News of the week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 16

News of the week.

A very mysterious affair was reported to the police on the morningof the 3rd, A|carter going to his work as usual at the railway shed in Cattle street saw a pool of blood, in which was a quantity of vomit, lying close to one of the discharging platforms. Close by lay a pocketrevolver and a white pocket handkerchief, tho latter being spotted with blood. The revolver had been discharged in two chambers, evidently not long previously. It had the words "You bet " stamped on the barrel. The spot where the carter made these discoveries was about 150 yards northward along Castle street from the Rattray street Wharf A person who happened to be in that vicinity at about 8 o'clock on the previous evening evening states that he heard the reports of two pistol shots The mystery regarding the revolve r and the pool of blood has since been solved, and the whole affair proves to have the work of a drunken man. This individual 'came down-country a few days ago, and either as a half-drunken freak or because he really wanted such an article, purchased the pocket-revolver from a pawnbroker in George street. He was seen in the neighbourhood of the railway station on Thursday evening, and was then cut and bleeding about the face, having probably injured himself by falling. He appears to have wandered down to the Castle street shed, and passed Thursday nierht there ; for he reappeared at his hotel on the Friday morning. The pool of blood, the vomit, the white handkerchief, and the revolver were the evidences of his having made his quarters for the night on the spot where they were found by the carter ; although why he fired the revolver is still a mystery. The hero of this 48 hours' wonderment is a re-spectably-connected young man, and his friends are now looking after him. The fire inquiry before Mr Watt'closed on'the afternoon of the 3rd. The accused, William Waters, was committed to stand his trial at the Supreme Court on the two charges of arson and murder. He reserved his defence. In the course of the afternoon the prisoner's counsel applied to Mr Justice Williams in Chambers, and obtained an order for a special jury to try Waters on any indictments for arson or murder which might bo found against him. The bugbear of the Taieri residents is [no more, and they are ta have their bridge constructed over the Owhiro Creek. Mr Shand moved a resolution to that effecb at the meetng of the Taieri County 'Council held on the •ird, which was seconded by Mr Snow and •arried. Messrs Charters and Andrew opposed he motion, but their resistance was futile, i.he three other councillors present — Messrß ohand, Snow, and Findlay — besides the actingchairman, expressing themsplves as being decidedly favourable to the construction of the bridge. A telegram was read from Mr Robert?, expressing the opinion that the bridge should not be built ; but his advice was not followed, and the construction of the bridge, ho long a source of argument and irritation to the Taieri 1 residents generally, and the Council in parliI oular, haa been finally resolved upon,

Referring to the increasing bnnineas of the Oamaru Stone Company, the North Otago Times says: — "During last month a l'r?er quantity of stone was turned out of the Company's quarries than in any similar period since operations were commenced. The large proportion ha* besn shipped to other Colonies, and every mail is expected to bring orders for still larger supplies. The Company, indeed, anticipate that they will aoon have to employ extra hands to keep pace with the work. The stone is evidently rapidly increasing in favour with outsiders, no less on account of its many excellent qualities than for its cheapness, and every year is bound to see an increasing demand springing up."

About 20 of the female immigrants per Invercargill have been engaged as general servants at wag 98 varying from L2O lo L3O p9r annum, and 15 farm labourers have obtained engagements at from L4O to L 45 per annum. These are the only classes of immigrants at present in demand.

We understand that on the evening of the 2nd a meeting of manufacturers was held, and that a National Industrial Association was then formed for the purpose of promoting manufactures in the Colony. Nearly all the manufactories in Dunedin wera represented. The Association was formed on a permanent basis, and its programme will probably be brought before the public shortly.

The following is a statement of the occupations of the adult portion of the 292 immigrants who left Glasgow on the 31st of July in the ship Timaru :— ls ploughmen, 102 farm labourers, 1 farmer, 4 shepherds, 1 carter, 3 carpenter', 1 coachman, 1 labourer, and 1 baker. Females : 1 cook, 35 domestic servants, and 1 laundrymaid. The nationality, as far as reported, is: 10 Englishmen and 6 Englishwomen, 86 Scotchmen and 19 Scotchwomen, 31 Irishmen and 12 Irishwomen, and 2 Germans.

The monthly meeting of the High Schools Board of Governors was held on the 3rd at the Colonial Bank Buildings. Present — the Rev. Dr Stuart (chairman), the Hon. W. H. Reynoldß, Mr H. J. Walter, i Professors Shand and Macgregor. Leave of absence was granted to Mr J. Fulton, M.H.R., duriug tbe present session of Pa liament. A draft of deed ap. pointing the Board trustees for the Richardson Cadet Cor^sFuud was approved of. The Board decided to lease Run No. 74, for pastoral purposes, for mx months. AccountH amounting to L 584 14s I>l were passed for payment.

The amendment moved by the leader cf the Opposition on the AddreßS in reply to tho Governor's Speech, to tho effect that the House has no confidence in the Government a* atpresent constituted, was carried on the nightof the 3rd by a majority of two votes. It willbeßeen from our report that the Hon. J. Sheehan, who was the last speaker on the Ministerial side, declared that the Government would be no party to a coalition, but would be content to " bide their time." The House then adjourned until Tuesday.

We have received a copy of a pamphlet entitled " The England of the Pacific ; or, New Zealand as an English middle-class immigration field," being a lecture delivered by Mr Arthur Clayden, author of " The Revolt of the Field," " Letters in Canada," &c. It will be remembered that Mr Clayden was sent Home by the Government as a lecturer oa emigration, and he appears to have begun his work very promptly and judiciously. His style is exceedingly good, and he seems to set the advantages and disadvantages of emigration to New Zealand most fairly before his audiences. From the fact that Mr Clayden is thoroughly acquainted with the agricultural classes, he is well fitted for the task he has commenced, and having taken a leading position amongst them at the time of the agricultural labourers' strike, his influence will probably be large ; and judging from his lecture, as reported in the pamphlets, he is endeavouring to exercise it with discrimination.

Mr W. M. Hannay has been appointed Traffic Manager on the Oamaru section of the Amberley -Bluff Railway.

Dr Robert Stuart Reid, son of Mr Charles Reid of this city, who arrived on the 2nd inst. as surgeon of the Forfarshire, will be welcomed to Dunedin by many of his old High School associates, as being the first Dunedin native who has taken his degree a3 a doctor of medicine and returned to settle in our mid3fc. We also our word of welcome to the first among the youth of this city who, so far as we are aware, has taken his degree in one of the Home medical colleges, and trust Dr Reid may enjoy a long and prosperous career ia the land of his nativity.

A telegraph station is now opan at Owake, Catlin's River, for public business.

Mr Wm. Conyers, Commissioner of Railways for the Middle Island, returned to Christchurch on Saturday last.

Tbe steamer Rotomahana was the centre of attraction at Port Chalmers on Sunday. In the afternoon the longest railway train yet seen there arrived, crowded with passengera. There were no less than 25 carriages, besides brake-vans, and when the train stopped it covered the line from the station to nearly the end of the Bowen Pier.

A lad named Andrew J. Cosgrovs, of Waihola, has, during his leisure moments, manufactured an article which does very considerable credit to his ingenuity and patience. It is a rest for Bmoothing-irone, and has been worked by the lad, with the aid of a bitt and file, from a cold piece of boiler-plate. The flat purtiou of the rest Btands on three feet, which tako tbe form of boots, and ia itself shaped like a horseshoe. Inside this are several smaller horseshoes, and all are excellently cut. At one end there is a braßß scroll, on which the name of the lad is engraved. The whole affair is enclosed in a neat little box, which is also the work of the lad. We believe the article is intended to be sent to the Melbourne Juvenile Industrial Exhibition.

The usual meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Otago Educational Institute was to have been hel j on Staurday last, but as, owing to the boisterous state of the weather, only a few members attended, the meeting was allowed to lapse. Mr Gardiner's paper on " Grammar " will be read at the next monthly meeting of the Institute.

The Dunedin Hospital returns for the pa3t week are as follow : — Remaining from previous week, 144 ; admitted, 15 ; discharged, 15 ; died, 3: total remaining, 161. The following was the state of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending 4th October, 1879 : — Awaiting trial (exclunive of two on bail), 4 males ; Penal servitude, 32 males, 3 females ; Hard labour, 44 males, 20 females j Imprisonment, 1 male ; Imprisonment (debt), 1 male ; Imprisonment (default of sureties), 48 males ; Imprisonment (on remand), 1 male : total, 131 males, 23 females. Received during the week, 12 males, 1 female ; Discharged during the week, 14 males, 3 females. We have been requested to publish the following appeal : — " People of Dunedin, rise t'» the occasion and start me in a bookshop, and I will Jive and die in your midst. Noav ia the time

and now is the hour. Let us forget the past and look forward to the future. Dunedin a hundred years after this will be a grand city. It it, in point of situation, perhaps the most picturesque spot on earth. I love it, and mean to make it celebrated throughout tha ceaieloss age 3of the future. Respond heartily and unanimously to my call, and all will yet be well.— J. G. S. Gbant."

Messrs Fenwick, Kempthorne, and Fish, who have undertaken to orgauise the collection of subscriptions for the relief of the sufferers by the Octagon fire, met on Monday, when it was decided to send subscription lists to all the principal merchants and shopkeepers in the city, with a request that they would use their influence in getting the cards filled up and returned ai early as possible to Mr Fenwick, the hon. treasurer. It was also decided to station men with boxes for receipt of casual subscriptions — two at the Octagon, and one at Brown-Ewing's, corner Princes and Manse streets. It is thought that by this means an opportunity will be afforded to all classes to subscribe their mite in passing, as subscriptions of the smallest amount will be thankfully received. These boxes were in position on Wednesday morning. In the meantime the Committee will ascertain the wants and necessities of the various persona who suffered by the late calamity. We have not the slightest doubt but that this appeal to the public will be .responded to in such a manner as is usual with the citizens of Dunedin.

The following tenders were received for the construction of the Lyttelton Graving Dock: —Ware and Jones (Auckland), L 70.844 13a 7d, accepted. Declined — David Proudfoot (Dunedin), L 72.324 5s 2d ; W. Paisley and Co. (Dunedin), L 77.97 3; J. M'Gregor (Duoedrn), L 78,505 12d 2d ; W. Bell (Dunedin), L 95.518 15s. The tender of Mr Bell was declared informal.

Resulting from the lessons taught by the recent fire, the City Council have decided upon three things : — To keep two horses, with a driver in attendance, at the main Fire Brigade station during the hours from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.; to recommend Government to bring in a bill providing for the licensing and supervision of lodging-houses, the administration of the' law to be in the hands of the police ; and to amend the building bye-law so as to require all internal walls to be constructed of brick, stone, concrete, or lath-and-plaster.

Mr J. Tyerman delivered a lecture at tha Princess Theatre to a numerous audience last evening. The subject was, "Is there a Devil ? or, the Scarecrow of Christendom unmasked." The lecturer's remarks, which were intended to show that the alleged enemy of mankind wm simply an invention originated through motives of an exceedingly base and corrupt nature, were attentively listened to.

Tbe monthly meeting of the Dunedin Volunteer Fire Brigade was held at the main station on Monday evening, Captain Murphy in the chair. A letter was received from the City Council, informing tho Brigade that immediate steps would be taken to carry out the telegraphic communication asked for. The annual donation of L 25 to the sick and accident fund of the Brigade was received from the United Insurance Association through their secretary, Mr J. TJ. Russell, and the secretary wai instructed to acknowledge same with thanks. Mr Thomas Gorman was elected as a working member. Captain Murphy referred to certain reports made during the late fire at Ross' Buildings, and felt sure the members would agree that the Coroner's JuryJ and City Council had entirely exonerated the Brigade from blame on that occasion. Captain Murphy also informed the members that it had been necessary to ge new [wheels for the hook-and-ladder carriage the previous ones having been in use over 16 years. The secretary was instructed to inform the City Council that the Brigade would, wirh the consent of the Council, hold their fourth annual supper on the 20th inst. It was decided that four members and one officer should proceed at once to the fire-escape on the alum of fixe, and if necessary, take it to the ' scene of fire — this arrangement to continue in force until better can be made. It was suggested that a fire police corps should be established, and the escape placed in their charge; the same corps could also render valuable assistance to the Brigade in keeping the ground clear round a fire. Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch have such a fire police. A committee wa3 appointed to carry out the necessary arrange, menta for ;the annual supper. Mr P. Carroll was elected an honorary member; Mr W. Harris was proposed as a working member. The business concluded by Captain Murphy informing the Brigade that the(monthly practice would be |held on Wednesday, the 15th inst., when he (trusted there would be a good attendance.

The President of the Caledonian Society has furnished us with the following table relative to the occupations of tha attendants at the Society's classes. There were 385 pupils during the recent session, and their occupations are : — Architect, 1 ; bootmakers, 11 ; blacksmiths, 7 ; bricklayers, 2 ; booksellers, 4 ; gentleman, 1 ; boilermakers, 4; butchers, 7; builders, 7; brassfounders, 2 ; bookbinders, 2; bottler, 1; bakers, 11 ; cabinetmakers, 19 ; carpenters, 25 ; compositors, 2 ; clerks, 30 ; cordial manufacturer, 1; coachbuilders, 2; confectioners, 3 ; chemists, 4 ; carters, 4 ; collectors, 3 ; carriers, 2 ; carver-*, 3 ; coppersmith, 1 ; drapers 17 ; engineers, 26 ; engravers, 3 ; fishmongers 2 ; framework-knitters, 2 j guilders, 2 ; labourer, 1 ; moulders, 4 ; masons, 5 ; messageboys, 11 ; millers, 2 ; machinists, 2 ; offios-boys, 24 ; photographers, 3 ; plasterers, 2 ; patternmaker, 1; polishers, 4; plumbers, 12; printers, 9; painters, 11 ; students, 2 ; sawmaker, 1 ; store* men, 4 ; seedsmen, 2 ; salesmen, 5 ; saumaker, 1 ; sailor, 1 ; saddlers, 11 ; soapmakerß, 4 ; shipchandler, 1 ; tinsmiths, 5 ; teachers, 2 ; telegraphist, 1 ; tailors, 7 ; upholsterers, 6 ; Venetian blindmaker, 1 ; wheelwrights, 4.

The chargos of arson and murder agains Wm. Waters will be taken before a special jury on Monday next ; and all witnesses in th cases wera on Monday formally released from attendance until that day at 10 a.m.

A novelty, in the shape of "a candle* match," came off at M'Leod Brothers' soap and candle factory, in Dunedin on Saturday. The results of the experiment proved wonderfully satisfactory to the Colonial manufacturer. All the best- known brands of imported sperm candleß were placed in competition. The candles were lighted simultaneously, and the result was a« follows : — Time of Btarting, 11.20. 1. Schiedam, out 65; 2. Schiedam* out 6.15; 1. Brandon, out 5,50; 2. Brandon, out 6.48 ; 1. OadenkoveD, out 6.50 ; 2. Oedenkoven, out 6.20; 1. Price, out 6.35; 2. Price, out 6.35 ; Jenar, out 7 j 1, Adamantine, out 6.35 j 2, Adamantine, out 6.55; Star, out 6.55; Petroline, out 7.10: Electric, out 7.5. From the above it will be seen that the Colonial candles — Messrs J. Kitchen and Son's "Petroline" and "Electric " brands— burned longer than any of the imported ones.

The following accounts were reported by the Finance Committee as being passed for payment at the last meeting of the City Council : Municipal account, £4270 18s Id; Waterworks account, £957 4a 9ds Gas account, #22(10 9a §§,

Messrs Dick and Driver, M.H.R's, arrived in town on Wednesday night from Wellington.

The Worka Committee of the City Council oaWdenesdayacceptedthetender of Messrs Cutten and Co. for the erection of a footbridge ovtr the Water-of -Leith, the amount being L 314.

We have received a copy of the second edition of Colonel Ingersoll's pamphlet " Mistakes of Moies," for which there seems to have been a great demand. We hear that the reply by the local author " Adam "— " The Facts of Moaes" — has almost run out its first edition, and it is shortly contemplated to issue a second edition of it also. The public seem to display a very juat desire to hear both sides of the question before ooming to a decision as to the merits of Colonel Ingersoll's work.

An English correspondent of a Northern journal writes : — Of course Captain Barry has made great friends with that much-injured martyr, Dr Kenealy, and is belauded in the Englishman as " an educated and enlightaned colonist of the best type." Other journals are not, however, quite so complimentary ; in f«.cfc there is before me a paper containing the following :— " If this illiterate and prejudiced old man is, as has been affirmed, a fair specimen of the New Zealand legislator, heaven defend us from life in that much over-praised Colony." You see, Bir, persons like Captain Barry do an immensity of harm. People naturally conclude they are looked on as superior persons by their fellow colonists. If not, why are they sent Home by Government ?

A perfect specimen of the frostfish, mea Buring only 14 inches in length, was driven ashore on Saturday at the North Harbour, and captured by Mr J. E Laing. a wellknown settler there. Mr Laing forwarded the fish to the Curator of the Museum:

A number of the secretaries of various cricket clubs in and near Dunedin mat at Waia'a Hotel on Monday evening for the purpose of arranging for matches to be played during the present season. The following clubs were represented: — Dunedin, Carisbrook, Albion, Excelsior, Mosgiel, Richmond, and Caledonian. After discussion, several matohes were arranged for, and it waa agreed that the programme, when completed, Bhould be published.

The following tenders were received at Monday's meeting of the City Council : — For the construction of filter-beds and reservoir in connection with the Silverstream water-supply scheme — Thomas Meston, filter-bed, L 6536 19a: reservoir, L 5197 18s ;— total, LU.734 17s. M'Gill and Forrest, filter-beds, L7361 18s 3d ; reservoir, L 4568 8s 9d;— total, L 11,930 7s. Matheson Brothers, filter-beds, L 7847 3s; reservoir, L 5646 15s; — total, L 13.593 183. Downes and Proctor, filter-beds, L 10.966 7? 6d j reservoir, L 7035 13s 6d;— total, L 18.002 Is. The above tenders were sent to the Water Supply Committee, with power to accept the lowest. For the erection of a foot-bridge over the Water-of-Leith the following were re ceived : — Cutten and Co., L 314 ; Cossens and Black, L 398 7s 6d ; Sparrow and Co., L 475. These were referred to the Works Committee, also with power to accept the lowest.

We regret to learn (says the Bruce Herald) hat the farmers in this and the surrounding districts' have lost a large number of this year's lambs, owing to the late severe weather.

Mr' Thomson's botany lectures, which are given under the auspices of the Otago Institute, are evidently much appreciated, and they are attended by a number who appear in earnest in obtaining an insight into the science. On Monday evening the lectura was held in the Atheneeum Hall, and there was a good attendance of both sexes. The lecturer treated his subject throughout in an interesting fashion.

A quarryman named James Pirie was on the 2nd struck on the side by a stone which fell from the " face " he was working on, near Logans, Point. ' His arm was injured, and he received a severe cut on the head j but after the injuries were dressed at the Hospital, and he had rested for a few hours, he was taken to his home.

Professor Wallenburg, specialist, who in conjunction with Dr Grant, has made a lengthened stay in Dunedin in the practice of his profassion, has determined to make a tour of the country districts. The order of the tour will be :— Inveroargill, October 22 ; Lawrence, October 31 ; Balolutha, November 8 ; Milton, November 15. We believe Professor Wallenburg and Dr Grant have been very successful in Dunedin in treating diseases of the eye, ear, and throat.

Ths following resolution^was passed at a meeting of the Executive of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows. It refers to a matter which is of interest to the Friendly Societies in New Zealand, and which has lately been brought prominently before their notice. The resolution is :—": — " That the Standing Committee having been informed that all employes in the railway Government service are compelled, on the penalty of losing their situations, to join a friendly society called 'The Kail way Benefit Society,' are of opinion that such a regulation is in itself arbitrary and tyrannical, and calculated to be injurious to friendly societies generally, and that the G-.M. and G.S. and Gr.W. be a committee to wait upon the representatives of the Friendly Societies in Dunedin and urge upon them the necessity of taking some united action for the purpose of having such regulation repealed."

At Tuesday's meeting of the City Council Messrs A. and T. Burt wrote stating that they were prepared to manufacture in Dunedin, gasfittings of all descriptions, which they claim are as cheap and good as those of English manufacture. After remarks by several members regarding the good quality of Messrs Burt'a articles, and their suitability for the new Town Hall, it was agreed that the Gas Committee should ask for tenders for the supply of gas-fittings for the new buildings.

An old and respected resident at the Taieri Beach, named Peter Campbell (says the Bruce Herald), was found dead on Sunday evening last, near the railway line, about one mile from the Waihola township. The deceased left home in a boat on Saturday morning, arrived at Waihola some time during the afternoon, and started on foot at 6 o'clock in the evening for the |reaidence of his brother-in-law, Mr Eric Sinclair. Deceased, who was 38 years of age, leaves a wife and large family to mourn their loss. Heart-disease is supposed to have caused death.

A man_ Earned James Smith met with a severe accident on Tuesday afternoon while removing his household goods from Mount Cargill to the Lower Junction. His horse took fright and bolted, and the dray passed over Smith's head and hip, severely bruising the hip and inflicting a very severe wound on the scalp, dividing the arteries. A messenger waa despatched to Port Chalmers for Dr Drysdale, who attended the poor fellow without delay, and in a short time afforded him the assistance he required. A special general meeting of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society was held in the Rattray-Btreet Odd- Fellows' Hall on Wednesday night, at which some 50 members Attended. Mr Andrew Lees, president, was in tht chair. Tbt matting was for the purpost of

carrying into effect a resolution passed at a meeting held on the 11th July, having for its object the winding-up of the present Society and merging its business into that of the " Commercial Property and Finance Company, Limited." Mr Thomson proposed — " That this meeting authorises Mr Andrew Lees, of Dunedin, a shareholder oi the Society, to present the neceisary petition to the Court, in accordance with article 4. section 28, of the Building Societies Act, 1876, for the purpose therein mentioned, and to carry into effect the resolution of the last special general meeting." Upon this motion an amendment was proposed by Mr Neill, to the effect that no further steps towards the proposed change should be taken until the terms of transfer or amalgamation had been printed, and a copy of the same, together with a copy of the articles of associa tion, had been distributed to each shareholder for his consideration. The amendment on being put was lost, and the motion wa3 carried by a majority of 38 to 12, The meeting, which lastsd aa hour, and in which considerable interest appeared to be taken, then separated.

Mr E. R. Ua3her, resident engineer, is at present engaged making a flying survey of the projected Brighton- Waugaloa railway line.

The Union Shipping Company have arranged to obtain the sole use of a private telegraph wire between the city and Port Chalmers. By this means the Company will not only secure celerity in regard to their messages, but the rent of the wire will be a saving compared with the outlay for telegrams at the ordinary rates.

The whole of the charges against Thomas Chalmers Reid came before the Supreme Court yesterday, and were answered by the several juries empanelled to try the cases. On four of the indictments the prisoner was found guilty, the only counts to which the answer of "Not guilty" waa given being such as would have conflicted with the verdicts convicting the prisoner had the findings been otherwise. For inatance, when the Jury found the prisoner guilty of appropriating the money to hia own use on one set of counts, the other counts in the same indictment, charging him with fraudulently applying the money to his brother's use, were negatived. With necessary exceptions of this kind, the counts were all found against the accused. Upon the other six indictments no evidence was offered, the Crown Prosecutor being satisfied with having obtained a conviction on each of the several classes of offences charged, and consequently to these additional indictments the Jury formally returned a verdict of " Not guilty." His Honor remanded the prisoner to custody until the decision of the Court of Appeal is obtained on the legal points raised for the defence, and upon which the defendant's counsel elected lo rely entirely after two convictions had been obtained against his client. The points reserved for the Court of Appeal are briefly that, owing to certain irregularities, the acting directors and manager were not legally appointed, and that, in the absence of the production of the share register required by the Act, there was no legal proof that the prisoner was a member or shareholder of the Company, and also that his Honor was wrong in allowing the pr ogee at ion to amend an indictment at the close of the case, by altering the term " money" to " bank draft."

We learn that the Committee of the Dunedin National Industrial Association have secured a room in Princes street, have appointed a working secretary, and made an active and successful canvass of the city for funds for advancing the objects of the Association.

The petition from the Clutha County Conncil and Balclutha Town Council asking the Government to grant assistance in the re-erec-tion of the paasenger-bridge at Balclutha, destroyed in the floods of last year, has been signed extensively in Dunedin during the past day or two. The work of obtaining signatures was entrusted to Mr Charles Calder, who has been successful in obtaining the names of all the principal business firms in the city. Steps have also been taken to lay the matter before the Chamber of Commerce with the view of obtaining its assistance in the matter, and at the meeting on Friday the subject will ;come before the Chamber.

The survoy of the Silver Peak block has now been concluded, and the question came up at the Waste Lands Board on Wednesday as to how the land should be dealt with. The general opinion was expressed that the only way in which it could be disposed of would be to sell it in blocks of about 2000 acres, but it was agreed that it would be hopeless to offer it at pressnt, and the final decision was therefore allowed io stand over. There are 20,000 acres altogether in the blocks which comes close up ■to the back of Flagstaff. The Board also decided yesterday to offer the unsold portion of block V, Waikouaiti, at LI per acre. This comprises about 1900 acres, the other 1400 acres of the block having been disposed of when firat opened at L 2 per acre. The block is portion of the Merfcon Hundred, the total area of which was 17,000 acres, and of this 10,000 acres h&ve been alienated by sale upon deferred payment, pastoral leases, and otherwise.

Early on Saturday morning last (says the Southland Times) a house at Mataura, belonging to Mr Hugh Cameron, was burned to the ground. It appears that some three or four months since Mr Cameron purchased a portion of the old police camp, and converted it into the residence which was destroyed. The owner was away at Wyndham at the time. The property was, it is stated, insured for L 175 in the . New Zealand office. Our Gore correspondent, to whom we are indebted for the above particulars, state 3 that it h generally supposed in the district that the fire was the work of an incendiary. Footprints leading from the gravelled road to the house and back again have been traced, but were effaced considerably by the heavy rain that fell on Saturday night. Every effort has been made to discover some clue to the origin ot the conflagration, but up to last night no reliable information was to hand.