NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2459, 23 June 1873, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

As the Canterbury Museum will be again open to the public to-day, a short notice of the various changes which have been effected during the time it has been closed may not be uninteresting. On Saturday, by the kind permission of Dr Haast, we were allowed to inspect the various additions and alterations which have been made. To begin with the lower room, we noticed that the whole of the southern side has been devoted to skeletons of the Dinornis and Pαlajfteryx. Six of these appear in the Museum for the first time; and are Doticeable. as comprising two specimens, very remarkable for their small size : the one belonging to the former and the other to the latter family. There are, besides, the skeletons of an emu and ostrich, placed in this group for the purpose of comparison. The "principal change in this room, however, is the erection of a large double case, by which additional room has been gained for New Zealand and Australian birds. There are now three large cases filled with New Zealand birds, two are set apart to Australian ones, one of which is filled exclusively with parrots. A group of lyre birds also forms au interesting feature of one of the cases. To Europe two large cases are devoted; to America one; and to Asia and Africa one. Among the American collection is a remarkably fine group of humming birds. We also noticed that the collection of New Zealand eggs has received large additions. We next come to the lower room in the new building, which will be opened to the public for the first time to-day. This part of the Museum it is proposed to devote entirely to skeletons, but owing to the want of space, has, for the time being, to be partly given up to other purposes. Besides a number of recent skeletons, we find here a collection of seals, amongst which a large Greenland one is very conspicuous. Fronting the en. trance, there is a collection of reptiles, stuffed and in spirits of wine. Next we come to three cases devoted to mammals, amongst which a Tasmanian tiger

preying upon a wallabi, cannotfailto attract notice. Next in order are several cases filled chiefly with skulls, representing different races. The remaining portion of the case is filled with znoa bones, of all the species, and which will, no doubt, form a striking feature of our Museum, for no such collection can be seen in any similar institution in the World. All known species of the moa are represented and each bone will be properly numbered so as to be compared with the articulated skeletons in the other room. In this part of the building will also be found three show cases devoted to insects, one containing a large type collection of European and foreign beetles, and another of European and foreign butterflys. Another alteration which has been effected during the last fortnight has been to bring all the mineral collections together, in the up-stairs gallery, and the fossils have been re-arranged according to formation. Altogether, the changes which have been made are such as to render the Museum still more attractive than it has hitherto been to the general public.

A meeting of the Kaiapoi Mutual Improvement Association was held on Friday last. Twelve members were present, the Rev BBavin, president, in the chair. It was resolved that the Rev A. R. Fitchett be requested to postpone his lecture till Thursday week, as other meetings were being held in the town next Thursday. Mr Pinching then read a paper on diphtheria, giving a

lucid description of the symptoms and progress of the disease, the way in which patients should be treated, and the necessity for prompt steps being taken to check it in its early stages. The paper was an interesting one, and at its conclusion a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Pinching. Next meeting will be taken up with readings. We have received information from Patea (says the •• Taranaki Herald") that the line of road behind Mount Egmont is being pushed on with considerable energy. Captain Blake has now a force of some sixty men—Europeans and natives—and good bush hands are being taken on. The advanced party, who are exploring and blazing the track, are now spme twelve miles forward, and so far the country is very favorable for road construction. As the country s so level at both ends, we may fairly aseume that no great difficulties will be encountered in carrying the line through. The timber trade of this port (says the Hokitika " Star ") is, we are glad to say, assuming vast proportions, and in order to meet the increasing demand, Messrs Findlay and Haworth, its enterprising pioneers, and I proprietors of the Westland Saw Mill, are obliged to have recourse to further appliances. They are about to place a locomotive on their tramway to bring in logs from the bush, and it is now being constructed at the Vulcan Foundry, Dunedin. It will weigh, when ready for work, five tons, and will be capable of travelling at from seven to twelve miles an hour. It is to be ready for, and placed on the rails early in August next, and cannot fail to be a profitable speculation to the firm in question.

A correspondent of the " Auckland Herald" telegraphs, that the Middle Island men, who are well up in politics, and who are now in Wellington, speak confidentlj of the separation of the Middle Island from the North. Nothing bat insular separation mil fall in with their views. The hon the Commissioner of Customs proclaims everywhere that the Ministry will favour the proposal. Mr Vogel is greatly annoyed at Mr Reynolds's want of reticence. He considers that he had no right to divulge what was passing in the Cabinet until the proper time came to propound the changes proposed to be brought about. Mr Fitzherbert and the Wellington party will back, ths fid? tb»t laToere tbt

The following notice of the late Chief Justice Chase of the United States, is taken from " Men of the Time" :—Salmon Portland Chase, statesman and jurist, was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, January 13, 180 S. His father died when he was but nine years old, and he was aided in obtaining an education by his uncle, Philander Chase, then bishop of Ohio. He studied for college at Worthington, Ohio, entered Cincinnati College, of which his uncle was president, in au advanced standing, and subsequently transferred himself to Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, where he graduated in 1826. He next opened a private school at Washington, where he had the sons of Henry Clay, William Wirt, Samuel Southend, and others for pupils. While teaching he was diligently studying law uuder the celebrated William Wirt. He was admitted to the bar at Washington in 1830, practised at Cincinnati, and between 1832-35 published an edition of the statutes of Ohio with annotations, and a preliminary history of the State, in three large volumes. In 1840 he took a more active part in politics, separating from the Democratic party, with which he had been connected, on account of its proslavery attitude, and supported Gen. Harrison for President; after whose death he took part in the organisation of the Liberty party in Ohio. In 1849 he was returned to the United States Senate by the Legislature of that State, and was soon recognised aa one of the ablest statesmen in the Senate. In 1855 he gained much popularity by his persevering opposition to the " Nebraska Bill." In the same year he was elected Governor of the State of Ohio, a post he held by re-elec-tion till 1860. Iv 1861 he was made Secretary of the Treasury by President Lincoln, and taking charge of the national finances at a time when the public credit was low and a great war immediately impending, he succeeded in maintaining the national credit, and provided all the money needed for the war, even when the expenses of the Government exceeded two millions of dollars (£400,000) per day. This was accomplished by the issue of legal tender notes (popularly known as "greenbacks," from the color of the ink with which the reverse of the note was printed), the seven-thirty (7 3-10ths per cent, interest) treasury notes, and the five-twenty bond (bonds at 6 per cent, interest, redeemable after five years, and payable in twenty years from date.) Mr Chase resigned his office June 30, 1864, and on the 6th December following was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, in place of Roger B. Taney, deceased. Chief Justice Chase visited the Southern States after the war, and declared himself in favour of impartial suffrage. In 1868, he presided over the High Court of Impeachment for the trial of President Johnson. He was understood to have been in favour of that President's acquittal. He was proposed as a candidate for the Presidency at the Democratic National Convention in July, 1868, but did not obtain the nomination. I The public meeting of the Sabbath school teachers and others opposed to the opening of the Museum on Sundays will be held at the new Oddfellows' Hall this evening at seven o'clock. The Mammoth troupe, comprising Miss j Neilson, Messrs Bromley, Margetts, Signor Ferrari, and his monkeys, will give their opening performances this evening at the Music Hall. There will be no performance this evening in the circus owing to the inclemency of the weather. To-morrow evening the performances will be for the benefit of the Julian Brothers. The second of the series of winter entertainments in connection with St, Mary's, Addington, will take place this evening at the school-room. A meeting of the Christchurch Bricklayer's Society will be held to-morrow evening for the election of officers for the ensuing halfyear and other business. A fatal accident occurred on Friday last to a man named Addis, in the employ of Mr Saul, a farmer, living at Yorktown. On that day he went out rabbit-shooting, and not returning home that night, search was instituted the next morning, which resulted in his being found dead from a shot wound, and the gun lying by hie side. An inquest will be held to-day on the body by the Hon, Colonel Brett, at the Halfway House, Courtenay. Mr S. B. Stiffe, who for sometime past has been in delicate health, died suddenly yesterday at a house in Salisbury street, between the hours of one and two o'clock a.m. An inquest will be held at the Hospital today at two o'clock.

The " Taranaki Herald " announces a fresh purchase of native land :—Not long since we announced that Mr Parris had purchased a quantity of land from the natives in theNgatimaru district, on the other side of the Waitara river. Mr Parris was then in negotiation for a large block this side of the river, and we are glad to hear that he has now nearly completed the purchase of it. The land lies to the southward, at the back of Mataitawa ; and, although it is difficult to say what is the extent of the block, yet, from the description given of it by the natives, it cannot be far short of a hundred thousand acres. This block of land is one of the most valuable that has yet been acquired, as the proposed mountain road will go right, through it. This change in the disposition of the natives is a most healthful sign of the prosperity of the province, and we think too much praise cannot be accorded Mr Parris for the skill he has displayed in the negotiation and purchase of the land. If nothing arises to disturb our present j relations with the native race, we have every j reason to believe that far larger purchases will be effected by him in other parts of the province. On Saturday afternoon a well-contested football match was played between eleven of the Rev C. Turrell's School and the same number of the High School, on the ground of the former, opposite Middleton Station. The game commenced at 2.15 p.m., and lasted till 4 p.m. During the first hour three goals were kicked ; the first by Mr Goodeve (captain), in favor of Mr Turrell's boys ; the second and third by Messrs Dawson and Thornton (captain), in favor of the High School. During the rest of the game the High School were decidedly in the ascendancy, but no other goals were made by either side. The High School were therefore the winners by one goal. The return match will be played on Cranmer square next Wednesday, game to commence at 2.15 p.m.

It is stated that T«smacian pig iron vfii; fee pUsed la (he market shortly.

The " Financier," referring to the usance of bills drawn from the Australian colonies, thinks that the Australian and New Zealand merchants hare a good case to bring forward in combiuing to secure the extension of the mercantile usance to four months' sight, the period allowed for India and China, countries only about half the dietance of Australia to England. " A large portion of the Australian exports, says the writer, " consists of gold, <■ which reaches this country by the overland route. A usance of sixty days' sight is probably not inconsistent, in this case, with the period of trans-

mission and realisation of the precious metal. As the Banks are the chief exporters of gold, their drafts against such gold shipments form a convenient 'and readily discountable mercantile or family remittance. But against such shipments as wool, tallow, and products of that kind, 60 days' sight is, unquestionably, too short a currency, and it ought to be extended to four months' sight at least. The Banks by whom drafts against such shipments are purchased no doubt prefer the shorter currency, but the merchant is the party aggrieved and probably inconvenienced in the matter, having frequently to take up produce bills before the arrival of the ships bringing it. Thig, of course, involves the outlay of capital that would not otherwise be required. There is not much difficulty, perhaps, if need be, in getting advances on produce in dock ; but produce afloat, being subject to the contingencies of sea damage, insurance claims, and the chances of non-arrival, is more difficult to deal with as an article to be advanced upon." With reference to the petroleum market the " Argus " says :—At date of last advices' the stock of refined was only 91G5 barrels against 39,950 a year previously; yet in spite of this lowness of stock, the demand has

been dull, and prices have declined from If 4£d to Is 3d, and are still falling. It appear that the production of petroleum in America last year far exceeded the amount in any previous year. According to statistics given the Pennsylvania oil districts of crude or its equivalent reached 5,712,365 barrels, of 45 gallons. The total product of tbat district in 1872 was not less than 6,539.000 barrels; of Canada, 530,000 barrels ; of West Virginia Ohio, and Kentucky, 325,000 barrels ; making the total product of America 7,394,000 barrels, or more that 20,000 a day. In Pennsylvania very extensive new fields were found and in other districts the old territory was considerably extended. For the first time in the history of the trade there was a falling off in the exports. The total exports from the United States, in barrels of 43 gallons, were in 1872 2,951,310 barrels of refined. 363,736 barrels of crude, and 182,298 barrels of naphtha and residuum, making together 3,497,344 barrels. Beducing the crude export to refined, the total quantity of refined exported shows a falling off of more than 300,000 barrels equal to fully 13,000,000 gallons. This unnatural state of the export trade was caused by the attempts of the producers and refiners to force prices up. The greatly increased production of the year was so much in excess of the consumption that there was a large increase in stock. In Pennsylvania the stock on the Ist of January, 1873, reached over 11,000,000 barrels. The price for crude on the creek was as low as Sdol per barrel in September, but under a partial stoppage of production suddenly advanced as high as 4.60 dol, the ontside price of the year. With reference to the Australian Customs Bill, the "Standard" writes:—" Whether this concession is to be regarded as a gain or

not to the colonies depends entirely upon the point of view from which we regard the colonial connexion. If it is our purpose to train up the colonies so that they may separate from us as speedily as possible, then we could not do better than give them the privilege demanded. If, on the contrary, it is our object to maintain the unity of the empire, then it is most unwise to permit the Australian colonies to form a separate customs union. To understand this question it is necessary to bear in mind what was the object of the agitation which has been maintained in regard to this customs union, and what will be its effect. Hitherto the law, treating the Australian colonies as an integral part of the empire, while permitting them to impose what duties they pleased upon imports, prohibited them from levying one duty upon an article the produce of a foreign country, and another upon the same article the produce of England or of any colonies. Under this law New South Wales wine imported into Melbourne had to pay the same duty ac French wine of the same class, and Tasmanian jams were taxed at the same rate as English jams. The effect of the new law will be to permit the colonies to exchange their own productions freely, while they tax the production of all other countries. At first sight this may appear to be an advantageous arrangement, so far as the colonies and the cause of free trade are concerned; but a little reflection will show us that it cannot be to the benefit of England, and those who have watched the course of the protectionist movement in Australia will know that it is not intended to serve free trade, but the contrary. In fact, the one main reason why the colonies desire to have free trade among themselves is in order that they may the more easily put on protective tariffs as against outside countries, of course including England. So long as Victoria, for instance, was compelled to apply her protective tariffs equally to her immediate neighbor across the Murray as to the mother country, so long Bhe suffered great inconvenience in the exercise of protection, owing to the ease with which smuggling could be carried on across the border. But now that the local Governments are relieved of the necessity of taking care of their revenues against each other, they will be more at liberty to pursue their schemes for " encouraging native industry" against England and other foreign countries. The effect of the new Australian customs union will be, in fact, to constitute England to all intents and purposes a foreign country in the eyes of Australia. The policy which ought to have been encouraged, and which would really have advanced the cause of free trade, as well as tended to unite the colonies stiJl closer with the mother country, would have been to have included England and all her colonies in one general British Customs union." The Brunner coal mine lastyear yielded the Nelson Government a net profit of £800. This year it is expected to yield a net profit Of £1000. We understand (says the " Southern Cross ") that Mr Sheath, the District Inspector of Telegraphs, proceeds to England in July nest, oa a twelvemonth* , l»ve of abeeacc,

A correspondent writes to tbe Auckland " Southern Cross " in the following tcrps— J There are no doubt times and occasions »*hen a judicious gift of those vital necessaries to the Maoris, flour and sugar, may effe* great good, and tend very beneficially to the preservation of peaceful relations ; bu'it almost appears at the present momcßf that this is , overdone. If my information is correct, a number of Maoris— chiefs it nay be saidliving at Tawhiao's headquarfcrs, are in the receipt of yearly salaries fr»m the Government of this colony, but th<y were powerless to prevent the murder of Sllivan, and from all appearances they haveao influence over Tawhiao or his' Ministesto induce them to surrender Purnkutu, or aiy of Todd's murderers. There is a chief jamedTakerei te Run one of the hulk prisoncs, now atTe Kuiti, who receives, it is said, £100 a year from the Government. It isadmitted that he is a rangatira of purest ilood from both parents; that he is much bber in blood indeed than Tawhiao himself. But this gentleman has lately become so independent that he would not, until the otner day, visit Alexandra to receive his salary—it was, he declared, to be forwarded to Tc Kuiti for him, or he would not htvc it 1 But it was this last straw that Iroke the camel's back. It was not consid<rcd safe to send a messenger with so much noney to Te Kuiti, and having forwardec 7 the money to Alexandra, there the. Government made a stand. Under these circumstances Takerei te Kau ceased dictatiig, and quietly came down on Frida; last. The chief Aihipene te Kaihu is geneially supposed to be an assessor resident at Vaiuku. Since marrying the Princese Sopnia he has resided at Te Kuiti, and will no doubt receive his salary regularly as of y#re. Such Maoris as may not be of sufficient rank to receive yearly salaries are allowed rations—if they are rebels—when visiting the frontier settlements I Friendlics, unless belonging to the fighting contingent, must provide for themselves ! The result of this system of treatment may be imagined. Only on Tuesday last, at Cambridge, the storekeepers and other settlers were louldly complaining of the' bumptious' conduct of rebel Maoris from Purukutu's settlement at Aratitaha, who were swarming over the town —many of them in a half intoxicated condition. Although a detachment of Armed Constabulary may be stationed at the settlement, no step is allowed to be taken without reference to head-quarters. On the occasion of poor Todd's murder, the officer in charge of the detachment at Alexandra had timely warning given to him of the murder, and wasmged to send a few constables to a spot mentioned where the three Maoris engaged in the murder would emerge from the Pirongia Ranges. But he could do nothing ; his hands were tied until he had received instructions from ' headquarters. . The last payment, or rather bribe, which it is said has been offered, was to Pai Whenua, the native who rescued Mr Mackay from Nuku's clutches. A gift of £IEO was forwarded, but the Kingites refused their consent io the acceptance of the money. Hone te One had only his own sweet will to consult as to the acceptance of the gift of £250 and the silver-mounted meerschaum pipe. Very considerable annoyance is felt at the apathy of the Government in arresting Maoris who are pointed out by their companions whilst in our settlements &s the murderers of . One of the Maoris who Bhot Todd has since frequently visited Alexandra, and he was in attendance at a late Native Land Court sitting at Hamilton. Yet no steps were taken to apprehend him on the charge, as would have been probably done had the delinquent been a European. , "

The following somewhat extraordinary case is reported in the Auckland papers. It appears that Sarah Ann Bel), a married woman residing in Parnell, was brought up in custody of Detective Ternahac, at the Police Court, Auckland, charged with stealing a letter containing a valuable document valued at £121 5s sd. The particulars of the case, as stated by Mr Inspector Broham, are as follows—Letters have been frequently sent from England addressed to a Mrs A. Bell, who resides at Tapu. These letters have been delivered by the Post' Office authorities to the accused, under the belief that she was the proper party to receive them. She has on each occasion opened the letters, and finding they were not intended for her, has returned them to the Post-office. The mail before last brought a letter stating that a remittance would be sent next mail. This letter she opened, and in due course forwarded it on as usual to its proper destination. Last mail brought the promised remittance, consisting of a draft on the Union Bank of Australia for £121 5s sd, contained in a post letter. This was, as usual, delivered to the wrong peison, namely, the accused. In this instance she failed and omitted to forward the letter on, but converted the draft into cash and retained it for her own use and benefit. The expected remittance not coming to hand to Mrs Sarah A. Bell of Tapu, enquiries were instituted, and it was discovered that Mra Sarah A. Bell, of Parnell, had appropriated it. She was consequently arrested. A sum of £101 odd was found in her possession. A remand was now asked for, for the purpose of bringing up the witness—who is in bad health—from Tapu # The prosecution is instituted at instance of the Post-office authorities. A remand was granted.

The discovery of valuable tin mines on the shores of Lake Superior is an event, the "Globe" thinks, of much moment to the United States. Traces of the mineral have heretofore been found both in the United States and Mexico, bat the effort to work these slender deposits did not pay the cost of coining. Those recently lighted upon are, it is said, practically inexhaustible, and of unexampled richness. Unfortunately for the discoverer, the offer of 100,000 dollars reward made by American Government some years ago to anyone who found out tin ore in any considerable quantity was withdrawn some time back, after remaining open unavailingly for a few years. The province of Ontario is, however, indefinitely enriched, as it will now monopoUse the supply of tin to the whole Continent. The mineral wealth of the province is absolutely amazing. It contains mountains of iron ore. Kich copper mines are being worked with considerable profit. Silver is abundant ; one bed reaches from Thunder Bay 100 miles into the country. Yet the region may be said still to be a wilderness ; and, except in the vicinity of the mines, there is no human life save a few stray Chippawa Indians, who trap otters and beavers for the Canadian markets. Of course there will soon be a rush upon this district, and its name will become as familiar to the world as California or the Cape. The average yield of the samples now being produced is about 34 per cent, of metalUo OK,

Dγ Stout exhibited to the San Francisco tube. He stated that he had i,«i 1 „ '.'Eucalyptus Globulus" togreSaSt X in tbie way, employing the tincture mUed in water, tins being preferable to the common atomiser, on account of the warm vapour, which is not only medicinal in itself but promotive of absorption. Dr Piirue' Dupuytren highly commends the virtues of Eucalyptus, after abundant tests by himself and Dr D'Olivcira iv the French Hospital it being found extremely serviceable in affections of the larynx and of nmerms membrane in general, also as a tonic. In France it is much used as n febrifuge, and by some couriered a valuable substitute for cinchona Alarge number of the trees have been planted around the French hospitals for sanitary and medicinal purposes.

A most remarkable and not a little droll experiment—droll because of some of the elements employed in the process—is, says r contemporary, recorded in the Transactions o f the British Association at its meeting year at Bradford. The subject was that of mirage. The author of the paper, Professor Everett, had previously read a paper by Professor Thompson " On Atmospheric Infraction of Inclined Kays, and on the rath of a Level Kay." On this Professor Everett based Ins own paper " On Mirage." He gave , an elaborate account of the curvature of rays of light, and worked out a formula denoting the several connecting conditions concerning atmosphere, temperature, refraction, ; &c required to produce mirage. Acting , on these principles Professor Everett exhibited a sketch showing a beautiful effect of an artificial mirage which he had obtained by an arrangement of three liquids . suggested to him by Professor Maxwell. This , liquid gave three images, the middle imago being inverted." It is described thue;— ' " The lowest liquid was a saturated Bolution i of alum, the highest water, and the inter- [ mediate liquid (which formed a stratum r only a quarter of an inch thick, was Scotch whisky about half saturatcdirith sugar" Tho " italics are ours, but the words are faithfully i copied from the report of the Transactions, j "It" —the saturated whisky, continues the report—" is intermediate in specific gravity between the other two, but haa a higher index of refractiou thau either." It produced an " inverted image." In plain English, the whisky medium—strong toddr —placed the image upside down, topsy-tunj. The report then describes the flexure and concavity of the rays which produce the inverted image, and those rays which v produce the uppermost and lowest images. That a Scotch whisky half-saturated with sugar , —• hot water not mentioned—should produce a mirage, and that mirage being inverted, and should help to produce three images is perhaps new, but it is not wonderful Double Bight, history tells us, has frequently been produced from the judicious maiiipulntion of similar chemical combinations and their proper or improper disposal ; the stratum of the last-mentioned liquid being generally rather more than a quarter of an inch thick. There are also many instances on record of the inversion of images produced by the effects of the same materials on those who use them, such inversion even going bo far as to apply not only to the images seen, but also very practically to those who behold them, producing in the latter a change from the line of the perpendicular to an exact line with the plane of the horizon. The last day of the session of the fortysecond Congress at Washington was not remarkable for the dignity of its proceedings, The House, according to the " New York Herald," was on the 3rd instant in a noisy and uproarious mood, and wrestled with furious industry over the thousand and ono little jobs that had been saved up for the confusion of the hour. Nearly every member had his hand filled with bills, and they all bawled and shrieked in chorus when any one was disposed of, each trying to get his little scheme in before the other. " Each man for himself to-day and the devil take the people," seemed to be the motto of many members. Nearly all of them in their leisure moments burrowed in their desks like badgers, throwing out refuse papers until tho floor of the tlouao looked aB if it had Buffered a severe snowetorro; the confusion and uproar were never surpassed; members seemed like schoolboys about to bo releaeed for a holiday and kicked up their political heels all day long in epite of the vigorous raps of tho gavel. Speaker Blaina needed all his immense energy and tact to keep up even the semblance of order. The strangers from the rural districts stared from the galleries in a dazed sort of way at the confusing mass of shouting gesticulating men, and wondered whether this 6ort ot thing wag legislation. Job after job, in tfas shape of little hacks at the Treasury, was rushed through during the day. " Appropriations " were made ad libitum. The increase of the salaries of members waa finally agreed upos, and the sittings of what tho " Herald" terms 4s this debauched and degraded Congress " came to a close with "a hearty God bless you all" from Speaker Blainc. Dγ Hirt has recently called attention, tho " British Medical Journal '* says to the increasing use of poisonous colouring matters in trade, especially those containing arsenic and lead. He had visited, in Breslau, tlio establishments of confectioners, gingerbread makers, stationers, toy dealers, hairdressers, colored paper makers, and flower makers, and had arrived at the following results. He detected arsenic in the colouring matter used for painting over sugar plums, and also in the green paper employed for wrapping articles of food, for covering toys, and for lamp shades. Arsenic was also found in the paints in children's paintboxes. Lead was found in the colouring matter of articles of food, in coloured papers used for packing substances of food and the covering of toys, as well &3 m children's paints and in wafers end hair-dyes. The danger incurred, espeaW by children, iv consequence of tho use of lead-colours in papers used for packing, W Hirt stated to be very great. A faricfc* coloured paper, containing red lead, is toj extensively used for packing chocolatetablets and bonbons ; and Dr Meusel found each sheet to contain about 28 grains of lead, representing about 29 grains of oxide or w grains of sugar of lead. Each sheet is sfiffi" cient for packing sixteen chocolatc-tableta or from thirty-two to thirty six bonbons 5 consequently, with each tablet there are three grains of sugar.of lead, and with each bonboa U grains. It is not necessary that tic children should lick the paper to produce poisoning; lor the sngar used in bonbons has a tendency to unite with the lead and form a sacclwrats and thus to render soluble the perhaps otherwise insoluble lead compounds, iw boxes containing the chocolate tablets ?o" bonbons are often damp, and the wrapper paper soft and pervious to moieturei a™ there can be no doubt that tbe mstenjjcontained in the papers must m contact with the lead and.- we°g r impregnated with tbe peiW ,, fi Hirt remarked that various ordcrt oc » vernment that passed during the> »» years were in force, and were earnewa \ carried out, to prevent tbe use of sac a teriala as those to which he referrw , they were not sufficiently koown, aua wu only in force in the district of Br«W«-w town itself being apparently exempt. "It has been proposed," the "£» Advertiser " states, " to form a company *>■ working what have been supposed w guano caves, recently discoved near f*®P down, and there can be no dooW, » guano possesses good fertilising V°***r** I importance of the discovery cannot wot rated. There is, however, reason todou | that the stuff found possesses th^ v*"'u*"' . J attributed to it. Ten years ago Mr ] one of the best-known farmers on the in j bool Hills, visited the caves, an j sacks of tbe so-called guano sent down u> j farm near Ceres, where he tesicd w 1 ; garden, but obtained no good resuto ,v , ever. In fact, ho says he might haw ao , aa well had he strewn ashes ova , ground. It is not a pleas ant tt». damp the expectations "\ P X£f I or lessees of-the caves but it is necw 4 the fact stated by Mr Snmlo shouM made known, or great loss of time nwj 4 entailed upon farmers who may use. tbjß«J' „ |

The Wellington " Evening Post" of the 12th contains the following—An amusing instance of the bigotry and tyranny uf that illiberal and illogical community, the Sabbatarian!?, occurred yesterday at the One of the cases on which Mr Crawford, Resident Magistrate, was called upon to adjudicate was an information laid against 9 settler there, under the old Sunday Trading £c*t of Charles 11., for infringing the Lord's pay by driving out his horse and cart on Suuday to fetch home his wife. A technical irregularity enabled the Magistrate to dismiss this preposterous charge, but it is by no means improbable that some crazy fanatic or ether will again try to enforce this obsolete piece of tyranny, and it just as well that it should be generally known that a statute in force, of the same period, renders penal not only Sabbath-breaking (curiously read as applying not to the seventh but to the first day of* the week), but also failure to attend regularly the services of the Church of England, and to receive the Sacraments on the day prescribed in the Prayer-book- If these absurd old statutes are to be exhumed, by all means let us have them set vigorously to work on both sides, and rigidly compel every Boman Catholic, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, &x., to attend St. Paul's or St. Peter's. We imagine that if this were attempted we should soon hear a remarkable howl of rage and execration. Yet this would be no greater act of tyranny and oppression than forcing everyone to keep Sunday according to the narrow minded notions of a few.

The notorious freebooter, says a contemporary, referred to below was well known in this and other parts of. New Zealand :—The celebrated " Bully Hayes" is well eaid to turn up everywhere. The last place we find him fignriug is in a debate in the House of Lords. Kef erring to the kidnapping of the South Sea Islanders, Lord Kimberley in that augast arena made the following observations :—" My noble friend alluded to Captain Hayes, the master of a ship called the Waterlily. He was the most notorious man in those seas. There can be no doubt he was engaged in those kidnapping practices, and his ship, the Waterlily, sometimes went by other names. Most careful enquires have been made for him in the Islands ; but though the naval officers were often very near him and heard a great deal of his doings near the scenes of his faction, they never succeeded in catching him. Every endeavor will, however, be made to effect his capture. The first ships sent to those ports were the Barossa and the Basilisk, and the following is an extract of a a-cport from Captain Moore, of the Barossa, dated July 25, 1872. Writing with reference to proceedings on Knox Island, one of the Mulgrave croup, ne states : —' These natives were kidnapped in this way —Canoes went off with fruit, cocoanuts, &c, for which a high price was given ; this brought more natives off to the ship, and when a good many were on board, they were seized and put below; one old man escaped the last : time by jumping overboard. They did not know what vessels they were, where they came from, or where bound. They informed mc Hayes threatened to seize the King and flog him, if he did not bring him oil and rcocoanuts, and Hayes's mate, Pittman, took the King's daughter away by force, and still had her in his possession." Who can deny but what Hayes has attained greatness, such as it is ?