Employers are reminded of the meeting tp be held in Raeside's rooms this even- j mi,''. when Mr 11. Field, organising secretary of the Employers' Federation will bo present, and may be expected to say j something on the conditions of labour at the present time, and of the aims and advantages of combination among- employers. A visit of inspection will be paid to the Mataura freezing works on Wednesday by tho shareholders in the Southland Frozen Meat Co. and friends. The sales of produce from the llowmont street Home last month amounted to £7 Is 7d, not £1 Is 7d as reported. Sir Geo. Clifford, in proposing the health of the King at a Canterbury banquet last week, said that there was no better farmer in the realm than the King himself, und, he added, " Here's to our Farmer King."

Mr J. Kobertson, of Tokomairiro, had, 1 r rom a tea-acre paddock of oats a return 3f 107 bushels per acre. The variety is the Waverly. introduced by Mr Logan, of Dtama. Writing to the chairman of the Taranaki Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Formers* Union on the subject of mutual fire insurance scheme, a member of the Union suggested that fires wore often cause*) by friction— a £100 house rubbing against a £200 policy. The Mutual Insurance Association did not want to undertake risks of that sort. It is stated that owing to tho late epidemic of fires in Gore soma of the insurance companies are returning shopkeepers* .premiums, being unwilling to continue risks at present rates. During last week there were admitted to the Southland Hospital 5 male patients, discharged 4 ramies and 1 female, remaining 29 males and 9 females. The visiting trustees for tbe week are Messrs J. A. Mitchell and A. F. Hiawke. The final of the Invercargiil bowling tournament rink competitions was to havo been played ofl in Dunedin on Saturday by tbe leading Taieri rinks, but had to bo postponed owing to the indisposition of Mr I>. Campbell. Mr Campbell was unwell before leaving Invercargiil. Local bowlers trust that this popular player may soon recover. Mr J. C. N. Grigg told a gathering of Canterbury farmers the other . day that the short recipe for obtaining good lambs for export was :— Breed good sheep, under-stock the land, use the plough well, shift the stock frequently, and manure tho land wisely. Tho crowcted audience thai, notwithstanding the inclement weather, assembled in the Zealandia Hall on Saturday evening to witness the spectacular Ictemonstration, demonstrated tho continued popularity of the display. The success during the past week speaks volumes for the lady conductor, who has brought her 120 performers to a very high state of proficiency. A change of programme is promised to-night, when new dances, tableaux, etc., will be shown. Another fire occurred in Invercargiil between 8 and 9 o'clock on Saturday night, a seven-roomed house on the railway reserve, opposite Wright, Stephenson and Co.'s stores in Tweed street, being the scene of tho blaze. Before the brigade got on tho spot the house was practically doomed, the strong wind which was blowing assisting the flames in their work of destruction. Tho house was owned by the Railway Department, and occupied by Mr P. C. Shirley, clerk on the railway. Mr Shirley was on duty at tho time, and Mrs Shirley was away from home. Children's underclothing had been left near an open fire in the diningroom, and it is surmised that these ignited, and caused the outbreak. Tbe furniture i.s insured in the Australian Alliance for £100, but tho loss will probably oxceed this. The Railway Brigade deserve mention for the assistance rendered to the town brigade in saving the adjacent two-storeyed building, which was rather close to be comfortable. As iar as weather was concerned Saturday was one of the worst days experienced for some considerable time. The morning and early afternoon were not particularly unpleasant, and there were a good many farmers and their kin in town. Early in the evening, however, the conditions got very much worse, culminating about 8 o'clock in a fierce gale of wind and torrents of rain. The streets clearod rapidly, anil one .would havo thought that only sheer necessity would have brought people out again. The firebell, however, has a magic though not melodious pound, ant. it was astonishing to see how many, male aad female, run to tho railway reserve or part of the way. The rain renewed its efforts in honour of the occasion, the efforts of the brigade being assisted by a heavy shower, but on the other hand almost nullified by a tempestuous wind The publisher of " Uncle Tom's Cabin," Charles Henry Clarke, died last 'month at the age of 83. He ww the youngest son of James Clarke, one of Nelson's captains at Copenhagen in 1801. Of Mrs Beocher Stowc's monumental work he sold, in 1852, a million and a-quartcr copies ; the profit being £18,000. Although he was under no legal obligation so .to do, thero being no copyright law as between Britain and America at that time, he sent Mrs Beeicher Stowe one thousand guineas. He also published most of Mayne Keid's novels. Tho manners and morals of the frontier towns of the Wild West occasionally survive even in so enlightened a State as New York. For example, there are gangs of roughs there equipped and armed liko cowbeys with modern revolvers, and the terror of tho district in which they live. In a recent case, Thomas Callahan, who was charged with the murder of Jawics Irving, urged in defence that he killed the latter because he was the leader of a notorious band of outlaws who were seeking to slay him. This theory was investigated, arid it was proved that Irving was indeed the leader of at desperate set of boys, that Callahan formerly associated with them, and that the crime was the outcome of a savage blood-feud between the two men. The jury beld that Irving -would have killed Callahan if tho latter had not taken timo by the forelock and shot his enemy. For days the couple appeared going about with defence and rearguards of roughs seeking to slay each other. When Irving at last appeared Callahan shot him on sight, iln view of these facts tho prisoner was acquitted. The judge, in addressing some words of ccunscl to tho prisoner, said ho had had a narrow escape from the electric chair, and he should always rem em- J bor that he had sent a man before his I Maker while he was intoxicated, and endeavour by his future conduct to make | amends. Callahan promised to reform with great fervour. "It is unfortunate," said Dr Collins, addressing tho members of tho New Zealand section of the British Medical Association on the subject of tho danger ol puerperal fever, " that it is impossible in New Zealand at tho present time for any woman to qualify as an obstetrical nurse ;she has to go either to Melbourne or Sydney or to Great Britain to obtain the necessary certificate." "This," said the speaker, " entailed a much greater expense than most women could afford. An effort should therefore bo mado to establish either in one or in all the four principal centres of tho colony n> school for the instruction of women in obstetrical nursing. For such a purpose it would bo necessary to bxi Id either a special hospital for the benefit of tho poor, or convert such a homte as wo have now in Wellington, namely, the Alexandra florae into an obstetrical hospital. Tho maintenance of such a hospital might bo borne .partly by fees paid by "the patients, by fees charged to the nurses for the course of instruction,, by public subscription, and possibly tho addition of a, subsidy from the government. The period of instruction should be at least 12 months. There should b# a weekly lecture given by medical men, and daily lectures by a qualified matron. Theso nurses, before receiving a certificate, should attend at least ten cases in the hospital, and ten cases under medical supervision in private houses. They should also be taught the care of infants, especially relating to tho causes and treatment of infantile diarrhoea. Tho examination of these nurses might very well be held at the same time as the examination of the ordinary medical and surgical nurses, which is held yearly under the Government Nurses' Registration Act."

Lane a Emulsion is now a household : word, and i s becoming more popular each winter for colds, coughs, etc., to bo had in large and small bottles at Mr J. S. Baxter'a. Dee Btreet. The Best Treatment that can bo given cuts, bruises, sprains, scalds or .iko in-jui-ies is a freo application of "Jhimborlain's Pain Balm. It allays the ..awn al- 1 most instantly and s hould always be kept on hand. For salo by Macalister I and -Co., chemists, Dee street. For Chronic Chest Complaints. j J Woods' Great Feppermiut Cure. %a OU.B

An Editor's Testimony. — Last winter I contracted a severe cold, the only oto to my recollection that ever gave r_o cny trouble. Mr Peak, our chemist, suggested ' a trial of Chamberl_tf_'s Cough Remedy. I procured one bottle but did not finish lt— there was no necessity. The remedy is ttn excellent one. Yours faithfully, J. B. Watson, editor Nowra N.S.W. Colonist. For sale by Macalister and Co., chemists, Dee streot. Our Annual Sale of Books, Fancy Goods and Stationery commences on Saturday, 26th inst. Our staff have for weeks past been hard at work ticketing up the bargains. This is a grand chance to secure goods at gift prices. We are offering a great many articles at les3 than they cost us ; thia is of course not business but our directors instruct us that wo must reduce the stock by £800 within four weeks. We will advertise lists of bargains from day to day, but from p&st experience cannot guarantee to supply the same lines the day after the advt. appears, as our bargains being genuine are always rushed. Lillicrap and Co., Esk street.