ALEXANDRA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 16.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2807, 25 July 1866, Page 5

ALEXANDRA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 16.

On Monday, the 9th instant, our Library and Debating Society met, when the subject of debate was — " Is capital punishment justifiable ?" which was opened in the negative by Mr. Phillips, and met in the affirmative by Mr. Gray. An interesting discussion eusued, when, on the question" being put to the vote, the affirmative view was carriod by a large majority. A preliminary meeting of the settlers was called for Thursday evening, the 13th instant, to take into consideration the desirability of erecting a place of public worship. The weather was inclement, and owiug to th« small attendance the meeting was adjourned to muster day, Ist proximo. This is a step in the right direction, and if carried out will supply a generally felt want. To say that at present we are living in a state of practical heathenism is hardly an exaggeration. At Hamilton they have a stated minister. With onr lirge and continually increasing population there is ample scope for one here. I regret to have to record that cases of theft and of breaking into dwelliugs are increasing. The very blankets for the men's covering are not left. Is it matter _of wonder that such things should occur, considering the large number of men off rations, scarcely any public works, and the men compelled to stay for their Crown grants until their time is up ? Next month the majority of the men will be off rations. The question is asked on all sides, where are these promised public works ? I am informed that an order has come up to allow any man to leave when his time has expired, without prejudicing his right to receive his Crown grant when issued. Does this imply that there will be delay in such issue ? The benefit of being able to leave does not amount to much ; but were the Government to give us the grants when due, it might enable many to obtain an advance upon their land, and would facilitate the sale of the same, in order that by such sale men of different trades might invest the proceeds in stores, and improvements in the respective settlement?. On Friday evening last, 14th instant, an accident, whioh was nearly fatal, occurred to Dr. Rayner, now in charge of the hospital here. He was returning from Harapipi rather late, and missed the road. He had to cross a creek which, owing to the late rains, was much swollen. In endeavouring to swim his horse across, his foot became entangled in the stirrup, and he was dragged under water ; and it was with difficulty, and in a state of great exhaustion, that he succeeded in gaining the opposite bank.

Sebihto- through Wi.TKB. — Currents in the very bed of the river, or" beneath the very surface of the sea, may be watched, as Mr. Campbell informs us, by an arrangement that smugglers used in the Old Jays. They sank their contraband cargo when there was an alarm, and they searched for it again by the help of a so-called marine telescope. It ' was nothing more than a cask with a plate of strong glass at the bottom. The man plunged the closed end a few inches below the surface, and put his head into the other end, and then he saw clearly into the water. The glare and confused reflections and refractions from and through the rippled surface of the sea were entirely shut out by this contrivance. Seal-hunters atill use it. With this pimple apparatus the stirring life of the sea-bottom can be watched at leisur* and with great distinctness. "So far an this contrivance enables men to see the land under the waves, movements under water closely resemble movements under air. Seaweeds, like plants, bend before the gale ; fish," like birds, keeptheir head to the stream, and hang poised on tlleir fins ; mud clouds take tie shape of water clouds in air, impede light, cast shadows, and take shapes which point out the direction in which currents flow. It is strange at first, to hang over a boat's side peeri»g into a new world, and the interest grows. There is excitement in watching big fish swoop like hawks out of the seaweed forest after a white fly sunk to the tr«e tops to tempt them, and the fight which follows is better fun when plainly seen" (Vol. i. p. 67). Mr. Campbell suggests plate-glasi window* in the bottom of a boat : it would bring men and fiih face to face ; and the- habits of the latter could be leisurely lftXoh.tdi.'w-Edwburghlßeview.