News of the Week.

A telegraph office was opened last week at Marton, Rangitikei, in the province of Wellington. We understand that the General Government propose to extend the line of telegraph to Naseby, either from Alexandra or Pabnerston. A telegram in the Chrlstohurch Press states that Major Heaphy has been appointed Commissioner of Native Reserves, at a salary of LI 000 a year. A flax mill is about to be Btarted in the Wangaloa district by Messrs M'Farlane and Co, of Tokom&iriro, and it is expected that another will shortly be erected in the same neighbourhood by Messrs Pillans and Co. A special meeting of the Gas Oommittee'of the City Council was held on Friday afternoon. We believe it was determined that the offer made by the lessee of the Gas Works should be taken into consideration. At an ordinary sitting of the Supreme Court in Bankruptcy, on Monday, it was decided to suspend the issuing of a certificate of discharge to W. G. Buchan, of Tnapeka Mouth, for six months. The crops in many parts of Hawke's Bay are reported to have been attacked by rust. This unfortunate atate of matters is attributed to the unusually wet weather which has prevailed in that province this seasoD. John Brady, alias Bray, sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour, for being found without lawful excuse in the dwelling house of Noah Lingard, at Clyde. on the night of the 17th ultimo, was received into the gaol on Tuesday evening. The value of the machinery employed at the quartz reefs at Bendigo, Victoria, at the end of 18C9, is estimated at L370,0d0. During the latter half of the year these reefs yielded at the rate of 5,000 oz. a week, the average return being 104 dwts to the ton. Over twenty different parties, varying from two to five men each, are engaged on the beaches near Charleston, washing black Band. Some of them are making as much as LI 2 a- week per man, while all are earning more than wages. ?' In the late attack of Te Kooti on the camp of Colonel M'Dounell, the latter had a narrow escape, a bullet passing between his left arm and his side. A few minutes later he was slightly wounded by a splinter from a tree close to which he was standing. The marriage of Mrs Robert Heir and Mr George Darrell came off in St George's Church, Grahamstown, on the 20th ult. The bride was given away by Mr William Lloyd, of Grahamstown, and a large number of ladies and gentlemen were present on the occasion. The roadway in Great King street gave way on Saturday last, allowing one of the wheels of a heavily-iaden waggon to sink up to the axle. Five horses in addition to the team of eight were attached to the waggon, but failed to pull it out, until a large quantity of the loading had been taken off. Some Maori translations of Earl Granville's last despatch are reported to have been circulated among the King natives. The authorship of the translation is attributed to Mr C. O. Davis of A uckland, who was some years ago tried on a charge of high treason and acquitted. The appointment of Mr John Buraside to the several appointments lately held by Mr John Gillies is officially noified in the New Zealand Gazette of the 29 th ult. It is also notified in the same issue of the Gazette that the Forbury Park Company, Limited, has been duly registered, in accordance with the terms of the Joint Stock Companies Act, 1860. The Rev. Mr Blake, Maori Missionary at Otago Heads, attended at the Gaol on Sunday morning and held Divine Service for the Protestant Maori prisoners. He afterwards visited the prisoners in the airing yard as well as one tick Maori, confined to his bed with sciatica. In the afternoon the Rev. Father Moreau performed Divine service to the Roman Catholic Maori prisoners. The following was the state of H. M. Gaol, Dunedin, during the week ending on Saturday last : — Awaiting trial, 9 men ; penal servitude, 97 men ; hard labour, 42 men and 12 women ; imprisonment, 2 men and 1 woman ; in default of bail, 1 man ; debtor, 1 man ; total, 152 men and 13 women. 9 men and 3 women were received during the week, and 6 men and 8 women were discharged during the same period. John M'Grath, blacksmith, late of Oamaru, was received into the Gaol on Friday afternoon, committed for trial at the ensuing criminal sessions of the Supreme Court on a charge of stealing, on the 23rd ult., a horse, saddle, and bridle, of the value of Ll4 10s, the property of William Chalk Baudinet, of Oamaru. The number of prisoners now in the Gaol for trial at the next criminal sessions is nine. The delay in sorting and delivering the mails at the Post office to the morning coaches is a matter of constant complaint with passengers, who nre frequently detained a considerable time in this way. The other morning, for instance, the coach was delayed for more than a quarter of an hour at the Post office. A little attention on the part of the authorities to this matter would spare the travelling public a great t deal of vexatious inconvenience. ' i

An important decision with regard to the law of mining on private property has been given in Melbourne by Judge Williams, in the case of Mr Philip Davids, the manager of the Prince of Wales's Mining Company. His Honour has decided that owners of the land hay c a right t o the gold, and that thf y cars imprison any one taking any precious metal from their ground without their concurrence. On Tuesday evening, lstinst., a deputation of office-bearers of the Presbyterian congresfation at West Taieri waited upon the Rev. William Gillies at the Manse, and presented him with a very handsome double-seal ci buggy and harness, subscribed for by the three districts of West Taieri, Waipori, and Maungatua, which, are under his pastoral charge, as a mark of their esteem for him, and appreciation of his labour among them. It was announced iv the Mayor's Court on Saturday last, that no cases would be heard before eleven o'clock daily until the Mayor had recovered from his illness, as the presiding Justices found it inccnvenient to attend sooner ; but after the Court had been adjourned it was found that summonses in which the time fixed for the presence of the parties was ten o'clock had been issued till to-day, so that the Court does not meet at eleven o'clock until to-morrow. A correspondent of a contemporary writes that for branding wool bales nothing can compare with red lead and boiled linseed oil, which must be well mixed all the tme it is being used. This will then form a mark that will not wash out nor wear out, and last as long as the material it is put on holds together. It is the chief material used in London by the large sack and bag merchants who hire out sacks, &c. to unload the large num. 1 er of grain-laden vessels that discharge in the port of London. From the Tuapeka Times we learn that on the 24th ult. Mr Gamble of the Horse Shoe Bend, accompanied by a mate, while hunting pigs in the Blue Mountain Gorge, made chase down a gully after an old boar, when the infuriated animal suddenly turned round and. rushed Mr (Gamble, ripping up his hip and making an ugly gash of six inches. On re turn to the nearest house, bis mate sewed up the "wound. Mr Gamble believes there must be at least a couple of thousand pigs in the same locality. An inquest was held at Moke Creek, near Queenstown, on the 27th January, on the body of Patrick M'lnerny, who was killed on the previous day by a f«ll of earth whils; working in a claim. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The deceased had been living in the district for about six or seven weeks, and had previously lived at Blacks, No. 1, where a sister of his resides. He was a singe man and a native of county Clare, Ireland, and his mother and brothers are in Victoria. The competition for the Lancaster rifle presented by Mr David Mills to the Artillery, took place on Saturday, at the Kaikorai Butts. The ranges were— 4oo, 500, and 600 yards, 5 Bhots at each. No sighting shots, and any position. The weather was not propitious for high scoring, as there was a very strong and gusty wind blowing up the range. The match was a handicap. Some of the competitors were allowed as many as 10 points, but the two highest scorers started at scratch, and were placed as under : — Capt. M'Farland, Ist, 43 points ; Gunner Hannah, 2nd, 41 points. The Auckland correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, referring to the departure of the troops, says : — Sir George Bowen feels keenly on the point, and thinks that an Imperial Governor, without Imperial military attendance is like a judge without policemen. The Auckland people take the departure of the troops with unconcern. The loss of the regimental band — a very good one by- the- bye — is held generally a " bore," but no further regrets are expressed on the question. Fort Britomart has already been formally- handed to the colonial authorities, and will be used as a depot and barracks for the Armed Constabulary. At a meeting of the committee of the Acclimatisation Society of Southland, held on the 28th ult., the Secretary drew the attention of the committee to the fact that two of the large trout had been found dead, one in the pond, evidently killed in a fight with one of its own species ; the other on the bank of the pond several feet f i om the water. Tho circumstances of its finding were such as convinced the curator it had been taken from the water by & shag, and dropped on the approach of danger. To prevent further depredations, the pond had since been covered in with wire netting. One of the dead fish was exhibited in a bottle at the meeting ; it measured B.j inches long, and five in girth. An accident by which a miner named Patrick M'lnneray lost his life, occurred on the 26th inst, in Lynch and Welsh's sluicing claim at Moke Creek, near Queenstown. It appears that deceased, who was a wageaman, was working with Lynch in the claim on the afternoon of the day named. About 3 o'clock Lynch had occasion to leave on business, &nd before doing so he advised M'lnnemy not to go under the f »cc of the claim, as it did not look very safe. In a couple of hours Lynch returned, but could not see deceased, whose tools were lying about. He also noticed that a quantity of earth had fal'en during his absence. He immediately gave the alarm to the miners in the next claim, and, with their assistance, removed the earth which had fallen, underneath which he found M'lnnerny. The latter was quite . dead, having apparently been struck on the i back by the falling earth.

The recent floods appear to have caused considerable damage in the Switzers and Tapanui districts. The Tuapeka Times atatea that a great portion of the road near tfrenchman'd Hill was completely swept away. On the Waikaia Flat the damage caused by the overflow of the river was considerable— in one instance a settler there lost a dray and sundry other articles, havirg been obliged to leave his house, s>s the flood endangered the lives of its inmates. Immense trunks of trees strewed the t-ack between Switzers and M'L9an's hotel on the flat, having been carried for a long diatance. At Tapanui several of the neighbouring runholders lost a large number of sheep, including many valuable rams. The Queenstown paper reports that the late heavy rainfall has been very acceptable to market gardeners, but just the reverse to the farmers, who will suffer loss when gathering in their overripe crops. On Thursday and Friday last, we are informed on reliable authority, the rainfall was2iincb.es. Since Tuesday, we are glad to state, the weather has been fine, and promises to continue so. The streams, however, have been very much swollen, and it was impossible for any vehicle to cross the Shotover until the day last mentioned ; and even now the ford is soft and shifty. A considerable portion of the main road between the Arrow Bluff and Morven Ferry was washed away on Saturday, but men were put on at once, and the damage repaired without delay. Asale of CrowuLands tookplaceonthe2nd in st. at the Land Office, at which the following lands were sold : — Land at 10s per acre : Maungatua district, section 37, block I, 133 a2r 14p : Clarendon district, section 42, block I, 148 a2r 3 1 p ; Waikouaiti district, section 47. block 11, 25a Or Sp ; section 50, block If, 2oa 2r 37p ; Dunedin and E Taieri district, 2 of section 35, block V, 3la 2r 7o ; 4 of section 34, block V, 42a Or 13p ; Tof section 49, block V, 33a 2r 17p ; 24 of section 40, block V, 90a 2r 3p ; section 1, block ; VIII, 66a. lr 9p — making a gross acreage of 596 a 2r, which brought L 286 5s 6d. The following lands of special value were also sold, the upset price being 21s per acre :—: — Oamaru district, section 27, block XIII, 43a 2r 23p : Knitangata district, 2 of section 30 block 11, 35a Or 35p— a total of 79a Or 18p, which brought in LB2 19s 6d. A settler in Taranaki has constructed a serviceable footbridge out of fencing wire. Of this bridge the following description is given by a correspondent of a New Plymouth journal : — The hide girths sold by the saddlers are good models of Pearson's bridge; It is simply a web, formed with five fencing wires, disposed horizontally under an inch floor ; holes are bored through light bearers of 3 x 2 abrut two inches from the top edge The bearers are spaced, to suit the lengths of the boards laid on them, and to fasten light poats, to carry two wirts on each side, for hand rails. The floor on the bearers is formed with nine fourteen feet boards, nine feet by six inches, laid three abreast, and lapped, space being forty feet six inches, with a raised rim of two feet. The wires are fastened to a cross beam fixed to trees on each side. Last week's Provincial Government Gazette contains a proclamation by His Honour the Superintendent cancelling the lease of 4910 acres of land in the district of Tuapeka West, being a portion of the run of Mr James Smith. The fol'owingnotifications also appear in the same issue of the Gazette : — A public pound has been established at Anderson's Bay, of which Mr Hugh Ross is appointed keeper. — Miners' rights in claims of one acre for every holder of such a right, provided that no t lock claim shall comprise more than, six acres altogether, may be taken nut within the following area : —From the western boun- j dary of the Marewhenua Hundred, where it joins the Waitaki River, along by the said boundary to the Kakanui River ; thence by the north branch of the Kakanui River to its source ; thence in a direct lino to the source of the Otekaike River ; thence by the Otekaike River to the Waitaki, and thence by the Waitaki to the starting point. A full muster of the members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade met on Monday evening at the Engine Station to transact their usual monthly business. Captain Wain occupied the chair. The minutes of previous meetings and practices were read and confirmed. A letter dated Jan. 18, from the City Council, respecting the alarm bell, was read and received. It informed the Brigade that the Post Office bell was being made available for use as a fire bell. Messrs E. Levi, Macauley, and Braithwaite, were unanimously elected working members. This completes the limit allowed by the Corporation, viz. , 30 members. Captain Wain in his report sta'ed that since the receipt of the letter from the City Council, the Post Office bell had been made available for use as a fire bell, and would be tested on the next practice night. He also informed the members that a further instalment of books for the library had been received from the Council. The success that has attended the Pacific Railroad since its completion, has given a fresh stimulus to the projects for rival lines of rail across other portions of the American continent. The Canada Pacific Railroad Company has published its plans in Montreal. The capital of the company is to be 100,000,000 dollars, and the length is estimated at 2500 miles. From the San Francisco papers also, we learn that there is scarcely a doubt that the construction of two other lines of rail will be commenced at an early date. "One road," says the Bulletin, " must be constructed from San Diego via the Southern route, with a branch coming

down the Son Joaqnin valley to this city. Another road will be built through Idaho into Oregon, terminating on the Columbia river. Either of these railroads is likely to be finished long before the Canadian road, because the teiritory is much more valuable than that in the British province, while the topography and c.imate of thecouDtry are incomparably mere favourable." The fact that there are numbers of men at the Thames unable to obtain employment, was brought prominently forward by several of the speakers at the first of tho two public meetings of miners recently held there with reference to the opening of the Ohinemuri country. Among others, aMr Maddock said that " if that meeting did no other good, it would at least have the good effect of preventing people from coming to the North Island. The next thing they would hear of would be a rush upon the storekeepers and bakers, and it would serve chem jolly well right, for none of them would coma that day and assist the miners." AMr Connell said that "no doubt a great many people wanted employment ;" and Mr J. C. M'Leod read the fo lowing motion, which he said had been put into his hands :—": — " Th >t a large amount of distress exists through want o£ employment, and that the Government be urged to take such steps as are necessary to relieve that distress." As, however, Mr M'Leod did not formally propose the motion, it was allowed to lapse. From a return published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 29th ult, we find that the total amount of Customs revenue collected at the several ports of the colony during the quarter ending on the 3 1st December last was L 215.674, being an increaae of L 5813 or 2 76 per cent, over the corresponding quarter of ISGB. Of this amount more than half was contributed by Auckland and Dunedin, the figun s for which ire L 57 104 and L54.8G7 respectively. Of the remaining ports, only four contributed more than LlO/0U to the general total, I viz :— Lyttelton, L 20.933 ; Wellington, [L 15.355; Hokitika, L 14.133; and Greymouth, Ll 1,592. While, however, Auckland is slightly in advance of Dunedin during the quarter uader notice, the figures of the whole year award the latter the first place. They are, Dunedin, L 210.52 3; Auckland, L 204,374. The amount received throughout the colony during the year was L 823.508, being an increase over 1868 of L 34 679, or at the rate of 439 per cent. The increase at Dunedin during the year was very slight, being L 2,940, or at the rate of 1.41 per cent. " Paterfamilias " writes to the Daily Times as follows : — "Sir — Your correspondent, ' Urbanus,' draws attention to the difference in price between that charged by the butchers of Dunedin and those of Oa- aru. The former, he says, ask '8d per lb for the best joiuts, and la per lb for steaks ;' whilst at Oamaru, *fat "sheep and lambs are sold at an average of 2s 6d the side, and prime beef >t from 3Jd to 4d the lb.' Perhaps the butchers here incur extra expense by delivering the meat at the houses of their customers, still I am unable to understand thia great difference in price. Being rather a large consumer, and as I have some difficulty in paying my way, I confess it would le satisfactory to me to have this part of the question explained. But what 1 have a'so to complain of is this : That although I have never hitherto demurred at my butcher's charges, and always settle his bill as soon as it is sent in ; unless I take the trouble to select every joint, or chop, or steak I may require, I am pretty sure to get mutton or beef of such inferior quality that it is almost uneatable, and is consequently often wasted. Now, considering that the wholesale price of fit sheep in this market is at present 5s each, and of the best beef is 25s per 100. b5., this state of things appears to me to be intolerable." The scheme declared by Mr Edward Wilson to be the best yet proposed for supplying New Zealand with troops, is that of Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of Bombay. It is as follows : — In consequence of the diminution determined upon of the Indian forces, Sir Bartle Frere, in a despatch to the India Office of November 8, proposes the following conditions upon which New Zealand might be permitted to obtain the aid of the officers and men whose services are so dispensed with in India. 1. The Indian Government to engage to give a free passage to New Zealand ; Indian pay and allowances at the rates drawn the last month by each man during the voyage, and for three months after landing in New Zealand ; service under these engagements to count as service in India for pension, &c, to all entitled to it by their existing engagements with the British or Indian Governments. 2. The British Government should engage to make the agreements for service in New Zealand in conjunction with the Indian and New Zealand Governments ; to pay officers and men received from the Indian Government from the expiration of the three months after landing, debiting the amount as a loan to New Zealand ; to appoint, in conjunction with the New Zealand Government, a military dictator, with full military and civil authority under commission from the Crown to settle the Northern Island. 3. The New Zealand Government should engage to repay the loan advanced by the British Government, and to respect the engagements made with officers and men; to offer free, or at reduced rates, grants of land in proportions varying according to rank, to all officers and men, natives of India or China, as well as Europeans, who, after completing not less than two years' service under these engagements, may take their discharge from Her Majesty's service, an<? agree to settle in New Zealand. „_.

Mr Colin Allan writes to us, with reference to the establishment of a Labour Ex change in Dunedin, as follows :: — ** I have had considerable experience in supplying the required labour, and being well known to the country settlers generally, I am quite prepared to meet their wants in this respect as far as I can. I may, however, state that the grand difficulty with me is to procure labour suitable for the requirements of the settlers who make application to me, froni the scarcity of the article in the libour market. The fact is, and it iB well known to employers of labour in our agricultural districts, the proper classes of servants are not imported from the home country, nor are they brought in sufficient numbers to satisfy the demands of the province. Among the immigrants per last two ships, there could not have been more than half-a-dozen real ploughmen among the whole number. Had a qualified agent — one who has had some experience in employing labour, and had some knowledge of the dietricts in the Home country where labour of the kind requred could be obtained, been sent home eighteen months ago, the market would now be fully supplied, and the farmers would not have been compelled to pay such high prices as L 2 to L 2 10s per week with rations to re pars. So long as labour is scarce, so long will the employer be at the mercy of the employed, in spite of all the labour agencies that can be established." An incident occurred at the American Theatre the other nighfe which, says the Thames Times, called forth tb.B presence of mind of Miss Anstead to a considerable degree. At the end of the third act of " Under the Gaslight," Miss Anstead, as Laura Courtland, breaks open the door of the station house to release Snorkey, who had been tied to the rails by Byke. In going out she accidentally knocked over a candle, which set fire to some inflammable material forming the window. The miniature trf.in had just passed across the stage in the distance, and the big train's approach was heralded by the ringing of the bell, the whistle and other noises behind the Bcenes, and the excitement was worked up to a great pitch, when one or two voices in the audience called out fire, and one man jumped on to the stage to put out the fire. Miss Anstead gave one glance at the blaze, and instead of fainting or rushing off in a fright Bhe undid the rope and dragged Snorkey from the rails just in time to allow the train to pass. The effect of the scene was Blightly marred by this contretemps, but the excitement was rather increased, and Miss Acatead acted as if the scene .was real, and that Snorkey's safety was a matter of greater moment than a trifling damage by fire. With the exception of the gauze which formed the window, no damage was done, and at the commencement of the next act, things went on as smoothly as before. A few weeks since we mentioned that a severe Bhock of seaquake was experienced by the barque Ade iue Burke, on Christmas Day, while near the West Cape. From the Newcastle papers we learn that the shock was also felt by the barques Union and Indus, in Foveaux Strait. The Chronicle of the 12th nl:. says:—"Captain Stephenson, of the barque Union, from Otago, reports as follows : At five o'clock p.m., on the 25th December, when off Solander Island in Foveaux Strait, position about 20 to the N.E, felt three smart shocks of an earthquake in succession, duration about 30 seconds. The weather was cloudy and the barometer low. The shock came from the southward. The barque Indus, which was in companj and abouthalf amiledistant, also felt the shocks." As the shock appears to have been a very violent one, Captain Blake of the Adeline Burke stating that it caused that vessel " to tremble and shake with a force almost equal to that of going over a reef of rocVs," it is possible that the rock on which the Laughing Water struck, and which is situated in what was formerly supposed to be deep water, may have been raised by its agency. It is also worthy of notice that a shock was felt at the same time at Cromwell and Queenstown. At the former place it lasted for a minute, and waß described by a local paper as "a rather long and continuous wave of earthquake, rather than a shock ;" and at Queenstown, where earthquakes are of common occurrence, it attracted attention on account of the length of its duration. A great dearth of agricultural labour appears to exist in the Timaru district at present. The Herald of Saturday last, referring to the condition of the crops in that district, says : — The weather during the present week, with the exception of Tuesday, on which day the wind blew heavily from S.E., has been all that could be desired for harvesting operations. But unfortunately few are in a position to avail themselves of it, through the great scarcity of labour which exists throughout the disfcriofc, and in some cases through being unable to obtain reaping machines to cut down their crops. Through the heaviness of the crop, and the wind and rain which we suffered before the commencement of the harvest, the crops are in many cases laid in a manner which, though not damaging, yet retards progress by the difficulty of cutting, which can only be done from one side instead of all round. The wheat crops, where overripe, suffered by Tuesday's winds to a considerable extent, and we fear that great loss will ensue even to those who have cut down their'grain, through the length of time it lies "before being tied and stooked. At present there has been very little carted ; here and there a few stacks are showing up, but it will be gome time before they are general.

The prices asked for tying and general farm labour are, in consequence of a scarcity of hands, very high ; but we may shortly look for assistance, as some of the sheds have now finished shearing. There are a few buyers for wheat and barley for a neighbouring market, but there does not appear any chance of much being ready for market for j another three weeks ; in fact till the grain crop is generally secured we hope we shall hear of no thrashing, as every hand that can be obtained ia required in trie harvest field. A fine specimen of meerschaum carving is now on view at ihe shop of Mr Myers, tobacconist, Princes street. It consists of a pipe head representing a half -length female figure, clad in modern style, and carrying a parasol, basket, and bouquet. It was manufactured in Vienna, and is cut out of a solid block of meerschaum. Accompanying the head is a cherry stem with a fine clouded amber mouthpiece. The meerschaum is of very fine quality, and the carving is a masterpiece of art, and well worthy inspection by the curious in such matters. The general impression with regard to the substance known as meerschaum, &b it is called in German, or 6cume de mer in French, is that it is a scam or froth, cast up by, and found on the shores of, the Sea of Azoff and the Black Sea^ the name itself, meaning sea foam, leading to that belief. Such, however, is not the case. Meerschaum is a silicated magnesian mineral clay, found in Greece, Turkey, and the Crimea, in which latter place it is found in a stratum of about two feet thick, lying generally under beds of marl, and iB called keff-kil. There quantities of it are used by the Tartars in washing linen, but the finer portions are sent in blocks to Germany for the manufacture of tobacco p ; pes. The meerschaum is then moul-ied into rough blocks, turned in latheß, boiled in milk, and afterwards polished with shave grass and soft leather. The choicer specimens are carved into various forms, the work on many of them, more particularly those made in Vienna, being very elaborate. The shreds and parings are reduced to a fine powder, mixed with clay, and moulded into inferior pipes. The return match between the Waikari Bangers and the Scottish Company, was fired on Thursday week at the Kaikorai Range, resulting, as on the previous occasion, in favour of the latter, this time by 74 points. The conditions were the same as before : — five shots at each of 400, 500, and 600 yards. The weather was dull and calm. The follow-

Another important line of wire tramway has been completed at Madman's Gully, at the Thames. Oi this tramway, the Auckland Herald gives the following description :—lts: — Its entire length is about 1700 feet, SUO feet of which is down a hill, at an angle of fortyfive degrees. It is worked on a different principle from that of the Shooting Star — the first erected on the field — inasmuch aa the latter is in one span, of 500 feet. In the one we are now describing, the two standing ropes are suspended by irons underneath thirteen different framings, at unequal distances apart, according to the nature of the ground, eleven of them being erected in about 700 feet, the remaining lUOO feet only requiring two. The boxes hold about 6cwt. of quartz, and are hung to the standing ropes on sheaveß, with a very deep groove, in such a manner that the centre of gravity cosies directly under the rope. The full box coming down draws the empty one up by means of a light wire rope hooked to them, and passing round a drum at each station, fitted with a powerful strap break for regulating the speed. Therß are three of these breaks and platforms in the whole length, so as to give facility to the different claims it passes for sending down their stuff. -The Thames Advertiser gives the following additional particulars regarding this important work : — The line i 8 divided into three sections, at the head of each of which is a powerful break, of a description similar to those used on the inclines of the Moaaatairi tramway. Besides these, there are Beveral landing plats at intermediate stations, for the purpose of loading quartz from the olaims in the neighbourhood. The lines are supported on powerful wooden frames, and trie travellers of the trucks are so constructed as to pass over the i wires and under the frame without touching. This is effected by a pair of blocks, firmly bolted, and fitted with iron jaws, one at each. Bide of the iron frame. The wires are

fastened in thoa iroa jawa auoh a manner ! that the wheels run over them exaotly in the same way as they do over the rest of the wire. The Industrial School at present contains sixty-seven inmates, and doubtless would contain more were it not for the want of accommodation. The beds in the boys' sleeping apartments are only a few incheß from each other, and some of those in the girls' are occupied by three children. The clothes- ! room is also used as a bed-room, but good ventilation and scrnpu'ous cleanliness have hitherto prevented the ill-effects which might have attended this overcrowding. The school -room is attended by all the children The want of ventilation is painfully noticeable on entering this portion of the building The state of the atmosphere is such as to Buqgeat grave doubts with respect to its effecb upon the health of the children. Mrs Britton has to act as teacher in addition to her duties as matron, and to add to the inconvenience the schoolroom has also to be used aa a laundry. There are 22 acres of ground belonging to the school, but unfortunately 15 of these are separated from it r.y the road which leads from the Main South Road to Mornington. When the school was first opened, that part surrounding it, about seven acres, waa covered with flax and other indigenous vegetation, which has since bsen cut down, piled in heaps and burned. Drains about two feet wide and two feet deep, in some of which drain pipes are laid down, have been formed around the play-ground and buildings, and a winding path* which necessitated about three feet of cutting, has been formed from the main building to the road. A quick hedge and three rows of gum trees, and willowa in tbe swampy places, have been planted around the ground. Behind the buildings about an acre of ground hag been dug up, manured, and formed into a kitchen garden. The boys have lately been employed in levelling the ground preparatory to ploughing, and the girls, in addition to their household duties, in making cord suits and wincey dresses. The children are obedient to orders, clean and healthy looking in appearance, and in every respect seem far better than when brought up at the Court before being sent to this Institution, The Wellington Independent, Bpeaking of the future supply of New Zealand flax, has the following remarks : — There are two waya in which a future supply can be secured — first, by a more economical method of cutting ; and, secondly, by cultivation cf the plant. No one who has seen the flax plant, and few of the many who hava had occasion to procure a few leaves for any purpose, but are aware that tbe ordinary process adopted ' in cutting is extremely wasteful. In a well developed flax-bush there are from 10 to 30 offshoots, each offshoot consisting of leaves in every stage of development, from the two fully developed outer leaves to the tender Bhoot just springing from the centre, Of four pairs of leaves, two pairs only will have arrived at maturity ; the others, if left, would attain their full strength in from nine to eighteen months, and new shoots would rise again from the centre to supply their places. Instead, however, of leaving the partially developed leaves for a future supply, the flax-cutter ruthlessly draws his knife across the base of the off-shoot, entirely destroying the young laaves, which are thrown aside ; and if the weather is unusually hot or frosty, the vitality of the plant itself is destroyed by the wound. No doubt the collection of a ton of raw material, if the operation of prunine the plant were properly conducted, would be more expensive, because a more tedious proceeding than by the present wasteful plan ; but a clearer case of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs there could not be than the wholesale destruction of magnificent plantations of flax merely to secure the immediately available leaves ; the millowners who have any regard for their own future would do well to study the habits and characteristics of the plant with a view to the adoption of a different process But although by careful handling it may be made to furnish a much larger supply than at present, there can be no doubt in the mind of any man who studies the subject, that the cultivation of the phormium tenax is indispensab'e to keep up the quantity and improve the quality of the product. Of course while we have the accumulated growth of years ready to our hand, it is well to use that first ; but it would be folly to : depend upon the wild irregular growth for a | permanent supply. There is no mystery in th.3 cultivation of the New Zealand flxx. It is a hardy plant, easily transplanted, and appears to thrive in almost any soil. The Mount Ida paper reports that there was considerable excitement in Naseby on the 29sh ult, in consequence of a report that Mr Harper, a well known storekeeper there had been lost on the mountains between the Marewhenua and that place. It appeared that Mr Crater, another well known settler, had parted with Mr Harper on the previous Wednesday at Marewhenua, the Utter gentleman being about to start for Naseby, and telling him (Frater) that he should be at the Kyeburn that evening. Mr Frater arrived at Naseby on Saturday, and was na urally surprised and alarmed when he found that Mr Harper ; had not been seen or heard of. On Sunday a largo number of gentlemen turned out on horseback to scour the conntry between this place and the Marewhenua, until they should find some traces of their missing townsman Fortm ately, Mr Harper was soon met by ■ Sergeant M'Nally, on the range above the Kyeburn, and at once proceeded to George's Hotel, Kyebura. M? Harper's account is,

that not very long after leaving the Mare, whenua, ho became lost in a fog on the mountains, and mistook his road. After wandering about for a considerable time, he made up his mind for a " night out,"— and a dark, mißerable, dreary night it must have been — on the top of the mountains, without food, without shelter, and the rain falling in torrents, and enveloped in an almost impenetrablefog with the knowledge that he was lost, and uncertain as to what his ultimate iate might be, or what even the next day might produce. Fortunately, Mr Harper found bis way back to the Marewhenua on Friday, and made a fair start on Sunday, on whichday he arrived safely, as stated, at the Kyeburn. The winter will now soon be upon vs — the traffic between this place and the Marewhenua is daily becoming greater and more fiequent — the Government cannot but be aware that many persous have lost their way in crossing these ranges, and that on onu occaBion death ensued, from a lost wayfarer, while in a state almost of starvation, eating tutu berries. With these facts before them, if the Government take no steps either to construct a bridle track or at least to erect guide posts ere the winter sets in, they will be responsible for the deaths which will inevtably ensue.

SCOTTISH COMPANY. 400 500 Sergt. Uowie 15 17 Sergfc. Wiiaon 13 10 Corpl. Whyte 17 6 Voir Lindsay 15 17 Vol. M'leod 17 8 Vol. Robertson 17 13 Vol. Fredrie 16 14 VoL Spalding )6 18 Vol. Hog? 15 10 Vol. Buchanan 16 17 600 Ti. 15-47 9—38 7—30 35—47 11—36 14—44 16—46 12—46 12—37 13—46 Average 41. 7. 417

ing are the scores :—: — WAIKAKI KANGERS. 400 500 Lieut. Marshall ... 12 16 Enaign Wilkie 9 10 Vol. Fraser 16 5 VoL Key 17 13 Vol. M'Kenzde 17 13 Vol. Hepburn 12 16 VoL Dalziel 12 15 Vol. Lacy 17 10 Vol. Cunnißgham ..15 9 Vol. Miller 13 12 600 Tl. 5—33 5—24 14—35 7—37 6—3Q 6—34 13—40 14—41 8—32 6—31 Average, 34.3. 343