THE Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5182, 31 March 1874, Page 2

THE Daily Southern Cross.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1874.

Tin: hi: are, unfortunately, but few persons who can profit by ciiticisra however friendly, and it is with much pleasure that wo recognise in the Teachers' Association the power and the will to do .so. The tone of the resolutions passed at the meeting of Satin day last was an evidence of this, and we think the Association will gain much in public esteem in consequence. We do not indeed agree with all that has been passed even on this occasion. We consider it somewhat doubtful how far the Board could at present comply with the suggestion respecting payment for results, although, we cordially approve of the principle, because thu examining power of the Board -would, we fear, prove unequal to the ta^lc of faiily ascertaining the results thioughout the schools of the province We fear it is irnprobablo that at present the scheme for a young ladies' grammar school cm be satisfactorily carried out, for reasons which we shall give ou another occasion. And we dissent wholly from the proposal to have a teachers' representative on the Bo.ud of i ducat ion, not because we doubt that a good member might bo selected by the teachers, but because we think the member would, when elected, be in a false position — being likely to become rather the advocate of teachers' interests than the representative of Educational interests generally. But -while we do not agree in any of these respects with the opinions of the m:i]oiity of the Teachers' Association, we' consider th.it the two first; subjects were stiictly within the. natural sphere of the duties ot such a body. It is a \ery different matter to discuss the modes m wliit.li pa) meats should be made to teachers, or the best way of providing a training school for ladies who may hereafter become teacheis, and entering upon schemes for alterng the status and composition of school committees — apparently because these bodies do not always agree exactly with the views of their respective school teachers. The first class of subjects are just such as teaeheis can deal with, because they are within their own sphere of special knowledge, the last are such as we do not consider teachers likely to judge of either more intelligently or dispassionately than other people, but probably rather the re\ ei.se. ]3ut, while we congratulate the Teachers' Association upon the mote piactical and judicious tone of thendebates, we cannot congratulate them upon the advocacy which our mild criticism seems to have elicited. Few bodies ha\e had moie need to pray to be saved fiom their fi tends than the teaeheis generally, to be preseived from the well-meant but singularly intempeiate advocacy to which they have lately been treated. We cannot, of coui-e, make more than a guess at the authorship of the singular effusions to which we refer, but should fancy them the offspring of the hatred, temper, and imperfect reasoning powers of some second-class teacher, who has not been tieated l«y his school committee with the reverence which he reasonably expects fiom his pupils. That his language, when he scolds, is vulgar, his logic, when he attempts to reason, of the loosest and most inconclusive type, is not perhaps remarkable, but it certainly reflects little credit upon the Association of which he is, we hope, an unworthy member. In respect of the scolding and general abuse, we at once and willingly yield the palm. With respect to the arguments emplojed it is diffeient. It is asseited — we had almost said calmly, but he asseits nothing calmly — that wo were ■wrong in saving that "the confirming or disallowing body must inevitably hold the reins of power." In illustiation of fins he says — look at he Governor ' look at the Queen ' Has the Governor or the Assembly, the Queen or the Parliament, the reins of power ? We answer at once neither the one nor the other so far as appointments aie concerned, but the Executive which is held to repiesent the Queen or the Queen's lepiesentativc, although practically elected by P.uliament. This is not the real comparison to represent the truth of the matter however. The pioposal of the Association is eijuixalent to making the Lord Chancelloi s power of appointment to a living in an English paiish subject to the approval of clnirehwaidens — who in such a case would hold the reins of power I How dignified would the position of the Loul Chancellor be when his nominee was l ejected, as not suiting the taste ot the churchwardens of the parish to which he had been appointed ' But really the matter will not be.v aiguing To legislate so as to give a contiol or veto to certain men 01 boards, because we elon't think they will ever exercise that veto or control, is either a veiy dishonest or a very billy expedient in legislation, and may piobably turn out to have been both. We trust that whatever changes are made in the Education Act will be made honestly, and that in spite of the anger of the wiiter to whom we have referred, the Provincial Council will show more good sense than was evinced by the teacheis' piopoyal. We shrewdly suspect that the idea indulging the proposed change is that of taking all real control out of the hands of tho distiict committees, the ihoicho because so much is said against the culture of school committeemeu. It this is what is meant, let those who advocate it be honest anel say so. We have no objection to discuss this question on its meiits if any one will venture to assert broadly that the system will work better when the local committees aro abolished, as they will practically be the moment they cease to

have power Tlih, li<>.\ewi, i^ not yet assoitfd either l>y the Teacher' Association, or its w.mn >md vitu. pei «ite advocate, so m•? need not dea with it And we would merply .suggest for tlio consideration of the \ situation whether bomo little pressure could not be put upon its too zealous niemhois, to prevent their taking advantage of the weakness of any i(ood natured editor, to indulge in iinweeinlv vitupei.ition, wliich does not tend to .streagtlitsii public confidence in either the wisdom or good taste of the Association.

ScnrEiTvrs strange traditions take hold of the vulgar mind. Even m the free atmosphere of our colonial skies it appears that a most absurd, almost lunatic, notion may so operate as that a collection of what one might imagine to bo sensible human beiugs, should be blind to the dictates of the most ordinary common sense, and prevent a promptitude of action which even a fool might perceive was an obviously necessary proceeding. A notion seems to prevail among many ignorant people respecting persons accidentally killed, or who may have killed themsulvos, that they must not be touched in any way until the civil authority, in the person of a policeman, shall have seen the body. To such an exttnt due-, this opinion prevail thai a crowd of gro«"u men. ia Wcllinjfton absolutely prevented a person irora loscuing a child still living, but who had fallen oil' the breakwater into the water. Frigbtlul thcugh the fact is, it is a fact the child was literally diouned in presence of this mob of fools whose senseless cries deterred one of the number, a little less foolish than the rest, :'rom taking the boy out of the water. A woman's entreuties, her boldness in leaping some an or seven leet to induce men to save the boy, had no timely effect ou that stolid crowd, and the boy, lying on the water with his eyes open and his lips moving, was drowned by the delay of sheer ignorance, and an unaccountable absence of that feeling we had thought common to us all, — to make exGitions to preserve a fellow-creature from death. The &ad story is soon told. A yotmg boy named Alexander Audersou was playing w lth a large dog, at Mr. Hunter's Wuarf in Wellington, throwing into the water sticks which the dog brought out. It appears from the evidence of another child, who was told by his younger brother, that the dog had " pushed. Alick into the water." What occurred after is graphically narrated by Mrs. Mclntosh, w ho took out the child, which, had her entreaties been attended to, would now almost ceitamly have been alive. The following is her evidence as given before the coroner and a jury. We mark by italics some of the most astonishing parts which relate to the apathy and stolidity of that mob of men :—: — Mrs. Arabella M'lnto9h, wife of Mr. M'lntoah, landlord of tbe New Zealauder Hotel, gave evidence as follows : — At about a quarter past 1 o'clock ou Monday a man w hose name I do not kuow came to the hotel and said, "Mrs. M'lutosh aie all your childien right V" I said " ies, to far a* 1 know." Ho replied, "No they are not, there is one lyiuy dead in the water." I ran down, and I saw the child was not mine. ]f> was lying in the water with hit ryis oprn. I asked to /nire the dithl taken out of the ivattr and the /iienlwJin vrre thete mid "no." r lhty kn mid a) raid to fake the child out. Ido not not know why, but they said the polite would inieiftre 1 hid the hoy tukuiuutof the water and placed ou the wharf, and s uno man cut his clothes oil. 1 held the chi.d over tbe whaif, and two quaits of water and a lot of food came up. its face got daik. I neut (or a blanket aud wrapped the boy up. TLe tide w as coming in at the time, and that mail e in i* mere anxious to get him, m case it should t.iko him back again, 'they told me the police would interfere. I did uot kuow what to do at first, but I thought I could not do any harm. 1 ushd Mr. W ah ford to tale him n/,, hut he would not. Mr. Oiorge Crawford stood there and looked, and thought it nould be all tight. There were twenty or thirty people, thaw. I jumped down lughr than (he door. 1 asked thctti to tah' flie child out oj the water, and they hesitated on attount oj the poliqe. 'iht-y said the police wouid iuterferu if they touched the child. / askid hi vital Ihi /it trying to thnn U> tah tin thild out of tin irate r 1 asked Mr. Ciawfoid aud he said he thought I might venture to take the child out of the water. He said he thought I uimhthaveit takenoutof the watur He t,tood looking at me. None helped until I <«H<d Linyunl down off the bank. Tin y did not fake any at five meabtiri* to lain tin i laid rt moral Upon Mr. Crawford gi\ ing Ins opinion that the child might be removed from tho water, Wakeford and Lingaid moved it and placed it on the whart. I had the clothing cut, and rolled tho child on the wharf on its stomach, and sent for blankets. The deceased never showed any signs of life. The body was cold, but the back wai lather warm. The whaif is only used by hsheimen, and as a pi .y place for childieu. Tlieio was a stt.imer there la&t wnk. This is not the fiist child that has been drowned theie. It would be bettir if a fence were piaced acioss tho wharf to prevent chihheu fiom getting on it. " I should think" (continued Mrs. Mclntosh, on further examination) '' that quite five minutes elapsed after I came down before the child was taken out of the water." The reporter adds, within parenthesis, "Mrs. Mclntosh first said ten minutes, and still thought that time had clap-cd, but substituted five to within a sale limit." " All that tun,.," she a, lds-, " the waves were coming over the child's face. The people said they were not allowed to touch a dead body ; but they took no steps to find out whether theie was any life or not." Geoige Wakeiord, tho man who was appealed to by Mrs. Mclntosh, gives further evidence .—. — I went to take the child out of the water, and aixty or seventy people sen am ed out, "You must uot touch it; the police must take it out of the water " 1 made two or three attmipts. I do not bulievo for a minute that tho child was dead when I got down there. He had not been in tho water more than 10 minutes. (The witness explained that within 10 minutes of the time the alarm was given to Mrs. Mclntosh ho had heard children playing on the wharf ) I daicsay there were upwards of one huudied people there, but there weie so many hulloaing out that they did not know what to do for tho best When I lifted the ihildonthe what fit was not to saij icalli/ dead The child was pcifoctly warm, aud so it was when we got the blanket for it. Mr Anderson : Were thoy grown up persons or boys ? Witness : Ui own up person", not children. To the Coroner : / had my hands nearly on t'te Jtdtl whm they made a r'l/u'ar yelpuni out, " You inubt not touch the thild unless the pol'm' are In re " I said, " Win/ mn't v* tad' it out'" The Coroner : It would h.ivo been bett< r to have taken the child out Without stopping to at gnu tho point. Witness : Yts, but a man doss not liko to gethnimlfintotrouble. Thereat e r>n i/un'tom Jaws ia Wellington, and the htd thin i is to hip on the careful side of tin hedged The people said 1 mnst not touch a dead body unless tho police weie there. Ido not think the child waa really dead whm T jumped off tho breastwork. No ono would

gob (ff the breastwoik .it all. Th«y all lo kk 1 1 1 ar ot the httlu infant in the \wt-r. Tin rhitil iras m the vaUr ten mnuitt* <>r a ijuailrr of an hour, fully (hut, bcfmc I got Mr. Cran'/oi (1 s (OVienl The Coroner : It appears to you bow a very monstrous and extraordinary tiling not to have tnkeu up the child as soon as it was discovered. Witness : I suppose I was confused. It certainly does appear so. There were many people present, and uot one offered to get off the breastwork. Mrs. Mclntoab was assisted by another female, one of her servants We had the child on the wharf for a quarter of an hour before a pohcemaa came up A doctor had been sent for. Sergeant Monaghan : What is your reason for thinking that the child was alive when you saw it in the watei ? Witness : 7/s lijn vinreil. Jl (''«■>' vnrm whin I bl'lal it up, and when the policeman took it away in the cart it was quite waira I can assure you. No wonder that the jury added a severe ndor to thei- verdict of " accidental death," if accidental it was, and if, morally speaking, this noble band of eye witnesses were not accessories in the fact. The. rider was as follows :—: — The jurors wish to express the strongest censure upon those piesent for the inhumanity and ignorance displayed in not at once lemoving the body of the deceased when fiist discovered. One teela that the story is incredible. That such a state of things could exist in a Christian country, among people who have the Press and the pulpit, w ho possess the- pilitical franchise, are f.itheis, sons, and brothers, as this preciouscrowdmust have.and be, — who enjoy all the oilier blessings of what we term "our civilisation, "is « hatis hard indeed to believe. Yet, we have quoted the facts as sworn to before a corjner and a jury, and the little premature grave in Wellington cemetery bears witness. We should fancy that that locality will rarely be visited by any of the thirty or forty grown men (aome say sixty or a hundred) who were inactive spectators of th.it child's death. If they do go there that little grave should bring a blush to their cheeks as long as memory lives. The father should record on the gravestone how the child was permitted to die. Parents who read these lamentable facts can scarcely fail to shudder as they read, and marvel that such things could be.

The Chtinli Ga'.ef'r for April comprises in its diocu->an intelligence, the ordination of a Maori minister iv Taranaki, an account of the natives in the Mercury Bay district, which was lecently visited by the Bishop, a notice of the Waitemata Church Board meeting, and a well written narrative of the three successive mission schooners each named the ' -outheru Cross.' In the Melanesian intelligence the c is conveyed the infoimation that Mr. Selwyn has been nominated to the bishopric of Melaneaia, that ofhco having been definitely declined by Mr. Codnngton. " A lay member of the Synod" writes a good letter, though avowedly onesided on the vexed questiou of the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. After an appropriate leading article on " Holy Week and Gord Friday," there follows an interesting account of " a \oyage to New Zealand by the ' Mongol'," contributed by the Rev. H. M. Kennedy, a clergyman who recently migrated to this colony, accompanied by a number of hia parishioners. Mi. Kennedy points out in tempeiate and effective language, "the grievous defscts iv the emigration bystein as at present carried out," under the rather incongruous heading, "the Day of Intercession for Missions." Ihero is given a lengthened extract from a somewhat remarkable address delivered in exceedingly remarkable circumstance 5 ", namely, the philosophic lecture spoUon by Professor Max Mull r fiom tne kctirn in the nave of Westimi s'-fi \b l >iy, on the evening of the day refetud to. With this fe'iiMnnN of the nv>re ptommmt contents we lie d scarce! v s>ay that tue present number ot the GaziHi 1 la a vory readable one. J lie returns fiom the several divisions in the -Xl c oral District of Auckland, City K\bt, hive been received by the Cluet CeiihUS l]iiumcM,vtoi, the lion Colonel Ilaultain. 'J he numb tof population in that (hstnet in Febru.ir>, 1871, was 4,079, *nd this year that number is found to have been increased by thrte, tlis numoer now being 4,052. This would indicate that the population in this district at least has been almost stationary. A few days aso we drew attention to the liberal crops of wheat which had been obtained by the settlers in the Mount Albert and Whaii districts during the present season. We have obtained a few more particulars, and it would teem that good crops have been leaped by all who ha\e grown wheat in that district. Mr. WilLins cultivated 8 acies, and obtained an average of 43 bushels per acre ; Mr. Bray cultivated 14 acres, and obtained an avenge yield of 35 bushels ; Mr. Kemp, a small patch much less than an acre, yield 20 buslv Is ; Mr. Lindsay thiee or four acres, aveiage yield 52 bushels per i.acre ; Mr. Allen, 20 acre*, avti.iga yield 33 bushels Thus these (i\w ht:.itgr<>w«-r=! in this district have reaped marly 2,000 bushels of wheit from about 415 acres of land, an average yield for tho distnct of nearly 42 bushels per acre. Tins result should be very Batistaetoiy, and we are informed that Messrs. Baiiaclough and Thomas, of the Star Mills, Ockley Creek, are prepared to purchase the whole of the wheat giown in the Mount Albert and Whau dibtuc's at (torn (is. to Gs. 4*l. per bushel. Messrs Low and Motion, of New Mills, are also purchaspis at (Is. per bu.-h(3l. 'Ihese live settleis will receive for their wheat ciop over 1580, or au average acieage caah leturi of about £13. Return of the sick treated at the Provincial Hospital during tho week ending Saturday, March '28, 1874:— Remained hst return, 03, admitted since, 10; discharged, 10, died, 1; lemuining, OS (male«. 58 ; temales, 10). Arrangement of cases : Foyer, 1, iheumatism, 7; s> philis, 3; stncture, 1; alcoholism, 1; fungoid cancer, 1, phthisi*, 3, paralyiis, i) , epilepsy, 1 ; am.unosis, 1 ; heart disease, 2; ancuuam, 1; bronchitis,,'} ; asthma, 1; pleurisy, 1; gastn'is, 1 ; iistuli, 2; liver disease, 1; cjstitis, 1; caries an 1 necrosis, 2; abscess and ulcer, 0; whitlow, 2; childbirth, 1, phlegmaBia ilolene, 1; fractures, 8, amputation, 1 ; debility, 3 ; contusions, 3. A man, L B , aged 22 years, died on the 2(s th mst.nt of fever, proving fatal by intestinal ulceiatiou and peiforation. "The Land of Cockaigne " has at last got an acknowledgement of being a distinct nationality. Mr. Bathgate, the new Kesident Magistrate for Dunedin, has a weakness for ascertaining the nationalities of persons who appear before him "What countiyman are y<«u ?" asked he of a prisoner. "Cockney," was tho loud but laconic answer; which caused a good deal of Luightei in the Court. State of Her Majesty's Gaol, Auckland, for tho week ending March 28,|j157 1 :— On remand, 1 male ; awaiting trial, 3 males, 1 female ; penal servitude, 32 males, 1 female ; hard labour, 69 males, 20 females ; default of bail, 3 males; tlebtors, 4 males; rereceived during th« week, 12 males, o females; dischaiged, 14 males, 5 females; total in gao], 114 males, 22 females. Fourteen tolls iv the pio\iaco of Ofcajo have been ht dining the yoai to 31st March, 1875, .it Cl2,f>Bo, a^crejat- r nttl, showing a deureaso in the lent of £993, ai compared with the last rental ol.t-tii'ed. Mr. It Somnifi ville pi oached in the Whau Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening last to a \eiy good congregation. It is reported tl at stops will be goon tiken to establish a Pimiiliv-J Methodist preaching place m the Whau district, to be uiad for Suuday-scluo! purpo.^ej, &c.

1 ' 'l\,-m'ir»w evening a «>>< <•' il vice will | be held m tho Whau Piejjbyunan Church, ; at half-pasb six: o'clock, for the purpose of unveiling the monument to the memory of the late pastor of the district, the Ilev. D. Hamilton, who died from exposure in the Manukau forest, while in the discharge of hia Christian dud's. The Rev. James Hill will officiate on the occasion. The performance at tho Prince of \Vale3 Tbe.i'ie last ui_<ht was for the benefit of Mr. Arthur Vivi.lll, and was announced to be the last that the company will give. There was a fair attendance, and the entertainment apoeared to give general satisfaction. Mr Vivian and Miss Melville, ia their comic songs and impersonations were remarkably good, and Mr. Ned Masons nigger comicalities caused considerable amusement. The mooliaht trip and concert which is expected to come off this evening is exciting*considerable attention, and we are requested to state that it should be distinctly understood that no one will be admitted on board who is not furnished with a ticket of mvitaton No tickets will be issued at the oilice, or money taken on board. It is hoped that this intimation will prevent any disappointment arising from parties coming and being refused admission. We are als.o requeued to urge upon the members of the Auckland Harmonic Society the necessity of being early in attendance, bringing their tickets of membership with them. If the weather is hne, a most pleasurable evening is expected. ; it unpropitious, the trip will be deierre'l till ThuisJay evening next. Th§ Carandini concerts continue to be x sonrea of great attraction. The City Hall w as agai'i well tilled last night, when another attractive programmo, embracing some 01 the choicest gems in the extensive repertoire of the company, was gone through with reat success. Mi3B Lizzie sung "May Angels Guard thy Slumbers" in her usual charming manner, and Miss.Pannie's rendering of the old favourite, "My Queen," was prodnctive of considerable applause. Madame Caraudini gave "Annie Laurie" with her accustomed success. The duet, "Maria you know," by Madame Carandim and Mr. was given with admirable effect ; as was also the tiio, " I'm not the Queen, i>y the sisters Isabella, Lizzie, and Mr. Sherwin. Mr. Cotterell introduced some new sketches of character, and was, as usual, loudly applauded. A soiree and concert were held in the new P nsonby Hall yesterday evening. Fully 400 persons partook of tea, which was provided by the ladies of the district. At 8 o'clock the concert began, and, as it had been announced that Miss Lizzie Caiandmi would sing, a number of persons who had not attended the soiree went to the concert, for the purpose of bearing her. The hall was crowded, but, owing to the excellent; veutil.ition, this could hardly be termed an inconvenience. The concert was as successful as amateur concerts -Usually arp, and when the performers deseiv^d applause they got it Toe following programme was gone through ; —^elections, Band ; gles, " Orpheus ;" duet, "My Pretty Page," Mrs. Woolley and Mr. Howden ; duet, piano and violin, Mr Cruickshank and Mr. Connell ; son^, " Exile," Miss Lizzie Caraudini ; glee, "Orpheus;" solo, piano, Mrs Woolley ; duet, "PoveroCor," Miss Lizzie Carandini and Mr. Blaydes ; song, Miss Leaf ; song, bantoup ; selection, Band. We have to acknowledge the leceipt of a copy of "Index of the Acts by the buperintendeut and Provincial Counc 1 of the province of Auckland, passed in the Session, I. to XXVIiI, inclusively, an A now io force," 1 by Mr. Francis C. Leggett, Clerk of Provincial Council. Tho index will b-3 found exceedingly useful to those who may Lave occasion to p ruse the Pioyiuci.il Acts. A practice of the Volunteer Fire Bn>ule under Superintendent ■Wier, was held last night. Considerable difficulty was experiem el iv turning on the water, ou 1112; to the fact that the plu^s arc not attended to and consifjuently do not woik properly. This hould he r-Mneditd at once, as 111 ease of tm« it would cause »nat los^ of tin >. M ny of ttie lire plujs a>-e wedded up with large bocks of wool dr.ven hard into them. To t;et these removed c.iuse3 much delay, nnd in the event of a lire oceumi q might bo the mean* of causing a laigo ainou- t of property to be destroyed. \W und'Tst md that the object 111 wedging the lire pluus up vith wood as some of them ar •, is fca save the P-ovineial Government the expense of making the repairs that have long been urgently required. The Otcnjo Daily Tmt-fs of March 13 states that on tho previom Monday afternoon, while some Maoris were on the look-out at the Kaik below Port Molyneux, a whale was seen spouting a 'diort way offshore. Suddenly it took a rapid sweep towards some outlying rocks, and ran full butt against the c Ige of the retf, stunning itself. It then floated in towards the beach, and on coming near enough, a rope was passed round its tail, and made fast to a post on tha sands. It lived for an hour or two afterwards. It was of the bottle-nos >d species, and measured about 24fc. in length, of a li^ht gr.»en colour, with white spots underneath. The tail was about Srt from tip to tip. One day last week so many persons were npprehpnded for drnakeuuess in Dunedin that all the available accommodation in the lockup was occupied. Eight of these drunken oft-nAcrs were passenger by the immigrant Rhip 'Scimitar.' Tha Tune-, makes tho sufficiently obvious remark that " they are not deniable passengers," and gives a further proof of tho accuracy of the opinion by stating that one of them had a slung shot in his pocket. Sickness, unhtness, balletdancers of a poor kind, and drunkaids with dangerous weapons, if these can be largely uupi'ited what can be said about Dr. Fea-thor'-ton aud big assistants and their management. Deer are growing common and tame in Xel*on, according to the Nelson Colonist, which writes :— " A Southern p-ipjr which says that our Kelson dogs lean a4ainst a fence to bark, will probably consider the following to be couhrmatoiy evidence of its asaeitionof the general somnolency of this niovince. On .Saturday last a person driving a trap alone the mouth of the Happy Valley load found a fine stag asleep on the roadside. It was a splendid animal, with horns about four fett in length. On being aumsccl it leaped a fenc-e near by, and passed o\era low hill in thednectiou ot Diumduan. Thiee dter weie also seen lately on the Grampiaus, not far from the College." Anchovies have been found in Launceston waters, Tasmania. They bring large shoala of bairacoota in their tram. Our Waiuku correspondent write* :—: — PieparationH are in progress for the ret eption of tho Volunteer representatives on their return home. A meeting has been held and committee formed to make the necessary airangemeuts. As far as it is at present determined there will be a public reception on the wharf to be followed by a comphmentary dinner. A diunkard was the only person confined in the lock-up at a la f e hour last night. It is notified that legal proceedings are being taken by the City * ouncil against those who have not paid their rates. Notice is given by advertisement that all the unlicensed cattle on the IVlangere run have been collecied Xa. Mr. Robert Wallace's yard. Thoae not claimed by April Ist will be linpo^ An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Auckland Hotel on the body of a female infant, name unknown. A detailed report appeals in another column. The jury carno to the conclus.on that the child had been suffocated, but by whom they had no evidence to show. ~^ The ss. 'Golden Ciown ' will lea\e for the Thames to-day at 10 o'clock 111 the mornnig, aud 1 «i\u the Thames for Auckland at thrto p.m. S'ie Will also make a special tup tj tho Tham3s on Good Friday. The fares and hours ot sailing are stated m our J adveitising columns.

By an error of the press in our sub lv Ui of yesterday on the payable yield of „ old . t the Thames the fl gurP «V w / a nil ,. which should read tbus:-'"Jhe nominal capital of the City of London Mining ComPany 13 £10,000, in AJ -h v,>» ; of this •mount £0,023, or £1 (N (, 1 „., ,l u .e, has been paid U) », of which I', <)'<), <>i L'Oa per Bnarehasbeeurcp.nl nd.\i v...,. We are de<med to iliror t tUmtion to an in nnnlli.i nlui.hi, showing the terms upon vh.,.1, M,. Sihbm mil lie prepared to carrj Knl his business as an auctioneer. Mr. Morpeth has been appointed Inspector of the Aaylu mi ia room of Mr H H Turt resigned. While referring to the Asylum, it *» a y bo useful (o remind the authorises that 10V he entertainments to patients which have (tjc r,n disc mtinued for a considerable time fcught to be resumed. It is the well-known opinion of celebrated physicians that such entertainments have very beneficial influence on the mental condition of the patients, and are now invariably employed as a portion of curative process. The unfortunate patients greatly enjoy such gatherings, they form the subject of pleisant talk afterwards, .inrl thoso to come aie looked forwaid to with large anhcip.tions. Let us hope the re sumption of them will speedily take place In fornur jears the provincial authorities votf-d a «mall sum annually to provide those enjojnifnt*. which are to the hapless obJ«cts sinners of gratification, of which their ahare is unhappily tco limited. The anniversary soiree in connection with the Mount Kden Sunday-school wns held last night. The «chool-room was well filled After tea I. ad been partaken of the Rev. Mr. Cornford «a? voted to the chair. The secretary read a report and balance-sheet, which showed that the school was making considerable progress. After which Messrs Ewington, Xeabrook, Battley, and Wells delivered addresses. The proceeding were enlivened by the sincinq of tho choir" under the leadership of Mr. Charles Blomfield. It ttns stated in a work published nearly two centuries ago, that if the head of a cock was held upon h table or the floor, and a line made with chalk was traced from the end of the beak some two or three feet in any direction, the bird would remain vaguely staring, as if spell bound, at thecbalk-lineas though it were an imaginary tether h lding him to the spot. Many persons laughed at tl h statement, regarding it as one of the "thousand wonderful things" in which our ancestors believed, but which modern science is too proud to recognise. It appears, however, that a Oerman professor has lately tried the experiment, and found the ■tatement can bo verified. 'Jhe result is not without its significance) with respect to many "aid to be bioiogic.il, mewnenc, and spiritual phenomena of the prt&en f day. Here is one of the lower amma's altogether unexpectant as to what is likely to happen, yet is caused by a little dexterous mampula tie.n of the optr.itoi to fancy him»elf firmly fastened when he ia perfectly free. What then n ay we not expect in the way of delusion when some dez n or so peisons tjiuatly flit down, with all duo solemnity, confidently expecting certain things m the shape ot rapping*, spiritual appearances, Ac-., are to follow? Dreamla. dis full of wonders miinite'y greater than are those of any spiut sptitr* yot revealed to up.

THE WAIUEU IJS'SIITUTK. The annual meeting of the above institute wis held oi Wtdrus.lay m Mr Campbells Commercial Hal/, Mi. Alexander in the chair. Mr. 11. J Moore, treamri-r, read the finaiiLi.il repoit as follows : Income from subscription*, £14 133 ; expenditure -purchase of books, £9 9*. 3d. ; binding of bonks, £4 7s. C'l. j working expenses, 6s, G<\. — This having been adopted, Mr. A. Uatnpbfll presented the librarian's report, from which ifc appeared that, during (he last twelve nioi.ths, the annual subscribers had ha n 22, hdlf-vearly and quarterly Mibscriptions,< qual to G annual in addition. The issues of books to members had been 834, being an aveiago of 32 volumes to each reader. There were a Ided to the library during the y< ar 70 Volumes— 43 by purchase, and 27 by Pro vincial Government grant. The beoks were re catalogued, and consisted of the following classes: — History and biography, 96 vols. ; ■cience, trave's, and politics, 57 vola.; general literature and poetry, 77 vol» ; majrazinra 18 yols ; and fiction, 210 vols. There were also— the journals of the Legislative Council, House of Representatives, and Provincial < ouncil ; General Government papers. "Hansard," and Pior'nvial Government (lavltp Ihe books weie still too carelessly handled by the residents — causing considerable expense in rebinding. It was worthy of remark that though the library had increased at the rate of 60 volumes a year since four yeais a»o, when it ■was taken over from the literary society, the number < f numbers had not increased, but remained about stationary, and the question naturally presented its. If : Was the absence of progress in the district traceable to any defect in the rnanagemt nt of tha library, or Was it because the tiste for reading was not general in the community ?—? — The Secretary repoited that in May last an elocution class was forrmd under the auspices of the Institute, and concluded a five months' session in September, and that the results for a first session were very satisfactory. A collection of valuable mineral specimens, consisting of coal, uoustoue, and fireclay, from Mr. FoofXs Bridge watei pi o - perty, near the Miranda K» doubt, had been presented to the Institute by Mr. John Mall, W*mku : and in < xpressing their th inks the committee took the opportunity of stating that they would be happy to receive further contributions from persons inteiested in the development of the national resources.— On the motion that the reports bo ailopto<*, Mr Marshall r.merl the question whither it was not desirable to re«luce the annual subscriptions as a means of increasing the numb r of readers. — A di3< ussiun ensued, which ended in the reports being adopted. — Mr. Campbell proposed, and Mr. Moore seconded, " That at the meeting of members to be held in April, it be considered whether it is desirable to allow a second subscription from the same household at a lower rate. ''— The following form the committee for tho next twelvo months :- Messrs. E. Hamlin, president ; G. H. Selby, treasurer ; A. Campbell, librarian and secretary; F. M Alexander, R <Jrau, J. A. Adams, and S. Barnball —Votes of thanks were passed to tha librarian, the rttinng committee, an>l the chairman of the meeting. — [Own Correspondent.]

A party of Paisley weavers, whose wives vrere " dowu the water" for the season. Were armoni to pet across from Ureenock to Dunoon on a Sunrlay morning. Deeming it a profanation, however, to enxnye an oared boat for that purpose, they employed a frienH to negotiate with the captain of the ' Rothesay steamer, "to cast out si bit o' hii tow, and tak them wi him, ai he was gaim that way at ony rate." "But what's the moral difference, pray," a^ked the negotittor, •• between ' '^" r^wed o'er wi oars, an(i~i;ow"«<it Oy~iT " •' Dif isronc* f There's a "hintfe oiit'i if-r,oB botween rowing by the p^v.i < , a an, wha maun answer for what he dote, .uid twa water wheels pu'ing us ; in ither words, gin ye wad hae us to be mair parricular, a steam engine's do a moral beiug; it's no an accoun-

table a^ent." A man is so m«ch more politu in church. He ia on (?.< ~rj.de as it were. Nobody was Hurpnsfd to »co that youii^ man, last Sunday, dive suddenly into the bottom of Ahe pew to pick up her parasol While ho Mraa at (ho i nttorn h<* iaw tin* embroidered edge of hoi ]>< ckethandkeri luef sticking from under the »«lgf of her dress. He would pick up that too. Ho commenced tupgmj; at it, when tlieifi was a i'wrco strwjf>]p, and a liUlc baud il.ntod down. H<* came up without it Thpro wi ifs two rrd f ices m the H.mctuary to winch the calm of tiie Ijl< ssed Sabbath ■eeroed to bring no relief. But ho w»b » young m»u tkat moAnt well.