PORTOBELLO.

Dkcembku 20.— The weather still continues variable aud unseasonable, but a few days of warm sunshine during the past week has vastly improved vegetation, and the '-coos" are now luxuriating in unlimited grass fe.ed. The htrong clayey soil of the Peninsula produces wonderful crops of tho English grasses, and ' ' Along the roads that skirt the forest trees The traveller's foot a dainty carpet hath." Milk and butter are over-abuudant. aud one can rent a cow in full milk for Is 6d per week. Think of that ye toilers in tfhe busy town ! „,,„. News.— There is absolutelynone to chronicle. Ihe name of " Sleepy Hollow" might be hero applied, ns to many another rural spot in New Zealand. The advent of 'Christmas is moving the pater and materfamiliaaes to provide some entertainment for the (rising generation, and the vaiious schools will furnish some amuiement as a fitting cloeo to tha eeholnstie term of 1887. At Hooper's Inlet a grand Christmas tree it to be stripped by the youngsWa of that, charming locality. TWt innovation will probably please both young find old, at the original plan of prize-giving according io merit was apparently an invidious ana thankless tack, only productive of heart-burnings and jealously. Iv this, us in macy other matters connected with tho " free and .coirpulsory " systom. there appeats to be a wnnt of, ora proper appreciation of that emulation so necessary to the success of the youthful students. Ihe JJacri Kaik races are to come off on Boxing Day. Gh en good weather, a fair day's sport may be anticiQ old Mining.— The Harbour Cone Gold Mining Conpany are wording vigorously, trying hard to.as-

oertain tho true value of their very plucky venture. A trial crushing of 17 tons from the lower shaft was washed up last week, giving a return of nearly 2jdwt per ton from the box and plates. The blanketings have still to be treated, as the company have not yet any machinery for reducing them on the ground. A fair sample has been forwarded to Professor Black for analysis ; there appears to be a fair percentage of gold on these, which, if extracted, would probably bring the yield up to a paying point. The ore is very refractory, and the gold remarkably fine— in fact it must exist mostly as a chloride,;as itcannotbe eeen in the stone. Here will, in all likelihood, be a splendid field in the future for the company formed lately to work Mewbery and Vautins chlorinationi process. A crushing from the upper workings is now being reduced, and the blanket strakes have been doubled in length. To these tho manager look* to catch the major part of the gold, and it will probably so fall out.

A Last Look Houto. What are our thoughts as here wo stand On verge of the departing year, Our footprints fresh upon its sand, Our actions marked, alaß, too clear t How my neighbours may reply to the above question, it is not, given tc me to know; but taking a retrospective glance, I am of opinion that the y«ar now expiring hat been a remarkably barran one for New Zealand. To use an Irishiam, our progrew lias beemtationary. or perhapi a little crablike.howiver, " when things areattheir wont thoy'resure to mend," io we must hope that the coming year will illustrate the truth of the proverb. Doubtlew ©very year ii an annusmirabilis -a wonderful year— tom&ny.butifany have felt astonishment at anything in 1887 but the signs of retrogression, their organ* of wonder must have been eatily excited. Wishing a " Merry Chrisfcmas and a happy New Tear " to all, I conclude Then ring ye belli, o'er hill and dale, Ye Christmas chimes ring on— Bring blessing! to the happy homes thin Day shall iliine upon. But bring ye also to God's poor some boon, However small, the children of His tender love whe seeß A sparrow fall t