TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5228, 21 November 1877, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

ScpPMMBHT.—A supplement is published with the Lyttelton Timet this taotaivg. • j Thbaxbb was on excellent attendeeoo at tba Theatre Bo? ft i isst svening, when “The Two Boses” was again rcpeatad inith every mark of nndimipisiied success. It Will be performed, this . evening, for ■ the I**t time, and playgoers should not -mis* the opportunity of seeing oho 1 of the prettiest comedies ever plaood upon the Ohristohuroh stage. To-morrow evening “ The Shaughrauu ’ Willbspyoduoed. w• ‘ Sheffield and , WaddiN qtoh Nbw jYEAU'a Sroßis.—A meeting w»» held at 'Flanagan's Hotel on Nov 15, At which s ComImittee was* appointed to cany oat, those •ports. Mr Fianagan consented to act as Tf aa*prer, and Mr Poa»e as Seoretory. A sapi of £l2 wee subircribed ju the room. The jdate for holding the sports was left, to be jdaoided on at- the next meeting, the Commititeo not wishing to olash with the Konol Posb 'SpOfti.: KSSAVOS Matoeal Elbction, The nomination for the Mayoralty hi thh Borough of Eaiapoi tookplsooat cdonyesterdey,'when the only candidates.! nominated . were the,, present Mayor fMr J, W. Ellen) and Mr J. Lowthian WiUqh,,a flounci!. The latter. howcver, when ho found that Me Ellen hod oonsented to romaio in oflioe, withdrew bis nomination, and W. Ellen therefore remain*the sole nominee, and will oonseqdently’be declared elected in due oonnie. , ANp ~fIAB. WOBKS.—A pnblin meeting of; the.burgesses,.(MOvened by the Mayor, will bo held in the Institute Hall, on Monday evening next, to consider a proposal made by the Borough Oouncil to borrow £40,000 foh ooinpleting the of the Borough, end also of borrowing £12,000 for the purchase of the Gas Company’s plant. The works connected with the water supply are an ' absolute necessity,,,,and there is little doubt but that! the burgesses will sanction the loan. Opinions differ, however, on the advisability of raising a loan to purchase the gas works from the present company. Longbraoh Bailwav Station.—Complaints are numerous about the total ; absence of dut:door conveniences at this station, and the railway authorities would dp.well to have the neoessary buildings erected without delayAs the afternoon passenger trains pae* here, and have frequently to .stop fora length of time, the requirementß above referred to are the more necessary., The township surrounding this station is called Winslow, but for some unaccountable reason the station is called Longbeach, although Limgbesoh is several miles away. There is no. such place. as Winslow in the list of stations on the railway, end parcels booked to Longbeach; frequently go Astray for weeks, ' - Accidbnt.—As.Oonstable Kenny was passalong High street about half-poet 11 o’clock on Mbhday evshihg he saw a man stagger and fall. On going up to him he learnt that his leg was broken just above the , ankle. Ac-; cording to • tho statement of the sufferer, whose name Is Charles Clarkson, he was standing on' the pavement when three men passed him and one of them gave him s shove which knocked him into the gutter, breaking hie leg in the fall. The men passed on, and he failed to identify any of them. He was at odoo removed to the Hoepital in a cab* On making inquiries there last' evening, our porter was informed that ho would get no information as to the man’s condition, this being against the rules of the establishment. j Mount Sombbs Boad.—The attention of the Boad Board authorities in the Ashburton district is urgently rtqaired to be directed to the state of the’road between-North Ashburton and the Spread Eagle Hotel.- This road is certainly to a disgraceful state, and taking into consideration the amount of traffic that is .daily being carried on between Ashburton and Alford Forest and Mount Somers, some steps ought at once to be taken to 1 fill in 'the very dangerous holes, and break some ofthose rooks which appear to have been spread on tho roads by way of shingle. It in almost an impossibility! to drive beyond a walking pace on some parts of it. It is hard to believe that better metal is not obtainable close at hand, than what has been spread on the rosde, and we hope the new Board inliendea- ; vour to make thi# now important wad ftvuilable for all kinds of treffio. Gaiety Thbatbb —At the Gaiety Theatre last evening the programme again consisted of “Old Soldiers " and “ The Toodles” Both piebes went as well SB on former occasions, and 0! the first mentioned it may be said that it oould scarcely fail to grow in the estimation <of the public Mrs Hall appears to advantage in the character of Kate M’Tavish, a» also does Miss Laura Wisetoan in that of Mary Moss. For the p(irt of Mrs Major Mo»* Mws Lucy Ashton makes up <»pita)ly, and imparts no little spirit into tho piece. As a . course, the" quiet humour of Mr J; L. Hall as Cassidy was fully appreokted, and the Lionel Leveret of Mr J. F. Graham at least sustams his previous reputation as a painstaking and intelligent actor. Mr Oily Deering’s impereonation of the unprincipled Captain M’Tavish was decidedly good, and, a* w invariably the case with Mr Deering, the make-up was thoroughly appropriate. “ Old Soldiers, will be repeated Ibis evening, but a change will be made in the programme by the repro duolion, after an interval of many years, of the burlesque of “ Faust.” South Oantxbbuby Jockey Club.-A meeting of the Committee was held at the Criterion Hotel, Timaru, on Monday evening last. There was a large attendance, and Mr Hamereley presided. The Secretary reported having invested £3l 10* (being the nominations for Castaway, K.uri, and Detractor, for the Sires* Produce Stakes 1881) in tho Timsru Permanent Building Society tor three years, the interest to be added to the principal each year, ohd the then Secretary and Treasurer being empowered to withdraw it at maturity. It was resolved; on tho motion of Mr Jonas, seconded by Mr D. M'tean—That Mr Stevenson, the present lessee of the course, be informed of the Olub’a intention to build a grand stand on the hill, and alter the raceoourto to suit the position of the stand. Flans for the proposed new grand stand were examined, and it was decided on the motion Of Mr Jones, seconded by Mr Meikle, that Mr Duval’s plan bo adopted, subject to any alteration tho Committee may think fit. Messrs Meikle, Jonas, T. Hall, and R. Stansell, were rrqaested to see Mr Duval and suggert certain alterations in his plans, and call for tenders in blue stone and brick. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr T. Hall—- “ That Messrs Jocas; Hamershy, and the mover, negotiate a loan of £4OO, at 10 per cent per annum, offering as security the premises now leaaed by tho Club to Mr Stevensonj tho loan to be for two J e * M “ possible, but not to exceed four years. H was.then decided that Meiers Staceell, D. MTiosn; J. Meikle, T. Hall, a d Hamersley, draw up a programme for next meeting, and submit tho same to a Committee meeting on Deo 3.

Emotion—The noma,, tiaoof candidates for the position of l|» yo . oloasd yMMiday- The only candidatesm jj' James OlpM sad Ur Henry Thompson. Xfc. KU will take piece on Wednesday, Hot 28 twee* the boon of nine in the morning uJ sixo*elock is the ereniog. Expobtxd Stock.—The i.t. Tanpo y tl , terday took sway eoma very fine sheepfo Wanganui. They consisted of foisteen iplsndidtwo-toothed Border Leicester run. from the flocks of Messrs Gillies end Street Oast aka. They hate been purohsied hi Messrs Moore and Carry, of Wsonnaf there they will no doabt be welcomed h » valuable addition to the flocks of that district Mr Tudbsll also shipped 170 fat sheep (j M I lined forth* Wvlllngtonmarket. FOWON Bowiso OlUß.—The senior p*!,, oared races, lor prizes presented to the Oloh by Mr Hannah, will be polled off by mmher* of the Union, Boning Club on Ta«rid«y evening next. The, following crews hare eptersd for the saw, which will be pulled cS in heats, the coarse being from Frstt’i to ths willows at tba sheds:—First heat, Walters and 1 Gapes (Una) v P. Jacobsen and F. Jacobsen ( Syren); second heist, Kesieven ssd Duncan (Ona) v Harding and tirosimsaa (Syren) ; third beat, between the winners of the two first heats } fourth heat, Campbell and Petrie t winners of third heat. Eaiapoi School Comkittbe,—An sd. journed meeting _of this Committee wne held on Monday evening; present—Mrsire Pan. ham (chairman), ; Johnston, Bean, Pashby, and j. I). Wilson. A letter was reed from Mrs Solby, mistress of the infant school, together with one from the master in «. planation, and replies wen directed td be sent to both lettere. The migration of Hiss E, Pashby, as pupil teacher, was accepted, the Committee expressing satisfaction at the painstaking and earnest manner In which she had earned oak the duties of her office during the past two years. In reply to a letter from Miss J. Psehby, it wee agreed that an sourer be sent her to the effect that she was not required to teach muaiqintbe infant school. The Committee then adjoarogd, , : A Mabtxl or Oalimatht. —There has been deposited in the readlfij| 700 m at the Public Library,, lor. the inspection of the public, a remarkable specimen of caligrsphy, which includes agenealogioal tree of ths history of New Zealand. This fxtrsordioajy example of penmanship is the work of an old Colonist named, James M'Ksin Meek, who is now in bis 63rd year; by whom it was com. menoed on Monday, July 2d, 1876, and finished on Saturday, Deo 80,,0f 'the same year. Mr Meek was at that time residing in the neighbourhood of the Waiwera hot springs, and bis ■chart, which measores Gft 61n by sft, hss for a centrepiece a drawing from nature of agreed specimen of the kauri {DcmmcrraAnetralir), The trank of the tree u crowded'with the dates of events, chronologically arranged, from 1642 to 1876. There is a maisirs - pencilled border, thoroughly original, in design, sod boldly conceived, the panels being Ailed with an almost incredible amount a| information. There are brief accounts of the Tenons Prowinces, giving principal ■ towty/ pcpulstion, resources, do., ian entire history of Haw Zealand from its disoprery by Tasman to the present time t the composition of the Legiih. tore and House of Representatives in 1877 1 a statistical summary from 1878 to 1876; sod the following map*: —The World,on Met* oator'e projection, Australasia. and the North and South Islands. Minor details are also introduced, in which mush curious information is given, as, tor instance, the list of tba articles, and their seine, given by* the New Zealand Company’s agents to the Native chiefs, in exchange for land extending i from the 38tb to the 43rd degree of south , latitude on the west coast, and from the 41st , to the 43rd on the east coast. The total 1 value of these articles of barter is.statedst £8983, and.the list includes such .articles as umbrellas, jswsharps, razors, and sealing war. The chart is dedicated to the Hon Mr Whitaker, Attorney-General for the Colony. As previously stated it is a remarkable production, especially if the advanced age of the draughtsman ia taken into consideration, and ; it is certainly well wo>tby a visit of itipection. By permission of the Government the chart has been pbotb-lithographed. so that copies on a reduced scale may bo transmitted to England, and we believe that these copies may be obtained from Mr Meek, who is st present staying in Christchurch. It « tha gentleman's intention, if possible, to proceed to England, and to publish some account of hi* travels. This object he ha* had to view for many years, and wherever he has wen he has collected reliable information for the furtherance of his work. Wbsmyan Distbict Misting. The annual meeting commended yesterday at II a.m;, in the Schoolroom of the Durham street Church. Tho ministers present were—tha Beve J. Crump (Chairman),/. Aldred, W. Morley, J. 8 Smalley, W. Worker, W. Lee, W. Oannell, Q. Bond, W. 0- Oliver, J. A. Taylor, W. B. Marten, W.-H. Beck. P. W. Fairolough, J. A. Luxford, Henry BUts, and To Koto, native minister. The proceeding* were opened with prayer by the Be»s W. V. Oliver and J. Aldred. The Bev J Aldred wac elected Secretory. The hours of meeting were fixed from 10 a.m. to 115 p.m . and from Stos pm. It was announced that tha financial business would be token to morrow it 11a.m. On ; the reading of the relief names, with the usual questions as to character and orthodoxy, no objeoUon was tsk»n to any of the ministers, but thedeath of ths BevJ.W. Wallis was reported. The Beu W. Morley, J. Aldred, and the Chairman, spoke to highly eulogistic terms of Mr Wallis’ character and work. The Bov Is Beta presented the report of his work the Maoris of this province, which shoved a satisfactory attendance at the sernoes, do* an unwillingness on the part of the Native# w . contribute toward# the support of the ministry. On the motion of the Bev W.Le*« seconded by the Bev W. Motley, tb® J. Aldred and ths Chairman wore appointee a deputation to visit the Natives, and urgenpoa them the duty of giving. .The P h ’ u, ®*“ reported one candidate for the ministry, o«me recommended by the Springston quw terly meeting. He »« directed to p«*«f himself on Wednesday roorning for examination. The Bev W. Marten visited the ObertseyandßakaiadisWiot.'md collected satisfactory statistics, .on themohon of the Bev W. Morley. seconded by the B*v W. l ee, it was resolved to _ recommend Conference to appoint o minister, the sta»w» to be called the Ohertsey and Bakaia «ro»J rTn« aknitkbsabt SPOBXS.'—A 0 1 the Axrni *m**7 SP ortß held at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, m tb» Oitv Council Chamber} preeect—M««» r oh 7 n oilivier (in the chair), Andre**. Mitchell. Hebden, Thoroaon, Walkdon, Wynn William*, and Haskins. Some prebmij*'? conversation took place on the question of tn* General Government not siting apart use. 16 as a public holiday, and the draft petition was read, asking bnsiryfs P*°P J ® obeerve' the day, and also calling open Government to declare the day a PJ, sjr, nn dev for this portion of the Colony. Mr wy Williams was requested to act b# T«*» * aod Mr Haskin. as Secretary. discussion took place on the question of « best place to hold the sporta this year, appeared to be the general 0 p'” 1 »j)i» Hagley Park would be a bettor P la ®® * 0 f purpose than Latimer square, on » ite freedom from dust the at first obtained from the tree*. Thera to some talk about calling a P° t blw “* e Sit discuss tho whole matter, but “ . j wß j was resolved that the most F MO /‘X Pftt k would be tohold the gathering m the tbit year, which would be the could be had The members of th^“F u( i g » however, decided to visit tho park J for themselves before oomiog jir decision on tho subject. OnthemoUon^ b]e Thomson, it was agreed «that it it y r to hold tho annual eporte on Di o. 10. Walkdon suggeated that it woidd be idea to hold a meeting at the sport* selvee on the ground m the P* 1 peop ls. pose of taking the opinion of the With regard to tho memorial to round for signature, Mr Ollivwr expK« WilUcgneea to devote two day* fertn V pose.' It was stated that * gramme of last year would be*JJ«J tben closely a* P««ble. titcc adjourned until Friday next »t tn ana piece I

■ fxuASV Mayobamt.—My Q. Cliff wm .i I only pe»<m nominated on Mayes of > 1 ®n«ra yesterday, end was declared, so*, I mlAotod* '' ' I " a Stksbt Ihoidhsi.—A bosse belonging ] 1 2f r a. Honmon, carrier, while standing in I ra«ah street yesterday afternoon, suddenly i W dead* - i I (Italian Onesa Company.—Verdi’s great i kk». : men " Aida ” was prodaoed at the Prineest « P"f" SSeetre,Dunedin,on Monday evening to a i I ator ded bouse. She Company also made a , I «reet hit in" Robert le Diablo.” 3 I • Harmonic Society. The Harmonic I I Society is now pushing forward with the pro- t I naretion of the oratorio of “ The Creation.” i I Aspeoial rehearsal was held last evening in i I the St Michael’s schoolroom, at which there < | yos a good attendance, and the successful t I practice gave promise of a really good per. I i form an oe. 1 I Ashburton Athletic Sports. —A meet* < I isg of persons intemted in the above sports t I was held at the Somqpet Hotel on Monday 1 I .evening last. There woe not a large attend* 1 I .once. Mr Cambridge waa voted to the ohair. 3 I jjfoo treasurer stated that the balance, in hand t | 'from last year was 215 s Id. Mr Anderson s I proposed, Mr Bisely seconded, that the annual ’ i Sports be held on Boxing . Day. Carried. The * following were elected a committee—Messrs * Q' Compton, W. Anderson, 0. Bisely, ,W. s BissiTi T. Quill, O. 0. Fooks, J. M. Gam* bridg*', J* M'Donald, B. W. Shearman, M. 8 Friedlaoder, Q. Kidd, D. Williamson, B. r JeSi, Q. Johnston, J. Savage, H. Saunders, J. a D. Buchanan, J. Wallace, H. T. Smith, 0. I Beed, M. Dighy, Jordan, S. Saunders, 0. A. f .(frlrert. Mr W. H. Zauoh waa elected hon I .georetarj. Messrs Anderson, 0 Bisely, and I Pigby were appointed to wait upon Mr Smith c in reference to the use of his paddock for. t holding the sports in, to report at next meet- 31 log. It woe decided that subscription lists F be printed forthwith, and handed round to all t the principal business people in Ashburton, 1 and some of.the members of the committee. 1 It was decided that five should fo/m a c -quorum, and that the next committee meeting I Will take place next Monday- evening, the 8 ■name time and plaoe. Dr Stewart was elected 1 president. It was decided to'throw open I nearly all the events to all comers. The e meeting then adjourned. v Educational. —We havo received from ° Messrs Whitoombe, Temperton, and Co. a set of the newly published Oanterbury Test Cards. 31 They have been compiled by Mr H. W. Ham- b ■ inond, one of our Government Inspectors of *■ Schools, for the use of teachers in testing the Jj ' arithmetical knowledge-of their pupils in each 8 .standard, and with special-reference to the re- a qairemehts of the revised -standards. The 31 ■C&tOB in each package provide for 24 distinct 6 teat examinations, and it is abundantly 81 Wyident that a large amount of practical b .-experience has been brought to bear upon their 8 -compilation, while it is certain that their use 1 will save much trouble oh the part of the 8 teachers. At the same time the ey stem is one 1 that requires thorough knowledge on the part i of the pupils, for unless they have been 3 thoroughly grounded in the rules, the cards 8 cannot possibly bp efficaciously used. It is 8 . claimed for these test card ß that they supply 8 —what cannot be obtained from an ordinary 1 arithmetic work in all the roles to be under i taken by a given standard, grouped together 8 in one examination. Further, that they are t such complete tests of the work prescribed, 8 that if the cords have been honestly used, the t scholars who hove succeeded with them will I have no difficulty in successfully passing the f subsequent examination of the Inspector. It 11 may be mentioned that the series of questions are, as far as possible, made C to bear upon matters likely to be dealt with * in actual practice, and that as a separate key is 3 - included in the package for eaoh standard, " the cards will doubtless be of considerable t value to teachers in private schools, by J . furnishing to them the means of gaining the 1 knowledge and progress of their pupils, and of comparing the results with those attained t in the public schools. We believe that these > arithmetical test cards are a step in t'-e right I direction, and that teachers will not be slow to * appreciate this practical result of Mr Ham- 8 mend’s extended observation. * Carrier Pigeons.— Our pigeon fanciers i will be interested to learn that the experi- I meat, which was tried at Aberdeen last year, f of employing carrier pigeons for the purpose t of bringing early intelligence eaoh morning c from the fishing ground of the results of the c night’s labour, has been again resorted to this J season, and with most satisfactory results. ' One of the bird* is taken ont in each boat in ' V'iibasaaternoon, and after the nets have been t MSArfanleS on the f oll °wing morning, and the 1 extent of the catch ascertained, the pigeon is < despatched. A small piece of parchment tied f round its neck contains the information as to i . - the number of orans on board, the position of 'the boat, dirootion of the wind, and the pros- * peots of the return journey. If there is no < wind to take the boat back, or if it is blowing ia an unfavourable direction, a request is made . for a tug; and from the particulars given .of I the bearings of the draft, she can bo easily - picked up by the steamer. The other advan- I gages of' the system are, that when the ouyers ] are apprised of the quantity of herrings to be expected, they can make preparations for ex ( pediting the delivery and curing of the fish. | Most of the pigeons belong to Messrs Moir i and Son* of Aberdeen. When let off from the boats, the birds invariably circle three times overhead, and then sweep away towards the land, at the rate of about a mile per minute Two superior birds in Messrs Moire’ possession have occasionally traversed a distance of 20 or 25 miles in as many minutes. It appears that the pigeons require very little training, end that they quickly learn where to land with their message. A oot has been fitted up on the roof of Messrs Mow's premises at the quay, for the accommodation of the birds, and they invariably alight there on their return from see. . New Method of Concrete Building.— t. Mr W. F, Hubbard, Civil Engineer and Arobi- . teot, of this city, who has had largo experience in fire-proof construction, has designed an improved tile for casing concrete walle, and a specimen piece of wall will shortly be on view in the now yards of Messrs Austin and Kirk, Colombo street, who ate now manufacturing the tiles for the purpose. Several advantages are claimed for this method of building—1, That a wall of equal strength to that of brickwork can bo prodaoed at a less cost, 2. That it can be executed in much less time, St That with very little practice any unskilled person can build with the tiles, no striking or pointing of joints being necessary, the tiles forming; their own joint. 4. That they can bo painted or varnished as readily as xjood work, and do not absorb so much paint. 5, That if they are used without painting they form a face impervious to the weather. «. They are designed bobs to avoid breakage in transit from one part to another. 7- That When laid they form a very pretty rusticated joint, and are capable of being used to form cornices or skirtings, siring courses, &0., suitable to many buildings j also, of obtaining by judicious arrangement, a very pleasing effect fa elevation, 8. 'Jhat internal plastering » unnecessary in several classes of buildings, in Which case the tiles form an excellent lining. And many other advantages might be named For fire proof construction no better material is known at the present day than concrete, it being the best non-combustible and non.oondnotfve material used. It does not lose its cohesive strength in the presence of heat, is permanentandaurableunderall circumstances, and continues to increase T 8 l y * D * ca °u mously in strength. Tb« X no doubt bo welcomed by * intend building, and now that b- . . _ «ome, clumsy, and costly me* hod for concrete walls can be dispensed with, we may expect to see concrete extensi J and the fears of fire gradually diepelivd,.not to mention the red notion of pyermutne o P cif-n, which is no inconsiderable item ; some merchants. ho The Horticultural Society's Bose Show win do held on Wednesday next. , , . The cabmen, by advertisement, challenge licensed carriers to play them at cricket on ino y W6 a of the North Canterbury Bade Club will bo held at heborte' ■ Hotel, kangioin, ou Tuesday next, at 7.3 • p.m, . , A eerviee of song on the history of -Ssmuel will be rendered at the Oddfellows’ Hall, this evening, by the Lyttelton Wesleyan Ghoir ana other friends. - i The Subs Canal.—The Suez Canal, it-is claimed, has been of no commercial ad vantage to Egypt at all. It bw,cost her up to date

£14,200,000, and, while the'DanaThaa been’ '' useful to other nations, it has bCen to Egypt f the chief cause of her presenb flnanoSal em- - b&rrassment. Tsra thirde ef the vcisels that ; pais through the Canal ue-Englieh. Thb Indian Faminb Fund.—? The sub* ‘ fioripticn list published In the Dunedin papers shows that Otago so far has contributed £3Bll Ids 7d to the Indian Famine Fund, exclusive of the Oamaru subscriptions, which i amount to £650, with "more to come.” Thb Kuhds. —An American traveller who < has recently returned from visiting, for the i first time, Bagdad, the plain of Mesopotamia, I and other countries in that neighbourhood, i mentioned in the Bible, says:— *■ Haying < resided several years among the roving tribes ! of the Syrian and Arabian deserts, I could i state that, in leas than a month, they could < place a contingent of 100,000 of the best ' irregular cavalry In the world at (be disposal i of the Sultan j let only such popular officers < as Sir A. Kemball, 0.8, late Political (British) < Resident at Bagdad, encourage them to move,” < The same writer continues: "'The northern i Kurds about Ararat are mounted on active, < spare, and high- bred horses, and clothed head i and trunk with chain mail armour, and armed i With the long tapered lance, the mace, the < scimitar, and battle axe, and now with the ! rifle and pistole.” The Kurds have done good t service with the array of Makhtar Pasha. 3 Thb Effect or Example.- It is not un* 1 usual to see clergymen of the two elder i religious denominations in Tiotoria putting in < an occasional appearance at our places of ; public amusement. But probably for the I first time in the history of (he theatre in x Melbourne, the Academy of Masio was t patronised on Tuesday evening by two | courageous Presbyterian ministers, who from t the stage box enjoyed the excellent acting of s Mr William Oreswiok. Friends of both the I pulpit and the stage will be pleased to hear 1 this, and be glad to see (heir example fol- 1 lowed by others of their clerical brethren, e Their presence may help to improve the tone t of the surroundings of the stage j and the t hints that will be gained by the study of such p a master of, the .art of elocution as Mr Ores* J wiok will most certainly improve the pulpit. I If I were a theatrical manager I’d try the I effect of placing all clergyman on the free list c who would attend the dross circle in their t clerical costume.— 11 Attious ”in the Leader . 1 Mb Severn, the Scientific Lbotubbb.— e Mr Severn met a different reception in Sydney i to that he was accorded in Christchurch. The o Sydney Mowing Herald ot Oat. SO, in a o lengthy and eulogistic report of one of Mr Severn’s leotureo, says: "There was a very good F attendance at the Guild Hall last night, when t Mr H. A. Severn gave the fourth of a series of t experimental Scientific lectures, and it was very I satisfactory to observe that the interest taken o both by ladies and gentlemen in (his class of in- f Btruotion had manifestly increased. What is o very pleasing about Mr Severn* B entertain* o ment is the facility t® possesses for placing t his remarks and illustrations within, the r intellectual scope of an every day audience, t He discards technicalities_as far as possible, f and in an almost conversational manner t reveals, the matter he has to. deal with so 8 simply and succinctly that scientists .will 8 listen and observe with pleasure, and. the i interest of the remaining portion of his t audience does not flag from the beginning to s tho end. . . . It is noteworthy that Mr e Severn’s course of lectures .is being attended e by 200 pupil teachers of the schools under the H Board of Education-—a fact that speaks well I for that gentleman’s popularity as, a sclent- I ist.” 3 The “Taqabond” in Queensland.—The a Queenslander* looked rather askance at the t well-known “ Ttigabond” when he went up to a Brisbane to report on the Chinese question, s The Ojoktown Courier gave him the following c fatherly advice.: —Mr Julian ' Thomas, the < talented “ special” of the Australasian, who i has been ** making it hot” for some people in 1 Melbourne papers, has been sent up to Cook- i town as a penanoa for his sins ; and serve him ( right, the Argue Vagabond 1 He arrived by i the Lriobhardt yesterday. Ho does not come ! incognito, lot how oonld he, coming to a I climate where people cannot conceal their f identity, even when disguised in liquor!,. He i is going up to the Palmer, and when he 1 passes Kell’s Gates he will probably meet as I great vagabonds as himself. Ae we Cook- i townites are the most upright, virtuous, and 1 open-handed people in Australia, he cannot of < course find anything ‘‘crooked” about, us; ( bat he may expose the Chinese as much as he 1 likes—they have no friends down south. As i we knew in Oooktown'that ho was coming 1 amongst us, we Imported a Chinese palanquin 1 for his special use, and as ho is rather pon* i derous, and horses are very weak ot this ' season, wo advise him to use it, and biro a i retinue of Ohinkies to bear him on his way. * We hope when he writes to the Austral isian . about us, be will “behave” himself. If he does not, he had belter not return through that place with the naughty name on the Palmer road. With these few hints for bis guidance and good behaviour, we welcome MThomas, and wish that bis vagabondage about the Cook district may be both pioa.ianfc and profitable. Buenino of the Washington Paten c Office. —■ A telegram dated Washington, Sept. 21, says:—The Patent Office fire originated from spontaneous combustion among a lot of non-patected chemical matter stored in the attio on the Ninth street front. No fire was made in the conservatory to day, nor had any been made in the building. The principal loss fall# upon the Patent Offioe, The original copy of the Declaration of Independence and relics of General Washington wore saved j also the Franklin printing press. Nearly ah the specifications and original drawings of the Patent Office were saved, and from these models can be reproduced if necessary. None of the land Office records were destroyed, but many were seriously by water. The records of the Application Division, the office which first receives apphoa tions for patents, and of which papers no copies were made; were lived. The most valuable models saved were those relating; to sewing machines, fir arms, printing presses, looks,, safes, &o. The models of reaper/, mowers, and various ogrioaltural implements were destroyed. A temporary room will -be erected at once. The damage to the building is variously estimated at, from 300,000d0l to eoo.OOOdol, while that from the destruction of models and other valuables belonging to the Patent Office it almost incalculable. The arches which formed tho ceiling of the second story, and upon which the floor of the third story rested, are so badly damaged by heat and water that many must be tom down The marble of the outer walls is considerably discoloured and cracked. It is supposed the fire must have been .smouldering beneath the room, which was not fireproof, for some hoars before it was discovered. Two or three fires occurred in the neighbourhood, caused by sparks. Less small. The total number of models destroyed will not exceed 60,000 The Supposed Hungarian Plot —The following telegrams relate to the Hungarian - conspiracy, of which mention was made in 1 our cable massages :—Vienna, Sept 28—A seizure of arms and 1000 shrapnel shells ot the custom home in Pasth is causing considerable sensation. Sixteen oases of breechloaders, 36,000 cartridges and several boxes of > Turkish fuse caps have also been seized, » ■ transit The Government has ordered * • judicial investigation. Considering the places » at which these preparations hate been found , it may be predicted with some confltU-noe.toat the plan was not only to enlist an armed bo y I in Hunga.y, bub likewise to make anexped.- » tion into Boumania. No force that; the • Turkish sympathisers could send wo influence the war. - Tho intention waß l eT, n s denlly to compromise, if possible, and to embroil tho monarchy,*) as to dnjei ) into active measures on the side of Turkey ■ Such proceeding ß , howeyer, will came no i alteration in Austria’s the Turkirh sympathisers in Transylvania was i the formation of a Hungariar. ieftW>n, nurnberine EOOO men, who, acting moon junction with I corps,were to destroy Boumania.. 1 The renewed Hungarian General » SipS was one of the leaders .-Vmnna. 1 Oat P 3 Many arrests have betn jnade m (jot <>. '■ Mnnh sensation b«s been 1 M. Helfy, a weU-k'nowL-j caused I ,• . |j e i 0 g placed under polios ■SSiSs*

.riooll coaspirsoy. Tho'lacfi th*rttm»”h«f f beau seized at< various railway stations in Austria has produced a gnat sensation, as it ;seems to indicator that soma attempt was -intended in tho direotion ol Poland as well as : Boumania.” Death or M. Tjb Vbbbihb.—ln " Men of the Tima ” the following biographical okotoh io given of the great French astronomer, news of whose death was recently published:— Urbain Jean Joseph Le Yerrier, astronomer, born at St Ld (Manohe), March 11,1811, was a distinguished pupil of the Polytechnic School, and on leaving it chose to accept the office of engineer to the administration of that he might be able to reside in Paris to continue bit studies. Though he made one or two important discoveries in chemistry, astronomy became the study in which he achieved a high reputation. After many years silently carrying forward works of enormous extent, he one day astonished the scientific world by the announcement that, in an indicated point of space, and at a specified instant, they would see a star until then unknown. That discovery installed him as the first astronomer of France; Honours and places were heaped upon him from all sides, and the electors of the department of La Manohe returned M. Le Terrier as their representative to the Legislative Assembly. The Boyal Astronomical Society of London voted him, in 1848, a testimonial ” for his researches in the problem, of inverse perturbations, leading to the discovery of the planet Neptune.” ' Mr Adams, the celebrated English astronomer, having, to the satisfaction of the Royal Astronomical Society, .made good bis claim to the almost simultaneous discovery Of this planet, that body conferred upon him B similar testimonial to that bestowed upon the French astronomer. Mr Le Terrier, who succeeded M. Arago in the Observatory of Faria in 1854, held thot office until Feb 6, .1870. when he was dismissed by an Imperial decree, in consequence, it is said, of his despotioarroganoe towards the astronomical staff Of the Observatory having led to a general withdrawal of the gentlemen who were subject to his control. Ia June, 1873, however, he was again installed es Director of (he Observatory of Paris, having been nominated by M. Thiers at the request of. a majority of the astronomers attached to that institution. In the Legislative Assembly he contributed greatly to forward the cause of education in France. He was a senator, and in 1846 was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences, Ho was promoted Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, August 14,1863. Dangbbotjs Pbaotioh.—Daring guonery practice by the Neleon in Hobson’s Bay on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday, a shell 1 bounded from the water on shore at St Kilda. < It flew over the Railway station, through all obstructions, and then ploughed the highway; for a considerable distance, carrying with it a cart-load of dSbrit. It then rose, and came in ‘ contact with a brick wall in a slanting direction, making the material fly ia an alarming manner, and was ultimately brought up in ! the ground at the base of a brick wall. Continuing its course, the missile entered j the workshop of ah organbuilder named Stone, and passed oat in a diagonal line,! nearly smashing a valuable organ which was! in course .of construction.' Mr Stone at! the time was in his house, which was situated some ten. yards away from the shop, and states-that ho fancied a steam engine was darting through his premises. The shell then skimmed a bank of sand, and passed between two bouses erected a littlo below the railway station, narrowly escaping hitting a child'that was on the roof looking at the review. It also struck a portion of (he road facing the entrance to the railway station, and carrying with it a quantity of stone and metal, deviated a little from its coarse, and struck at a height of about six feet the side wall connected with premises in Fitsroy street, occupied by Mr Douglas Dare, house and land agent. A hole of about lOiu in diameter was knocked in the wall in consequence, and the dangerous missile spent itself in the ground at the base. It was'picked up by a man employed upon the place, and was then quite hot. Mr 0. 0. Armstrong, A gentleman lately arrived from Dunedin, nar-. rdwly escaped being etruok with the ehcll.as he was crossing the road at the time. A por tion of the dSbrit did strike him, but fortunately without inflicting any injury. This few people who were in the neighbourhood at onoe made for the spot where the missile had dropped, and Mr Armstrong, upon some impulse of the moment, purchased the article from the man who picked it up, and conveyed it to the George Hotel. Dppn inspection it was found tu be a conical-shaped shell, about 20in long and 6ia diameter. The oa>p which would cause it to explode when it came into contact with any object was fortunately off.—Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Daily Tima,