TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5613, 20 February 1879, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Sfoeting. Maroro and Natator were scratched yesterday for all their Dunedin engagements. Distbici Couet. —The cause list of the District Court is published in this issue. Although it contains only nine cases, there is a probability of the session lasting four days. Hospital Patibsts.— During the past week thirteen patients have been admitted to the Provincial Hospital, Seventeen were discharged and three died during the same —An accident happened to a boy named Ricketts in port yesterday. He was playing on some iron tanks when he fell off one of them and broke his arm. The boy was taken to Dr Bennett, who set the limb, and ordered the sufferer to be taken home. City of Glasgow Bank.— -At the last meeting of the Kaiapoi Borough Council it was resolved that the Town Clerk be requested to receive subscriptions in aid of the sufferers by the stoppage of the City ,of Glasgow Rank. An advertisement to that effect appears elsewhere. Sibat Hobses. — A number of horses are every day permitted to run riot in Barbadoes street sooth, frequently they occupy the footpath, and often they gallop about in twos and threes to the danger of the lives and Hints pf pedestrians. It would bo well if a caution were'given by the police to the owners of the animals in question. City Assessment.-— About 500 objections have been sent in- against, this year’s assessments, Sven should the whole or these objections be allowed—which is 1 highly improbable —the total assessment of 'the City, this year will amount to over £205,000, being an increase of £37,000 on last year’s assessment. The rateable value of Christchurch for 1878 was £168,084. The Assessment Court will sit at the City Council Chambers on Feb. 28 to hear the objections lodged. Akaboa. — A somewhat serious accident occurred on Monday morning last to Mr J. F. Roberts, engineer, whilst overlooking the works at the new bridge in Jollie street. It appears that the gentleman in question was descending the bank for the purpose of crossing the creek on the temporary stage when his foot slipped, causing him to fall with great force on the stones, indicting a dangerous scalp wound. The sufferer, who was unconscious, was promptly attended to, and carried to his residence, where he now lies.

His Excellency the Gotbenoe— The Chairman of the New Zealand Shipping Company has received the following telegram dated Fort Chalmers, from Lora Hervey Phipps, A.D.C: —“ His Excellency the Governor desires me, through you, to thank the captains of the New Zealand Shipping Company and the rest of the ships in Fort Lyttelton, for the manner in which they showed their respect for Hec Majesty’s representative on his leaving Lyttelton yesterday afternoon. Had splendid passage down; lady Normanby had a good night.” Accident at West Oxfoed.— On Monday evening, as Mr J. MTntyre was driving home to view Hill from the township, he met with an accident which has for a time prevented his attending to his scholastic duties. By some means the trap in which he was riding upset when going down the cutting leading to Cooper’s Creek, and the occupant was thrown out heavily on to the embankment. He has sustained such injuries as will confine him to his couch for some days, though fortunately nothing serious has resulted.

AsHfiuBTOH Steeplechases.—A meeting was held on Tuesday evening last at the Somerset Hotel, Ashburton, for the purpose of considering the advisability of holding a meeting in May next at Ashburton. Mr Max Friedlander was voted to the chair. After some discussion it was moved and seconded—“ That a Committee consisting of Messrs E. G, Crisp, C. C. Foots, J. Ireland, A. Harrison, A, Wilson, C. A. Calvert, J. M'Bae, and Jas. Campbell be appointed to arrange the necessary preliminaries.” The meeting then adjourned. Too Peecisb.—A witness in the Besident Magistrate’s Court yesterday caused some amusement by his extreme anxiety to be precise in his evidence. Ho appeared not to have the power of answering yes to a question, but invariably said “ I did,” “ I was,” " I have,” and so on. A fellow witness who entered the box immediately after him endeavoured to follow his example, but did not altogether succeed. This latter, in fact, failed so signally that the presiding Magistrate came to the conclusion that he was not sober, and consequently committed Hm to prison.

Tinwald.—A large addition to the storage accommodation for grain is now being made in this place, Mr Mossman having erected a fine building for this purpose at the railway siding. When completed, it is estimated to hold 100,000 bushels of grain. Mr Joseph Clark has also made an addition to his large store, which will now be over 160 ft in length. Two very comfortable offices have been fitted up at the street end of the building* and every convenience is now to bo found for the satisfactory carrying out of his business. Altogether, this little township has shown marked improvement lately, several business places having been erected within the past few months. Total Abstinence Socety.—Under the auspices of the Christchurch Total Abstinence Society, a lecture is to bo delivered this evening in the Templar Hall, Worcester street, by Mr John Harding, of Hawkes’Bay. Mr Harding is not an absolute stranger, having previously visited Christchurch in company with the Hon. S. D. Hastings, when that gentleman was visiting the principal towns of the Australasian Colonies, as the accredited representative of the Eight Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars (of America). The subject to be dealt with this evening is entitled, “My tour through the United States of America, and what I saw there;” and although Mr Harding cannot bo termed a fluent speaker, he succeeds in this lecture in giving a very clear idea of the working of the Maine Liquor Law. Bangioba Obgan.—The opening of the new organ for the Parish Church, Bangtora, takes place to-day, the proceedings commencing at 3 p.m. by an afternoon service in the Church, the Most Eoverend the Primate preaching the sermon and Mr Neville Barnett presiding at the organ. A very full choir will be present under the control of Mr O. Merton, and the Eav E. A. Lingord will intone the prayers,' In the evening one' of Mr Merton’s pleasant concerts is to be held in the hall of the Institute,; at which a considerable] number of the musical celebrities of Christchurch are announced to take part ; and .as there is a train leaving Bangiora for Christchurch at midnight, it is expected that a groat many will avail themselves of it to inspect the new instrument. Ample preparation has been made for the reception of the visitors.

Kaiapoi Railway Platfoem.—At the meeting of the Borough Council ou Tuesday great dissatisfaction was expressed at the totally inadequate accommodation provided for passengers at this station, more especially on Saturdays, when there are nine or ten carriages in one train. The existing platform barely accommodates three carriages, so that the passengers in all the others have to scramble down as best they can, those pear 'the engine, in addition to other discomforts, having to alight on the " cattle,trap” lately; put down at the North road crossing. This, ib the cate of women and children, is absolutely dangerous, as the bars are placed so far apart that' there is' ample room for a grown person’s foot to go through. When some person gets their leg broken we presume the “ powers that be” will think fit to have the platform lengthened, as has been so continually promised.

RAILWAY and Co. and J. Welsh, the successful tors each for 250 tarpaulins for the OK^ 35 ’ church railway*, are making rapid , with their contract*, and delivery 0 f th°^ 689 in*talment will bo given ne it week M rat M'Lean Bro*., of Dunedin, are also I, J , ***> 200 tarpaulins. su PPlji D g Mb Cbeswick. —The eminent Mr William Creswick, under engar-em^’ B ' l Mr George Darrell for the New ZeS t to will make his first appearance in ]) un „ Monday, March 3, in the character f f‘V n ginius, in. .Sheridan Knowles’ pla T O J f ,v.lfname. Miss Helen Ashton, a London a Ul4t accompanies Mr Creswick as iuveniln, etr ®ss, lady. Mr Creswick will be supported ft 5 Darrell Company, at present in Dunedin “ e Glass-Eyed PEEcn.-Some parti’, have been forwarded to the AeclirLt: , Society relative to the glass-eyed !? *°? (Lucioperca Americana), which are ilj in largo numbers at the Cold Sprint ponds, Charleston. This fish is Lid’tc ft very valuable one for stocking l a ]j es J ponds. It is an excellent fish for the hhl ranking next to the famous white fish ' delicacy, and it affords excellent sport f™,i n angler. The glass-eyed perch, when o chmatised, multiplies very rapidly. Canteebuey Aebiteation Cases J. Blackett and W. N. Blair, charge of the North and Middle Island, respectively, are at present sitting as «!• trators at the New Government Building relative to matters in dispute between Jr Government and Mr W. Stocks, contractor nf the Waimakariri Gorge bridge. As so on ° l the evidence has been taken in this case tb* arbitrators will next hear evidence in a’diffi culty which has arisen between the Govern! meat and Mr J, Fraser, contractor for the Malvern water-race. ue

The Schoonjbb Clyde.— The hull and cargo of this craft were submitted to public auction on behalf of the underwriters on Friday last. The sale was conducted by Jit Thomas Acland, of the firm of Acland, Camn bell, End Co., and was held on the scene of the accident, on the Ninety-Mile Beach, near Taumutu. The attendance of buyers was numerous, and all the lots submitted elicited fair competition.. Thghull, rigging, &c.,were eventually knocked down to Mr W. Wood for £310.' The cargo, which consisted of bran, flour, oats, &c., was purchased by local buyers at very satisfactory prices, considering the difficulty of cartage. 3 Hospital and Chabiiable Aid Boaed.The ordinary weekly meeting of this Board was held yesterday afternoon, but very little business of importance was done. Two Committee reports were adopted, and a laree amount of business of a routine character through. Among the correspondence received was a letter from Mr Neck, solicitor, asking that his son might be permitted to attend the Hospital, in order to keep up the medical knowledge he had obtained in the Edinburgh. ■University. From the letter it appeared that Dr Chilton, the house surgeon of the Hospital, was desirous of taking Mr Neck, iun., as an assistant, but as the doctor, on being called before the Board, stated that he did not absolutely require assistance, and it was decided that no steps coaid be taken in the matter. The meeting then adjourned for a fortnight. Ohoka. —A second meeting of parishioners was held in the Schoolroom, Ohoka, on Monday last, to receive the report of Subcommittee as to available sites for a parsonage. The Ven. Archdeacon Dudley presided. MrMulcook, on behalf of the Sub-Commitee, stated what action had been taken, and gave a list of sites available for building purposes. The meeting then proceeded to discuss the merits of the several localities named, and ultimately resolved to accept the offer of a section on the western side of Mr Burrell’s farm, fronting the main road. A subscription list was next drawn out, and circulated amongst those present, which showed the very satisfactory total of £ll4 5s at the close of the meeting. Messrs Threlkeld, Mulcock, May, Clothier, Harris, and Goodeve were appointed a Canvassing Committee to collect further subscriptions, after which the meeting adjourned. Thbatee Royal. —Last night there was an excellent house to witness the Combination Company, whose final appearance is now rapidly approaching. A slight change in the cast has taken place, Mr Collier doubling “ George Harris” with his former character of " Degree.” Several new songs also were substituted for some of those previously sung. After the third act Mr Liddy came before the curtain with “Little Era,” and announced that the management had resolved to give the little lady a “ full benefit" tonight in recognition of her artless acting and docility during the five months that she has formed one of the company. That this is no empty compliment those wie have seen the improvement that is almost nightly noticeable in the performance of Miss Nelly Holmes will readily acknowledge. Eaeh evening serve? to strengthen the opinion that she will yet display much of the pathos of which the part is capable, and that haring overcome the difficulty which so young a girl must have experienced in committing to memory its words and essential action, she will not be satisfied until she adds to these that amount of expression her manifest intelligence proves her capable of learning.

Pbesentation to Sebgeanx Wiisox.--It will be remembered that on the night of Sept. 7 last, Sergeant Wilson of the Christchurch police observed the glare of fire alongside a shed at the rear of Dr Symes’ house, and that through the alarm given by him, ana his efforts at the time, the fire, which might have had serious results, was extinguish™ without doing much damage. Sergeant P‘ son also on that night arrested a man who ha been in the employ of Dr Symes, and agams whom the evidence was sufficiently strong as to cause his being committed to trial on t o charge of incendiarism. After the trial, y ■Symes, in conjunction witli the tni® Insurance Company, applied to the Insjjecto in charge of this district for permission present the Sergeant with a silver-pat cigar-holder and tobacco-stand, as a toson gratitude for “Sergeant Wilson’s P rol | 1 P[ 1 ness and skill in extinguishing the fire, win not only saved a lot of household propen , hut also probably the lives of ten persons w -were sleeping that night in the adjoin , house.” The donors also referred w 8 terms to the praiseworthy efforts pt Sergeant in bringing the incendiary The request was duly forwarded to u Olll ton, with a strong recommendation from head of the police department here, am day a reply has been received P eral . , 3 Sergeant Wilson to receive the testimony The Wellington MrsiEET.-Inourissu of yesterday appeared a telegram from lineton to the effect that on two sucre*nights the electric wire from the Govern " Buildings to the Fire Brigade stations given the signal of fire. The hre-be been rung, and the Brigades had turne in each case, only to find that they “p, victimised by a false alarm. The tel added that the bells in the buildings w cases, the glass of which had to bo hro >• give the alarm. The glass, however, found intact, ’ and the affair was Min t sidered a mystery. The explanation i jn the wires leading from the instrum question were not . covered in aW'va. > that by accident they were brought in c In-such case an alarm would be j a . although probably the beUwould termittently, instead of with Mi . tolli vibration obtained by pressing too v# and so connecting the wires in will way. A false alarm of such a m ' , c tiaß3 scarcely be possible with the c • which are to be fitted up in Car . The wires will be perfectly insulate . J covered with gutta-percha, and tu & around with tape and well t«W ‘, jnteradditional precaution against w nT wirej ference, battens will be put up ov ma ;iiing within reach. The only chance , j by an accidental alarm being g‘ ven ht together, the out-of-door lines being brought sllC b as by the falling branch of a be inter case, however, the sound jfedd>°^ mittent instead of regular, a. , nt3 at e*f purposes instructing the at Aguish 1 of the Brigade stations t . phic ne • sounds. In this morning e P it will bo seen that bv contact -o f 1 e Wellington were of the d e 0 exterior lines—the electrical being thus transmitted to i causing the alarm beU to souna

H ,1,0 recent San ■ ']Vrait ntr nt '* a T. e H , ,ho Kaii- T! °. J 7. 0 f 50 adcliI s i'f fS^-t"'cSS.3 ■ jefli'* fxj’fcicn u ■ & rth:ff " l ' l ' li Ti„. Loral Avon Lodge, I ! h ;' niicr of Oddfellows I n J fn ! n ?sl Constitution- u I be»? , r dor l l ' 1 ’ A , hid« fair to become, I t ( 0; «lilr, and bu ' j iuiluenI , *f ■ A loilgr o 1 , ; n the workI the Order, is I oifthe third WedneaI 1 ik tot ot tbo lad evening- rßC!tt> _Fire Bc^nw •e, the tnree ljnt -n f or£U at least he 6» rffi ftS a net work a* is to J. primarv luk« J«* 0 f England and Sfc EW,ia X hrt of the earlj existence in Christchurch i«*S! or’-iu growth and rO-^r-pisf. ir. Ci’Ni ßAl, tn* C^‘ E f driven to proceed at once «trufW Ei of two sections of this ; tt the earthwork the*'Oxford £» (oJlalvem. snd u u ml lcs 10 #*» 'be fondle. Thereto for the laaths- 1 - ‘,.'£.,5000, and the appropmjisrert Tfir • t Tear( amounting ti» ( i’ b "w told a deputation week .aut S .stimitol, >» "“** CiuctKSi.—The American l 5! Se, which were safely housed m Cardens on Sunday, ex W be liberated at owned hr Messrs Maliock and •k,f ‘jl jbis locality the birds will hare rrtr, and will be stwtiy pwserred. r-f of bringing American pramo ?Welr to .Vew Zealand is considered in the history of acclimafcxsaUon, birds haring previously been more than a few days m a IStTiS's Srsxsif. —Among the rations of the line at which the fcri IS now being introduced, two ispertsst points are being placed m cK’vi ’■ r: the Babia and Waitah bridges, il fc s'Mre bridges are constructed both for - s ‘i ~s s tbe immediate object of intro-r,v7{-'f srstem at these places is to guard ;be'possibility of a person riding or &Z; 7;:V csught'unawares on the bridge. Lock is in force no train can enter cr'chb: ; .f the bridges without first resir77;:s signal “line clear.” CDrsrir Temperance League.— In ysucSs with the recently formed Canterierrsnsce League, an Association irh;: bis hr its immediate object the instaLd:: of ■eai'erance societies in connection rii tb? vi-isis churches, all working in a arrer, a public meeting is to be held fcb rering in the St Andrew's schoolroom, iiiresscs bearing upon temperance are to be iriraed by Hr Alfred Saunders, MJBUEL, d the Bsts S. MacFarlane, W. Morley, and J, White, and those who may attend will be sided an oppodumiy of giving practical rirrsssi.n to their sympathy with the movers;. by enrolling themselves as members of tbe S: Andrew’s branch. The League invites nrisrate drinkers as we 1 as total abstainers

Coj'uiEJiiiosAL Soiree. —The anniver■rr c: tie Congregational Church was celebsted by a soiree and public meeting last eu±g is the Oddfellows’ HalL About 400 a: cavs to a most sumptuous tea, provided bt:? ladies of the congregation. After tea fe safe- the Rev E. Walker, took the Air ms railed on the sub-Treasurer to read O ituttcai report for the pant year, which. the receipts from all sources to have 2--ted to £6s2 9s Id. On the platform T - i the Ber Robertson of Auckland, G. Mtrice of Hokitika, Revs Elmslie, Ss-itt tc, Feast, and Macfarkne, and a numother gentlemen. Addresses were defira by tie Her Mr Robertson, Dallaston, Mafe Macfarlane, and Elmslie, and Messrs Sadder, and Purdie. Ihi N: - c Public Buildings. —An impriiit alteration is now being effected in the arrangement of the new public scLizgs. According to the allotment of the been previously agreed ? 3 "’ t; ; te bjraphic department would nave tea t-Ensei to the upper storey. This it Vi.- feared wc-ld be a source of great inconittaeacs to toe public, and a new room or ’ e «ipt of messages for trassLai tncrefore been provided. This r-Z^t °e V‘ e floor at the north-east jH--: of tee building, and as it will have an E-enor space of 28 by 25 feet, there will be ■ -tee room tor ranges of public desks, recounters, Ac. The messages as rei.'^ 1 7r ~ k* sect from the counter up to the If!"’* 2 ?, 1 :* r:o:a by means of a suitable lift.

p_. - •* Or UGHIMXG. —AfewdajS BUIOO •ws ajctnaiaed that the A B C telegraph used at the Police Depot for comKith the Sunny side Asylum would ■t" T.f 1- Sleddings, District Inspector bu*»i eiam ‘ tie instrument, v“ - “ e Ciu -d find no cause for the defect, I'? t 4? K - Jave >t- In taking the instruTh; - e v Mr Meddings found that one 0i ;e - wlre belonging to what is t' , r4: ';* mu g portion had been comlightning. It will be re®e of a similar nature kCi So!2e ,Jme since, when the coil of a ■Wawd C 'Tt a private wire was ■i'trdrf i I- e coil now under notice control f, r "° re n t:;an a thousand yards of exSo*?* *, il4 * - ? )T «ed otpper wire, known of to ic--t ucl “ es * c * gauge being i»-S5 fi r, C^ VTEB ? rET SacEß.-The adfcee °* the North Canterbury tionH'/rl ‘‘ was at Roberts’ Juneijoyi »*»*..?? Tueida y evening. There was aiuer/-» n f p u !‘ c ?’ an< l hi the unavoidable -iectei aai^ !tam £? r3oM > Mr G- Cone was inrer reported , 1 ' l ? e Secretary and Trcahand l - lat there was a balance in ®eelir»Tf,f,? ri 1 the hist and preceding at ir*I er which had been dere p ln^e ® an i fot hu absence arsons apologising a de-ire to 1 ? vemn g> ind expressing from the Presidency o! >t, vfiiereunon J i >a( * n °t. the rime to devote to «e lii:a w |a.. jf e P u tation was appointed to 13 that dnadtr^T^ 0 retain % services ff as re-elected Bame Vice-President Pared and auo’i, 4 5 ? lat °I n&mes was prethe Steward8 > with whom re3 °ivedtoadf/„ , commumcate - It was re plies before n^ 11 f ° r a * orfc mght to await Wi3^ aaore J re P ann g tde programme. It s *«t with°a r, w i C ?, n . the day’s amuse- , f 1[ «E Auimb in, 10 i he , eve . ni “g- - for the lin«. • - wbo * e °* ri* e telegraph * e cn th e Tarl - S ITUI g communication beSup anoua public buildings. Fire Pendent the , re3i dence of Superr*of stSw?i! Dg bcen completed, the momhS h m, wlr , e . 8 was commenced undertaken f* tw 6 llrle which has first .pcit with tip 18 i conne ctmg the police S??>r^i. ed te«».hae to the Immigrab ' th * nf 7 hnea a concrete IJ. port * are em bedded i i lore the post, , ttua become fairly set »r" c• “t*Sr“ -y*£ re adetBwi 8 wiU te ' *® riiephones—which, as our the I S mtal *-ma?te’’. We P e ™ E “ly sensitive I ¥ Bngade L.!- BUCCe »st>-*Uy worked at at Lichß°| n i nructed 100,11 an ail <1 street Onu - 1 95 le8 t er street and beu, „S th \ roomß will be r°om %, en tering the «r> D - g ,^ b,s > the attenSTeati, 11 -i enabled instructed ae M^ receive that i n ~S 'dea acems to\.n « s^* reu "a Will not v, 1 room, the -r, J lO . conße quentlr »he fi?e m b e e „ more ‘Cfe^^whicJ Qappij- , n w as to be en - 4ft c >n one of <sfe w*!S3r*

Telegraphic.—Communication with the South was interrupted to such a degree, lost night that our Dunedin telegrams did not reach us till too late for publication. This will explain (he absence of details regarding the Governor's reception at Dunedin. The Sydney Exhibition. The new regulations sent down by Government regarding the exhibition ot articles at the Sydney Exhibition, were read at a meeting of the local Committee yesterday, and will be found elsewhere. A notification appears in this morning's issue regarding the collection of articles for exhibition. All information required will be given by Mr J. A. Bird, secretary. A Landmark Effaced.-- During the past tew days workmen have been engaged in pulling down and removing the house m Worcester street, near the City Council Chamber, recently occupied by Mr G, L. Hellish. This structure, or rather a portion ot it, was built tor Dr Barker, one of the first settler*, and was consequently amongst the most venerable of the buildings in this city! The present City Council Office and Resident Magistrate’s Court, which form another of the old landmarks, may bo the next to disappear, though it is certain that no one having business of any kind to transact in the miserably dilapidated structure will regret the loss.

A meeting of Volunteers and members ot the Hide Association to consider matters In ooaneoMob with the forthcoming match with Otago, will be held at Warner’s Hotel oa Saturday at 8 p.m. The programme for the Oxford Knees on march 21, win be found elsewhere. A concert in aid of the funds of the Catholic Young Han’s Literary Society will be held this evening in St Patrick's Hath Barbadoes street. The programme will be found in another column. A tea and nubile meeting in connection with tbe Church of Christ will be held this evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street. A meeting of law dorks to organise a picnic will be held at the City Hotel on Saturday evening, at 7 o’clock.

A meeting of members of tbe Linooln Qua Club will te held at Sluin' Hotel, Lincoln, this evening at 7 o'clock.

A special meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Bowd will be held to-morrow afternoon at 8 o’clock, for the purpose ot electing a chairman, "A match is fa contemplation between the membeta of the Eaiapoi ana Bangiora Volunteer Fire Brigades, for which each Company is very assiduously practicing. The date of the match is not determined, hut At will probably be held ‘daring ‘■neat-week,'- - ' '•“'■ •

A Lucky Chinaman. —The JDunsia» Times heard that; one of our Mongolian friends a few days ago dropped across a lucky find of a patch of gold weighing somewhat about XOOoz. He discovered it while fossicking along tiie banks of the river, some short distance from Clyde. As it was all in a heap, and round it was what appeared to have been a bag, it was evidently a forgotten plant, or may be, the owner is to be numbered amongst the many who hare suddenly disappeared, and whose end, whether fair or foul, it is impossible to know. WHOLESALE DbSTBDCXION OB RABBITS.— Mr J. Brayley, of Ulooloo, a correspondent of the South Australian Advertiser, furnishes the following information as to a plan of rabbit destruction adopted by some farmers in the Hallett district“ They (the farmers) have got about 2000 yards or wire netting. This is put up against the fence on two sides of the paddock, and in the corner a yard is made about 20 yards square, and the rabbits driven into this yard, and killed in numbers that I think will astonish some of the Adelaideifces, who are hard to persuade that the rabbits are so numerous. 1 will give you the result of six days’ work, the number yarded and killed each day. First day, 835 off 160 acres; second day, 900 off the same land; third day, 741 off 100 acres; fourth day, 800 off 100 acres ; fifth day, 1585 off 200, and 100 acres of this Government land; sixth day, 619 off 100 acres. The total number killed in six days, 5371.” Emigrants fob New Zealand. —The North Otago Times says “ Notwithstanding the efforts that Government has made, we have not hitherto had a supply of colonists of the proper stuff. Farmers and artisans are the bone and sinew of a country, and while the immigration agents have failed to send skilled artisans, there have been no suitable efforts made to induce the immigration of sterling farmers. Here we have in the market within a few months the land on the Waimate Plains, the Waifarapa, Pareora, and Totara, and many similar estates. Could these sales be well advertised at Home, and the splendid nature of the land and climate attested, how many who are now seeking to eke out an existence on their small farms at Home would aril out and seek a settlement in this country P By the thorough advertising of these lands at Home amongst the agricultural classes, we should have farmers of experience, and not empirical speculators, settling, who would materially aid the welfare of the Colony. No man who has had experience in agriculture would need to hesitate in purchasing farms on such terms os are often offered here.”

A Jocose Constable.— Constable Purcell ia blessed with a large amount of grim humour (says a Wellington contemporary), and effected a most rapid transition in the position of Dr Bocks trow on Wednesday last, taking b|m from the Bench to the dock. It occurred in this wise. The doctor had just finishing hearing a case of horses wandering,. and the constable strolled to the door, when lo! there was the veritable J.P.’s rentable cow roaming tbe streets in the sacred precincts of the Court. To take out a summons and serve it on Dr Bockstrow was the work of a few moments, and tbe court was again opened to hear the case, resulting in a dismissal. The constable explained very blandly to the Court that be brought the charge “entirely to show the public there was no favouritism,” and the Bench expressed its opinion that he was right. Sundry coughs were heard, however, as the constable made tiiii speech, which seemed to imply the public were trying to swallow it, but could not, and the merry twinkle which flashed across his eye rather suggested the idea that Purcell himself thought the whole affair & capital joke. Railway Wobkshops at Dunedin. A very important department of our railways is but indifferently provided with accommodation in Dunedin, and as it affects the cost of the maintenance of the lines, it is right that attention should publicly be called to it. The railway workshops at Kensington do not | afford anything like adequate accommodation ) for the staff that must be employed in constructing and repairing the machinery required for the railway. We believe very much the same appliances exist now as were used when there only a few miles of railway running into Dunedin. With the present great and extensive traffic, considerably more, it is almost needless to say, is urgently required, and if not provided the result will be a loss to the general revenue. The railway workshops in Auckland are more extensive than the ones in Dunedin, and yet the traffic, and consequently the work, of the department in Donedin is much greater than it is in Auckland. The work of repairing the machinery alone here is retarded by want of additional accommodation, and as the men have to work overtime, tbe cost is considerably more than it would if the room and appliances necessary at such an important railway centre as Dunedin were provided. —Daily Timet. Auckland TiMbbb. —The Herald says; “ The continued drought throughput the northern part of the island is proving injurious to timber. For the supply of timber we are still dependent on ‘ freshes. - Severn extensive contracts are withheld for the present, in consequence of the high rates ruling t sawn kauri timber, which is beyond precedent in value. Tbe effect of the high P™* ol timber, and its scarcity in the market, nas led to the importation of American timb into Southern markets, thus in a measure mmtating against kauri. This we look up° n temporary, and when timber can be got, an reduction of price takes place, we anticipate that importations will close, as our sawmill proprietors are. in a position to Iwld theur ovm against any foreign article with which theyha to compete. The present scarcity of timber is due to the absence of those freshes usually come at this period of the any lack of the raw article, logs. On tbeoon it being estimated that upward* of feet are in the. creeks awaiting rau V.. a •*. timber from 10s to 12s at almost impossible for Am«i» to with local mills. Several last two years have come to this port> could not find a market, and ha S. f Sydney and Adelaide. While o

cutting machinery lias been so much improved wo ought surely to have some now method invented of getting the logs out of the bush. That is the problem before us now. If such a discovery were made the market would bo regularly supplied, and not by fits and starts at present. This irregularity is injurious to all parties concerned, and cut hies otir kauri to bo to a considerable extent superseded in the Southern markets."

CiiEir Land.— The following story, which comes to me ftam Bath, will be read with interest by all concerned in the nature of the securities of the City of Glasgow Bank. An esteemed officer of the Corporation met the other day with a friend who had lately returned from Australia. la the course of conversation, the Australian genthiman mentioned that he had left behind him an estate of ten thousand acres, "tthd,” ho added," I’d willingly sell it at a penny a thousand." "Done, said his companion, drawing a shilling from his pocket. The vendor was as good as Ids word. He brought the title deeds, and the transaction was completed oh the spot.— Mayfair.

Wbixington Water Supplf.—The Nm Zealand Times of Monday says The work of cleaning the reservoir was finished on Saturday afternoon about four o’clock, and the work of refilling was commenced. The water which rushed in for the first few minutes was of a horribly dirty character, we are informed, and a number of visitors present at the time were of opinion that if such was the nature of the water which generally found its way into the reservoir, the clearing-out process might be repeated day after day without the slightest effect on the water supplied through the service pipes. The truth is that nothing but filtration will do any good, and until filter beds are provided the public mind will not be satisfied. The Anti-Monarchist Mania. The semi-official Provincial Correspondence of Berlin publishes an article upon the attempt on the life of King Humbert. It saysi “The world is becoming more and more conscious of the fact that there is spread over the whole of Europe a network of secret revolutionary. societies, Through whose pernicious. operations all that is most precious and most sacred in every well-ordered State is encomposted by.imminent dangers. Such impressions cannot hut strengthen the conviction that the further spread of this evil is only to be prevented by a clearly intended and decided co-operation of all the forces which take their stand upon the present order of society with strong and resolute governments."

Re-naming the Colony.—A great controversy is just now going on through the columns of the Auckland papers in reference tore-naming this Colony, and the original Maori names, as well as a number of others, have been brought up as candidates for the honour of taking the place of “New Zea land ” in the future history of the “ Britain of the South.” The principal reason put forward in favour of a change of name is that the present one is inappropriate and savours too much of the Old World, and more particularly of an island in no way connected with the British, i.e., Zealand, on which is situated the capital of Denmark. To strengthen this reason it is mentioned that New Holland was changed to Australia, and Yan Diemen’s Land (redolent of convict memories) to Tasmania. The names suggested in place of “New Zealand” are principally Maori, but then arises the question — What is of was the general Maori name for the three islands and those in their immediate vicinity? According to Captain Cook, the North Island was called “Ea hei no Man we,” and the Middle Island “ Taoai Pouhamoo.” The Native name, however, which seems to possess the best claims to represent New Zealand as a whole is “ Aoteora.” Amongst non-aboriginal names suggested are “ Oceanica ”. or “ Oceania,” “ Southland,” and “ Freeland ” meaning “ the land of the free.”