TARANAKI Volunteer Rifle Corps.

A meeting was held at the Masonic Hall on Saturday pursuant to Requisition from the Adjutant to consider the subject of uniform and drill for the Company, I. N. Watt, Esq. in the chair.

A resolution in favor of the adoption of some uniform was carried unanimously, and after some discussion the meeting approved of the following as appropriate, inexpensive, and available, (if required), for ordinary use off drill : cap, tunic, and trousers (with black piping) of grey tweed — white trousers during the summer months.

Times and places were proposed for local drill, and it was decided that a general drill should take place on the military parade ground on the first Saturday in every month.

A case of some importance was decided in the Resident Magistrate's Court on last Thursday, Mr Tyrrell of Mangorei having sued the Road Commissioners of his district for having accidentally occasioned the destruction of his house hy fire whilst in the discharge of their duties. It appears that the Commissioners were engaged in widening the puhlic road which passes through forest land, and a fire which was kindled t<* burn up the wood and undergrowth spread in the direction of the complainant's premises ocpasioning the damage sued for. The Resident Magistrate allowed the claim.

It affords us much pleasure to insert the following extract from the Lincoln and Stamford Mercury of sth November last, relating to the Rev. H. H. Brown who arrived yesterday per Eclipse :—: —

" Farewell Testimonial — The Revd. Hy. Handley Brown, Rector of Burton Pedwardine and Vicar of Howell, being on the point of leaving England for N'w Zealand, his parishioners and friends determined upon piesenting him with a testimonial prior to his departure. In a few days a liberal sum Was collected and the Rei. Frederick Latham, at a meeting of the subscribers, in an eloquent and appropriate address, Landed to Mr. Blown a silver snuffbox containing £50 bearing the following inscription: — 'This box, containing so sovereigns, was presented by his parishioners and other friends to the Rev. Henry" Handley Brown, on his leaving England in 1858, as a testimony of their high respect and esteem.' The 50 sovereigns is to purchase land, which is 10s. an acre there, to be called Burton Howell, the names of the two parishes he is leaving."