NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XX, Issue 2922, 12 September 1872, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A meeting of the bricklayers of Christchurch will be held this evening, at the old Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street. We are informed by Mr J. Brown, fanner, Kaiapoi Island, that yesterday he saw four rooks in the neighbourhood of his farm. We are desired to remind the members of the Kaiapoi Boating Club that the adjourned annual general meeting will be held this evening. We would again remind our readers that the Lyttelton Choral Society will gives its first concert this evening, in the Colonist Hall. In the Resident Magistrate's Court at Christchurch, on Wednesday, before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M., James Bagley, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 10a. The Nebraska, with the San Francisco mail, was due at Auckland on the 9th. Her latest dates should be to August 14th, or twelve days later than the last news vice Suez. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Kaiapoi Borough Council on Tuesday evening last was postponed till the following evening, owing to there not being a quorum of members present. At a meeting of the journeymen bootmakers held last evening, in the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street, a committee was elected for the purpose of drawing up a price list for the guidance of the trade, to report to a general meeting of the bootmakers, to be held shortly. His Worship the Mayor (H. Sawtell, Esq.) will declare the result of the election for the vacant seats in the City Council, caused by the retirement by rotation of Cre. Hart) Bishop, and Calvert, this day, at noon, at the City Council Chambers. The annual meeting of the Christchurch Cricket Club for the reception of the report of the past year and the election of officers, will be held at Coker's Hotel, on Saturday evening next. The usual weekly meeting of the Christchurch Mutual Improvement Association will be held to-morrow evening in the vestry of the Durham street church, when the Rev. A. R. Fitchett, president of the association, will deliver an address on " Spectrum Analysis." The performance on behalf of the Widow and Orphans Fund of the Ancient Order of Foresters Jwill take place this evening, at the Canterbury Music Hall. The pieces selected are " Civilisation," and the farce of "TheTwoPolts." A meeting of the friends of the Rev. E. Bailey will be held this evening in Spensley's Hall, for th 6 purpose of deciding upon steps to be taken to secure his return to Christchurch. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new "Wesleyan Church at Springston, will take place to-day, at 11 a.m., when it will be laid by Mr F. J. Garrick. Addresses will be delivered by various ministers and others, and in the afternoon a gift auction in aid of the building fund will take place, Mr H. E. Alport, having consented to act as auctioneer on the occasion. An entertainment in continuation of the series now in course of being given at St Michael's schoolroom, will take place this evening. The programme which appears in another part of the paper promises a very good evening's entertainment, and should the weather prove fine we anticipate a good attendance. An agitation is on foot in Christchurch to establish a Madrigal and Glee Society, for the practice and rendering of glees, part songs, and madrigals. Those who hare heard some of Dγ Ames , or Callcott's compositions, will agree with us that a society such as that contemplated would be enabled to give concerts of the most popular kind. At present everything is in embryo, but we hope shortly to be in a position to state that such a society has commenced operations.

The usual monthly meeting of the teachers and committee of the Durham street Wesleyan Sabbath school, was held last evening in the large vestry room. Mr Munnings, the superintendent of the school presided. There was a very numerous attendance. In addition to the transaction of the usual business, a committee in connection with the erection of the new schoolroom, was formed, consisting of Messrs Martin, Palmer, Harrington, Ballantyne, Mouldey, and Greennp, with power to add to their number, to report at the next meeting of teachers, the meeting terminated with prayer,

We understand that a petition ie in course of signature to secure a stopping place or siding on the Northern railway, to accommodate the residents at the Church Bush and Flaxton. It would prove convenient to a great number of persons to have thia siding made, and we hope, therefore, the Government will grant the prayer of the petition. Colonel Grant, the African explorer, has published an interesting letter regarding Dγ Livingstone, in which he says the underground village, the Doctor is about to explore is a natural passage or tunnel of six miles in length, running beneath the Lufigi River, at the south-east corner of the Tanganyika Lake, between the countries of Luwemba and Marungu of the maps. His (Colouel Grant's) African journal contains the following regarding this passage :—" May 10, 1563. — While riding along last night on our camels' Manna told mc of a tunnel made by God> running north and south between Loowamba and Maroongoo, two months' march from Unyanyembe, which took him and the large caravan of Arab Hamees from sunrise till noon to march through itIt was as broad aa ' from that white stone to the back hill'—a distance I judged to be four hundred yards. Over this tunnel, an unfordable river, with rocky cliff sides (pointing to the rocks around us while we travelled), runs at right angles to the Tanganyika Lake. No boats, even if there were any there, could land on either side (meauing that the river channel was a rent in the monntains of rock). As to the height of the tunnel, this camel with mc moanted could march easily through it, and even then could not reach its top. No water comes through, but may be had if a hole be made in the sand. When inside, it is not as clear as day ; but once in, there is quite sufficient light throughout its whole length. Colonel Grant, in his letter, suggests that Lieutenant Dawson should be requested to utilise the funds subscribed for the Livingstone Search Expedition in exploring the southern boundaries of the Victoria Nyanza. On September 9 the ceremony of opening the West Eyreton school took place, and the event was celebrated by a tea party. Marmaduke Dixon, Esq., the chairman of local committee, had, with his usual good nature, invited the Cust and Eyreton schools with their friends, and the result was a large gathering. As the numerous conveyances came within about a mile of the school they were met by Mrs Dixon, who furnished each school with handsome banners and flags bearing appropriate mottoes. When all had arrived they were formed into procession, and marched to the school, singing hymns, Mrs Dixon leading. On arriving there the children's eyes were gladdened by visions of good things too numerous too mention, which the liberality of Mrs Dixon> Mrs Higgins, and other friends had provided, and after an appropriate speech from Mr Dixon and rounds of cheers for Mr and Mrs Dixon, visitors, &c, the important business of eating and drinking began, and in spite of every endeavor it was found impossible to exhaust the supply of good things. The room (which is a credit to the district) was decorated with flags, and presented a very animated appearance. There were about 200 children and 100 adults present, and the feast concluded with scrambles by the children for showers of nuts, cakes, and lollies, which Mr Dixon rained amongst them. As the day was now far spent, and many of the visitors had come eleven or twelve miles, preparations for returning were made, and the road soon presented quite a lively appearance as the numerous carriages and other vehicles drove past. On passing Mr Dixon's house, the Eyreton visitors halted their carriages, and gave Mrs Dixon three hearty cheers, which were gracefully acknowledged by that lady, and a safe return wound up a most pleasant day. The Auckland correspondent of the Daily limes writes :—" It will be as well to familiarise yourselves in the Sooth with the idea that you cannot for ever enjoy without diepute the exclusive use of the Colonial Land Eevenue, which has so long poured its hundreds of thousands into your pockets, and relieved you from the heavy pressure of personal taxation to which people are subject here for education, roads, and all kinds of purposes. It is impossible they can look at your University, High School,, Road Board grants, wide-spread system of public education, benevolent'aids and high roads, maintained from this revenue, while they will be absolutely helpless now that the whole of the Customs Revenue is absorbed by the General Government. The latest view I have heard is that the Provincial loans (since consolidated) should be charged to each-pro-vince against the Land Revenue of those that have any, and against the Customs Revenue of those that have not. Thus— taking Otago and Canterbury only—whose Provincial loans are roughly estimated at £1,500,000, at least £80,000 might be released from the Colonial Revenue, and this would enable the General Government to appropriate the Stamp duties to the provinces. Of course this is the one idea, expressed in a different way, and you will call it spoliation ; but people here maintain that the spoliation has been on the other side. They point to the loss of their Land Revenue by giving Maoris a power to sell their own lands —a just law enough, but one which entirely altered their position toward the South Island—and *he agreement made nnder a different condition of affairs. Again, it is argued that your representatives have taken, and still take, a leading part in making a common purse and imposing common taxation under the new great public works scheme, by which the Customs Revenue has been absorbed, and that public works loans ought from*[their nature to be a'first charge on the Land Revenue. If referred to your share of the cost of Maori wars, they will charge your representatives with, being the staunch upholders of what was then called British supremacy, and declare they lost more in Maori trade than they gained in military expenditure. They point to the Opotiki district for example, where twelve threshing machines were owned by the Maoris when war was begun, and the district turned into a desert. They, point also to many a grave, and show that they suffered alone in person, but equally with you in purse. Finally, they state the original land arrangement of 1856 was not a compact with them, but forced by a Southern majority on their members, who were almost unanimously against it. As your correspondent, it is no part of my duty to express opinions, but I wish to let you know fully what is said and thought here on a matter daily growing into prominence, and sure, before long, to be forced by financial neceeBity to tbe fxpnt,

Under the heading " Conscience at Wo v » the Wanganui Herald says :_«« a f ew i, individuals at New Plymouth are signi""* 1 memorial against the construction of way from that place to the Waitftra." With reference to Dγ Livingstone's fi ndGr the Carnarvon Herald says that Mr Sta ley, the special representative of tho jy"" York Herald, is a young Welshman, *Z was born thirty-two years ago in the'to of Denbigh. His mother is alive and welW the present time, and keeps the public-hou* known as the " Cross Foxes," St. Asa T » Stanley , ' is not the real name of the eminent explorer, but John Thomas. He adopted the name of Stanley before embarking upo u daring expedition, aud doubtless he had some special reasons for doing so. This youth was brought up in poverty, and under the frown of unfavorable worldly circumstances, Hk the majority of the children of and genius. He emigrated to America, where he became one of the reporters of the New York Herald. Mr Gordon Bennett discovered that he was an extraordinary fflail and appointed him as the representative of his journal with the Abyssinian Expedtti on He performed his work with so much satisfaction that he was selected to conduct the present romantic search. After- returning from Abyssinia, he paid a visit to his mother in Wales ; and we believe that neither Dick Shon Dafyddism nor Yankeeism has tar* nished his Celtic disposition. On Tuesday evening last a meeting of Presbyterians, convened by public advertieement, to take into consideration tho propriety of erecting a Presbyterian Church, was held in the Mount Grey schoolroom, and was largely attended. The Rev A. f Douglas, of Christclvurch, commenced the proceedings by Divine ecrvice. Thereafter a public meeting was held, when tho consideration of a suitable site for tho new church was taken up. Messrs Ilanua, Wil. son, and Young severally offered sections for the purpose. There was also an acre offered by Mr Gawith of Wellington. Mr Gawith'g section was declined with thanks, on the ground that the land was liable to be flooded Among the sections proposed, that cl Mr Young was, after discussion, unanimously selected as being most convenient fortiie residents, both of the Downs and Saltwater Creek. The thanks of the meeting tr«e duly given to all the gentlemen who had jq" kindly consented to provide land for the , purpose. Thereafter, a subscription list w« drawn up, headed by Mr Cameron, Saltwater Creek, and almost every individual in thlr ' room subscribed their names, and it was found at the cloee that the sum of £68 wat promised. The committee made arrange* ■ ments for proceeding with the subscription list, and also for raising the requisite salary i for the minister who, owing to the good offices of the associations, is expected in two or three weeks. A most pleasant and h&i monious meeting was brought to a dose about ten o'clock, by the rev. chairman pro ' nouncing the Benediction. ■ ■ ■ . • , ■ . l ■>.:■ lit The annual meeting of the Lincoln "| Farmers' Club took place on after the fair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The following, gentlemen were then ballotted for, and duly elected members of the club:—W. Collins, E. Townshend, J. Gebbie, and D. Maydwcll. The hon sec then proceeded to read the annual report and balance eheefc of the club, which ran as follows :—". In. laying before the members the first annual balance of the club, I have to congratulate them on the success which has attended its operations. At the present time it numbers sixty-three members, not including the gentlemen to be balloted for and proposed ns member! to-day. During the past year the total amount received from subscriptions, &c,, has been £30 Is, leaving only £2 in arrears duo by.; members. The expenditure, including tftp r years' rent of the club room paid in advance, / amounts to £26 8s 9d, which leaves a balance to the credit of the club of £3 139 3d. Singe its inauguration, six most able and practical ~ papers have been read by its members, vie., :; "The breed and management of sheep/by.i; the President; "Whether thick or thin corn' sowing is best adapted for Canterbury," by the Vice-President; " New Zealand agricol* ture as compared with. English, ,, by Mr#♦>> La wry ; "The influence of, trees on climate," by Mr J. Gammack ; "On the eystem of farming best adapted under existing circumstances to the province" \ij Mr J. N. Tosswill; and on " The desirability,, of establishing an agricultural training school in this province," by Mr Perryman., Several of these valuable and ihteresVini papers have been reprinted in the Auefcra* Han and other journals, showing how highly they are appreciated. Through tbie club, a Corn Exchange in Christchurch has been set on foot, and it is to be hopedtbet by its endeavors it will be instrumental in causing a line of railway to be constructed through the centres of the Springs and Lift' . coin dietrict. The above is but an imp** , " feet resume ,of what has been done bytfye Club, but will give some idea of theueefolrieii of the institution, and it is a well known fact that it is due to similar societies the* agriculture has attained such a high state d perfection in the home country. Therepoi* was adopted, and the meeting proceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year. Tbe,fol* ? lowing is the result of the election :~Preii* dent, Mr A. C. Knight, M.P.C.; vice-prefi-j dent, Rev. A. P. O'Callaghan ; treasurer *n< l secretary, Mr J. S, Bruce, OJL ; auditor, : p H. C. Jacobson ; committee, Mesers A. Dawson, G. DaitoD, D. Dunn, J. Gammacif, 'W >' Goodwin, E. H. Hudson, J. Haydon, r %f I Lawrey, P. Lawrey, John Murray. W. », Perryman, G. Smith, J. N. Tosswill, B. Wright, H. White, W. B. Andrews, J. J. Herrick, W. Minchin, and H. ' ' l The following gentlemen were then proposed to be ballotted for next meeting, Tie-, Mesere > J. Maskrey, and J. Walls. : Votes of tbeake were carried to the officers for their scrncce during the past year. It was resolved tft?* the hon. sec. be requested to write to tbe Government, and inform them that the proposed Lincoln Show will take place on tne sth of November, and as arrangement* *» now being made, to ask what contribnttOS the Government are willing to give. It * resolved that Messrs Knight, O'Callaghan,* „ Wrifeht, J. N. Tosswill, J. Gebbie,, w. Lawrey, W. H. Perryman, and G. e«" mack, be appointed to draw up » * of rules, and carry out preliminaries, for the November show—to report ne* monthly meeting. It was resolved that American Agriculturist be taken by club for the ensuing year. The next wee ing of the club will take place on the Tuesday in October, when all matters co • nected with the show on the sth of NoTea* bex will be folly discussed,

With' Kference-mbe new Catholic paper Jit to * started in Dunedin, mentioned Ir telegrams the other day, the Daily 2 M —Wβ understand that Mr listed by some of the Roman S£ili«of Danedimi. taking acfcve steps S the formation of a company havxng for t, obiect the issue of a weekly paper in the £man Catholic interest, to be entitled the jfew Zealand Tablet. No 2 Company C.R.V. was inspected last roninir by Colonel Packe. The attendance S extremely good, no member being absent Stout leave. The various movements nrdered were very fairly executed, and at the close of the drill Colonel Packe commented Captain Thomson and the members Tdob the good appearance of the company, King them some sound advice as to the necessity for careful attention to drill. He pointed out the defects which he had observed, and expressed his confidence that a little attention would remedy them. The company subsequently met together, and it was agreed that a dinner should shortly take place among the members and their friends. The polling on the question of forming Kaiapoi into an educational district takes place to-day, at the Borough Council Chamber. The election will be conducted by the Mayor, from 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. The polling j for nine members of the school committee is to take place at the same time. The auditors, we understand, viz., Messrs J. Birch and J. Lovrthian Wilßon are already elected, pending the result of the aye and no question, as regards the district. Considerable interest appears to be taken in the affair thronghont the district. The names of the gentlemen nominated, from which the committee will be elected, are—the Revs. W. W. Willdck, W. McGregor, and B. Bavin, Messrs G. L. Mellish, J. Beswick, Dre Dudley and Trevor. S. Johneton, T. Pashby, Isaac Wilson, B. W. Smith, G. H. Blackwell, G. Weston, J. W. Bllen, B. Ellis, E. Bate, Hugh Anderson, B.S.Bean, C. Fairweather, A. Weston, R. 0. Bose, J. Sims, W. Dudson, D. Heeney, F. 8. Fttnston, C. Young, B. A. Lock, E. Bevell, T. Paroham, and Joseph Clark. The usual monthly meeting of the committee of the Literary Institute was held last night at half-past seven. Present—Mr Pratt (in the chair), Dγ Turnbull, Messrs HsIJ/lnwood, Hesketh, Bird, and the hon. secretary. The minutes of last meeting was read and confirmed, and the treasurer's report submitted, from which it appeared that subscriptions to the amount of £12 2s 6d, had been received for the past month, being the exact sum taken in the corresponding month last year. A balance of £7 3s 8d in favor of the Institute was reported after meeting the following accounts, viz. : —Gas, £4 3s 10d; A. Stewart. £1 12s; Otago Daily Times, 15s ; Cuff and Graham, 13s 6d; Inwood and Bilton, £2 ; E. Stanford, £46 10s 7d. Tenders for the binding of books and periodicals -were then considered, when that of Messrs Inwood and Bilton was accepted. The durability of adding a smoking room to the building was then discussed. Mr W. Jonee having previously offered £15 towards tie of one. This generous offer was cordiaHy accepted, and the Secretary was instructed to open a subscription list to BDpplement the same, which was immediately done, and nearly half the estimated cost of the,erection, including Mr Jones' £15, was instantly subscribed. The following donation of books was reported, viz., from Mr J/lWard, Sehillers' works, 10 volumes, "Herder," 16 volumes, all. in German and in English; Sir J. Macintosh's "Defence of the French Revolution," 1 volume ; J. Bostock's "Elementary System of Physiology," 1 volume ; Thierry's " History of the Conquest of England by the Normans," 1 volume all of which the committee desires to acknowledge with thanks. The: Grey River Argus gives the following account of. the demonstration which took place at Greymouth on the receipt of the news of - the defeat of the Ministry :—" But for the apparent imminence of. an accident to the Sarah and Mary after she left the port, there wonld have been but one topic of conversation in Greymouth yesterday —the 'regretted defeat of the Ministry. 'Unification' was at as great a discount as WesUand Gold-mining Company's shares were a few weeks ago, and, in the estimation of a majority, the member for the Hokitika district was 'much below par. . The expressed estimate of the member for the Buller district would not bear quotation. The reason for this mterest being taken in the action of two members who are not members for lie Grey district was due, no doubt, to the unanimity on certain matters which has ttcently existed between the several constituencies on the West Coast. Otherwise, the comments passed, end subsequent proeeedingsmight be considered an impertinence on the part of the population of Greymouth. Towards evening there .was an incident assotiited with this public feeling which drew fcrth a crowd into "the streets, and much •pplaose and laughter from the crowd. While fltt witches were walking round the cauldron in fee play of 'Macbeth' at the .Volunteer H»B> the brass band withdrew from the builds k&and accompanied round the streets two Spue* quite as weird-looking as any witches —tie said figures, we are reliably informed, king stuff ed with straw. The'figures in were surrounded by torch-bearers. >nd accompanied through a Gorge fog which considerably enhanced their picturesqueness, •tong Mawhera Quay, as far as the beginning •"4 the probable end, of the road and railway *°*ke. Here a large crowd very soon as■eabled, and upon a spot which was really, technically, beyond the boundaries of «c town and municipal bye-laws, the af ore•sd figures were set on fire. They burnt and smelt abominably, yet the crowd and laughed immoderately, espe®a% as each figure fell from the halter by which it was suspended. The spectacle *eaed, however, to cause also much pain to spectators, for they occasionally groaned and, on the mention of the names of . ;*e two members of the House of Representatives, they groaned three times in succes- •* o ° after each name. There was likewise

c * erio g—-three cheers being given for the **ier"for the district, and three times *™»fcr 'The Fox Ministry' of the past. Be *kd; by the band, the crowd marched *>*Otfce street from the scene of execution, ** Pw&«t order being preserved as there was good humor. This burning of effigies *«* first that has happened in Greymouth, Perfection in details indicated the ese ' lCe of a master-hand in the arrangeo£ the preliminaries. The representaTe » whose names were mentioned were WlQ'Coiwr and. White,"

The- Dtraedin -Evening Star contains the following telegram:—"Wellington, Sept. 9, 255 p.m.—At a Maori dinner on Saturday* fifty were present, including Wi Parata, Takamoana, and Katene, M.H.R. The speakers unanimously approved of the change of Ministry, and advocated the abolition of the Native Land Court. Emissaries were sent to-day through the North Island with news of the defeat of the Ministry and the report of the meeting." At the general meeting of the Christcburch Musical Society on Tuesday evening, the Dean of Christchurch was elected president; Mr Hamilton, vice-president; Mr E. Davis, librarian ; Mr A. Ollivicr, secretary ; Mr A. Carrick, treasurer ; and Messrs J. Thomson, Spensley, T. Lee, Loughnan, and Dr Campbell, committeemen. The society appeared from the report to be in a good position, and hopes were expressed that the increased energy imported into the committee by the appointment of new members might tend to still greater success in the future. We understand that Mr Gaul, photographer, has received a commission to execute large size photographs of all the former chairmen of the City Council, and also the Mayors who have filled that office since the establishment of Municipal Institutions, and that the portraits, when completed, will be placed in the City Council Chamber. Mr Gaul has also been entrusted with the preparation of the large frame of portraits, comprising the Mayor, City Councillors, and officers of the Council, which it is the annual custom to have taken. From Mr Gaul's high professional reputation, no donbt these pictures will be worthy of the occasion. The Rev A. F. Douglas delivered a lecture last evening at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church on the news received by the mail. He commenced by giving a resume of the business transacted in the assemblies of the | Free Church and Establish Church in Edinbnrgh. He also adverted to the decease of the Rev Dγ Norman McLeod, giving a short biographical sketch of that talented writer, and pointing out that he had made his mark upon the present generation. After adverting to the religious intelligence from the continent of Europe brought by the mail the rev. gentleman concluded a very interesting lecture. In addition to the many and varied attractions of the bazaar of the Mendelssohn Society, which will open in the Music Hall on Monday next, we understand "that Dγ Powell has kindly promised to exhibit his microscopes, which are remarkably perfect instruments, and will doubtless afford great amusement to those patronising the bazaar. What might have proved a very serious accident occurred on the Island, Kaiapoi, yesterday morning. It appears that Mr Lilly of Rangiora, accompanied by his daughters and Mr Pridgcan, was driving a buggy to town, when it was noticed that one of the planks of the culvert had broken away on the driving side, leaving a gap. Mr Lilly pulled the horse to one side to avoid this, when the horse was precipitated into the water beneath, the plank having gone on both sides. Fortunately the horse was a very quiet one and did not kick, or the consequences to the occupants of the buggy might have been very serious. The shafts of the buggy were broken, but beyond this no further damage was done. Surely it is high time the Road Board took steps to prevent the repetition of such accidents as these. As already stated in our columns by telegraph, a bullock was roasted whole in Invercargill on the occasion of the turning of the first sod of the Mataura Tailway. The Southland Nens describes the performance as follows :—" The process began, we may mention, on the previous evening, when, the requisite mechanism having been arranged, the ehefde cuisine gave the order to 'fire up. . Perhaps before proceeding further it may be as well to explain the mode by which so unwieldy an object as the carcase of a good fat bullock was subjected to the influence of caloric. We shall begin with the kitchen. This was an impromptu edifice of the simplest possible construction —in fact, it consisted of nothingmore than a sod wall, hastily thrown up with a few sheets of iron surmounting it—the whole forming a shelter for the long • ranges, , or fire-places, of which there were two, filled with glowing coke, disposed on either side of the.'spit,' an iron bar, perhaps a couple of inches in diameter, resting at each end on firmly-fixed bearers. The bullock, duly trussed and skewered, being impaled on this, and secured so as not to slip while revolving, was lifted into position, and a winch handle fiitted on one end of the spit enabled an attendant to turn the bulky roast as required. The heavy north wind, unfortunately, defeated to a certain extent the skill of the cook ; .but although the exterior was somewhat scorched in places, full: justice was done to the beef at luncheon, time."

A correspondent sends the New Zealand Herald the following extract from Public Opinion, which, he says, should commend itself to the attention of members of the Assembly when dealing with the Licensing Bill:—" We punish people for being drunk in the public streets and highways, but we do not punish persons who make people drunk. What would be the effect of one section in an Act of Parliament declaring that, if any person -were found drunk in a public house, the owner tf the house should be fined 40s, whether the owner had or had not served liquor to the person so found drunk? Who would care to receive, asks the Law Journal some few pence from a customer on the verge of intoxication at the risk of paying 40s? Undoubtedly no one. Consequently the feat of getting drunk at public houses would become impossible. Suggestions for sobriety are full of hazard, -but we fancy that our suggestions would do more than closing or limited licensing. It has this peculiar advantage, that it would enlist the whole multitude of publicans on the side of temperance, and what project hitherto stated can boast of this element of success V

The following is from the Grejmouth Evening Star— "There happened to be three commercial travellers in Greymonth lastweek, bearing the names of Coote, Coates, and Coate. The similarity of sound in the three names caused no little confusion in one or two quarters. At the hotel at which the three happened to stay for a few days, m order to designate each by a distinguishing description, the first was entered on arrival asT. Coote, being the signification of Traveller Coote ; the second, having given his name in what appeared to be a similar pronunciation, was entered in the hotel journal Taller Coote; end the thml, being of medium stature as compared with the other two, and the manager of the establishment being at a loss for a particular cognomen, he was designated by the name of Te Kooti. A letter was left for the oue making an appointment at four o'clock, which happened to be handed to the gentleman ready to execute an order to auy amount in the dry goods line, an d not until his samples of drugs and chemicals were asked for, of which he had none, was the error explained. On two of the three taking their departure, each asked for his bill at different intervals. The first who bad done seven day's location, and who seemed so pleased with the small amount of his account, bad just expressed himself as fully satisfied with the accommodation and the prices, in assurance of which be fcad pledged hmseli with theland.-

lord in something hot before starting. The second, who had been similarly located for a shorter period soon entered, and was heard referring to his fourteen years' experience, and never during the course of that time did he remember such exorbitance. The mistake was thereupon discovered, and to thediscomfitnre of the first-mentioned, the relative positions of the two men were changed, as was also also another five pound note. The last person seen with them was the driver of the coach, who was enquiring, with way bill in hand, ' Are you two gentlemen the same name.' It is to be hoped, before reaching Hokitika, neither mistook his own identity."