Wellington. A largo number of iron vessels somewhat resembling small harbour buoys havo been landed from the ship Zealaudia, which recently arrived from London, and are now lying on tho Queen 'b Wharf, where they are attracting considerable attention. They aro for use in connection with tho ground mines laid down in tho four principal harbours of the colony, and will bo stored at the Heads dep6t until required. Drs. Fell and Mackenzie have been appointed by the Roaident Magistrate to examine Mrs. Ellen Corrado, now in custody on a charge of child murder, and suspected of lunacy. Tho examination will be mado homo timo to-day, Tho following casoa are sot down for hearing at tho next sitting of the Divorce Court : —Malcolm v. Malcolm (decree absolute), Dodwoll v. Dodwell (docree absolute), Nilson v. Nilson and another (droreo nisi), Carlson v. Carlson and another (decree nisi), Long-hui-rt v. Longhurst (decreo nisi). Wo are informed by Mr, Dixon, Secretary of tho Agricultural and Pastoral Association, that an intimation has been received from the Eailway Department and the Maim w at u Eailway Company in reference to certain concessions which will bo made in the rates for the carriage of passengers and stock in connection with tho Association Show. Ordinary fares will be charged on Stock brought to Wellington, but all stock unsold returning within one mouth will be carried back free of charge. Eeturn passenger tickets at greatly rednoed fares will )9 issued from tho 15th to the 20th November, and will bo available for return until the 26th November. Tho Civil Sittings of tho Supreme Court comuionce on Monday next. Tho following is a hub of tho casei : — Special jury of four — Climio y. Miller, Booth & Co. (Mr. Jellicoe for plaintiff and Mr. Thompson for defendants). Briggß v. Bank of Now Zealand (Mr. Skerrett for plaintiff and Mr. Stafford for efondants). Boforo a common jury of four--Wood V. Inffloy and another (Mr. Tate for plaintiff). Before a Jndge alone— Percy and another v. Johnson (Mr. Skerrett for tho plaintiffs, and Mr. Quick for the defendant), Pahora v. Cuff (Mr. Jellicoe for plaintiff, and Mr. Tate for dofendant), Pineaha v. Stuart and another (Mr. Thompson for plaintiff, and Mr. Bell for defendants), Cuff v. Pahora (Mr. Tate for plaintiff, and Mr. Jellicoe for defendant). Wilson v. Zohrab (Mr. Jellicoe for plaintiff, and Mr. Bell for defendant), Kipo, to Whatanni v. Stuart and another (Mr. Thompson for plaintiff, and Mr. Bell for defendants.) Last year tho Victorian railways paid 4 per oent. on the cosfc. of construction in addition to a net profit of .£31,000. In the Town and Country Journal (Sydney) of 14th September an article is printed descriptive of the life of tho Hon. G. F. Richardson, Minister of Lands, whilo a very fair likeness of the Hon. Edward Richardson, CM. 6., heads the letterpress. The Hospital Matron begs to aoknowlodge, with thanks, the receipt of the following parcels for tho use of the Hospital, viz. -.— Parcels of old linen from Mrs. Brown, Hobson-street ; Mr. Dickton, Lambton-quay ; Mrs. 0. H. Izard, the Terrace ; Mrs. Carpenter, May-Btrcet ; Mrs.Morshead, Collegegrcan ; Mrs. Hewitt, Kilbirnie ; Mrs. King, JSllioe-strcet ; Mrs. Nathan, Hobson-street ; Mrs. laxton, Cambridge-torrace ; a parcel of papers from Mrs. W. M. Streathoan, Masterton; books, &0., Mr. O. W. Clayton, Vivian-atrret ; Youn? Ladies' Journals, Miss Mudge, Marjoribanks-strcet; and a copy of Mr. W. T. L. Travers* book, " From New Zealand to Like Michigan," from Messrs. Edwards & Co. Captain C. Barlow, who has just been appointed to tho command of tho Australian flagship Orlando, vice Captain Hammil, waa formerly oaptain of H.M.S. Bacchante, on_ the East India station, until his new appointment. He i 3 one of the senior captains in tbe service, and holds a " distinguished servioe " order for servioes in the recent war in Burmah. an honour held by very few officers in the navy. Captafn Hammil gives over the command of the ship shortly to his sucoesaor, and leaves for Home, where he will bo plaood on tho half-pay list to await another appointment. An application for a married woman's property protection order against her husband, which had been filed by Mrs. Louisa Jensen, was to have been heard by Mr. Robinson, R.M , to-day. When the applioation was called for hearing neither of the parties appeared, so tho oaso was struok out. Tho Union Steam Ship Company havo been advised by cablo that their chartered steamer Bothwell Castlo, which left Wellington on the 3rd of September, with 332 horses, arrived at Calcutta, to-day. Only 21 of the animals died during the trip, which speaks woll for the capabilities of the vessel as a stock-carrier. The barque Weathorsfiold, has been so long stranded on the beach near Otaki that onr readers may have forgotten that efforts are still beincr made to get her off. Not only in this the oase, but we have much pleasure in stating that such progress has been made in the work of floating her— under the direotion of Captain J. C. Cooper— that in all probability we shall hear of tho vessel being afloat within the next week or so. Up to yesterday she had been moved seaward over 60ft, and instead of bein? broadside on, she ii now nearly head to sea. It waa expsotrd that she would be moved still nearer to the sea yesterday evening. A seaman on board the ship Nelson, now loading for Home at the Railway Wharf, met with an accident to-day. While engaged in shipping tallow, his arm got jammed by a cask and brokon. The discussion by the members of the Wellington Spiritualistio Association, on " The Best Method of Investigating Spiritualism," was continued at last evening's meeting. About 30 members were present, and the subject was debated with interest. For continuation or ran ding matter tee fourth vaoe.