TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14917, 12 February 1909, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

A Press Association message from Dunedin states that for to-day’s wool sales, the third of the series, 7294 bales have been catalogued. The scholars of the. Opawa School and their parents and friends, to the number of about 460, bold their annual picnic at Ashburton yesterday. The river report at 9 a.m. yesterday was:—Ashley and Ashburton (upper and lower), ,clear; Waimakariri, Selwyn, R aka in, Rangitata, Omni and Ashburton (mouth), fishable; Yt aitaki, discoloured.

According to a Press Association telegram from Wanganui a gang of clever pickpockets and thieves operated very freely at the I Jaw era races on Wednesday, and many purses were extracted from pockets, unwary women being particular victims. The same gang is believed to have visited other race meetings.

A proposal to raise a loan of £4OOO for necessary improvements in Sumner was put before the ratepayers of the borough yesterday. The loan was proposed to be raised from the Government for a period of forty-one years at 3) per cent, to cover interest and sinking fund. The proposal was carried by seventeen votes, sixty-eight ratepayers voting for the loan and fifty-one against it.

Wedding and Birthday presentsFletcher Brothers have just opened up a useful assortment including water sets (half a dozen tumblorSj jug and tray), from 5s 9d to 9s fid; wine sets 7s 9d, tea sets from 7s 9d to 50s, dinner sets 16s 9d to £5 os. Call and inspect at Fletcher Brothers, Crockery Importers, Lower High Street. X25G5 Wo are always pleased to announce anything that redounds to the advantage of the public. To-day we enclose an interesting supplement issuod by the prominent Cash Drapers. Messrs Armstrong, Limited, giving details of their groat Stocktaking Sale, which commences this morning. The prices given aro quite astounding, and will enable rich and poor alike to secure both apparel and furnishing at a very small outlay. If prices count, the firm should score a big success.. 1048

The Tutanekai returned to Wellington yesterday morning from an unsuccessful search for the brigantine Rio Logo. Sho zig-zagged to the 1 Chatbams and back, and found no wreckage anywhere.

At the annual meeting of the Westport Coal Company at Dunedin yesterday a dividend and bonus were declared of 5s 3d per share. Messrs Fergus and Sinclair were re-elected directors. Archibald John M’Neil, the escapee from the Terrace Gaol, Wellington, who was captured near Wanganui, was brought before the Court yesterday morning and remanded to appear at Wellington on February 18. , A telephone exchange is now open at Kaikoura. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kaikoura, Kaikoura Wharf, Kaikoura Suburban, Clarence Bridge, Hapuka, Lynton Downs, Mahunga, Pnkekiakariki and Swyncombe are now telephone bureaux.

Rita May Patton, alias Partridge, alias Evans, was committed for trial at the Police Court at Wellington on Wednesday on a charge of making a false statement to tho Registrar of Marriages to the effect that she had been married to one James Evans on March 10, 1898, at Dunedin. The subject for the inter-’Varsity tournament debate to be held in WTellington on April 10 is “That the creation of snia.i navies for defence purposes should bo encouraged in the selfgoverning States of the Empire.” The first debate will bo between Otago University and Auckland University College. The second debate will ho between Canterbury College and Victoria College. The judges will bo bis Excellency the Governor, Mr Justice Chapman. and Mr T. W. Joynt. The monthly meeting of the North Canterbury Degree Lodge, 1.0.0. F., was held on February 5 in tho Trinity Hall, Manchester Street, Brother Hunter, Degree Master, presiding. Degrees were conferred on eight brothers. The D.D.G.M., Brother Barter, installed the following officers for the currentterm:—l).M., Brother Cooper; D.D.M., Brother H. Mehrteus; secretary, Brother Herbert; treasurer, Brother 11. Hunter; conductor, Brother Lane; warden, Brother Rentoul; LG., Brother Smith; 0.G., Brother Coe; R.S.D.M., Brother Jougbin; L.S.D.M., Brother Cess ins; R.S.D.D.M., Brother Palmer; L.S.D.D.M., Brother Sutton.

Tho final meeting of the New Brighton Gala Committee was held in the New Brighton Council Chambers on Wednesday evening. The balance-sheet showed receipts £l4l 15s lid, with a. contingency of £9 Is lid, and expenditure £SI 10s lOd, with a contingency of £3 7s, leaving approximately a credit balance of £66. A bonus was voted to tno secretary, Mr A. Hopkins, and £lO was carried forward as a balance towards next year’s gala. Votes of thanks were passed to the honorary auditor (Mr L. C. Williams), tho honorary treasurer (Mr C, H. Winny), to Mr A. W. Owles for providing a temporary band rotunda, to the judges and officials, and to the donors of prizes. The surplus funds were divided between the Sports Grounds Committee and the Municipal Band Committee, which were recommended to recognise the special services of the Fire Brigade on gala day. Though the existing telephone service in Victoria (says the “Age”) may be inadequate and inefficient in a technical sense, the Central Postal Administration is determined that subscribers shall not bo allowed to express to one another “ unbecoming ” views over the wires. In. Saturday’s “Gazette” it is announced that a penalty of £5 has boon fixed as the maximum fine for the broach of a regulation controlling the language which may be used by subscribers. The opening words of this regulation are as follow“ No telephone messages shall contain unbecoming expressions or language of an obscene or offensive nature, or of a character calculated to provoke' a broach of tho peace, nor shall any telephone service be mischievously used for Abe purpose of irritating any person.” The Department claims that the enforcement of the regulation has become a matter of practical administration in consequence of the nature of a number of complaints recently received.

On Saturday last H.M.S. Cambrian left Auckland on a nine months’ cruise round the world. She will go first to Rarotonga, in response to the requisitions made by the authorities there, in order to impress the natives of the Northern Islands, principally those of Rakahanga, who have lately been troublesome, and who, seine, months ago, hauled down the British flag. From there the Cambrian will go to Fanning Island, the Pacific cable (station and thence on to Honolulu. After visiting various parts of the South American coast the warship will go to Easter Island. The latter lies midway between Tahiti and the South American coast, and possesses special interest on account of its wonderful ruins and colossal images. The next island to he visited will be Pitcairn Island, the home of nearly tw'o hundred of the descendants of the mutineers of tho Bounty. This island is out of tho track of sailing vessels and steamers, and is visited every few years by a British man-of-war, vdiicli genreally takes to tho inhabitants boxes of clothes and other comforts sent out by charitable people from Home. Tho Cambrian goes from Pitcairn Island to Papeete, the French metropolis of tho Eastern Pacific, and after that to Fiji. She returns to England thence by way of the Torres Straits, calling at several of tho Dutch possessions, Batavia and other places en routo.

A Melbourne telegram says that Thomas Shaw, a coal-lumper, has been pursuing his calling for six months with his neck practically broken. Ho is now in tho Melbourne Hospital, and tho skyograpli has revealed that one of the vertebras of the spinal column has been thrown completely out of joint. He suffers only from severe pains in tho head. The case has excited the greatest interest among surgeons. Six months ago Shaw metwith an accident vhilo at work, a heavy basket of coal, which was being slung ashore from a ship, striking him a severe blow on tho forehead and jerking liis head backwards violently. No serious consequences appeared at the time. Three weeks ago Shaw received another blowon the head, and immediately the head pains recurred, but more violently than before. So ho went to St Vincent’s Hospital, and the medical men blistered the back of his neck and otherwise treated him, but they were unable to satisfactorily diagnose the case. Sliawthon went to- the Melbourne Hospital. Ho was still suffering from pains in the head, and his neck was very stiff. Tho case was a puzzle to the Melbourne Hospital surgeons also, and it was decided to take a skyograpli of the patient’s neck by means of the X-rays. This was done, and the plate, to tho wonder of the medical men, disclosed a, very severe dislocation of one of tho joints of the spinal column.

In an announcement appearing today entitled “Why is it?” tho reason is ‘given for tho rapid yet steady growth of one of our most promising Christchurch firms, namely, Graham, Wilson and Smellie’s. All who read this advertisement will see just why it has grow’ll and why it still will grow. X 3610

Nature’s unalterable law that no two things shall bo created exactly aliko finds a parallel in Butcher’s 18ct Gold Wedding Rings, no two of which aro exactly similar. In each one there exists some subtle difference designed to meet tho requirements of its wearer. A visit to 210, High Street, is an education, 1756

At a special meeting of the Temuka Rifles held on Wednesday evening Lieutenant E. Chapman was elected, captain of the company. Tho Telegraph Department has re-, ceived advice that a severe cyclone has been experienced in New Caledonia, and that communication with Noumea} is interrupted. The firing for tho champion cup in connection with the Ashburto-n Rifles corps was completed on Wednesday, evening. Private Niall, with an aggro- , gate of 229 for five matches, was that’ winner, and the second prize was worn 1 by Sergeant Childs.

At the 1 Ashburton Police Court yes-, terday a man named Alexander Maxwell was charged with the theft of a, 6wag at Christchurch. On the application of tho police, tho presiding Jus-, tico (Mr W. 11. liundle) granted a.j remand to Christchurch. ' . 1

Tho annual meeting of the Mount} Somers Athletic Club was held on Saturday evening. The annual balancesheet showed a credit balance of £4 18s 6d. It was decided to have tho. course top dressed and put in good order, and to bold sports on Easter Monday.

Tho Groymouth correspondent of the! “Lyttelton Times” states that tho! sawmill employees have decided to re-, sist the proposed reduction of wages,' and arc organising with the idea of. having the matter referred to the! Council of Conciliation.

At the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington yesterday, Henry Leitch sued the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company for £6, for loss of certain articles from his luggage during the passage of the steamer Arawa from London to Wellington. Judgment- was givon for amount claimed and £1 16s costs.

At a-meeting of the High School Old. i Boys' Football Club, held last evening,: it was decided to donate the sum of, ten guineas from the club’s funds towards the Robert Deans Memorial Fund. Matters in connection with the Old Boys’ football tournament, to be, bold in Christchurch in. May, were also! discussed, but no definite arrangements} were made.

The llangiora School Committee met on Wednesday evening. A letter of thanks was received from tho Hon D. Buddo for congratulation on his elevation to the Cabinet-. An improved attendance since the . school re-opened was reported by the headmaster, the roll number being given as 298. It was, decided to close tho school to-day on account of Sunday school picnics being, held to-day. Work on the temporary building in j Government House grounds, at Wei-' lington, for the Legislative Council, will bo begun this week, states a Press, Association telegram. It will not bed an ornamental structure, strict utilitar--' ian principles being adhered to, but the), chamber will be very comfortable. Its cost will not exceed £2OOO, and the work is being carried out by the Publio Works Department. At a special meeting of the Temuka Borough Council on Wednesday evening a special rate of 15-16 d in the £ was struck on the part of the borough between Ewen Road and Cass Street, to pay interest and sinking fund on a loan of £IBOO for drainage purposes. Mr Marchant, C.E., attend-, ed and laid tho working plans before the Council. After discussion the question of day labour versus contract was held over till the next- meeting. The Hope of Christchurch Lodge, Nov 8, 1.0.G.T., held its weekly session iffi the Manchester Chambers on Tuesday, the chair being taken' by Brother E. Howard, C.T. One brother was reobligated and two candidates were initiated. The marshal’s report was. reT ceived. Competitions in reading, 6ing-- \ ing and reciting for prizes given by Brother Dr Bussell, were conducted, Brother Blackio being judge. ' Tluj. prizes were awarded as follows:—Reading, Brother Vine; singing, Sister Nixo-n, sen.; recitation, Sister North**, gate.

Among the subjects the Council o t tho Auckland Chamber of Oommerc*' desires to be discussed at the New’ Zea* land conference of Chambers of Commerce are the re-establishment of a San Francisco mail service, the urgent need for the completion of railways now ia course of construction, with particular: reference to the Gisborno and North Auckland lines, the encouragement of trade with, the Pacific Islands, the need for the Government continuing to actively advertise the attractions of the dominion and to continue offering facilities for assisted immigrants, the reduction of cable rates, and the amendment of the Bankruptcy Act.

Tho monthly meeting of tho Mackenzie Town JBoard was held on Wednesday ; present—Messrs L. E. Laugosen (chairman), A. J. Allen and <T. J. Stanton. It was agreed to sue for all outstanding rates after February 14. With reference to municipal reserves to be vested in the Board, it w’as decided that, owing to section 11 (Block XX.), section 12 (Block XVII.) and section 2 (Block XXV.) having been gazetted as reserves for Government buildings, sections 10, 11 and 13 (Block XXIV.) should be substituted for them. The clerk reported that the water supply to the Seddon Memorial fountain was working satisfactorily. The clerk w-as instructed to write to the police, asking that all the Board’s by-laws should be enforced, and that proceedings be taken against the owners of all stock found wandering on the district Toads.

Somo elements of a serious railway accident w r ere present in the running of the Sydney express past Wangaratta a few nights ago, states an Australian paper. On aproachiug the station, the train did not slacken speed as usual, and the spectators on the platform fro re greatly surprised when the train dashed along the platform siding at a tremendous speed. The pace was so fast that the signalman could not hope to make the customary exchange of staffs. Apparently tho Westinghouse brake was not acting; but the loud grating of the wheels as the train travelled past indicated that some brake powor was being applied. The train ran half a mile past the station, and slowly backed to tho platform, where the driver made an examination, and shortly afterwards proceeded, without further trouble. Many passengers showed alarm, and the dining-car bore evidence of tho dangerous oscillation which occurred when tho train swung over the points of the platform siding on to tho main lino. After passing tho station, two windows were broken; one large pane being smashed through a waiter being thrown backwards against it while walking in the ear. Tho road was clear beyond Waugaratta ; but the incident showed that an appalling accident might have happened if, as occasionally occurs, another train had been waiting outside until tho express pulled up at the platform.

Jewellary Sale. —Ladies’ Gold and Silver Watches, Engagement Rings, Gem Rings, Christmas Presents and New Year Gifts, of all description::. All goods sold at greatly reduced prices. K. Grieshaber, Jeweller, 155, Colombo Street. 1983

Eyestrain—Headaches.—Mr E. Sandstein, F.S.M.C., D.8.0.A., Op:;, thalmic Optician, may be consulted on all cases of defective eyesight. Fifteen years’ special study and experience. The most up-to-date and eompletclvequipped optical parlours in the colonies. Cashel Street W. (Nest Ballan- ; tvne’s). Hour*, 8.39 to 6. Telephone! \ 897- 1898 )

A man who escaped from the Samaritan Home about three months ago was ill town yesterday. A cable message from Suva, Fiji, states that the country districts tie flooded, and that considerable quantities of sugar-cane and bananas havo .•been destroyed.

; Detectives Ward and Gibson yestoriday arrested a man in tho city on a jcharge of having stolen a. bicycle, the property of a young man named Gilfchrist. Constable Scott also arrested 5 man yesterday on a charge of stealing a bicycle.

Mr G. Vesey Sewart, a resident of Katikati (x~nd province), wrote to King Edward some three years ago begging for a subscription towards the building of a Presbyterian manse in •that district. He has now received a reply from the Privy Purse Office, fouekinghara Palace, expressing the King’s regret that the many claims upon his privato bounty would not allow his Majesty to contribute.

Mr James Davidson, of Horsburgb, Crookston, writes to the “ Clutlia Eeador ” as follows:—“I would liko to draw your attention to a feat performed by one of tho old identities of CJutha, Mr David Hudson, of Warepa, \vho, at the age of eighty-nine, went to tho highest peak of the Blue Mountains pn Thursday last, accompanied by Mrs John Gordon, of Warepa, and myself. 'He led all the way to an altitude of {3346ft."

' The seventh annual meeting of the Glen more Brick and Tile Manufacturing Company was held yesterday, Mr S. -Manning presiding. The annual report and balance-sheet for tho year ending December 31, were adopted. Messrs S. Manning and H. Robinson, the retiring directors, wore re-elected, and Mr W. Jameson was re-elected auditor- A dividend was declared at the rate of 5 per cent for the last jhalf-year, payable on February 12. i The fortnightly meeting of tho Woinen’s Christian Temperance Union was held on Wednesday, Mrs Cole presiding over an attendance of about twenty members. Two new members were initiated, and arrangements were discussed for the representation of the branch ot the annual conference to be held at Wellington in March. A superintendent -of work in connection with narcotics was appointed, and a considerable amount of other routine business was ' transacted.

The Napier Chamber of Commerce discussed the East Coast Railway question yesterday, and adopted the following resolution :—“ That tho members for the district be requested to urge on the Minister of Public Works the importance of completing the survey of the railway route to Poverty Bay during this summer, in terms of the promise made to Mr A. L. D. Fraser during the last session of Parliament, and to the Chamber by the Hon W. Hall-Jones on August 29 last.”

Tho Department of Industries and Commerce has issued a leaflet, prepared from figures supplied by the Customs Department, giving the following particulars of the principal exports during January, those for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses : Butter, 54,139 cwt, value £275,290 (46,423 cwt, £227,243); cheese, 61,394 cwt, value £171,939 (48,838 cwt, £136,954); frozen beef, 34,205 cwt, value £44,006 (18,142 cwt, £20,108); frozen mutton, 136,504 carcases, 73,164 cwt, value £92,959 (90,687 carcases, 48,449 cwt, £64,585); legs and pieces, 4503 cwt, value £6042 (1220 cwt, £1735); frozen lamb, 232,444 carcases, 69,364 cwt, value £129,543 (139,273 carcases, 41,854 cwt, £75,412); wheat, 94 bushels, value £22 (134 bushels, £34); oats, 102,452 bushels, value £9656 (486 bushels, £109); potatoes, 14 tons, value £93 (14 tons, £155); New Zealand hemp, 1211 tons, value £26,500 (2416 tons, ■£62,416).

! A recent visitor to Sydney has brought back some comical stories of i the Broken Hill labour troubles. The rising generation in the district apparently, he said, takes the example of its teniora very much to heart, and acts lipon it. A few days ago, the newsboys, accustomed to distribute the local Labour journal and to make a profit of Id per dozen on the sale of the papers, Suddenly struck for Gd per dozen. The concession was not forthcoming, but the strike held; and the hoys picketed the office iu the most approved 6tyle. Their efforts/were so successful that, [when the steamer left Sydney, the office was still guarded by the pickets, nnd not a paper had left in the of a newsboy. The casual circulation of the paper had to be maintained through the established news-agents. The children were going even further ivhen the narrator left, for the next Say, he said, the youngsters at school intended to put into operation their fiotermination to strike for shorter School hours.

I After .about twenty-five years’ work, the Public Works Department to-mor-row will finally hand over to the Railway Department the last section of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, (states a Press Association telegram. [Before this can he done, an engineer from each department has to inspect the work and certify to its proper completion. This process is being carried nut by Mr C. J. M’Kenzie, representing the Public Works Department, and ftfr Lowe, who. will watch the Railway Department’s interests. Mr Lowe is the District Engineer of Railways in charge of the section between Marton Junction and Frankton Junction. He is stationed at Ohakune, practically Jialf-way between the extremities of his district, and close to a small railway Workshop situated at Rangataua. At the end of January four hundred, men were still engaged iu putting the finishing touches to the line, but every Week their numbers have been diminishing, and there will soon ho no Public Works employees on the job. Most o-f the men have been absorbed on other Avorks.

Commenting on the successes achieved in the system of enclosures adopted in regard to the Government plantations in Otago, the Plon T. Mackenzio stated to a representative of the “Otago Daily Times” that an excellent object-lesson was afforded here of what could be done in the way of regrassing country that had been denuded of pasture. The Conical Hills plantation, for instance, was a run that had been abandoned by the lessee owing to the grasses being eaten and burned out, and the rest and protection which this land had received sinco being taken over by the Government for plantation and grass-growing purposes had produced simply marvellous results. The whole country was now covered with natural grasses, amongst which were intermingled a few introduced grasses, the greater part of which was knee-deep and over. In [marked contrast to the Conical Hills rich grass was a run on the other sido of the river, where the soil was of the same quality. This land had suffered the treatment which other runs had been unfortunato enough to experience, nnd was now a parched waste almost grassless. It caused one to wonder, fiaid the Minister,. whether the Government might not with advantage experiment on some of the runs in Central Otago, the leases of which expire next year. There was. of course, the question of the rabbit pest to consider—whether tlio rabbits might not unduly increase if the runs were allowed to rest for a while. Mr Matthews (State Forester), who had given this question very careful thought, was of the opinion that if the grass increased on every run to the same extent as on the plantation at Conical Hills, the rabbits would not go over it, as they avoided /dense, wet or dawy grass.

The Reoorveo Committee of the City Council will inspect the city’s reserves at Geraldine on Tuesday next. The property comprises about 2000 acres ol second-class land, and is let to a tenant, whcise lease will expire in April next.

Tho Hon A. W. Hogg, Minister of Labour, was entertained by his constituents at a bauqueb at Masterton last night, in honour of his elevation to the Ministry. Tho Hon D. Biuldo was amongst those present. The Wellington City Council last night adopted the Finance Committee's recommendation that in future biograph concerts should not be permitted in any building in Wellington on Sundays. This does not affect the holding of "sacred concerts as at present authorised in tho Town Hall.

Tho Wellington City loan proposals to borrow £208,000 for various works wera submitted to the electors yesterday. There was an extraordinary lack of interest shown, less than 2000 rate-a payers going to the poll out of about" 13,000 on the roll. All the proposals were rejected, except two affecting suburban areas, namely, tho construction of a tramway to Wadostown, £40,000, and water supply to Northland and v. adestown, £22,550. Amongst tho rejected items was a vote of £27,555 for the erection of workmen s homes. At tho Bakers’ Conference yesterday. tho president, Mr W. A. Kelloiv, was in the chair, and the meeting discussed the question of organisation at length. It was agreed that each centre should do its own work in that direction by appointing one or two of its membors to do tho organising when such a course became necessary. In tho afternoon the delegates, about fifty in number, were entertained at a driving picnic to the Burwoocl Tea Gardens, where tho Flour Millers’ Association acted as hosts. A pleasant afternoon was fipent, despite the unfavourable weather. A man named Edward Donovan appeared yesterday at the Police Court at Auckland on a chargo of being drunk. Sub-Inspector Hendrey explained, says a Press Association telegram. tli at Do-novau had only been released from the Salvation Army Inebriates’ Home at Pakatoa the previous day, after twelve months’ sojourn there, and had celebrated the occasion by getting drunk. Donovan had been committed to the island from 'Wellington. When the Bench suggested issuing a prohibition order against him for twelve months, tho accused protested that it was not necessary, as lie had decided to “ give up the drink.” The Bench decided not to issue the prohibition order, and convicting the accused, fined him 10«, in default twenty-four ho urs’ imprison men t. A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that a few days ago while two lads were climbing on cliffs facing the harbour, they came upon a hut very skilfully built into a small cave about fifty feet up tho face of a cliff. The cave had beon enlarged, ancl tho roof of half-inch kauri planks had been carefully made. Tho front was covered with sheets of ruberoid, and the whole was coated with tar. Inside tho cave were found articles of a very varied description, including a wellmade stretcher, a good assortment of carpenter’s tools, a miner’s pick, hand - mirror, a set of shaving apparatus, candles, cartridges, a quantity of fuse, a couple of aurora lamps, methylated spirits, a few magazines, a quantity of tea and sugar, and a bag containing small metal from a quarry near at hand. Subsequently a rope was procured, and Constable Rings descended into tho cave and lowered tho hut and its contents to tho bottom, whence everything was removed to the police station. The police are of opinion that the man who made the hut is some crank, and do not entertain the idea that the place was intended as a store-room for plunder. No trace of the occupant has T)cen discovered. SOME ARMY METHODS. “In the army we are conservative,” said General Baden-Powell recently at the United Service Institution. " Wo uphold a good many old customs and methods for no other reason than that thoy aro fetishes. Personally, 1 am apt to classify them under the term ‘ Sword exercise.’ Tho word ‘ exercise ’ may bo described as follows:—When they want to teach the young cavalry soldier to be a good swordsman oil horseback, the custom of tho servico is—rather, until a short time ago, was—to put him on foot in the barrack square with a largo squad of others, and to make him stand in a most uncomfortable attitudo and wave his sword round him in a certain series of cuts, guards and points, exactly in time with his neighbours. When the whole squad could do this exactly together—and exactly in tho correct rotation of cuts, with the final touch of making the sword whistle through the air—which was generally effected by tho man whistling between his teeth—the whole squad were passed as trained swordsmen. Well, if the soldier then found himself hand-to-hand with a mounted Afghan, it was his own fault if he got killed—the army system had done its best for him and turned him out a ‘trained swordsman.’ I can quite imagine that old Crimean story of the Dragoon who was wounded and captured by tho Russians, and who, in his defence afterwards, said: ‘ It was not my fault. I gave the fellow cut one, and what do you think the silly fool did? He returned with cut four, instead of cut two, and, of course, lie wounded me, the sillv fool!’ ” A BOOK FOR SAILORS. Among tho many important publications or general interest issued from the Government Printing Office, one claims special recognition and praise for its usefulness far beyond New Zealand. This is Captain H. S. Blackburne’s “ Tables for Azimuth, GreatCircle Sailing, and Reduction to the Meridian.” Along with a host of other technical works, the book is worse than caviare to tho general public, but it takes the eye of a navigator at once, and has been very warmly commented upon by experts, not only in the dominion, hut in Great Britain as well. Tho chief feature of tho tables ig that thoy are worked out to cover much wider ground than those previously available, enabling observations to be made undor what would havo previously been adverse circumstances. Moreover, the tables are so full that when, by their use, a ship’s position cannot bo found at sight from a stellar observation, tho calculation required runs into merely a half-dozen figures. Thus tho tables abolish, in a very large degree, the drudgery of figuring connected with an observation worked in the usual way, and the author’s hope is that, by their saving in labour, the tables will encourage the systematic taking of stellar observations. The “ Shipping World,” of December 9, describes the hook as on all counts one of tho moat complete and most authoritative in nautical literature, and tho “ United Service Magazino ” says it makes it possible to determine the position of the ship moro readily at any time, and with less trouble, I than ever before. The first officer of the V. and 0. mail steamer Mcoltan, writing to the author, said that, armed with the tables and a nauticnl almanac, only an overcast skv was to ho feared in fixing tho ship’s position. “ I heartily agree,” lie writes, “with those writers who suggest your hook being admitted into- tlio Board of Trade examinations. If this were too sudden a change for the slowmoving officials, they might at least compel candidates to work your method

in addition to their own laborious way. There is no doubt which system the young navigator would adopt when clear of the examination room.”