TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3740, 16 January 1873, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Bankeottct. —His Honor Mr Justice Gresson will sit in Bankruptcy at 11 o’clock this morning. . The Waimaeaeiei. — There was a high freshet in this river yesterday afternooh, but it did not overflow ite banks or do any damage to property; X . 1 Newspapee Postage. The public are reminded that since the first, of the current month a new postal regulation in respect to newspapers'tranamitted witbin the colony has been in force—the rate per single copy is one half-penny, instead of..a penny as was formerly the case.

Acclimatisation. A meeting of the Council of this society was held yesterday, Mr P. Hanmer in the chair.' The annual report was read over and settled. The report is to be submitted to a general meeting or the sub* scribers to be held on Tuesday evening next, at half-past 7 o’clock, at the Literary Institute, when a new Council, will be elected. Sons op Tbmpbeancb.t—lf is in contemplation to hold a monster soiree in connection with this'body on or about the 4th of next month. The ' Oantorbniy Music Hall will probably be selected as the place of assembly, and Mr Saunders, of son, is to preside. The tea will be followed by selections of music specially selected for the' occasion, and several influential citizens are expected to deliver addresses. City CbtrN oil.—Pursuant to annual custom, his Worship the Mayor, and the City Councillors, together with several members of former Corporations, Visited Dr Poster, City Solicitor; at Sugmitf, 1 yisterday, and were entertained in a most hospitable manner. The. , many attractions of the sea beach were alsp fully enjoyed, and altogether the gnests spent a very pleasant afternoon, returning to toirii between six and sbveh o’clock in the , ;of the 'yestry of this ohUrch 'was held on tho 18th inzt.i at which'it resolved that circulars'be'iSshed to the p^htoneirssoliciting contributions toward'the plergfnian’sstipeniL' It was shetfn that jteyidfflit* are due totbet to. luted 1 tot the,, purpose,’and <it wa» hoped Vrhen this Was nude known, that confribatutes wtoilA beipyen so that the debtmightbe ebaaredoff. CANTERBURY MbAT EXTORT CoHtAliY.— Alt a special meeting of directors held on Tuesday last, it was decided to purchase sheep to All up any vacancies that might arise during the season. The number of sheep already entered on this books for conversion on owners’ accountjexdeeded 15,000, and it is proposed for this season to continue the present plan, as the company’s brand has attained such excellence in thehome market that many stockowners prefer sending their sheep for conversion, to selling putright. Rangioba Literary Institute.—The members of the oommitteelof this institute met at 6 p.m. on Tuesday last, and removed the books and furniture from the Road Board office to the new building. The adjourned special meeting of the committee was afterwards held. Present—Messrs Boyd, Thorne, Merton, Good, Hnnnibell, Johnston, Stalker, Dr Downes, and Kier (hon see.) ; the president, Mr A. H. Cunningham, presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed, the secretary read a letter from Mr Craig, enclosing an interim policy of insurance on the new building. A long discussion took place relative to the conditions attached to tbs policy, and it was ultimately resolved that the chairman should inquire and report to the next meeting what the I company would insure the building for against all risks as it stands at present. It was decided that the lighting of the hall should be deferred till next meeting. It was then resolved that the charge for the hall should bo 80s for the first night and 26s for each consecutive night, including lighting ; and 25s for day entertainments, when no lighting is required. It was decided that tenders be asked for seating ;the hall, and that a sample seat be provided before next meeting for the approval of the committee. Mr E. R. Good was appointed to act on behalf of the committee in the lettingbf the building. It was resolved that parties requiring the use of the building for Monday evenings should only get the half alone, aa on that evening the back room will be entirely devoted to the use of the library. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the members of the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board for the use of the Board office for the time it was occupied by the institute. The meeting then adjourned till Tuesday next at the usual hour.

Public Tbust Office.—An important notice in connection with the above will bo found in our advertising column*. Abhbubton Distbiot.— Mr Joseph Ward has been appointed Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the above district. MXGustbbial. —There were no criminal oases for hearing at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court yesMMfjß/' A number of Crown Grant summonses Were disposed of. Aobioultubal Statistics, —It is notified in the Ntw Zealand Gazette, of Jan. 9, that Mr F. de 0. MAlet has been appointed Superintendent Collector of the Province of Canterbury. Chiabini’s Oibous.— Mr J. A. Rowe, the agent for Ohiarini’s Royal Italian Circus, arrived in Christchurch, from the North yesterday, to make arrangements for the appearance of the company in this city. The Auckland press reports, it to be the best circus troupe that has ever visited that city. Obuelty to Animals. —A man named William Moore, a’ Shearer, returning from the north on his way-to Christchurch, had an abrupt stop put to bis journey yesterday at Kaiapoi, by Sergeant Pratt. The man had been spurring his horse at an unmerciful rate, and its sides were covered with blood from shoulder to flank, and in fact the blood was -running down its hind legs on to, the road. 'The Sergeant, on seeing it, placed the animal in Middleton’s stables, and escorted its rider to the lock-up. Thbatbb Royal. —“ Miriam’s Crime was repeated last night to a .much better house than on the occasion of its first representation. It is only justice to the management and those concerned in the representation of the piece that it fully deserved the increased amount of patronage that was bestowed upon it. Mr Hydes sustained the part of Biles exceedingly well, making the most that could possibly be made of the character. Miss Anstead, as the heroine, had ample opportunity of , proving that she has advanced considerably in her profession. Mrs Rieogh was also deserving of the applause that was accorded to her, Mr Hydes had the honour of being called before the curtain and loudly applauded —a • compliment which was as richly deserved as it was freely paid to him by the audience.

The Qoeailt Ceop in the Ashley Eoad Disteiqt.-—The soil of this district on the whole is naturally very heavy and sour; it requires more labour, and that for a much longer period than the average time, to bring it into a profitable state of cultivation. The district is consequently not a good one for the poor farmed, who requires a quick return for his labour; and many of those who started here some eight or ten years ago, and strove manfully for a time, and bore disappointment year after year, were obliged to succumb, and either “ clear out” or sell out for very little. But those who have been able to “weather the storm” have now a fair pro-' spectof remuneration for their past toil and disappointment, for where the land was laid down for two dr three years and broken up again, the result 1 is equal to or beyond the expectation. In several instances from 35 to 40 bushels of wheat per acre will be bagged if the weather proves favourable. And the farmers now think they will do very well if they can only get their land properly “ sweetened” by a few years’ cultivation, and laid down so as to! enable them to canyon a rototary system of breaking up and laying down, and keep a few sheep in connection with their cattle. The few who have done so seem well satisfied with the result. The average yield of wheat per acre this year will be the beat they ever had in the district, say, 22 ' bushels. The oats will hardly be up to the average, owing to late sowing; they may be put down at .about 20, and barley at 15 bushels per acre. The extreme western portion of the district was on Saturday evening last visited with a very severe shower of hail; those who witnessed it describe the hailstones to be as large as marbles; they completely threshed out all the standing com on the farms; of Messrs Sinclair, Mathewson, Todd, and Trevurza.

Teachees’ Examinations.—The quarterly examination of teachers and candidates for appointment as such, will be commenced by Mr Bestell, Inspector of Schools, next week, in the Durham street Wesleyan School. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next, the examination of masters desirous of securing higher certificates than at present held, and of made candidates for appointment as masters or as assistant teachers will be entered upon, commencing at 10 o’clock a.m. There are already about twenty competitors entered, of whom six are masters going in for higher certificates, and the balance are new candidates. On the following Wednesday, the examination of female candidates will be held, commencing at the same hour, and of these there are now about fifteen who have intimated their intention to. compete. On Friday, the 30th instant, an examination of male and female pupil teachers will take place, commencing at the same hour, the object being to ascertain the progress that Has been made during the past year. Whilst on educational matters it may be remarked that very satisfactory proofs are being given of the wisdom shown by the Board of Education in improving the remuneration given to teachers. Already several very competent teachers, from Nelson schools, have applied for and received appointments, under the, . Board, and many more are likely to follow the example. In view of the scarcity of qualified teachers this is very. gratifying, and the Board deserve eveiy credit for it. .

Immigration and Public Works Act. In the District Court at Tnnaru, on Monday, Jan. 18, we learn from the Herald that the following compensation cases were adjudicated upon by his Honor Judge Wordj assisted: by Messrs T. W. Ball and H. J. LeCren, assessors:—Masonic officers of Lodge of St John’s, Tipaeru y. Hon. E. Richardson re Immigration and Public Works Act Amendment Act/lSfy, sad re Tunaru ond Temuka.railway { to assess value of; plaintiffs’ interest in leas# of a section of, land, and the Masonic Hail erected thereon, which had been demolished in order that the land oh which it stood might be used for railway .purposes. The claim of £I3OO for the land wae.admitted by the Government, but the Court .was asked to fix the amount to which the Messrs Rhodes, the owners of the land, were entitled out of the amount of the award. The lease baying been fully argued by the counsel, on either side, his Honor, after consultation with the assessors, said that the award would be for £I3OO, with interostat 8 per cent, from the 2nd of May, 1872, less the mortgagees’ principal and interest. The award Would carry law-costs but the court costs would be divided. The - second case was as follows. —Hon. E. Richardson v. R. H. Rhodes, the said R. H. Rhodes and Wm. Donald (trustees of the real estate of' George Rhodes, deceased) re Immigration and Public Works Act Amendment Act, 1871, and re Timaru and Temuka Railway, to assess compensation to be paid to the defendants for freehold interest in the section referred to above. This case occupied a considerable time, the evidence as to the value of the property being somewhat contradictory. The case was ultimately adjourned to the following day, when, in delivering' judgment, his Honor observed that some trouble had been given to the Court through the paucity of evidence laid before them and the peculiarity of its nature. Mr Williamson, for instance, stated on oath, first, that the value of the building, without the was £2400 ; and secondly, that the cost of its erection was £I2OO. It was impossible to place the slightest reliance on so peculiar a valuation. In calculating the compensation, the fair value of the quarter-acre section had been assessed at £l5O, that of the building, at present, £I2OO. But fourteen years had to run, at Is per annum rent, before the claimants would come into possession ; and it was estimated that during those fourteen years the building would have decreased in value £3OO. The value of the property, at the date of the claimants taking possession, would therefore stand thus :—Land, £l5O ; building, £9OO. Total £IOSO. Calculating the interest of money at eight per cent., the present value of the sura of £IOSO, payable fourteen years honco, was £357 10s, and that sum was consequently awarded as compensation, with costs at the rate of five per cent., according to the usual District Court scale. The sum of £357 10s will therefore be the amount to be deducted from the £I3OO, and interest thereon, awarded to the Masonic Lodge in the former case. J

RUNAWAY. —Another instance of the careless manner in which carters leave teams', unattended, occurred at Kaiappi-yesterday afternoon. A, team belonging to Mr R. Hop r kins got startled while Birch A Co.’s yard, and the shafthorse bolted uo Charles street with the dray at a funout despite aU to »top ifc It, was with great difficulty that several persons who wore about the street At the.-time, got out of the way of the runaway, which continued its gallop beyond Mrs Davis’. brewery. It is to L hoped that the police will take measures which will put a stop to the P r “' tice referred to, as it w now becoming common.

The Growth op Flax, —Many people are under the impression that flax 18 difficult of cultivation, but it is a great mistake, and would bo entirely dissipated by a visit to Mr Hawkins’ nursery, Antigua street south. Those who take an interest to the development of tho flax industry would also find themselves amply repaid by adopting a similar course and inspecting the plants which have been, cultivated by Mr Hawkins on behalf of the Flax Association. The plants occupy an acre of ground, which possesses no special advantages for tho purpose in hand, yet has produced most 1 astonishing results. The contract between Mr Hawkins and tho Flax Association was entered into in October, 1871, about which time he planted upwards of ’one thousand flax stools obtained in equal proportions from Taranaki and from the bed of the river Avon at Ham. None of the stools exhibited so much as one green leaf when first placed in the ground, but, notwithstanding that they also had to contend against exceedingly hot dry weather for some months, some of the plants have during the fifteen months intervening grown to a height of seven feet. Doubtless the care with which Mr Hawkins has carried out the terms of his contract is to be credited with, a great portion 'of what has resulted, but the evidence of the inexpensiveness of cultivation and the rapidity of growth is under any circumstances incontestible. , • ,

New Rifle Butt.— The frequent narrow escapee from serious injury by markers, in rifle shootirlg, should make any plan for diminishing the risk, very welcome to . all concerned. Now methods for marking are frequently tried, butvery little improvement has yet beenperceptible. Sergeant-Major Morgan, of the Christchurch Militia staff, has however hit upon a plan which will go far towards supplying what is required, indeed, it may be, questioned whether anything much better could be devised for. securing safety and rapidity of; marking. Perhaps the marking is not quite so distinct at the long ranges as could be desired, but this may with a little alteration, be considerably improved, and no doubt a short acquaintance, with the practical working of the plan will’show how it can be done. In the! butts hitherto used, the markers have invariably been more, or less exposed, either when showing the discs or in clearing the targets,: but in this case, it is entirely obviated. An excavation is made about six feet in front of the target, and duly covered, so as to be shot proof... The roof is about two feet six inches above the level of the ground, but the target is so.placed that a yiew of it at anyrange is not obstructed. In the front of the butt, where it rises above the ground, there is a plate glass window, about two feet by one foot, through which , the marker has a capital sight of the target. • Immediately on the right of the window a long narrow aperture is provided through which the discs are worked. A marker in the butt thus observes where the shot has struck the target, and then without moving from his perfectly safe position he. raises the disc, lying' with its handle through the aperture and marks the shot,' a brush at the back of the disc at the same time obliterating the bullet mark on the tagets. Two dishes containing the necessary white and, black, mixtures.. for obliterating shots lie 4 oh the ground, at'the foot of the targets, and the marker after cleaning off a shot lays the disc down in such manner that the brush at ' the back •of it drops into the paint dish, and is replenished with paint for the next shot. It will thus be seen. that no spray from a bullet hitting the target can get at the marker, and as he does not go out of the butts'to mark Or paint out, the shots cannb't strike him in any other manner. The plan is simple and effective; and the only improvement required is id show the discs flatter on the target than is at present done. Mr Morgan certainly deserves the thanks of all volunteers for his efforts in devising the method described.

The English Coal and Iron Teadh.— The Australasian’s London correspondent remarks : —At length, happily, there are signs that the iron and coal traders are- about to descend from their monstrously exorbitant prices, and again to become reasonable. Merchants are holding out still for the iron, but buyers know well that they cannot hold out long, and that a speedy fall is imminent. Coal has already fallen considerably, and the colliers are dimly beginning to perceive that they are makmg fools of themselves, and that, unless they abate their preposterous demands, masters will stop their whole works rather than submit. This policy has had a good effect in South Wales, where the preparations for a general lock-out were, too much for the men, and if all other districts were to act as promptly we shoold hear very little more of the agitators.

Railways in New South Wales, —New South Wales will not allow itself to be beaten by any of the sister colonies in railway enterprise. The New South Woles Government now propose to‘ carry their railways to the margin of the Southern boundaries of Queensland on die one side and to Victoria in .the opposite direction. The narrow gauge was proposed, as it was considered that by this system £3OOO per mile would construct effective lines of railway. The Chief Secretary, Mr Parkes, opposes the proposal,, and quotes figures to snow that New South Wales had Constructed its railways more economically than any of its colonial neighbours, while it had far greater engineering difficulties to pontend with. It had 400 miles of railway, which had cost about £14,000 per mile, although they had to climb great ranges and cross rivers subject to tremendous floods. The principal difficulties were now conquered, and the lines were approaching districts where the country would be comparatively level. The change in gauge would result in very little saving in the cost of construction, and none in working expenses. This view of the case commended itself generally to the acceptance of hon. members, and the, proposal of a narrow gauge was rejected by a majority of 26 to 8.

A Heroic Young Lady.—A brave rescue from drowning by a young lady is related by the bouth Australian Register :—“ On Wednesday, December 4, at Wentworth, William Stewart, aged 16, who had been living with Mr Kerridge, got leave to bathe, and in company with John Eggs, also a lad, went a short distance from the house to a spot where there is a small narrow inlet from the river, and while in the water Stewart said to his companion, “ Look how I can swim,’ but he not being able to do so, Ihe current carried him into deep water, where he' 'immediately sank. The other boy, being also unable to swim, became alarmed, and called to Mrs and Miss Mary Kerridge, who were about 100 yards distant. The young woman ran as fast as she could, plunged into the river with all her clothes on, and caught the lad by the hand as he rose the third time. The current being strong, she had some difficulty in swimming with .one hand against it and bringing the youth to the bank. The boy was quite insensible when rescued, but recovered consciousness a few minutes afterwards. But for the courageous conduct of Miss Kerridge, who fortunately was near, the youngster would doubtless have been lost. This act of daring and presence of mind deserves recognition, ana certainly few instances have occurred whore the Humane Society’s medal could be more appropriately and deservedly bestowed. It must be very difficult for a woman to swim when fully dressed, and in this case the time spent in divesting herself of any portion of her clothing, had Miss Kerridge done so, would apparently have been a fatal delay. At the spot where Stewart was recovered the Darling was seven feet three deep, and not far off quite double that depth, while the stream was running swiftly and strong-

How CAME IT THEBE?— I The following puzzle is propounded in the South Australia Register : —Mr J. P. Swann, of Salisbury,on .Monday brought to the Register office the 'corpse of a locust which boys had found in a live state inside the egg of a native hen. The 'lads |rlre, as is often their wont, pricking wild Jfowlji'fggs and blowing out the contents; hut in ohdinstance their efforts were unavailing and.hpon their breaking the shell they saw inside a largo locust. The insect lived till next day, when it expired, doubtless from the want of breath. The question for solution is how did it get inside the egg, which we are assured was not cracked or punctured previously to the boys manipulating it. Our informant is thoroughly reliable, and' has met with no person who can give a satisfactory answer to the above query. 3 British Graveyards in the Crimea.“General Adye, C. 8.,” it is mentioned in the English paper,” having accomplished his tour of inspection of tho British graveyards in the Crimea, proceeded to Smyrna, m order to visit the English military cemetery in that town. During his stay in tho Crimea General Adye discovered that the ashes of our heroes of Balaclava and Sebastopol, of Alma and Inkerman, occupy no less than 132 separate burial-grounds, of which many are wellpreserved and securely fenced round. Others hastily chosen among vineyards and culti-’ voted fields, are unprotected: but even these it is satisfactory to learn, are respected by the Russian peasantry, and have not been objects of desecration. On Cathcart’s Hill, however some of the finest monuments have been overturned, presumably under the impression that treasure might have been buried under them.” Triumphs op Science.—The London correspondent of the Australasian writes:—l must not omit to describe briefly what has been going on in the scientific world. Our . large monster ship, the Devastation, .has been fairly put to sea in very rough weather, and has been found to answer all expectations. She is a monster vessel, a mass of 10,000 tons and as ugly os it is possible to make a vessel • but although, in the trip round the Isle of Wight she raised at her bows a sheet of water 25ft high above her deck, which was consequently invisible, she herself was as impassive as though on a duck-pond. So far, she is a rare triumph over old Neptune, particularly if viewed merely as a fighting ship, and it is to be hoped that she will always behave as well as she has done now. The next great triumph is the completion of your telegraph system although 1 do not think that English people know or appreciate a tithe of the difficulty ar of the importance of the fact. After the fashion of Englishmen, we hope very soon to celebrate the laying of the Australian telegraph by a dinner, when the feast of reason will be still further made interesting by holding telegraphic conversations with yourselves during dinner-time.

Asbestos.— We take the following from the Cornwall Chronicle : —“It will scarcely be credited by the majority of the population of the colony, that the manufacture of cloth from asbestos is an old Tasmanian or Van Diemanian industry, lost, like some of the arts known to the ancients, yet nevertheless this is simply the fact. When the original settlement of Port Dalrymple was at York Town, near the site of the Tasmanian Charcoal Iron Company’s works, the Government of the day recognised the immense value of the mineral deposits in the locality, and made some attempt to utilise them. When the Government establishment was removed to George Town, and that ancient village became the capital of the north, the Government erected a woollen factory there, and made their own blankets—very substantial blankets too—and also a variety of fabrics suitable for clothing the prisoners. Some scientific men, and there were many highly educated, accomplished men amongst the Government officers of that period, determined to manufacture indestructible cloth from asbestos. They had some skilled woollen cloth-makers under their control, and a large quantity of asbestos fibre was procured from the ranges for use. One great difficulty lay in the way; the fibre was so short that none 4 of the wheels used for spinrung wool and hemp into yarn could, be persuaded to make a thread of the fine short fibres of the asbestos. But ‘where there’s a will there’s a way,’ and the self-reliant men of George Town discovered it in this instance. The asbestos was spun with fine * hemp or flax, the cloth woven close, and when the web was completed put to the crucial test of the fire. The result Was the disappearance of the hempen material, and the indestructible asbestos remained for use. We are informed that it was an invaluable material for shirts, cravats, pocket-hand-kerchiefs, gloves, and socks. Every gentleman with a stock of those made from asbestos cloth, was independent of his washerwoman, and to some extent of his wife, if he had one. On washing day all he required was a good clear fire, out of the flames of which his shirts came ready for use, starching and ironing being luxuries not much indulged in in those days. When the doctrine of free trade came into fashion, and commission agents were established in this fifth section of the world, the indestructible shirts, cravats. See., went out, ahd a very remarkable industry was lost to the colony. These are facts for which a gentleman high in office under the present Government can vouch, and no man in Tasmania would attempt to question his veracity if we chose tq mention bis name.” A Vest Nabbow Gauge Railway.— Aldershot, says the London correspondent of the Australasian, has been the scene of a new railway experiment, m which a line of only 18in gauge has been, laid down around the camp at a ridiculously small cost, and in a very short time. Yet the passengers were carried along safely at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and it is easy to see that such a simple and inexpensive railway would be of use in case of an invasion. The tramway system is fast extending in this country, and is evidently to become a very important item in our travelling. Our large towns, such as London, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin, Leeds, Plymouth, Bristol, and Cardiff have all adopted it. and the opening of the East Suffolk tramway is the first adaptation to country districts. I believe that before long all towns and villages which are not directly connected by railways, will be so by tramways, and that the latter will become an actual necessity. Regarding the narrow gauge line mentioned above the Atyns says: Experiments have been made at the South Camp, Aldershot (we learn from ' a London paper), to test the recently-constructed narrow gauge railway which has been laid down Between the Field Stores Depdt and the Barrack Stores. A large number of engineers were present. Mr J. B. Fell, the inventor of the system, explained its advantages. The line is upwards of one mile in length. About two-thirds is laid on curves from three chains to seven chains radius, and there is a gradient of 1 in 50 for a length of 770 ft upon a viaduct of from 20ft to 26ft in height, the gauge being 18in. The rails ore laid on two longitudinal timber beams, supported at intervals of 10ft and I6t by posts with lateral struts. The-general plan of the structure of the locomotixe which is used has been designed by Mr Fell; the working plans were prepared and the engine built by Messrs Manning, Wardle, and Co., of Leeds. The engine weighs 4i tons, and the tender 3i tons, with coals and water. There are three pairs of driving-wheels coupled, each 16in ® diameter. There are also four horizontal wheels running upon guide rails fixed on the lower edges of the beams. The depth of the guide rails below the carrying rails is 12in, and this is equivalent to an extension of gauge, so that as regards stability and safety the gauge of 18in. on this system of railway is equivalent to one of 3ft 6in on an ordinary railway. The bodies of the‘waggons arc Bft long, sft wide, 2ft deep, and are calculated to carry a load of three tons each, or from 800 to 400 cubic feet of bulky articles. The waggons are suspended from two pairs of wheels placed not under the body but at each end of it; the body of the waggon is thus brought down to about Sin above the carrying rails, and a very low centre of gravity is by this moa«s obtained'. The experiments referred to formed one of a series which have been held at Aldershot during the past three, months, and the result fully justified all that its inventor has stated respecting the scheme. The lines made on this principle are capable or carrying sufficient quantities of military stores, including field artillery and siege gun®, of seven tons weight.

Adulteration op Tea.—A Glasgow S»r< which is juitnow engaged in the laude pursuit of analysing the tea sold in that city has published the results of the experimerits. The result is summed up as follows : —Out of 27 samples of black tea at all prices collected in different parts of Glasgow, Six fall high priced) were genuine, 20 were ,more or less adulterated, and one, which had been forwarded to a Glasgow merchant from London os a sample of cheap tea, contained as far as could bo discovered, not a single leaf of genuine tea. Of eight specimens of green examined every one was more or less painted or adulterated. r An Anecdote in connection with the Ballot.— Sir Stafford Northoote told a story of the ballot when at Powdorham lately, which has been touched up and reproduced os follows :—A candidate in his canvass was told that a.partioulor publican was for the ballot. It was no use his going there. Ho went, and the following conversation ensued. " Are you a supporter of the ballot ? " " No,” said the candidate. “ Then,” replied the publican, “ I Will vote for you.” The candidate expressed his surprise, as he had heard he was in favour of the ballot. "So I was,” replied the voter, "but I will toll you what happened the other day. There was a club election, and out of 20 members of the committee IB promised to rote for me. When the ballot took place seven did so. I did not mind that, but the thing wps that the whole 16 came to me, one by one, and said, "It was a great pity that you wore not elected—l voted for you.”