THE METROPOLITAN SUMMER SHOW.

THE WIZARDS TREE OF CAWDOR.

SATISFACTORY ENTRIES

It is scarcely necessary to remmd our readers that the twenty-seventh annual summer show of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Societywill be held at Tahuna Park on Thursday and Friday of this week. As ea^h : ear passes the interest taken :n these exhibitions irfcreas"s, and each yearl}' show has outdistanced in merit and display the preceding ones. After a perusal of the entries appended hereto it is certain tHat the coming show will fully maintain this reputation. The coaiuuttee recogmse3 the interest that the general public take in these exhibitions, and, with a view to catering for the ccmfoit of its patrons, erected last year a ■\ery commodious grand stand, capable of comfortably seating 1000 persons. In front of the stand siopes a well-kept- lawn, which commands an excellent view of all the Bhow grounds, and the moderate charge of la per head entitles visitors and members to the privileges of the lawn and giand stand.

To zdd to tLe attractions of the first day of the Bhow several items have bsen added to the progiamme, in the form of boys' pony races, pony jumpnig and the sheep-dog tnaJ ; and it is pleasing !c stste that the competition in the dog trial class will be exceedingly keen this year. With* these additional attractions it is hoped that a large number of tow .ispeople will be induced to visi* the show on both days — namely, Thursday and Fudjy. Iti the sheep sections the entries in the Roaiaev Marsh and Downs classes, ia particular, are much in advance of those of previous and the competition in <hcse breeds of sheep will be most keen. In tho Kom.iey M«irsh classes, it will be noticed fiom a perusal of the citaloguo 1 v hat a popular hold ihese fclieep have obtained in districts suitable to the breed in New Zealand. The .Downs classes also plainly indicate that the breed is as popular as ever. In the Bordei Leicester, English Leicester, and Lincoln breeds some splendid tpeciuens will be on exhibition the on'y regret bji2i«? that there is not greater competition The merinos entered for the show vnil be much admired by a!!, but tha absence of some of the riomment exhibitors will ba noticed with regret, the severe winter experienced in the districts from which the sheep come being responsible for l«rge sborti'ge of the entries of the merinos, pnd thu3 iodising the total entries of sh«ep as submitted beic-.s.

Cattle show a sight ir.cr^n^e in entries over last year, but competition will this year be more keen than previously, a3 amongst the exhibitors are to ba found some of New Zealand's besi breeders, many of whom have come long distances to compete at the show. The exhibition of draught horsss will probably bj abouti the best seen at Ta-hunn Park, as wellknown breeders and owners from Canterbury to the Bluff have entered their best stock The cariiage, hackney, and pony classes are excellently represented, and veiy keen competition " will ensue. The entries in pigs are bettei than thos- of last year, exhibitors coming long distances to compete, and lh.B names of the breeders who are exhibiting are s, sufficient guarantee that the quality of the exhibits will be quite cflual to former standards of excellence. The implements and machinery (which are now located at tie north-east end of the Park) will prove \ try interesting to farmers and othe;s, and the display of articles pertaining to the tillage of the aoi 1 promises to excel anything that has previously bsen seen on the show ground. Of merchants' tents and snraller exhibits to b: viewed under canvas there aie many, and of interesting variety. Many side-shows and o'her attractions will be found to amuse the youthful visitors to the show.

In the wood-chopping or tree-felling competition there are 14 entrants, and as many of the axemen come from Owaka and Southland districts the competition this year piomises to be exciting. The nders of tbfe buck-jumping horses should give the \ 'sitors to the show full vaiue for the gate money, and tho sheep-dog trial on tho first day of the show will be watched with much interest by the country visitors.

The judging on both days of the show commences at 10 a.m. sharp. The grand parade of stock, leaping matches, high lump, etock- | men's race, boys' pony laces, mid tiee-feliing I ccmpetition3 phoaltl be sufficient to afford i amusement to visitors horn both city and countiy. Friday, 27th iust . will be observed [ as a holiday from noon a-id the committee I trusts that employers will close punctually, to enable thoir employees to be early on the show ground. The Citizens' Band has been engaged to play during the afternoon, and the Dunedin Pipo Band will also be in attendance Special arrangements have been made with the Railway Department for the quick carriage of passengers to the show giound— farx><3, Gd single. Is return; tb.3 price being also charged by tho trams. Special stock trains have tlr.s year been arranged ior, to return promptly all exhibits coming from Tahuna Park. Admission to the show grounds on both days will be Js, children half-price, und, given fine weather, the summer show of 1903 promiseb to be a record one. The following is a comparative statement of the eiitrie3 of stock — 1901 1902. 1901. Sheep 382 280 215 Cattle 123 U6 150 Horses 276 253 261 P.gs .. .. .. 48 32 629 711 674 SCHOOL CO3IMISSIOXEBS. The usual monJi'y meeting of the School Ccmmisbioncrs of Otago was held on ,1k 17th, and was attended by Meseis D. Barron (in the chair), Thomas Mac Gibbon, D. Borne, and V. Dallas Mr Robert Jl'Nab, M.H R., wrote stating that -when tlie Coal Mines Bill was passed through committee be would endeavoui to obtain a clause giving effect to the commisMoners' wishes. — Received, the Hon. Mr Baldcy to be communicated with with referencs tc giving the commissioners the necessary powers to deal with leases instead of the warden. Mr Howorth wrote stating .hat he would report later on regarding the proposed protective works on block XIV, Wendon, aud that the work at Cooper's, section 2, block 11, "Wendon, would be proceeded with immediately. — The County Clerk wrote acknowledging the commissioners' communication granting an additional chain to the river reserve at section 2, block II. — Received, Mr Mac Gibbon and the pecretary were appointed to make further inquiries and deal with the cases of Messrs Bradbury, Alexander, Ancleisonj and Newall \wth reference t<j Uie

protective works at their, various sections it b!ock XIV, Wendon. district.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, lessees of Run 526&, wrote* stating that they could not see their way to undertake protective work at Cattle Flat on the terms proposed by the commissioners, but they were willing to eubsicHse to the extent of onethird, or even one-half, the -estimated cost (£ls) if necessary. —Received; the offer of half-cost (£7 103) to be accepted on the understanding that the company would do all in their power to maintain the work after compietioTi, but not to be responsible for permanent damage or liability in connection therewith. Mr C. H. Howorth, C.E., wrote stating that owing to the advance in the pi ice of labour the cost of proposed work at South Hillend! Cieek wou.d eiceed liis previous estimate by about £150. —Received. The Lsnd Purchase Officer, Wellington, wrote stating that the Minister of Public Works was advised that the construction of the Seaward Bush railway had enhanced the value af section 6, b'.ock IV, and section 1, block V, Toi-Tois, and making a final offer of £120 as compensation. —Received, and offer accepted. G. M. G. MacDoimell, lesseo of section 2 of 1, block XI, North Molyneux district, wiote applying to surrender lease. —Declined. Roderick M'Kenzie, lessee of Runs IG6.\ ar.d 166 d, Woiraki, wrote asking for sanction to ciect some necessary station buildings, and also for approval for the erection of ab-nit &> chaii.o of boundary fencing. —Estimate o{ cost to be supplied. Ths> Sacondary Schools Bill was laid upon the tab'e. —Received. Thomas Little, lessee of Eection 2 of 28, block IV. Otokia, wrote applying, for permission to trans'er to David llcnderaon. —Transfer appro %*od on the usual conditions. A matter of unauthorised cropping on Run 9SLa was considered, and it .was decided that Mrs Moncghan bo informed that, having cropped vh"thout the consent c? the commissioners, she was required to show cause why her leaso should not bs forfeited for this breach of the conditions. The l<~-der of Thoniis M'Cratn for straightening lh" South Ujl'fii'l rorfd for tho sum of £540 was accepted. •• Wil iam Conoe-. lessyo of gootioa 4, b'.ock j VII, wrote staling that he proposed, j electing a cottage at a cost of £Go. —Approved^ 1 V-\ M'K.e.3 wrote submitting plan and estimated rost of house on sections 13 and 16, bock X, "Waikaia district, and requesting the approval of the commissioners. —Approved j accordingly. j Mr J. L. ii'Donalu, the Southland agent, j wrote thivnking the commissioners for having gianlel Inm leave of — R-»coivcd, wnd j leave extended for a- fortnight.

Cawdor Castle, in the County of Nairn, Scotland, possesses _*a peculiar interest us being I connected -.vith some of the most staring c-venta j in the R'l^leiit history of Scotland, which the genius of Shakespeare hpa immortalised in the tragedy ci '" Macbeth.' 'j'he siliiutio.: of the castle is exticuie'y lomantic. as it tttunds on » height ovpilooking the River C«,.cier, a-id comn'ttnda a w..ie tract of wrcdLiiid country, boidersn Oil the norl-h by inn l,'o.u\ F.rth. No mansion has the stamp of ho^ry uvu.qui'.y r-.ore ck-a»iy repressed upon it. It? archflc-caire is ri'tle anil simple, bn; srtro.'ig snil tubiianlial; a portion of it, which is wiM'oul date, showa the trnces of-voiy gieat <cc, and tb?.most modern piitt boars the icjcrijit-Toa, 1510 K.V." It has a moat and drawbridge, and has evidently been ir> the esur'y timc3 a, pi see o! greSi importance. It 3 origin is the subjj-t of a strange legend, which has b?2.-i .mp'sct'y believed in for many ceruuries, ned to rhr trulh of which two substantial witnesses still remain. It is said that the feur-der of Uawdcr. Castle wa3 friendly wild an aged lv.an who | POSSESSED POWERS OF DIVIN \/I ICX AXD "JAGIC. He na> told by the s-^cr to !oa;l an a? 5 with the go!d which he propone* to expend on (he work o! Greeting the casl'e, to to', low wherever the ass shcu.u lead, uml to co.T.m^nce bu.ldaig the edifice wherever the ass fhoa'd stop. The spot wheie (he .in.ma! s'o^ped wa-< sa :v huwtJiOrn trre in a remote part of the forest, and dose to the batiks cf the PaldT River. Hers, accordingly, were the foundations of the castle ; a.d; aid n order to make sr.re of whatever mystical advantage the hawthorn might po^seaa, it aas carefully built into the cntral chamber oi the lower storey of the castle The»e it utill stands with its roots in the e.^rtb, arid it 3 stem r:sing through the flooring. li n lrgarded ua the pallad-um of the fam.ly, and it is sa:d that the fortunes of the house vi!l flourish en long a^ tlie troe 'rruams. Certn^n it n that the Campbell 1] of C'^wdor have had f^v\er vicissitudes than fall to the lot of most old families, and the present pioprietor of the castle xiul head of the family, the Eprl of C^wdor, is the lineal descendant of the thanns -\.ho kavr- rossessed Ca«dor since the dowiif.ill of MVbDih. As a further silent witness to the trut'i o' the legend, the coffer which is raid tr> 1-nvc contained the i?o!d upon the rss's luc!: stands besido the tree. Cawdor i". v.-Hl: mvc 1 ' more probability tlian Olaini°, cl.um»fl pk th? r.cene of the murder of Duncsir; l>y Macbeth. It is situated! in Marb^th's own con.itrv. us lie was Governor of Moiay aT>d Ros=. A portion Of Duncan's coat-of-mail is pressrvfd at thtf castle, and the chamber .s shown in which he w:ib murdered, with the recces cut out of the thickness cf tho wall in which the Kiug'3 Fsrvant hid himself during ths perpetration cf the act.— From the Penny Magazine.

There were only 200 horses in Australia in tlie year 1800; now there are more than 2.0C0,000.

According to a report sent to the Auckland Star by its correspondent at Riiotonga, Colonel Gudgeon, the Rt-sidcnt Commissioner in the Cook group, lias been making inquiries from fruit fe'n.ppe." »>ncl trader, ao to whether they would \>i in favour of a 14- dayn' servic-i from Rarctor.ga alternately to Wellington and Auckland. The opinion generally expres-"d is that a monthly service is sufficient for the present needs of the inlands, with Auckland as the solo port. If, however, a protective duty in favour of Cook Island fruit were imoosed by the New Zealand Government, within 12 rponths' timo sufficient hananis could bo grown to eupji'y a fortnightly s'rvice with Wellington as one of the ports of call. So long as tho fruitgrowers ha\o to eojnpete with Fiji, so long do they foc-1 indisposed fco increase thoir output.

Advice ao Mothers. — Are you broken in your rest by a sick cluM suffering with tho pain of cutting teeth f Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of Mrs Winslow's Soothixg Syrup. It will relieve the poor Bufferer immediately. It is pir*ect'y ha-rr.'rw arid pleasant io t«3'.rf, it -i natrzt», quiet sleep, by relieving Hie child from paiu, and the little cherub awakes " as bright as a, button." It soothes the child, it softens th« gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates .ho bowels, and ia tho best-known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Mr 3 Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold by lt«<iicine d#a.l«ia everywhere,