Tim abit Hospital Returns. — The following is a return of patients m the Timaru Ho3pital for the month of June, 1883 : — Putieiits under treatment at date of last return — mules, 20 j females, 4 ; total, 24 ; admitted during tho month — males, 10; femalo, 1 ; total, 11 ; total treated 35. Discharged during the month : Cured — males, 11 ; female, 1 : total, 12 j relieved — males, 2 ; died — female, 1 (Wilhelmine D. Campbell) j total discharged— males, 13 ; females, 2 ; total, 15. Remaining under treatment — males, 11 ; females, 3 ; total, 20. Out-patients treated during the month — males, 8 ; females, 15 ; total, 23. Fukehat, op Captain Bascand.— The funeral of the late Captain C. S. Bnseand, Harbor Master atTimaru , took place on Sunday afternoon, and was attended by a very large number of people. The cortege left his late residence, Main North Road, shortly after 2.80 o'clock, tho Lifeboat Crew, under Chiefcoxswain W. Collis, acting as coffin and pallbearers, the coffin being wrapped m the Union Jack. After two closed carriages, containing the members of his family, came the Tiinjiru Velunteer Rocket Brigado m full force, under First-Lieutenant Jackson. The Timaru Volunteer Firo Brigade also followed m plain clothes. As tho cortege moved off a round of seven guns was fired from tho Rocket Brigado Station, tho round being repeated over his grave. The lifeboat crow acted as coffin-bearers at the eometcry, convev'ng their lato captain's remains from the hearse to the chapel and from thence to tho grave. The burial servioo was performed by the ReV. Mr Book, Wealeyan minister, id a most Bolomn and impressivo manner. j

New Zealand Omvb Oil. — A northern contemporary states tlmt a sample of olive oil has been lodged m the Colonial Museum by Sir George drey, who has succeeded m manufacturing that commodity from fruit grown on his estate at Kawau, thus establishing the fact that the climate of the North is adapted to the growth of olives. The oil is of a straw colored tint, and that portion of it which hns been refined by Mr Skey cannot be distinguished m any way from the imported article. The opinion of those who are competent to judge is that its quality is quite equal to that of the stuff manufactured on the Continent. Sir George Grey hns several acres of his estate planted with olive trees, and it is understood that the sample of oil he has just placed m the Colonial Museum is tho first manufactured m tho colony. Population of the Colony. — The population of the colony on 31st December last, exclusive of Maoris, was estimated nt 517,707. The increase by births m excess of deaths was 13,308, and by excess of immigration over emigration 3489. Tho returns of births, deaths, and marriages were respectively 37.32, 11.19, and 7.07. Referring to the decimal returns, we find the maximum per 1000 of births was m 1878, when it reached 41.98 ; maximum of deaths m 1875, when it stood at 15.92; and tho maximum of marriages m 1875, when it was 8.94 — m each case per 1000 of the population. The population of the chief provincial districts stood on 31st December as follows : — Auckland, 105,001 ; Wellington, 61,938 ; Canterbury, 118,850; Otago, 141,431— t0tal for the North Island, 201,474 j total for the South Island, 313,533. Timaeu School Committee. — The usual monthly meeting of this School Committee was held on Monday. Present — Mr J. Jackson (Chairman), and Messrs Stone, Gibson and Bezzant (Hon. Secretary). The minutes of last meeting wero read and confirmed. Letters were read as follows : — From tho Head Master, giving the return of attendance for the month, and enclosing a cheque for £4 10a m aid of incidentals. Tho Head Master, who was present, stated that according to the returns tho Behool was entitled to another teacher, and that the Committee would have to re-arrange tho staff. From the Mistress of the Side School, asking that the grate m the schoolroom bo re-set during the holidays, as it smoked very much when a fire was burning. Mr Gibson informed tho Committee that the Inspector to the Board lmd promised to si" t!:? r- \1 :.■>!■ nt'nfWl tn. Frw: the Secretary to the Board, informing the Committee that he only had the power of franking correspondence, not the Chairman of the Board as heretofore. From the Inepector of Police, enclosing a list of names of ehildron who had been proceeded against under tho Act. From Master Goldsmith, resigning tho position of pupil teacher at the school m consequence of having obtained an appointment elsewhere. From Miss Emma Webb, offering her services as a pupil teacher. Mr Gibson moved, and Mr Stone seconded — " That the resignation of Master Goldsmith bo accepted, and the Chairman, Secretary and mover bo authorised to appoint his successor and re-arrange the teaching staff." From Messrs Ross, Sims and Co., asking, on behalf of Miss Forbes, for amount owing her for teaching pupil teachers from December, 1882, to January, 1883 ; also teacher's allowance, £3 15s, being half the amount payable, according to the Board's regulations for scholarships, account Miss Mellroy. On the motion of Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Stone, it was resolved— " That, m answer to the letter from Miss Forbes' agents re claim for giving instruction to pupil teachers, she be referred to tho Board of Education." Mr Gibson moved and Mr Bezzant seconded — " That the Chairman bo requested to interview the Board's Inspector and request him to have sundry repairs done, as follows : — Re-hang sashes m the windows, Main School ; repairs to spouting and tank ; repairs to blackboard ; and put a look on tho door." Tho Visitors reported that the schools were working satisfactorily and well. The meeting then terminated with tho usual compliment to the Chairman. Death o* an Old Identity. — By the death of "old Sam" Williams, which took place on June 29, we have lost one of the few links that remained to bind the present directly with tho " old times," when Timaru was but a name m the coastal itineraries of the Maori and the enterprising whaler. Sam Williams was an American by birth, and spent his youth and early manhood m Yankee whale ships, and by that means became wellacquainted with the then famous " New Zealand whale grounds." About the year 1845, as nearly us wo can now ascertain, ho came to New Zealand as one of a party fitted out by Weller Brothers, of Sydney, to establish shore whaling stations on the coast of Canterbury. For some time the party carried on operations at Peraki, on Banks' Peninsula, and then a section of them came to Timaru, Williams being one, the " boat-steerer," or head man of the crew. Thoy camped and fitted up their boiling pots at the head of Caroline Bay, and m tho gully beyond tho second viaduct, one of tho well burned fire places was exposed and next washed away by the heavy seas of May last year. The land it will be remembered by "old settlors, formerly extended a considerable distance further seaward at that point. After working there for some time the party shifted to Patiti Point. These shore parties carried on their business by keeping a look-out from the cliffs for whales m the offing, and whenever the familiar "spout " was seen, m suitable weather, a boat put off to effect a capture, and if successful the prize was towed to the beach, brought up at full tide, and left high and dry and easily got at at low water. The blubber was stripped off and boiled down m huge pots fixed m the clay banks, the oil being placed m casks to await the call of a vessel which came at stated periods to collect it, and replenish the stores of the party on shore. The whalers at sea, and those on shore plied their trade so effectively that m a. fow years they completely ruined it, and tho once most profitable whaling ground m tho world became almost the most valueless. The shore parties found their occupation gone, and had to turn their hand to other things. Williams found employment on Messrs Rhodes' station at Kaituna, on the Lake Ellesmerc side of the Peninsula. This station becoming overstocked, Williams, wo understand, recommended his employers to take up country at Timaru, and he brought them down nnd showed them the grand country which has since been a fortune to them. They brought down stock and built a house, the first m Timaru, on the beach near the present site of Mr Evuns' grain store, and tuero established Williams as a sort of overseer. Other stoekowners soon followed the example set by Messrs Rhodes, and m a vcrv short time the bulk of easy country m South Canterbury was taken up under depasturing licenses. The number of callers increased so much that Williams was obliged to charge for the accommodation ho gave to travellers, and a good ninny old settlers will remember the high figures they had to pay for variations of tea, mutton and leavened bread, with a loan of blankets to make a shakedown for themselves on tho bare floor, when tho two sparo bunks had been secured by earlier arrivals. After a time a license was obtained, which legalised a branch of business which had not by any means been neglected before. Whon tho town began to grow, tho Messrs Rhodes built a small hotel on the site of the present Club Hotel, which was token by Wiljinms, and later ho built a house for himself whore tho present Timaru Hotel now stands. The vagaries of a second wife, much younger than himself, and his own weakness for the bottle led to his losing this, and successively two others m which fie was given fresh starts by his old employers — one un accommodation house somewhere on the Peninsula, and the other an hotel m Christchurch. A few years ago he returned to Timaru, alone and penniless, since when a few of his former acquaintances supplied his wants, for tho sake of old times. His age he Btatcd to be 66, but he lookod very much older, the hard, and latterly 6omowhat reckless life he led, having agini him fast. In his prime he was a capital fellow, and the lnte Mr George Rhodes, with whom ho was most m contact while he was m the service of Messrs Rhodes, thoroughly trusted him. His second wife is, wo believe, still living, and also a son and a daughter by his first wife, but we do not know where any of them are at present. Tho funeral took place on Monday afternoon, and was attended by a lnrge number of old settlers who had known the j pioneer of Timaru m the early days.

Tejiuka Wesleyan Cnuiicn. — The quarterly meeting m connection with this Church was held at the parsonage on Tuesday, Juno 26th. This being the first meeting during the present minister's term, there was a full attendance of officials from tho various placeß. The Chairman reported that the number of members was the same as the previous quarter. Tho ordinary income about met the current expenses. Some extras, including the cost of removal and repairs to the parsonage, caused a deficit of £16. Still the financial prospect was considered cheering, the Temuka collections especially showing a marked improvement. Arrangements were made to conduct a service on one or two Sundays m each month m the Kakahu school (kindly granted for the purpose) ; also, to hold an evening service at Geraldine, instead of the morning as at present. Mr George Buller, of Pleasant Point, was unanimously elected junior circuit steward. The meeting then terminated. Grain Dressing Machinery. — The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have imported and have just erected m their Beach Stores one of Barnard and Leas' (Moline, Illinois) No 3 Dustless Warehouse Wheat Separators, together with a small elevator for lifting the grain into the hopper, and an Otto silent gas engine of 3 horsepower to drive it. The machine was tried on Thursday, and yesterday was set to work m earnest, first to free some wheat of vetch seed, and afterwards to dress some wheat that had been iv store eighteen months, and m both cases it fully answered all expectations formed regarding it. The machine wa9 set up by Mr Huggins, who also made the elevator. This consists of an ordinary cup belt with enclosing casing, head and shoe, with a hopper holdingabouttwo sacks of grain. The elevator is driven by a belt direct from the engine. A second belt from the same shaft drives the separator blast, and a third, from tho blast pulley, drives the riddle frames. There are two of these frames, supported at each end by strips of steel liin by iin, and steadied laterally by similar strips about {m thick. The frames are driven from one Bhaft by small eccentrics, which give the riddles a very rapid motion, the "throw" being very short, apparently not more than Jin. Tho machine works with very little vibration or noise. It is a -wonder that English makers do not adopt the system of short and rapid vibrations m their corn dressing machinery, it appears to bo so much superior to tho long and blow throw s-cn m English winnowers and threshing machines. An important feature of this machine, and one which characterises most American machines of the kind, is that the blast i 3 reversed, as it were, and instead of being forced through the machine from the fan, is drawn through it, and forced through a trunk into the outer air, or it may be carried into a special dust chamber. About a Bcore of riddles accompany the machine, of different sizes, from fine ones for grass seed cleaning to coarse ones fit for cleaning beans. A trial has been made on grass seed, and the machine made a capital job of it. Its capacity, m dealing with wheat, is about 250 bushels per hour. The Oamaru Elevator Company use one of precisely the same pattern, but of four thne3 tke capacity. The coat of the machine we have described was about £50 m Chicago. The gas engine is a very neat affair, and has been nicely fitted up m an apartment to itself. The whole apparatus is very compact and will no doubt be found very useful. A Strange Mubdeb, Casb. — The Charters Towers correspondent of the JBrisbane Courier give 3 some particulars of a remarkable case of suspected murder m connection with the death of one Robert Brown Nesbit. The body was found with the wound of a revolver bullet iv it, and three men were arrested — John George Middleton, William Simpson, and Pratt. They were brought up on tho 23rd, and remanded until Monday, the 30th ult. The Court was densely crowded, every available space being taken advantage of during the four days which were occupied by the hearing. On the Wednesday the prisoner Pratt, who had been discharged that morning, made a most important statement, disclosing a plot concocted the previous night by Middleton, who was confined m the cell adjoining that m which Pratt was, for tho purpose of fastening on Simpson the crime of having shot Nesbit. In order to arrange an interview with Pratt, Middleton wrote a few word 3on a slip of paper, which he secreted m the water-closet, and directed Pratt where to find it. This scrap of paper was found by Pratt a few minutes after, and handed to the lockup-keeper, who then arranged to lie concealed with Pratt m the cell m order to hear the expected conversation. Towards 12 o'clock at night Pratt spole to Middleton, and said he thought all was quiet now, and asked the latter what he had to say. Middleton deferred speaking on the matter, as he thought it was rather too early- In ft short time again he, however, spoke, and a long conversation ensued, m which Middleton professed to relate the circumstances of the murder, which he said was done accidentally by Simpson. These circumstances he wanted Pratt (who appears now to be entirely innocent) to verify m order to corroborate his statement. Tho circumstances, as related by Middleton, were that the decease'! prevailed on him aud Simpson to go with deceased to the house of a shipmate named Jackson, where deceased boarded, and to fire a revolver off m the garden m order to frighten Jackson. This they agreed to do, Middleton taking the revolver. After soing a short distance away from the house of the latter, deceased sat down m tho spot where he was found next morning. The other two knelt alongside of him. Simpson took the revolver out of Middleton's belt, and m examining it it went off accidentally, the bullet entering near the right temple" of deceased, who instnntly dropped dead. Middleton also stated when asked by Pratt what became of the money which was m deceased's pocket at the time that he took two notes, and Simpson took tho silver. The lockup-keeper was concealed m Pratt's cell on that night, having been told by him that Middleton had something to say, and the same story was afterwards told "by Middleton m a statement taken down m writing. Pratt was discharged, and no bill was filed against Simpson ; but Middleton ha 3 been placed on his trial. Entebtainment. — A Tery pleasing entertainment was given m tho Roman Catholic boys' schoolroom on Wednesday by the pupils attending the school, assisted by a few friends. The room was comfortably filled with a very attentive and appreciative audience. The schoolroom was specially fitted up for the occasion, and the seating accommodation wa3 most ample, too much so m fact, as some of the were placed so close together as to make thines rather uncomfortable for the occupants. "The entertainment opened with a duet by the Misses Gerity, which -was very nicely and accurately played. A dialogue, " Must Study Arithmetic," between Masters J. McGowan and D. Griffin, followed, and then a song by Master F. Niall. Both of these pieces pleased the audience very much. Next followed the piece of the evening, a drama entitled " The Hidden Gem," of which, the scene is laid m Rome, m the time of the Emperor Honorius, and the story told iB that of Alexius, the only son of Euphemianus, a Roman patrician. The hero, when grown up, suddenly quitted his father's house, and led tho life" of a pilgrim. After being several years abroad, he as suddenly returned home, where, as he was not recognised and did not disclose his identity, he was treated as a stranger, scorned and ill-treated by even his own domestics till tho day of his death A strong vein of religious feeling runs throughout tho drama. The play is divided into ouly two acts, but the scenes were very numerous, no less than twelve being gone through altogether. Tho numerous players acquitted themselves very creditably, but where bo many were engaged it would be hardly fair to mention those who had the most of the work to do, without mentioning all. Suffice it to say that the boys did very well indeed, and reflected much credit on their instructress, Madame Sullivan. The dresses was very rich nnd appropriate. Distributed throughout the play were solos (instrumental nnd vocal), a recitation and a piece selected from "Mrs Caudle's Lectures." The young lady who recited this w&s greatly applauded for her elocution aud acting, which were excellent throughout. Before finally closing the concert, the new Roman Catholic Band, under the leadersliip of Mr Rogers, played the Nntional Anthem, and considering "that the Band have only been practising together for a few weeks, the way it was played was a credit to their instructor and themselves.