NEWS OF THE DAY.

A meeting of the New Zealand University Senate will be held in Auckland on February 20th. - The German Governor of Samoa is" expected to pay a visit to Auckland next month. He will probably make a trip to the Hot Lakes. The Timaru Presbytery yesterday accepted the resignation of the* Rev. Wm. Gillies, and will recommend his appointment by the Assembly as minister emeritus. The Timaru Harbour Board yesterday _«• solved to determine the contract for the eastern rubble mole, on the ground that the contractors are making insufficient progress. The erection of the Lyttelton Young Men's Club building, wliich has been suspended for a time, was yesterday resumed by Messrs Hollis and Brown, who hope to have the work completed by the Ist of May. A fire in stubble iv Mr H. Jones's field at Rangiora. caused an alarm on Tuesday hut it was extinguished without damage 'beim? done. s An eel, sft long, 16in girth, and weighing 251b, is on view in a shop in Wellington states our correspondent. Inside it wai found a half-digested trout, ISm long. At the meeting of the directors of the INew Zealand Shipping Company, held yesterday, it was decided to contribute five guineas towards the United Fire Brigades' Demonstration, which will take place in Lancaster Park next May. the Rangiora Pensions Court yesterday forty-five applications were granted by Mr Wardell, S.M.. who cautioned three applicants against drinking, pointing out the public naturally objected to its money being spent in intemperance. Mr M. Lynskey. of Kaiapoi, was married on Wednesday, to Miss Quinn, eldest daughter of Mr M. Quinn, Temuka. The ceremony took place in St. Joseph's Church, Temuka. where the bride has been organist for many years. A letter was read yesterday by the Timaru Harbour Board" from Messrs Friedlander Bros, with reference to making Timaru a port of registry, stating that they frequently found owners of vessels -stipulating "Timaru and Oamaru excepted," or asking higher freights if the option of loading there was given. The Catholics of Lyttelton have decided to entertain his Eminence Cardinal Moran and accompanying prelates at a luncheon, on the occasion of their visit to Christchurch to lay the foundation stone of the Cathedral. Previous to the departure for Chrisfcchu.ch they will also take them for a trip down the harbour. The Chairman stated at the meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board yesterday that the Marine Superintendent of the colony had been inspecting tlie lighthouse, which had been condemned as inadequate, by masters of steamers. Several letters were received yesterday from captains of vesselon the subject.

As the Hon. J. G. Ward, the Mayor and Borough Councillors, and others were driving out of the Domain, after the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the new Post Office at Ashburton, on Monday, Mr W. W. Smith (the curator) and Mrs Smith greeted them with a perfect shower oi beautiful flowers. Respecting the pensions of persons who are married tlie Amendment Act provides that the amount of the pension of either of them for any year shall in no case exceed such sum as, with the total actual incomes of both for-the year and the pension, if any, then already granted to the other of them, will amount to £75 for the year. The Official Assignee's Otago bankruptcy return for tho year shows that there %yere sixty-six bankruptcies, representing liabilities" scheduled by the debtors at £20,424; the estates realised £5,007; and out of ihe realised some £2807 was paid to creditors. In tlie previous year the bankruptcies totalled ninety-nine, the liabilities £32,581. the realisations came to £5,309, and the payments to creditors amounted to £3,217. At a meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board "yesterday the Chairman stated that the total receipts for the past year had been £22,859, irrespective of the harbour vote of £5000. The year closed with £458 to tlie credit of the general account and £3330 had been placed to the credit of the reserve found. Many improvements to the Board's property had"been effected, and new stores had been erected out of the general fund. At the first annual meeting of the Loburn Domain Board on Monday there were present—Messrs W. Iverach (chaumanK H. S. Carmichael, A. J. Carmichael, and J. W. Armstrong. The accounts showed-*-Receipts, grant from Ashley Road Board £10, rent, etc., £7 2s 3d, expended for seeds £5 6s 8(1, stationery Us lid. in hand £11 3s Sd. As the Domain was under crop nothing had bfeen done in planting. It was decided to ascertain, if money could be borrowed for improve-

At the first annual meeting of the Loburn Domain Board on Monday there were present—Messrs W. Iverach (che.irn.an., H. S. Carmichael, A. J. Carmichael, and J. W. Armstrong. The accounts showed-*-Receipts, grant from Ashley Road 80-ird £10, rent, etc., £7 2s 3d, expended for seeds £5 6s 8(1, stationery Us lid. in hand £11 3s Bd. As the Domain was under crop nothing had bfeen done in planting. It was decided to ascertain if money could be borrowed for improvements.

"Give it a kick,' said Councillor Andrews, at ai special meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council, when the gas suddenly went out. A vigorous application of tha toe of the town clerk's boot restored the light for a few minutes, then darkness again prevailed, and no amount of toeing would raise even a flicker, "f-ive it c. drink, suggested a more practical minded Councillor, the water jug was produced, the contents poured into the meter, and the gas shone with its accustomed brilliancy.

When the express for the South yesterday stopped at Temuka. » deptftation, headed by Captain Hayhurst and the Mayor, with Councillors and other leading people, waited on the Hon. Mr Ward, with a request that he (tt. Post-master-General) would have the new post office for Temuka erected alongside the Bank of New Zealand, instead of on tne old site, which, it was urged, is not convenient for business people. Mr Ward replied that be was averse to changing the sites of post oifliees, but would give the matter consideration. Students of psychology may be interest-d in the following", which li_u. reached us on the b?st possible authority. One of the boys that were successful in the recent «x----aniinations for the High School scbolaTshipdreamb that his mother's servant met him aud told him that he had won one of tha scholarships, at the same time naming his position in the list. The next morning the boy narrated his dream to his mother, nnd sure enough some ten days la** 1 * the g**" met him and informed him of his success, and his position on the list, exactly as he had dreamed. There has been a considerable influx of harvest and other hands into Ashburton during the past week, and numb.rs of men are now to be se*_-n daily standing about the main streets and street corners Many of them find accommodation at the hotels, but others have to unfurl their blankets tit night and hud a re-ting-nla-* amongst the willows in the riverbed. Harvest operations are now in full swing in many parts of the district, and the majority of tho men should tind employment- on the various farms. Th. members of the Council of the Auckland Liberal Association have formed themselves into an electoral committee to taice step. to orgar_i__ ward committees to endeavour to secure the return of capable men among the workers to represent the city at the coming municipal election,. It has been decided Jo ask members ot all labour -organisations to send delegates to co-operata with the electoral committee of the Liberal Association to select candidates that -iiu.U be asked to contest the Municipal LouncU elections.

The Gisborne Borough Council has npi»t*.i a committee to go Tnto tlie matter ] '$ getting electric power from the Teringa Fall*- , i On board tho itJeamer Moura, which left WeUinirto" ■"■'■" **'° sout -* * ttKt ni 8» t - tnf '*' e »re 281 breeding owe-*, consigned from Nato Lv.teltori, and twenty-five rams from Gisborne* to Dunedin. A large number of people travelled by train to New Brighton last evening to witmggs the firework display at that suburb, ti,<, outing proving a very pleasant one. Owing to the serious illness of her Maj M tV the Queen, the garden party to take pine, at Mrs R. J. S. Harman's on Friday. jja. been postponed. The meet ins *-»f --•i e Entertainment Committee- of the Firc*.Jrignde Demonstration *-a_ adjourned lasfrlijght until Friday evening, at eight o'clock, owing to a domestic beri-iviiniiit in connection with the family of Superintendent Smith. Tho adjourned annual meeting of the sub-Bcrib-r- t« tiie Samaritan Home will taki place to-morrow evening at 7.30, at the City Council Chambers. During Monday last £110 was collected in Wellington towards the fund fur giving the Bixth Contingent a farewell. The gro**.. tonnage of the shipping at the port of LTtteltoii yesterday amounted to over 50.006 tons. Fees pavabl. under "The Factories Act" are coining in very slowly, the matter having apparently been overlooked by factory owners. The meeting convened by the Mayor for yesterday, to consider the question of receiving tlie Imperial Contingent, is ad journt-d till further notice. The firearms with which the Waitara Rifle Corps have just been equipped are jjnider.. His understood that the Ingl--W ood Infantry Corps are also being served with this old-fashioned typo of title. The crops in the Cheviot district are looking extremely well, and. should the Weather continue "favourable for a few days, some good yields may bo expected. Tlie nominations tor t.ie vacant seat in the City Council, for the South-east Waid, «lorn to-day. It in not likely that there will be any opposition to Mr J. L. Scott, who hits been nominated as a candidate. It is probablu that a company will I*2 formed in Masterton, with a view to making a thorough test of the Mauriceville coal de-po.it.. Two men have b.en working in tbe district for some weeks past, ami are reported to have found a seam 2ft 6m thick. The coal is of lair quality. The RUivev for the light line of railway that is to be* built from Stratford to Whangs_momoiia in actively proceeding. A gauge of 2ft hits been decided upon for the railwar.'nnd the work fa to be pushed on Vigorously, so tliat in two years Whangamomoria will be connected by rail with the wain line. The northern and other visiting bowlers 'were greatly delighted with tb. hospitality ibown to them during tlie tournament week. The kindne-w of Mr and Mrs Stnither., of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, and the Exhibition "Executive, most specially was highly appreciated. Through the medium of the telegraph official., tlie Anglo-American Telegraph Company make known that telegrams for all station*, in the United States of Colombia are submitted to the censor. Telegrams for place* other than Lcvena, Ventura, and Panama are subject to delay. Berne also notifies the interruption of the HavreWuterville cable, butt the route via Commercial remains open to Continental traffic by London, with the same terms and the same conditions as offered by the other cumpiUiic..

A vagrancy case was heard at the Magistrate's" Court yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M. One of the detectives, who was giving evidence, stated that the accused wa*. the associate of rogues and

vagabonds. Mr Donnelly, who appeared for the -u.ca.ed, objected' to this, and pointed out to hi.-! Worship that Mr Beetham had decided t«» exclude this description of evidence in these cases. Mr Bishop said that he did not agree with Mr Beetham altoaether on this matter, but he would consult him before he gave his decision.

The Rrunner "New.-.," in an article on some aspects of the coal industry, predicts, us it claims t<» have predicted on a previous occasion, "that in about two years all the pillars in the present workings will be mined, and the export of coal ffom Brunner •twill be nil—ruitd it is pretty well diminished to that now. . . . The fact is evident that tbe Brunner mine cannot hold out much longer, and unless more activity is shown than in the past it will have to clo.a down, aud that within a measurable distance."

It has been placed on record that considerably more than half the human race ,is tilled by women. Two women—the Empress Dowager of China and the Queen of England—alone govern half the entire nopulation of the world. Thr- third in importance

is young Queen Wilbelmina, of Holland, whose home land numbers less than 5.000.000 .totil.., but whose colonies have 30,000.000. Spain is ruled by a woman. Queen Regent Christina, in tlie minority of her son. It is expected that the Queen Mother Margherita will have t-reat influence over her son's kingdom, but her case is not needed to establish the preponderance of woman-ruled races.

After twelve month.' prospecting, tlie Ailandale Coal Compiny, says the Waikouaiti "Times," have hit .ly ttpened out two fresh seams of superior coal iv their mine. Tile, c seams are situated one above and one below* the present seam that is being worked, at dirt-nee-- of 30ft and 55?t respectively, access to tliem being gained oy means of •tone tiifinelliiig from the present working seam. The thi-kiie..- of the new developed .earns are s|ft and 6ft, and as the nualitv of the coal is better than any vet found on thi. comoiuiy's property, aiid" superior to any loxtnd in that district, it should comn__nd the market both for household and •teaming purposes. A Press telegiam from Wanganui states that in connection with the vacant, judgeship. District Judge Kettle's name has been freely mentioned in that town. In concluding an article oa the subject, the "Chronicle" ..ays • "We hope that the Minister of Justice will give full consideration to Mr Kettle*- claim to tho vacant judge•hip, a, claim which we confidently urge supersede., that of any other m.in yet named. We feel sure that Mr Kettle's appointment to the Supreme Court bench -rcuhl b. popular throughout the colony, and that it wopld redound to the credit of the Ministry, the honour of the bench, •ad the good of New Zealand."

Our Timaru correspondent telegraphs: — I hud a talk with the Hon. J. G. Ward concerning Mr Stddon's interview* with Messrs Crick and Gun*. PostmastersGenera! of New South Wales and Victoria, on the question of penny postage and its recognition in the State*- of those gentlemen. Mr Ward said that Messrs Crick and Gurr referred to til. recently held Australian Postal Conference, when they said that "while they did not wixh to depart from the decition of the Postal Conference, at the same tins-, they were pe.-onallr inclined to deliver New Zealand letters.' "You will remember," said the Acting-Premier. "New s_e..l_.nd «»i not invited to that Conference, and we have not yet heard what business waa done there, except that it decided not to recognise our penny letteis. Never mind, I h*ve no doubt that Mr Seddon will fix that up satisfactorily."

Ex-Justice Martin was of an obliging dis- \ position (says the "Manawatu Standard"), j When he wished to go Home about, two j year- ago he resigned his position of Public f Trustee; but, on the Premier's suggestion, ! tbe resignation was not gazetted, the reason j bsing that it would have been awkward to j till lip such a position on the eve of a gene- j •tal election. However, tlie fact leaked out. i awl then., were one or two awkward ques- j tions asked about the matter in Parliament. I To smooth matters over, Mr Seddon pretend- \ «d that Mr Martin had gone Home on six j month.' leave. That time expired, how- j «ver, and the matter was again pressed in J Parliament, an urgent cable being sent to Mr j Martin from the Premier to return and save ! -ho sit nation, Unfortunately, perhaps, J Mr Martin did 'hurry bac- without his -Wnily, and to compensate him for his readi- *•»_ to oblige, a Judgeship in the Supreme «*ttrt wa. made for him. The little scheme --w-t bis successor did not come off, how""W, but that is a long ttory.

Mr Thomas D. Hatton has been appointed organist for St. Saviour's Church, West Lyttelton. Ihe funeral ol the late Mr E. Steeds took, place at the Linwood Cemetery yesterday afternoon, when alarge number of old colonist, and others attended. Mr Orombie, stationmaster at Dunedin, his been promoted to district jnanager at Greymouth. vice Mr Piper, promoted to Wanganui. Much regret is felt in Wanganui at the continued indisposition of Mr Gilbert Carson, ex-M.H.R., who is now in Dunedin in search of better health. A case of apparent suicida occurred at Springburn, near Alford Forest, on Monday afternoon, when Mrs Thomas Bright die!. from strychnine poisoning at the louse of Mr Joseph Ferguson. The Directors of the Agricultural and Industrial Hall Company at a recent meeting udopt.d a resolution protesting against the erEction of the destructor on the section opposite their property. "It's Tommy rot, from start to finish," said a member of the Lyttelton Borough Council on Monday night,"when referring to tiie Municipal Corporations Act passed last year. At a special meeting of the Rangiora Borough Council, held on Monday evening, __ the Mayor (Mr A. B. Blackett) in the chair." it wa.-. resolved to adhere to Thursday an the afternoon ior the statutory half-holiday. The Kaiapoi Borough Council has decided to ask the Minister of Labour and Mr Buddo, M.H.R.. to have Saturday afternoon made the universal statutory half-holiday, and expressed its regret that this was not a'rendy the law. A good deal of time was taken up at the Rangiora Magistrate's Court yesterday b_-tw.-en two brothers, Mehrtens, farmers, as to a boundary fence. One wanted four hog wires; thi. other six plain and one barbed wire. The Magistrate and Court adjourned to»the locus in <iuo, and then resumed the argument. Tlie city surveyor has instituted a system of daily sweeping those streets whioh have been tarred, with the result that the dust which formerly accumulated thickly is now removed, und a portion at least of the unnova_!c_f which existed when the nor'-westers raged is now don* away with. As a result of a tour of the district the "Wairarapa Star's" special reporter has arrived at the conclusion that the average yield of oats in the Masterton district this season will be nearly 60 bushels to the acre. Assuming that his observations art approximately accurate, thera should be room for sincere congratulation at the result of the season's operations. The average is much higher than it was last year. Tlio Inspector of Police has received a letter from Mr John R. Ross, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, asking for any information respecting the whereabouts of his brother, Mr Alexander Cook Ross. The missing man is the son of I tho lata Rev. John Ross, Free Church minister of Stotes, Sutherland, Scotl-M-d. Ho left that country for New Zealand* in- about 1878, and was last heard •of in Christchurch, in 1837. His brothers and sisters are now anxious to hear news of him. We learn from Mr J. Trist thqt Langdon's register, for the week ending on the 20th inst., shows a total take of 289 trout, weighing 1571b. All these, with the exception of an 8-pounder from the Rangitata, were taken with the Hy in the neighbouring wnters. In the Rangitata there were many rods out, but only moderate sport was obtained. The Opilii was in partial flood and discoloured. The Rakaia and Waimakariri are in good fishing order, nnd good bags have been taken from both rivers. All local streams aie in fine condition for fly fishing, and fish are plentiful. A suggestion has been made that a plebiscite of the citizens should be taken as to whether the destructor should be erected en the site proposed by the Council, or on one near the boundaries of the borough of .Sydenham. Sydenham, as one of ihe largest boroughs of tlie colony, considering its area, will require the use*of the destructor for the. consumption of its rubbish pretty largely. It will, it is urged, be a great saving of money in the shape of cost of cartage if the _le-.ti-.ctor is placed so as to be within easy distance of the borough. Beath's Sale bargains.—Ladies' hose, ls lid for Is; white gloves, B£d for -.Jd; lovely wide ribbons. Is od for 6_d; cuffs and collars, 4 for Is; fancy fronts, 3s lid for ls 6d. Beath*. Sale. 3355 "Success sweet and without a doubt. The management of the D.I.C. tasted the full measure of it yesterday, the opening day of their great Clearance Sale. The large warehouse was thronged from the opening at 10 o'clock until closing time, and, in spite of the gieat number of assistants, they appeared to be quite unable to cope with the eager crowd of buyers. We are asked to inform ill those who were disappointed yesterday that the Sale will be continued today, coupled with the request to shop as early as possible." 3356 Handsome Wedding and Birthday Presents.—We have just received a special shipment of Beautiful and Useful Goods. We are making a splendid show in our window ; everything marked-in plain figures. We i defy Competition.—Fletcher Bros., Direct Importers, High street, Christchurch. [Advt.] Mr Morris, photographer, Colombo street, Christchurch, finds it is not generally known that his charge for cabinet portraits of children and three-quarter-length pictures is 17s 6d per doz., any extra charges are for vignetting, groups, large mounts, also the various methods of printing, etc. —(Advt.) Mr Grieshaber, jeweller, High street, whose lease has now expired, and as the premises are to be rebuilt, announces a clearance sale of his stock at great sacrifice.—(Advt.) There is no firm to equal Oats, Lowry, and Co. for built to order bicycles for persons of any age. height, or weight. Works, Manchester street south, Christohurch, Catalogues free. —Advt. Tui Extract of Soap. Save your money and your temper by using Tui Extract. For washing clothes, scouring floors, and housework generally. Ash* your jrocer. Don't take any substitute. 8 Make absolutely sure of the ccrrect time by having your watch repaired at the best sho*** in New Zealand. Clarke and Co.. 118 Colombo street. English watches tv aned. 4s: mainsprings. 3s 6d; Waterbury'.*. 2s 6d. Clarke and Co.'s wedding and engagement rings copied, but not equalled, by all the leading shops in N#w Zealand. "S. Clarke and Co., 148 Colombo street.—(Advt.) The life of a popular song is not dependent upon its musical merits so much as upon a catchiness of phrase, whicli appeals to a tickle-minded public, consequently fhe vogue of such it production is uncertain and shortlived, and "ia-ia-ra-bocm-de-ay" and "I lJon't Want to Play in your Yard" sink uuick.y into oblivion, which will never be tlie fate of the "Sonata Pathetique" or the ■"Li.d.r Ohne Worte." It is just the.same witn medicinal compounds. The cheap, catch-penny medicaments, which are sown broadcast through the country, are shortlived because they possess no intrinsic merits - . Lane's Creasoted Emulsion, however, is a classic which only requires to be known to find an abiding place in all households. This is proved by the unsolicited testimonials which the proprietor is continually receiving,'as witness the following: —"•'Eden street, Oamaru. 12th June. 1900. Mr E. G. Lane, Chemist and Druggist. Dear Sir, —I have great pleasure in adding my testimony concerning the value of your 'Creasoted Emulsion of Cod Liver Oil,' which I have regularly used for some months. I was unfortunately very* susceptible to colds, which often compelled mc to be absent from business, and was recommended by a local medico to take your Emulsion. As a result my general health is much improved, my appetite is about 50. per cent, better, and I have increased several pounds in -weight, and am now heavier than I have ever been. I find I am better able to throw off a cold. As you know this letter is entirely unsolicited, and, if it is of any use to you, please consider yourself at liberty to use it, for I believe your Kmul.i.n is of great value to any who suffer from chronic colds, or who readily take severe co! 3. that weaken tlie system, and make life a little less pleasant than it might otherwise be.—Yours, sincerely. R. Milligan (of Milligan and Bond>." 3

THE MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY. In a letter to a Christekurch resident, Mr Coleridge Farr states that it is hoped to establish the proposed magnetic observatory in Christchuroh shortly. It is unfortunate that it has not already oeen established, because the Antarctic expedition, which is shortly to leave London, would probably hare made New Zealand its base of operations, "whereas it is now the inten- '■ tion to proceed from Melbourne. THE PARIS~EXHIBITION. According to "M.A.P." the Paris Exposition, on the whole, has been an enormous success. Some £40,000 has been lost by the speculators in tickets, but. after all. that journal asks, what is that in comparison with the millions which must have been left in Paris during an exposition which has been visited by 50.000,000 of human beings. But Paris, all the same, breathes a certain sigh of relief that it is freed from the exposition, and that for the moment her hotels will have reasonable prices; that it will ones more be possible to gee si meal in a quod restaurant without having the fortune of a son-in-law of a Chicago millionaire. A NOVEL WEDDING GIFT. When the daughter of Mr Souverin. the well-known editor and publisher of the "Novoe Yremya," in St. Petersburg, was married to Mr Miusoiedoff-Ivanoff, the son of tha Minister of Ways and Communications, recently, h.?r father made arrangements whereby his daughter shall enjoy henceforth and for always t!i? daily profits of one of the advertising pages of the "Novoe' Vremya." This, it is estimated, will mean over £30G0 a year. THE PRICE OF MEAT. A meeting of the Master Butehc-rs' Association was held at the Clarendon Hotel last evening, a representative number of the trade being present, and Mr J. Forrester presided. It was unanimously decided that owing to tile continuous high rates ruling for stock and short supplies of both fat sheep and cattle, the retail cash prices of meat b? increased a halfpenny per lb from and after Thursday, the 24th i'nst. THE QUEEN AND LORD ROBERTS. Before Lord Roberts went out to taks command of the forces in South Africa the Queen sent for him to Windsor. I:i saying •'Goodbye." hsr Majesty, a London papsr says, took hold of both Lord Roberta's hands, and, with tears in her eyes, said: "God-be with you. Lord Rcberts. and with all my brave men fighting for mc. Pleaso tell allmy soldiers-how I feel their loyalty and love. Duty will be done, I know, by you and all." "Madame," steadily replied Lord Roberts, "many thousands of soldiers in England, who have perhaps only seen their Queen, would willingly die for her. I have not only seen, but know mv Queen; how much more then would I lay down my life for one whom to know is to honour and to love?" LIEUTENANT ~HOBSON DYING. The famous Hobson, who commanded the collier Merrimac, which he sank in the entrance at Santiago Harbour under the fira of the forts in an attempt to bottle up Cervera's fleet? was reported, when the English mail left, to be dying from typhoid fever in the Presbyterian" Hospital in New Yor*k. Admiral Cervera .sent the following telegram to the gallant officer through a third party :— 'I am greatly afflicted to learn oi the valiant Hobson's state of health. I am praying God to restore him to health, and if he dies to receive him into His ParaTHE QUEEN AND THE FIELD HOSPITALS. Nothing (says a "Free Lance' 'waiter) lias distressed the. Queen more than the ieports with regard to the inefficiency of the field hospitals in South Africa, and I am enabled to say that her" Majesty has given private instructions thjit in all "cases « here help is needed she will be responsible for the money 'necessary. h\ view of the enquiry into the hospital management, it would have been impossible for.our Ruler openly to declare this great kindness of hers;and, indeed, even now euch succour is afforded in the most quiet way. I need scarcely say that the prime mover in tarrying out the Queen's botinty is that gracious lady. Princess Christian of .Schleswig-Holstein. the death of whose gallant son has added another chaplet of glory to the regiment to which he belonged. His charger, by the way, is now at Cumberland Lodge, and wiU never be ridden again. LIQUID REFRESHMENT AT THE FRONT. Mr Rudyard Kipling, being asked by a temperance apostle for his experience in South Africa, wrote:—"Sir, —ln reply to yours, so far as I could see in South Africa, it did not much matter what sort of spirits a man fancied, beeaus.e there was not th* least danger of his getting more than was good for him. On the other hand, men who could do without liquid, who did not fancy that they needed to flood their h> sides every two or three hours, got on better than men who, through mere physical incontinence and carelessness, were always sucking at their waterbottles. In this, as in all things, yie man who is temperate, in the full sense of the word Survives." THE LONGEST SERMON. The longest sermon on record was to bs preached at Kastport (Maine) on Sunday. November 25th (according to a telegram in the "Daily Mail'). The sermon will consist of one week/s newspaper reports of the suffering, shame.' sin, and crime caused through intemperance. The reports will be pasted on to paper strips made into a hng<? roll, and as the roll is unwound extracts will be read by the pastor, who will make comments on special cases, while several attendants carry the end through the church and into the street, where they will wind it up and deposit it in a carriage. It will then bo driven to the city library, where if will be solemnly placed on Exhibition as an object le*son. showing tbe misery caused by drink." THE RE*COr"d REIGN. Queen Victoria during her lifetime has seen the entire world transformed. On the day of her birth, May 24th, 1819, the first steamboat which ever crossed the Atlantic or any other ocean started from Savannah to Liverpool, making the voyage in twentvsix days. The same distance is now made in less than six. She was six years of age whsn the first railway train in the \vurld started to carry passengers. She was 18 years of age. and had just ascended the throne, when the Morse system of telegraphy was first patented. Thirty-nine years of her life had passed; when the first cable was laid under the Atlantic. Fifty-six years of" it expired before the n'rst telepkons went into practical operation. At the time of her birth the tramp of Bonaparte's armies had just ceased to shake the world, and Bonapart? himself was a prisoner on the British island in the South Atlantic- She has seen every tlm.ne in Europe ..vacated many times. She has .«een her own country transformed, politically, from an oligarchy," in which only one out of fifty of the population was permitted to vote, into a democracy in which the voters numbered on* out of six of the inhabitants.