News of the Week.

According to the Taranaki Herald, the Maoris, it is said, are dying off very fast in %jjtte Mokau District — one or two die daily. A coffee-stall proprietor was fined £ 10 and costs at the Police Court on the 11th, for Belling brandy withous a license. The Queen's Theatre was again crammed last >unday evening, when addresses were delivered by Mr Connell and the JEtev. A. B. Eitchett. We learn th?,t Mr and Mrs Darrell are to leave for Ohristchurc 7 a on Tuesday next in the Hawua, having accepted a starring engagement with Mr Hoskins. They open on Saturday in Macbeth, A handsome concrete building has just been erected at Outran for the Colonial Bank of New Zealand. The business, which has hitherto been conducted in a temporary buildiug, will be transferred to the new premises without delay. We learn by telegram from Invercargill that the Invercargill and Kingston mails, lost in the Oreti lliver 12 days back, on the occasion of a coach accident, were recovered on Friday, four miles down the river. Two bags are still missing. The work of erecting the Mataura Bridge Paper Mill Co.'s machinery is approaching completion, and it is hoped that the manufactory will be in full operation in about a month. The manager and engineer have arrived from Sydney, and are pushing matters forward with energy. His Honour the Superintendent on the 17th received the following telegvam from Mr De Lautour, M.H.R., of Naseby : — "I am glad to report that the last mile of the Channel has exposed a very valuable and extensive goldfield. I hope that the management of it will be determined 3peedily." At a special meeting of the City Council held on Monday, ie was resolved that the site for the New Town Hall — the cost of which is not to exceed £20,000, — shall be iv the Octagon, The desirability of constructing street tramways in the City was also affirmed. A report of the proceedings is given else* , where,

We arc informed that, the work on the Mataura and Clinton contract is being pushed an with energy. The first bridge over the Waikaka is nearly completed. There are 120 men employed on the works, the first portion of which, ?t is expected, will be completed within three months, which is the contract time.

The Pioneer Lodge, P.A.F.S., held their usual fortnightly meeting on Tuesday in the Lodge-room, Temperance Eall. The W.M. presided. There was a fair attendance of officers and members. After the regular business of the evening, active steps were taken to make the forthcoming social gathering a successful one.

The Richardson Scholarship Fund has evidently been invested to the best advantage by the authorities of the Otago University. On the 3 1st March, 1575, it stood at £581 43 3d, but it has now reached the sum of £600, which produces £48 a year in the way of interest. The annual value of the Scholarship has hitherto been £30, but it will in future be increased to £4.0. Messrs Hallenstein Bros., of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, with a view of shutting out the importation of home-made clothing, are now fitting up extensive premises at the corner of Princes street and the Octagon, for the purpose of opening a large retail establishment for the sale of their manufactures. This branch is to be under the management of Mr W. Laurenson.

During the hearing of a case in the Invercargill Eesident Magistrate's Court lately, a witness, whose experience of matters appertaining to stock has been extensive, stated that almost an infallible way to discover indistinct brands on cattle or horses was to bathe the parts about the region of the brand until the skin or hide got heated. By this means the brand would be made to stand out in distinctness.

The line from Oamaru to Maheno has been so far completed that it will be open for traffic in a few days. Passenger and goods trains now run daily on the Kaitangata line. The coal-pit there belonging to the Kaitangata Company has not been opened, but it is expected that it will be in a fortnight hence ; consequently, up to the present very little coal has been sent down the line from that district.

Messrs James Davidson and Co., of the Otago Foundry, have an order in hand for the construction of three 12>ton tank engines, six wheels coupled, two of which are intended for light railways at Waiareka, Oamaru, and one for Kaitangata. With the exception of the axles, wheels, frames, and copper fire-box, the iron work is all of local manufacture. One of the engines will undergo a trial this morning.

A public meeting was held at the Exchange Hall, Invercargill, on Monday evening, to consider what steps it would be desirable to take to have Bluff Harbour improved. Resolutions were carried afSrming the desirability of a Harbour Board being established at the Bluff, which should receive a land endowment and " an equitable participation in any public money appropriated for p'lblic works in common with other ports."

News from the Eotorua Lake country (says an Auckland exchange) is to the effect that Whakarewarewa geyser has been in full play to 80 or 90 feet for the past two weeks. No tangis lately. The whole of the Ngatiwhakane aro invited to Whakatane, where the Coast tribes will meet them in the new carved house of Wepiha Apanui. New spriugs have been discovered by a gentleman, which are announced superior to the old ones.

We have received from Mr M'Glashan some brown paper manufactured at the Dunedin Paper Mills, Woodbough. The specimen forwarded to us is not calendered, and is without any clay or size, and is made from rope, bags, and grass. Not having gone through the before mentioned process it is rather rough, but it is nevertheless a good strong article, superior to the general run of brown paper, and of a quality for which there should be a large demand here.

Wo have received from His Worship the Mayor a copy of a Bill "To dissolve the Corporation of the City of Duncdiu, and to re-incorporate the citizens of, and to consolidate and amend the laws relating to, the said city." The short title of this Bill, and that by which it is better known, is " The Dunedin Municipal Act, 1876." The Bdl with the schedules attached, is a well executed piece of printing, got up in the blue book style, and containing no less than 108 pages.

A youth named Holloway, alias Coleman, has been apprehended by Detective Bain on two charges of obtaining valuables by means of false pretences, and one of horse-stealing. Coleman is a reputed scapegrace, and is said to have run away from his parents, who carry on an extensive business at Covent Garden, London. His demeanour is very strange, aud, when last before tho Police Court, a week or two ago, the Inspector of Police declared him to be the greatest liar he knew.

The privileges in connection with the races to be held on the Queen's Birthday were sold on the 16th by Mr Stephenson. The following prices were realised : — Gates, £101, Mr T. Murray ; stand, £37, Mr N. Hart; saddling paddock, £16, Mr N. Hart; stabling, £2, Mr M'Laren; race cards, £12, Mr Langley ; stewards' booth, £13, Mr Dunninc ; booths under the grand stand, £•26, Mr Dunning ; site No. 1, £10, Mr Dunning ; right for telling fruit, £7, Mr Hall— Total, £224.

A new stone and brick building is about to bo erected at the corner of Police and Crawford streets for Messrs Thomson and Co., aerated water and cordial manufacturers. It will consist of three storeys and a basement, and has a frontage of 72ft. to Crawford street and 41ft. to Police street. The height to the top of the parapet will be 51ft. The internal arrangements will comprise the necessary machinery and other apparatus for carrying on the business of the firm. The architects are Messrs Maoon and Wales.

Only about fifty persons were present at the adjourned meeting of the mernbera of the Dunedin Athenaeum last Monday. After much discussion, it was resolved that tho Committee be authorised, fco. extend, th*

present building at a cost not exceeding £1500, whenever the sum of £500 has been raised by donations, or the sale of life member's tickets ; that the Committee be authorised to borrow on debentures, or otherwise, the amount of £1000 ; and that a sinking fund be created to repay the sum bon owed.

In a letter to The Colonies, a London journal, the lion. William Fox expresses his ideas of the absolute necessity of relieving thf. Imperial Parliament of some of its local work. That is, he thinks Great Britain requires Provincialism. He thinks it necessary to refer to .New Zealand Abolition thus :—": — " At present, I think that the course pursued is the right one, though I do not feel at all sure that the day may come when, ii our Parliament is as overburdened with local work as thai; of Great Britain is, we may not find it necessary to decentralise again."

The regular fortnightly meeting of the Green Island Municipal Council was held on Tuesday (the 9th). Present — the Mayor, and Messrs Rae, M'Cabe, and Gray. Several small accounts were passed for payment, and a cheque was signed by the Finance Committee for the same. A report was read from the Works Committee enumerating various works considered necessary in South Ward, said works being unanimously agreed to by the Council, and orders given that they be proceeded with at once, according to specifications furnished by Works Committee.

Two charges of larceny were investigated at the Gaol on Monday afternoon, by Messrs J. Logan and J. Hislop, J.P.s, against a prisoner named William Olders, who at the present time is undergoing imprisonment for three offences — larcenies committed by him at Blueskin. On the charges preferred against him yesterday — one of stealing a pair of boots, the property of J as. Oonelly, and the other of stealing a pair of trowsers, the property of Aiex. Murray — he was sen tenced to four months' imprisonment on the first,, and three months' on the second : to be cumulative. •

A meeting of the Law Students' Society of Otago was held in the Supreme Court Library on Saturday evening, when officers were elected and a code of rules adopted stating the objects of the society, enumerating the qualifications for membership, and providing generally for the conduct of the society. It was decided to hold the meetings every alternate Saturday evening, and the following question was agreed upon as the one for discussion at next meeting : — "Can a contract within the Statute of Frauds be wholly waived before breach by a subsequent agreement, not in writing ?"

The estimated receipts of the Municipality of Lawrence for the yesvr ending 31st July, 1877, amount to £1395 16s Sd ; and, after allowing for interest (£470), salaries, and various incidentals, the sum expected to be available for public works is £625 16s Sd. An anticipated Government subsidy of £183 is included in the estimated receipts. T'u.e probable receipts and expenditure of the Corporation of Roxburgh for the ensuing municipal year aro eatimated at £332 ; and they leave, after salaries and miscellaneous charges have been allowed for, the sum of £150 to be expended on public works. The Corporation of Roxburgh expects a subsidy of £60.

At the meeting of the Provincial Executive which was held on the 12th, the petition presented on Wednesday last from a number of residents iv Port Chalmers, asking that free passes might be granted to ch'ldren attending the Christian Brothers' aud Nuns' Schools, was considered. It transpired that applications of a similar nature had previously been received from the Episcopalians, and also in regard to some other private schools. As these had been refused, the Executive considered that it could not do otherwise with the request of the petitioners in the present case, and accordingly resolved to decline to grant the free passes asked for.

We have been shown a piece of ancient embroidery which tradition asserts to be the handiwork of the beautiful aud unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots. Mr Hugh M'Lcan, who carried on business as a muslin manu facturer in Glasgow 30 years ago, received it from an elderly maiden lady named Hamilton, in whose family it had been for many generations. Though bearing marks of antiquity and decay, it is well worth the attention of lovers of art and antiquarian curiosities. The work will be exhibited in some shopwindow in Princes street on Friday and Saturday nights, and would be exhibited at the Benevolent fete, were it not that it will likely be sent to Ecglacd previously.

At a special meeting of the Dunedin shareholders of the New Zealand Titanic Steel and Iron Company on Monday, much indignation was expressed at what was regarded as the gross mismanagement of the Company by the Wellington Directors. It was proposed that the Dunedin Director (Mr W. Asher) should proceed to Wellington to represent the local shareholders at the adjourned annual meeting to bb held in Wellington on the Ist June. Mr Asher intimated that his business engagements would prevent his visiting Wellington, and the proposition lapsed. Several shareholders were in favour of immediately winding up the Company. A report of the proceedings appears" elsewhere.

Old Country sports are gradually coming into vogue in this Colony. Not long ago we gave particulars of a meet of the Canterbury Hunt Club near Christchurch, and since then thera has been a very successful gathering of the same kind near Timaru. From a Southland paper we learn that, on a day lately, several gentlemen, including Messrs Maitland, Powell, and D. M'Kellar, of In vercargill, and the managers of the Edendale Station, had a capital afternoon's coursing with well-bred dogs. There was excellent sport, and four fine hares were killed. One. of th3m shown to us weighed nine poundf, These did not belong to the Acclimatisation Society, but were private property, belonging to the New Zealand Land Company.

We learn by telegraph from Queenstown, that at the sale of the Wakatip runs on Wednesday last, Pain No. 10.— 16,000 aoros, brought an annual rental of £f»l0. No. 2>. — 44,000 wkw, £220, N.Q. 25,—*;32Q. No,

26. —6000 acres, £185. No. 27.— 4700 acres, £250. No. 28.-9400 acroi, £280. No. 29. 11,000 acres, £175. No. 30.-13,500 acres, £290 L No. 31.— 8G00 acies, £233. Total, £24(55. It was thought at one time before the sale, that tho Ci'iicral Government would endeavour to prevent its coming off, but the Premier at tho last moment telegraphed to the Superintendent to say that the Mini&try did not see any cause to justify them in adopting the extreme course of interfering with the discretion of the Provincial Government in the sale of the runs.

A confirmation sen ice was held in All Saints' Church on Sunday morning, when the Right Rev. Bishop N6vill and the Rev, 11. L. Stanford officiated. There were seven male and seven female candidates, tho latter being appropriately dressed in white. Bishop Nevill briefly pointed out the duties of Christians, and delivered a discourse, choosiog his text from 2 Kings xxiii. 3, and commented upon the godly career of the young king Josiah. Many people professed to think that religion was of a passive character, but he advised his hcarors that persistent and determined efforts were required on their part to enable them to walk worthy of their high calling. Jesus had said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me."

A special meeting of shareholders in the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society was held in the Lower Hall of the Athenaeum on the 12th. About fifty were present, and Mr A. Lees presided. The business for consideration was that of appointing a Secretary and Tieasurer, vice Mr W. S. Douglas, whu, after serving the Com pany since its formation, has resigned through private business requiring his atteution. Mr T. Callender was unauimuusly appointed his successor, and on the motion of Mr G. Turnbull, a hundred guineas was placed at the disposal of the Directors towards presenting a suitable memento to the retiring Secretary for his energies in for warding the interests of the Society. Mr Douglas having returned thanks, the meet ing terminated.

At a meeting of gentlemen in Wain's Hotel on the 11th, it was resolved to inaugurate a series of entertainments in aid of the Benevolent Institution, at Messrs Guthrie and Larnach's new factories, which have been kindly lent for the occasion. The firm has also generously promised £100 towards laying on gas and other extras. An effort is to be made to secure the assistance of the Hungarian Nightingale (Mdlle de Murska) at one of the concerts in aid of the Benevolent Institution, for which it is confidently expected that at least £1000 will be realised. If this anticipation be confirmed, the question will arise as to how the Provincial Government, with its coffers nearly empty, will be enabled to contribute the usual subsidy — £1 for £1. A full report of the proceedings appears elsewhere.

The Provincial Government Gazette for this'week contains Sir Julius Vogel'slast letter to the Superintendent and His Honour's reply to the same ; also, the Superintendent's letter requesting a contradiction of the rumour that the Colonial Government had intimated its desire us to the way tho Waste Lands Board should act in regaid to the proposed sale of the blocks. Proclamations ap« ppar setting apart 1400 acres in tho Tapauui Hundred for occupation on deferred payments, and 5766 a.:res in the Forest Hill on the same system. Messrs D. S. Lawlor and James Oaldwell are appointed "Returning Officers for the Oreti Road Board. There are numerous notifications in regard to land sales, tenders, and Road Boards, rewards advertised for the discovery of incendiaries, and a notice in regard to lotteries.

An Italian named Fortunata Locchi, who stands committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court on a charge of rape, made an attempt on Thursday evening to cut his wife's throat. Locchi was released from the Lunatic Asylum a fortnight ago. as the medical men considered that he would bn more likely to recover his sanity by mixing with his countrymen. Since that time he has been lining with his wife and family at the Immigration Barracks, and on Thursday evening armed himself with a lar^o knife, and tried to murder his wife. Constable Moore had a severe encounter -with him, and several Italians refused to assist him, though called upon. Mr Barnes, butcher, Caversham, and Mr Young assisted Constable Moore to remove the weapon. Locchi was again taken to the Lunatic Asylum.

The usual weekly meeting of tho All Nations Lodge, 1.0. G.T. was held at the Foresters' Hall, Port Chalmers, on Monday evening, this being the first meeting of the Lodge in the Hall, the use of which for 12 mouths had been arranged for. Tho Tji.'i>e having been opened and preliminary business disposed <f, lour candidates wen) impressively initiated, and a dispensat.on which had been applied for was granted. Noti. ■> was given of a second degree meeting for Friday next, and a full attendance of members of the Universal Degree Temple was requested. Considerable discussion ensued relative to tho fees provided for by the new constitution. The Lodge was very well attended, many visitors from the "Pioneer," " Olive Branch," and "Who'd Have Thought It " Lodges being present. It closed at 10 p.m.

At the meeting of the Education Board held on the 11th, nearly all the applications which involved the expenditure of money were postponed. The only exception being in the case of the usual allowance of twothirds for repairs. His Honour tho Supiriutendeut was in fcho chair, and stated that the Government was desirous of pj i »nuing ,£20,000 or £30,000 ou school buildings, find it hoped to have been able to do so by means of the large sum whicll it expected would have conic into the Treasury l<it>t week ; Lvi; that aum did not come. From the tenor of his remarks, which appear in our report of tho meeting, it would appear that the spending of thic sum, as woll aa the granting of the other applications which were deferred, will be contingent on the Waste Lands Board placing the Government in a position to find the money required for the purpose.

A correspondent from Invoroar&Ul writca to say tluvt a mofit valuable '.!if,oc>very

has recently been made on t!,c beach near Orepuki. 11 appeals that on a recent visit thereof Mr John 'I umhull, he noticed some very etioico specimens of pearls in possession of the Maori girls. The mutter attracted his attention, and he enquired of the Maoris and h;ilfc;ists, who are numerous in that locality, where they had procured them, when his surprise was infceiHliud in a few minutes to find at least half a dozsn divirrg in three or four fathoms water and returning to the bcar-h with a few exquisite pearls to gratify his ciuiosity. Retun.mg to Invcrcargill, no time was lost in procuring and fitting out a cratt with diving and other appliances, which it is to be hoped w 11 form tlm nucleus of a prosperous pearl fishery, and reflect becoming credit on the energetic and enterprising manager of the New Zealand Trust and Loan Agency Company.

Mr Wendel, a native of the Moselle, but for some yeais past residing in Auckland, has just arrived in lJunodin, with the intent tiou of introducing liere some wines of which he is the manufacturer, from grapes giown at his vineyard in the North Island. At present, Mr Wtnuel's importation is confined to two sorts, one re I and one white. The wine is exceedingly palat.ible, dunks clean, and of good il ivour. Tho /irst sample re.^emblea Constantia in appeal anc and table, but is the puie and unfortified juice ri' Lhe grape The white wine rescmbUs Mrigeile, both in colour aud in drinking, and is aLso a very nice flavoured wine witli just a buspicion of the Muscat grape, whicti mak<=s it very pleasant. Mr Wendel has a large tract of land in Auckland under cultivation as a vineyard, and coming from Moscilc, has a thorough knowledge ut the process at winemaking. He took hrs>t piize for his wines in 1573 and 1575, at tiie New Zeal ml Agricultural Society's .Show at Auckland.

The Nelson Diily Times has been supplied with the following infuixnation that, l>.">rne in mind, may save writers of letters ;i deal of inconvenience: — "In the course of a few years the inconvenience of having two or more post towns of the same nam" in dii!"; rent parts of the Colony will be more fdt thin it is at present, although even now t ; m annoyance occasioned at times is not inconsiderable. From the Postal Guide f-.r the current quarter we learn that there are plae< s of the same name as follows : — Brighton, 2 ; Clifton, 2 ; Clarksville, 2 ; Greytowu. 2 ; Hamp. den, 3 ; Hastings, 2 ; Havelock, 3 ; l*a merston 2 ; Richmond, 2 ; Waikari, 2 ; Waimate, 2 ; Waiuui, 2 ; Wairoa, 2 ; Woodsule, 2 ; Waiwera, 2. There are also places of very similar names, surh as Kaikoiai, Kaikora, and Kaikoura ; Waikava and Waikivi, Wangaroa and VVangaloa. A letter was. sant the other day from thia town adJies-se>l to a person at Hampden ; it was forw arded to Hampden in Ouago, thc;ice to H unpdeu in Hawke'a Biy, aud finally to KainnJen in Nelson, to which place it was intended to go in the first instance."

A man in a state of high nervous excitement, evidently the effect of hard drinking, applied to the Police at Port Chalmers on Saturday morning to be locked up because he waß a lunatic. This open admission stan-ptd the man r.s anything b, t insauw, whilst his subsequent couft&siou p.oved him to have been actuated by a apevies of nia-ineia only too fommoD amongst a certiiu class of men when money is couij>:>!!itively easy with them. The caz.dida.te lor < he I.un?.ti : .Asylum gave his name as John Roswell, and &;tid Imt he came out as paw-enge.r .iboard f lie Lochawe, and when he lauded had £20 in his pocket. Prom the- n st of his statement it was inferred that, to c-innicmorat'- his at rival in a new and free country, he entered u>n>u a course of hard drinking, spent all his money, and then, haunted by oottle imps, -ipplicd to the Police for protecibiou. The Police took the matter up by prosecuting the man under the Vagrant Act, charging him with having no visible or lawful me.ins of support. He was found guilty, and the Beuch. after reading him a lecture upon his evil ways, sentenced him to fourteen days' impiisoninent with hard labour.

The Rev. Mr Martin, of St. Peter's, Caver, sham, on Sunday delivered a sermon at that Church, choosing as his text the l;"th Mat. thew, 13th versa— "Every plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." During Iho course of h,s address, the rev. geiidem-in alluded to the great mistake comrmtte<i by tho Mi j dia?val Church in calling in the arm of tre secular power for tho purpose of enforcing its doctrines and modes of thought upon those who differed from it, Re then wtnt en to say that the Church in the (Jol m\eu i<<, as it was conducted entirely on the voluntary system, so completely independent i.I ulie secular power that we .ire sometimes forced to smile at the actions of those who, even in this r.iir d,iy, endeavour to coerce their opponents to the same njii!u;>ns a; themselves by the high hand of tin; hw, and. it that will not serve their purpoHf, (mlenvour to procure an alteration ir it, in "r<!< r to c^ny out their intentions. This, it u.<s peintod out, is t'ltal'y at variance with the U^hing' of the Grc.it lluad of the Ohur '!i, who taug'it ns to use gentle persuasion v.iih :\ll ratber than a tyrannical misuse of po>\ tr.

The Southland New., njforrino to Captain Walker's appointment .ii Inr-p^'tor of State Porests, doubts "vr-ymuoh whether tinybody has yet been able to rorui a lOoar notion of the duties he will he called upon to perform or of the precise nature of the service that is to be rendered to the State by the ' Forests Department.'" It presumes that Captain Walker is now " organising" his department, and remark-: "We may expect to have, at no diataut d'\te, the pi. <r,aifi of learning soirothing new on the ful>j ct of Forestry. Meantime. we may hint ih;tt Ihe timber trade of this district is ruthor di,ll at present, and that, if ( 'aptain Walk?r can suggest any means of imp-oving it, he v, ill earn the lasting c;ratitmlo of the saw- millers. This would not be in strict kc-Lpin^ with his title of 'Conservator,' it is true, but no one would be likely to raise objections on tl.at score. Seriously speaking, the qu'"-tion of most importance in this part of lh. C lotiy is how to get rid of, rather than prctn rvo, the timber that is cumbering iho ground ever some million or so of acres llvirarf doci'lotily ' waste lands,' and therefore, the new depnrb» ment can only be regarded as superfluous "

A little event of a startling character oc* ourred at the shop of Messm Morgan and, WGM%Qr t phip-Bwiths, at Port Oh{iJqiera ? p

Tuesday, and it is fortunate that nothing seiious resulted from It. It appears that the thiid engineer of the steamer Hawea •wr.a, with several of Messrs Morgan and M'Gregor's men, engaged in effecting some alteration to one of the cylinders of the Hawea's steam winch. The cylinder had to be boated to red heat, and was placed in one of the forges for the purpose, and the blast applied to it. Just as it approached the requioite heating point it exploded with a loud report that was heard all over the lower part ot the town, and at first was thought to be tr-e leport of a blast on the railway works. The cylinder was rent asunder, and the Pieces scattered in all directions — one of them j.;oing through the roof of the shop. Singular and lucky to relate, neither of the men ni the shop were struck, but the er.'-mv er, who .vas stauding over the forge, v&s bespUtu-td with hot steam and ashes from the fire, and his face was slightly scorched and scratched. Beyond this no hurt was received by anyone. The accident is <asily ti'aceable to the vaporisation of water that must have been in the cylinder, imd its expansion to bteam of i^n power Vurtt the receptacle containing it.

The Champion Wrestling Belt, which has iust been completed by Mr R. H. Bailey for the Caledonian Society, was ou view in his window in'Rattray street this week. It com isls of bilver ornaments set off on maroon velvet w ilh a white border. In the centre is th'v. Soe.iot\ n aims, and the inscription statino the niirc-t for which the Belt is to be given. B. ih. sides of the shield are orna meut'. d v i '<i a wreath composed of the rose, thistle, an • shamrock, symbolical of Eng lii'id, Sec land, and Ireland. The scroll work on otic wreath includes Saint Andrew with a ci-133 m the usual manner; on the othir one two figures, at " the hold," wrestliujr. Tb.se wreaths are flanked by two oiiiampj'ts. comprising the stemless thistle, t'.e peuuitio badge of Scotland, and the cost of the Bd( so far is about £30, which was the sum voted for the purpose by the Society. Various ether ornameuis will, however, be added m.t.l tbe belt will be covered. We uum vstani that an offer has been made to the v for the removal of the old grand sfcmd in Great Itiug street to the Society's gvmmris at. South Dunedin. If this be accect'd. tl>' 1 erection of the stand at the latter r>la"C \\i\'. be completed in three or four months Should such be the case, it is the n,t rtion of the Society to have a grand oju-Eiing on the text succeeding holiday, vh"ii fTppecial programme will be presented and th<- champion wrestling belt competed for. The prizes on this occasion, we have been infotm- cl, will be of so liberal a character as probably to induce Victorian athletes to pay si visit to this Province.

The North Dunedin Rifles met for the Commanding Officer's parade, in their drill shed Water of Leith, oil Wednesday. The compii'T numbered 26 rank and file, 4 sergeants, ' and 3 officers, including Captain "Ueevf s. Some special practice taok place in preparation fov the Queen's Biithday. The animal meeting was afterwards held, and tho minutes were duly read and confirmed. Sub-Lieutenant Pollock, the treasurer, rend tlv- nuaucial report, showing a balance of £5 14s to the credit of the Company. OonBiderin" that £300 have been spent iv ur if onus, tbe Company is in a very flourishing condition. The following officebe>r j n; were appointed for the ensuing *,S tIV ~. Secretary, Corpcral Johnstone ; tr-'-siire- Volunteer Hutchinson ; Committee, Volimtei'rs Mitchell, Shephprd, Miller, and Sublieutenant Pollock (Lieutenant Pell cU-cllnim-' to be nominated as the commisHioncl officer necessary for the Committee) ; avditus, Volunteers Green and RoDertson. The usual compliments to the retiring CouitriHee of Management were passed. A liccrty vote of thanks was accorded SubLieu 'enant Pollock as captain of the shootIce team which has the distinction of not having been beaten. Some discussion en. sued regarding the land scrip. It v, as mentioned that the .Southland Volunteers hfd received their scrip. Captain Reeves exy>l<i"«l that the claims of the North l)ut,edin Company had not been laid befofe tfte Government in a proper form, and the matter would receive due attention.

The Auckland correspondent of Te Wan. auga writing of the trial of Himiona, says : —Whilst alluding to the trial itself, it may be as well to mention an occurrence which followed a similar murder some time back. The information comes fiom a reliable source, and iv my opinion deserves as wide a publication as posoible. A Native, residing near Wni ip-i believing that several of his nearest relations had died from Makutu, determined upon slaying the perpetrator, and for this rmrpos" loaded a rifle, supplied _by our V-tcmal Government, mounted his horse ai.(la i. (l rode strait- ht; to the hapu of the witch. Wiiibont. an intimation, he snot him — death immediately followed, arid he rode quietly home, fc-ehng perfectly satisfied he did a Jpwtul and just act. A meeting of the chiefs ,<if terv\ ards took place, and it was unanimously a , -reed to, that in their opinion the act was ju-,t Hied, but that the actor had no right wha\ts,'<-r to use a Government gun for the purpose, and as a punishment, was ordered to pay the float °* tne weapon, and a,t the -swi\e time directing that the rifle should be destroAed or broken. The rifle was dest»oyed ; and shortly after an Inspector under the Arms Act paid a visit to the district, and wan informed of the circumstances and re'K-ived the money, subsequently reporting fie matter to the War Minister (M'Lean). The Native who perpetrated the deed was frequent! / seen in Giaborne, his conduct known to tho authorities, but no effort was tasde to ueUin him, and he ia yet at liberty, happy pei haps in the consciousness of having ocrformed a righteous aiid good act.

The disclosure by us in a late issue, of the fact cf the Government secretly sending home for an Inspector-General of Prisons, has causul quite a commotion at Welhngto" and has received no small amount of •>47r.tion in various parts cf the Colony to which the ari-.de V>'M telegraphed. The Vot -efeirine to tho ai'tion of tho Executive V.vs — '"it would be iu^vesting to know ihv' the Government consider jt necewary ?o Ls <mr competent and t-Wo men within

yet the Victorian Government have within our recollection appointed three successive Inspector Generals from the Colony itself." The Post, in proving that there are men in New Zealand thoroughly competent for the position, says it has only to mention the name of Mr Caldwell— " Therefore, there is at least one competent man in the Colony, and we cannot see why his claims, or indeed, those of any other competent and experienced man, should be overlooked. The chances are that when the Englishman arrrives he will be found to be much inferior to many of those who could have been obtained here. Moreover, colonial experience should be a recommendation in such a case as this." A remark which it makes is apparently a hint at the belief which obtains that the situation wns nii'de for some friend at home :—": — " It is all very well to give these big bilk-ts to friends, but who has to bear the expense if these friends are incompetent ?" The fortnightly meeting of the Kaikoiai Star of Freedom Band of Hope took place on Monday night in the Linden school. There was a large number of youthful members present, and the President occupied the chair. The entertainment consisted of singing aud recitations, in which some of the chddren did very well. A supply of the new Bind of Hope song books, by the Rev. Jas. .Yearns, having been procured, thoso present were supplied with them. During the course o f the evening, several pieces from this col lection were sung. After a very pleasant evening had been spent, the meeting was closed by singing aud prayei\ A paragraph in the last letter addressed by His Honour the Superintendent to tWe Premier, in which he alluded to "the attempt on tlie part of the Colonial Government to coerce whab is supposed to be a non-political body like the Waste Lands Board," called forth some warm comments at the meeting of *the Board on the 17 th. The Chief Commitsiouer, and Messrs Butterworth, Bastings, and Strode, denied that anything in the shape of pressure had been brought to bear upon them, and a resolution was pass-ed requesting the Chief Commissioner to ask His Honour to give his authority for the statement. Are port of the discussion and the resolution will be found in another column.