THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1879.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5490, 21 June 1879, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1879.

Whoever lives into the next century, will assuredly see emigration in a tide, compared with which any fresh shifting of population now is but a mare driblet. We see by the last mail all the premonitory symptoms in England. Heretofore England herself has had less emigration than the other parts of the United Kingdom. The vast trade of her manufactures and mines kept her population at homo, although its increase has been astonishing. When the last century began England and Wales had five millions of people. There are now 22 millions, packed within that area of 60,000 square miles. The great industry of the towns and mining regions employed the masses there, and absorbed and employed the surplus hands of the rural districts. But a great change has come about. We need not now pause to consider how far, and in what degree the causes of tho depression of that great trade are temporary or permanent. For even if it should raise again to tho highest level it lately held, that will not suffice. It must enlarge and grow, side by side with the continuing increase of producing hands. And that any such great and continuous enlargement of so huge a trade is probable or possible, in face of the new foreign competition in a multitude of quarters, only the most sanguine can anticipate. It is terribly uphill work to find new markets in lieu of old ones. Ovorcrowding lies at the root of all this overproduction, and there is a growing public belief that emigration on a great scale can furnish the only real means of relieving tho national pressure. The idea of emigration has spread to quarters where it was novel or unthought of till now. The last mail informed us of a movement which has arisen among the pitmen of the colliery districts of Durham, with the object of emigrating "in masses." And for tho first time in tho history of tho agricultural counties the same impulse is stirring the population there —tho particular sort of population which new countries are most glad to receive.

The utter hopelessness of any early and adequate change in the English land system cannot but drive abroad farmer and labourer, because things have come to such a pass as to bring out in full force all the evils of the system. Under it three separate and distinct profits have to be made out of the land, in contrast with only one in countries where a peasant proprietary exists. In England the landlord has to get his rent ; the farmer who invests his capital has to got both his livelihood and the interest on his money; and the labourer has to got the pay which supports him and his family. On the contrary in France, Prussia, and divers other countries, the peasant and his family cultivate the ground, which is his own—he is at once landlord, farmer, and labourer. They should bo extraordinary profits indeed that could be relied on for the triple requirements of the British land system, and eo when bad times come round, as now, the landlord and farmer are at issue on the subject of rent, and

the farmer and labourer about the rate of wages. Hence arose the rural desire, and particularly the landlord's (he having of course the prime advantage) to maintain extraordinary profits by artificial means. But the public at large could not afford that. The great towns, with their multitude of inhabitants, could not do without cheap bread. London alone, with its four millions in city and suburbs, has as many people as all England in Elizabeth's time. And there are a score of other great and populous cities and mining and manufacturing tracts which, in density of population, resemble vast cities. The continuance of the corn laws could not be tolerated merely to snpport an evil land system, and. Sir Robert Peel repealed the corn laws. How much longer that land system can continue to stand is a question, for there is no longer room for the triple profits which it requires. It appears from the English trade returns, that while five years ago, wheat was considered unusually cheap at 445. a quarter, the figure now is 38s. The absolute necessity for the foreign import is shewn by the fact that while, at the present date, the national consumption is 88 million quarters, the home production is only 38 millions ; and though it was somewhat greater five years ago, it was then only 43 million quarters out of a consumption -of 84i. No doubt, the dampness of the English climate—more suitable for cattle-raising than for wheat growing—causes an increasing tendency to put the land under grass and root crops, as the better-paying plan ; but notwithstanding the great quantities of cattle- thus brought to market, and the great foreign imports both of live stock and dead meat, the price of meat still ranges high, and occasionally runs up to a figure which would astonish people In new countries, and which raises butchers meat altogether beyond easy reach of the multitude.

As that land system does not pay as it is required to pay, rents must come down. In many cases they have already come down. So, it is no wonder that a change is already manifest in the value of land —in the disposition of capitalists to invest in it. The English newspapers remark this change in the wealthy colonists who return to the mother country. It used to be their practice to realise in the colony in order to buy estates in England. Now, the reverse is the case. They stick to their colonial possessions, and prefer colonial investments. A general fall in rents is inevitable. But landlords will not do more than lower their rents to a certain extent, and that will not suffice to stay the tide of rural emigration when once it ha 3 really begun. In a former article on this subject we quoted many instances from the English papers of landlords abating their rents 20 per cent., and numbers of farmers refusing to remain, even on these terms. It does not pay the farmer or the labourer to stay under this land system, and there is, certainly, no present prospect that it will be broken up or fundamentally altered. The great land-owners are still powerful enough to prevent that, and they have, and perhaps may continue to have, the support of the wealthy commercial classes, who in England have always desired to become land-owners. When the tide of emigration has once begun, the country people will flock away quite as numerously as the manufacturing hands, though it is not in agricultural parts, but in the manufacturing, that there 13 at present any extraordinary density of population. They will not remain to fight a hopeless battle, and their departure will postpone still further off any chance of a new land system. If the French masses had in the last century the opportunity and the habit of emigration, there would have been no great French revolution. What will the land-owners do with a reduced rural population, and when they find it difficult to let their farms at the rents that they require ? Perhaps take farming, or rather grazing, on a great scale into their own hands. It is not impossible that that may be the next scene in the diorama.

It is observable how the idea of emigration is spreading through the nations. In old times a man always believed that his own country and his own climate —no matter what it was like — was the best to live in. This belief firmly possessed even tho frozen Icelander. But the new idea has reached even the " Ultima Thule." The scanty population of that island now stands still—is not more numerous that it was 50 years ago, from the numbers who now emigrate to Denmark and elsewhere. Norway is a vast stretch of country with only a million and a half of people in its not unfertile valleys, and good land arrangements. Yet numbers of Norwegians now every year emigrate to Canada and the United States. The same scene is exhibited in a variety of quarters. Ovid's sentiment appears to have got into the air— Omne solum est jmtriaforti.

The Licensing Bill of next session is to be an emanation of the brain of Mr. Stout, and the Government of which he is a member, is not to be in any way responsible for it. The Ministry will gain no credit by its passing, or its success, and will incur no obloquy by its defeat in the House, or failure in working. Wo doubt very much, whether tho arrangement is a good one. If the licensing system of the country is faulty and objectionable,then the Governmentshould endeavour to amend it; and besides, it puts a member of tho Ministry in a somewhat awkward position to make him responsible for such a measure. The abstract of the proposed measure which we published a few days ago, states that it provides that "licensing districts" shall be identical with Boroughs or wards of Boroughs, ridings of Counties, Road Districts, &c. To this there can be no great objection. No new licences are to be granted, unless and until tho ratepayers have determined by a general poll whether the number of licences shall be increased. The danger of such a provision is this—on the question being put to a district, "Shall the number of licences in this district be increased ?" the whole of the Good Templar influence would vote in the negative, and the whole of the publichouse influonc3 would be on the same side. The persons voting under one or other of these influences comprise the whole of those who are much interested, and would caro to vote at all, so that the matter would be decided quite apart from all considerations of public convenience. The next provision is to the effect that the Licensing Court shall entertain any petition or memorial from residents or ratepayers of the district, and on proof of the authenticity of signatures, if it appear that at least twothirds of the residents or ratepayers in the neighbourhood of the house to which tho petition relates object to the licence, tho Court shall refuse to grant the application. It is further provided that tho Licensing Court is to determine what is to bo considered "the neighbourhood." This provision would simply open a road for a large amount of agitation and intriguing, and would not be effective in suppressing public-houses. Sunday-trading is to bo strictly limited, and no persons are to bo supplied on Sundays, except lodgers or bona fide travellers, who live at least five miles from the premises, and any one falsely representing himsolf to be a traveller to be liable to a fine of £5. This is precisely the provision proposed by the Good Templars. Indeed the whole bill is a " permissive" one, and we should think had no chance of passing. It would have been much better if Mr. Stout had really attempted to improve the licensing system by providing for efficient inspection, so as to discover adulteration, and by looking solely to the wants of that portion of the public who use hotels. Already we are in New Zealand far more strict than in any other place we know in regard to Sundaytrading. Sunday - trading is absolutely prohibited, with the result that the law is not stringently carried out,

and that liquor is sold all the day over. In England the House of Lords Committee recommended that publichouses should be open for four hours each Sunday, and in Australia no bill could be thought of which absolutely prohibited Sunday-trading. We observe that the licensed victuallers in Victoria are agitating to obtain that the licence should attach to the individual rather than to the premises, as the present law has the effect of giving the landlord all the advantage. The publicans there, indeed, are taking a high stand, for at a late meeting one of them said — " Some people thought a publican was a man to be dreaded. A publican ought to be respected ; if he was not deserving of respect, he ought not to be in trade. When the schoolmaster had done with lads, the next perion with whom they came into contact was the publican. The clergy instructed the members of their denominations, but that was only on Sunday. The clergy should go hand-in-hand with the licensed victuallers in keeping the body politic pure and clean. The publicans should also be on good term 3 with the police, as the former could give a great deal of valuable assistance to the latter." How extremes meet is aUo shown, as that at the same meeting a publican said he thought that the fact that "the local bodies received the fees had a tendency to induce the granting of too many licences." He continued : "It would be a good plan to appoint a committee, consisting of representatives of teetotallers and the trade, to close houses not required, compensating the licencees." This would admirably suit all parties, except the public, who, the speaker we have quoted, intends should pay the compensation. The teetotallers, who are to act in a fraternal way with the publicans, would reduce the number of houses; those compensated would, no doubt, be handsomely dealt with; while the publicans who assisted the teetotallers, and whose houses remained, would materiallyincrease the value of their business. We suppose it is quite certain that next session we shall have a iiicensing Bill discussed, with " permissive" clauses, if only Sir W. Fox is left to bring it up. But it has no chance of passing, and the general political business of the colony will be too absorbing to allow the Government to bring in a moderate reforming measure.

The speech delivered by Te Whiti at Parihaka, and reported in our yesterday's impression, confirms in every line the portrait we have drawn of the prophet. Deeply read in the Scriptures—meditating on all that has occurred to the Maori race, and coming to the conclusion that they are a deeply-wronged people—clearly seeing also our faults and weaknesses Te Whiti is a genuine Maori. On a wider sphere, he might have become a kind of Mahomet for his people, and attracted the attention of the world, but it is almost grotesque to find his prophetic pretentions, his claims to be God and Satan in one, and to have miraculous power, set forth before a few hnndreds at Parihaka. Over all of Te Whiti's utterances, however, there is a

tone which shows that he lias no hope from worldly force in resisting the Europeans. It was, indeed, the conviction that the Europeans were too strong to be contended against that led him earnestly to long for a miraculous power, and by dwelling on the idea, he conceives himself to be possessed of such a power. In this he differs from the Hauhau fanaticism, which professed to give its votaries the victory in fighting with the Europeans. Te Whiti gives us a piece of information, viz., that the Premier sent him. a telegram, proposing a commission to investigate the alleged grievances of the natives in respect to the confiscated land, but he said that he had replied that the matter had been delayed too long, and "that the end of all things was at hand —the Court of Commissioners included." If Te Whiti is so thoroughly convinced that the end of all things is at hand that he will not consent to the proposals, it might be said to him that it is not worth his while to strive for the restoration of the confiscated lands, and especially that it is folly to plough land and sow it for next harvest. However, notwithstanding Te Whiti's repudiation at present, we believe that a commission on the subject will be appointed, and that it will shew up many faults in the native administration on the West Coast. Te Whiti counsels the extreme of nonresistance, and also instructs his people that if the European settlers became frightened, and leave their houses, the natives are not to plunder their goods or take their cattle. This ! is sensible and practical advice. His scathing denunciation of the great fault of the pakehas—a devotion to the acquisition of wealth— hits us as a people very hard, and in a better and more practical sermon than is generally to be heard from Auckland pulpits. Apparently, Te Whiti's programme is, that there is to be no further ploughing, that no more land is to be taken possession of, but that the natives are to remain in possession of what they have ploughed. We look upon the Parihaka meeting as being of a thoroughly pacific tendency, and we believe that the danger of an outbreak in Taranaki is now past.

A Wellington* correspondent furnishes us, in a telegram published elsewhere, with an outline of the sessional programme on the Ministerial side. A Loan Bill for £3,000,000 is to be passed, the allocation of part of the money to be left to a labar period of the session. Tho object of this is to enable the Government to be put in funds at tho earliest possible moment. There is no doubt that the disposal of the balance of the loan will be a matter of keen dispute and prolonged discussion, which would delay the passing of the measure, while it is desirable that the new loan should be negotiated not later than September next. A Representation Bill is inevitable, and Ministers will "go in for" o dissolution. The Opposition this season will not, it is stated, content themselves with the skirmishing warfare which occupied last session, but their programme includes as many pitched battles as they can find ground to fight upon.

The development of our eoal seams is progressing with greater vigour than the public are generally aware of, and such a demand has now set iu for the local article, that it bids fair at no distant period to close the market against coal from Newcastle. The prejudico that so long existed against Bay of Islands ooal for steam purposes has been overcome, and the Union Steam Shipping Company are now large consumers thereof, while a contracthas just been entered into with the American mail steamers that, on arrival from San Francisco, they shall take in what is reouired. This example will, no doubt, be followed by tho English boats. On the other hand, coal from Whangarei, Waikato, and other districts is being us;d on the railway and for household purposes, and such is the demand that it is likely to shut out the imported article. During the winter season of past years, about a 1000 tons of Newcastle coal has been recoive'l each month, but we learn that Newcastle is now difficultto sell, inasmuch as good local household can be procured at little more than half that given for Newcastle. From statistics we collated yesterday, we find that during the month of May over 6500 tons represented the output of_ the Provincial coal mines. Our coal mining industry has grown without any protection. It has only been strengthened by competition, and we anticipate that in a few years New Zealand coal will not only supersede imported in all the markets of the colony, but that we shall have a surplus, which we shall be able to export. With the large production of coal we shall be able to develop our iron mines, and enter upon a prosperous career of manufacturing industry.

Water consumers are reminded that the half-yearly rate, due on the 30th inst., must be paid on or before that date, to ensure the supply not being out off.

Yesterday was to have been the last day for receiving exhibits to be forwarded by the local commissioners to the Sydney Exhibition ; but we are informed that the time is extended for a week. It appears that several exhibitors who made application to the commissioners to forward .their goods, have not been able to finish the articles in hand by the time notified. One or two will probably not be ready even at the expiration of the extended time; but most of the exhibits will be ready for transport in the course of a few days. Our Wellington telegrams inform us that the Sydney Commissioners of the International Exhibition are to show machinery in motion treating quartz, and illustrating all the methods of saving gold and Bilver. The other day a case of some apparent hardship was decided at the Resident Magistrate's Court held at Mahnrangi. We allude to tho case against Mr. F. Cherry, for the non-payment of rates npon an allotment he owns iu that district. He did not appear, and the was decided against him, and costs, amounting to Ids, added. The reason why the defendant did not appear was very evident, and must have been then known to the prosecutors, if not to some of the magistrates on the bench also. It was simply that no rates then remained unpaid, Mr. Cherry having previously paid in to the Bank of New Zealand, to the credit of the Highway Board, the amount of rates due, as he had been in the habit of doing for many years pa3t. The payment was made, we are informed, about a fortnight before proceedings for the recovery of the rates were taken, and of this payment the secretary of the Highway Board wa3 duly advised by letter. Such proceedings are not calculated to elevate the dignity of our rural courts. Connected with His Excellency's visit to Waikato, escorting Rewi home, no feature of much interest has yet emerged, if we except the address from the Hauhau section of the Ngatihaua, who welcomed the Governor to Waikato, suggesting that he has now an opportunity of forming an opinion whether the work of the Maori King is good or bad. This would seem to put the Governor in the position of having come to Waikato on a ceremonial visit to Tawhaio, and looks at all events as if those people had no intention of giving up their King. Some unintelligent V3grant in the Museum yesterday took the terra cotta bust of the Prince of Wales from its pedestal and set it standing npon one of the cane • bottomed chairs! Assuming the bust to be solid, it was heavy enough to fall through, or, if as light as some plaster busts, the least shake would cause it to topple over. The position was discovered in time. We are disposed to think the act was one of some over-curious, but very negligent person. But it shows the necessity of vigilant watchfulness on the part of the public as well as the officers of the institute, so that these statues, busts, etc., should not receive damage from carelessness. The loss would be as great, whether it was occasioned by folly or malice.

Each side of the Newmarket Railway Bridge is in a most wretched condition, and needs repairing at once. A short time ago we drew attention to the state o£ this road, and one load of scoria was put on, and now there are holes enough to take five or six loads. Had a little more been used at the time the former repairs were effected, the road would have been in a good condition now. An inquest will be held to-day, at the Freeman's Bay Hotel, on the body of Joseph Davis, who died suddenly on board the s.s. Rowena, on her voyage from Coromandel, on Thursday evening. The subscribers to the fund raised for the benefit of Mrs. Moller, widow of the late Captain Moller, murdered at Butaritari, and her children, had a meeting yesterday, for the purpose of determining as to the manner in which the fund should be appropriated. Messrs. Larkins and Eattray were appointed trustees. The amount is £91 15s 2d. It was resolved that £1 a-week should be paid to Mrs. Moller while she has charge of the children, until the fund is exhausted. It ia computed that by placing the amount in the Savings Bank, the accruing interest will raise the amount to £100. This will be £1 a week for the widow and children extending over a period of nearly two years. A correspondent telegraphs the following respecting the row at Cambridge, referred to in yesterday's paper :—"Yesterday there was a lot of work done at the Native Land 3 Court. It began by a hot discussion between Ngaiterangi and .Ngatihana. Many natives were the worse for drink. A native in the Masonic Hotel assaulted a European. The natives were then turned out of the hotel, and the row verged into a tribal one, the Ngaiterangi ranging themselves on one side of Duke-street and the Ngatihaua on the other. When the excitement was at its height the Constabulary appeared on the scene, accompanied by Major Wilson and others, and prevented a breach of the peace. The hotel doors were closed and guarded, and by ten o'clock the excitement had subsided." Mr. H. Worthington gave his second lecture on " The Punic Wars " last evening, in the Wellesley-street School-room (City East), to the scholars competing for scholarships under the Board of Education. There were about 120 children present, and they were certainly a most atteutive audience. The subject was the second Punic War. Tho lecture embraced the principal historical events in the life and career of Hannibal. The children were frequently interrogated by reference to a skeleton map, to test their geographical knowledge. The answers were ready and correct. It was certainly an impressive and pleaßant way of imparting historical and geographical knowledge. The next lecture will be given on Tuesday evening next. When the cricketing season was half through, Mr. F. H. Lewisson, the we'.lknown jeweller of Queen-street, intimated his intention of presenting a complete set of cricketing materials, to bo given to the cricketer who should make the largest number of runs in four innings from the date that Mr. Lewisson gave the prize. The pleasing ceremony of presenting the articles to Mr. Mumford, the successful cricketer, took place at the Thistle Hotel yesterday, when Mr. Lewisson's health was enthusiastically drunk, and a hope was expressed by the cricketers present that other gentlemen would follow in Mr. Lewisson's steps, and encourage cricket and other athletic sports. The followins are the scores made by Mr. Mumford : —V. 18 Colts, not out, 7; v. Taranaki, caught, 40; v. Waiuku, not oat, 119 ; v. West Eud, caught, 18 : total, IS4. Yesterday afternoon a bushman named Johnston King, was brought to town from Tairna, via the Thames, in a most precarious condition, in consequence of being crushed at the former place about three weeks ago by a log. The particulars of the accident were reported by telegraph, viz., that whi'e engaged in jacking a log, it rolled upon him, and crushed his legs severely. He was subsequently removed to the Thames by a number of his comrades, and attended to by Dr. Andrews, who gave but little hopes of recovery. Mr. Adamson, the contracter for whom King worked, therefore decided to bring him to Auckland, and on arrival yesterday he was convoyed to the hospital; but as putrisaction has set in, the doctors do not hold out any hopes of recovery. Fred. Piummer appears to be at his old tricks again. Our Wellington telegrams tell us that he has been arrested for committing some theft on the premises of Dr. Lemon, at-.d that several other charges are likely te be brought against him. His career here about a dozen years ago will not be readily | forgotten. He was then a young man of some promise, but, entering upon evil ways, soon found that the downward path was easy and rapid. He formerly belong-d to the Albertland District, where a brother still resides, who has found much cause to grieve over the wrong-doing of his younger brother. Fred., having committed some defalcations, was arrested, tried at the Supreme Court, and sentenced. He subsequently made his escape gaol, and committed further depredations, was re arrested, and sentenced to additional periods of imprisoment. When Mr. (now Justice) Gillies was elected Superintendent, Piummer, in consequence of his escapes and attempted escapes from gaol, was selected as one of the batch of dangerous prisoners whom it was considered desirable to transfer to the Dunedin gaol for safe keeping. The fiieraiser Hatey was one of this batch sent to Dunedin. In due time, Piummer obtained his liberty, but his long confinement and hardships in gaol, do not appear to have had a reforming effect upon him, and in the event of conviction, his pre" vious bad character will doubtless add considerably to the length of his imprisonment. It would appear that he. had been passing himself of by some other less known name, for the telegram states that he had been " identified" as the notorious Fred Piummer. His relatives, who are among us, are to be sympathised with on account of the disgrace brought upon their name by this young man's evil course..

A few minutes put 8 o'clock last nieht Constable Dugan and Waterman Holbrook' were in conversation at the watermen's steps, and heard rather peculiar sounds pro oeeding from under the wharf. They walked towards the noise, which they soon ascer tamed proceeded from some person under the wharf. Rushing back to the watermen's steps for the night-boat, which was in readi ness, they immediately pushed off to render help, and found a Maori hanging to one of the stringers beneath the wharf. As Hoi brook got hold of him, the Maori's opinion of the Kuropean's love of meney waa strikingly illustrated, for he at once ex claimed, "How much?" This was more than Harry could endure, and in language more forcible than polite he dragged him him into the boat. The Maori was then taken to the police qnarters, and explained that he w»b proceeding to the s.s. Hinemoa which he understood was alongside the wharf, and a gust of wiud c»rri:d his hat over the western side into the water. Unfortunately, on looking into the water for his lost hat, he stumbled over the parapet and the tide swept him well to the eastern side of the wharf, where he was found bv his rescuers, }

Yesterday we were shewn by Messrs Ireland Brothers a sample of wool rendered altogether valueless by the quantity of see^g of the Bathurst bur which it contained. The wool may now be by any one interested in the subject, on calling at our publishing office, where the burry wool is on exhibition. 'I he firm were cot able to tell the district whence the wool was obtained it having been found among a quantity o'f wool at their establishment at Pauninre brought from various places. During the past dry season the Bathurst burr appears to have been more prevalent here than on any former season. This was only to be expected, seeing that the plant which liears this burr is a native of a warmer and drier climate than that which Auckland possesses. Many years ago it was introduced into Australia, and from there it was brought to Auckland during the Maori war in 1863 or ISG4. It fir«fc made its appearance about Penrose and the Harp of Erin Hotel, and since then it has found its way to many of the dry volcanic hills in the neighbourhood of Auckland. Indeed, it is only on these hills, and on dry, warm, sandy nooks where the burr appears to be able to successfully struggle for existence. Oh the heavier soils in the Auckland district it does not seem to have obtained a firm footing. We know of its having been found in the Raglan, Tauranga, and other districts some distance removed from Auckland, but it is only on the warm, dry spots of those places where it lives. As the moist Auckland climate is against the plant thriving with luxuriance, we think the local Highway Districts might take Bteps to have the few plants in their several districts destroyed. It would take little time and trouble to accomplish this work, and we are informed that the chairman of the Mount Wellington Road District has already issued orders to have all the plants of the Bathurßt burr found in that district destroyed. The Auckland Pastoral and Agricultural Association might also move in the matter, and do something towards the eradiction of this troublesome weed. When the plants are numerous on sheep pastures, the wool is very much deteriorated in value. This, the Australian squatters have found to their cost. Recently, a quantity of wool from Australia was offered in the London market, and it was declared to be wholly worthless on account of the quantity of this bur which it contained. Rainer's Diorama of the American War was exhibited yesterday evening for the last time. The hall, considering the state of the weather, was well filled. Valuab'e presents were given away after the exhibition. The reading of the conundrums upon the diorama created a little fun. The successful one was that which bore the signature of " Cleopatra." It was as as follows:—" Why is the lecturer on the diorama like a ntan selling a 40-acre section?" Answer: "Because he brings under your notice some important deeds; he shews you a General (Government) Grant, and he gives ground for your satisfaction." We understand the real author was Mr. T. L. White, Devouporfc. This afternoon, wo understaud, a new diorama will bo exhibited, illustrating some of the scenes in the late war between Russia and Turkey. In the evening, the same scenes will be exhibited, and a descriptive lecture delivered, together with the neverfailing distribution of valuable gifts.

We have received the following singular epistle from Mr. Harrison, head-maater o£ the Hepburn-street School, respecting a paragraph in our issue of Weduesday last, which stated that a pupil of the City West School, No. 2, had been ordered to be punished for not attending the muster of schoolchildren on Government House lawn on Monday :—" Sir, —My atfceution has been called by one of my pupils to a sensational paragraph in your issue of ISth instant. Permit me to give the charge contained in it an unqualified denial. May I further suggest that it is no part of the duties of the Press to afford opportunities for the gratuitous circulation of slander. If any grounds of complaint exist, the proper courts of appeal are the school committee and the board of Education, to whom it would be well in future to refer .nonymous grum» blera. — I am, sir, /oars respectfully, Edward M. C. Harrison, head-master. Hepburn-street School, June 20th, 1579." In reply, we may state that Mr. Harrison's communication was submitted to the gentleman from whom the information contained in the paragraph was obtained, and he still maintains the accuracy of the statement made. His children were threatened with punishment, but it was not inflicted; and he gave the names of other parents whose children were similarly dealt with, as corroborative evidence of the truthfulness of his statements. It will be observed that Mr. Harrison's attention " has been called by one of his pupils" to the paragraph in question— for that gentleman doe 3 not profess to get his iuformation from the vulgar channel of journalism, but drinks deeper of the Pierian spring. Smart boy that ! Wo shall keep our eye upon him, and watch his future career. Depend upon it, a boy who reads his newspaper, carefully and critically, will be found in after life to play a rery different role to that of wielding a ferrule. It is gratifying to find such unlooked-for testimony to the excellence of our educational system, when it is tacitly admitted that in at least one of our public schools a pupil is, in some matters, wiser than his Mentor. Mr. Harrison, in concluding, proceeds to- read the Press a lecture on its dnties ; but his catalogue of theso is so imperfectly compiled that he has no place for one of its primary functions, viz., to give publicity to every complaint affecting the interest of the body social and politic, and in which " nothing is extenuatid or aught set down in malice."

The Christctaurch Press, a strong Opposition paper, comments severely upou the recent couferring of titles. It says :—" The only wonder is that such men are willing to accept such flimsy decoration. What couid have induced Mr. Stafford or Mr. Fox, for instance, to accept the somewhat questionable distinction is a mystery. Yearß ago Mr. Stafford refused the 0.M.G., although it svas offered on tbe understanding that it would merely precede the higher rack. Let us charitably hopo that both he and Mr. Fox are actuated by the laudable desire of redeeming the Order from the general contempt into which it is fast sinking. But of all the shocks to colonial susceptibilities in tho matter, the greatest was certainly the announcement of Mr. Larnach becoming; aC. M.G. Dpon what possible basis, it is asked, could this have been managed. As a claimant for public honours of any kind Mr. Larnach is emphatically nowhere. Until tho session before last he was not heard of as a politician. The way he came to be known was by an act of political treason. His subsequent appearance as Colonial Treasurer was equally conspicuous by its failure. Ho proved, we must suppose ti his own satisfaction, the insolvency of New Zealand, and ho made that insolvency the basis lor a fresh loan. As luckily no one believed him, the loan was obtained, and the only person who has achieved no credit from the financial operation is Mr. Larnach. These two feats aro literally all that the friends of Mr. Lirnach have to plead in extenuation of the impropriety of his being raised to his new honour?. The verdict of the colony is that it is utterly indefensible. It ia looked upon as nothing more nor less than an insult to New Zealand, and to every public man in it, that the namo of Mr. Larnaoh should appear on the roll of her C.M.G-.'s. If we are to have many more appointments such as this, the Order of St, Michael and St. George will speedily be degraded to the level of the one rendered famous by Thackeray—that of the Elephant and Castle of Panama." The Dunedin Herald says :—" We beg to assure the Government, on ' the best information,' that if they begin a war they will very quiokly be relieved from the task °£ carrying ft Qn,"

We understand that Mr. A. Walker yesterday completed the purchase, from the Ngapuhi chief Marsh Brown, of the celebrated Kaikau and Marnraku kauri forest, on the Upper Wairoa, Kaipara district. It contains about sixty million feet of timber, most of it easily got at. Competent judges state that this is one of the best and most easily accessible kauri forests in the North Island. In the 9how windows of Messrs. Phillips and Son's premises, Qnecn-street, wero to be seen yesterday a beautiful collection of oleographs, which have just been opened out and placed on view. The pictures are illustrative of English scenery, German legends, and humourous incidents in domestic life. Amingst the list we may specially mention "The Reckoning," "First of April," "The Elopement," "Ventnor, Isle of Wight," and an admirably - executed marine piece, "The Needles," &c. The pavement in front of the shop was blocked up all day with a crowd of curious sightseers.

The Tablet quotes the following:-_ "France is a thoroughly Catholic country, but, to judge by its rulers, one might imagine something very different. The reconstruction of the Ministry, einco the accession of President Grevy to tho Presidential chair, has placed the entire government of Franco in the bands of Protestants and Freemasons. Thus, the Premier, M. Waddington, is aii English Protestant, M. do Royer (tho Minister of Justice), M. Tirard (the Secretary of Commerce), and M. Leon Say (the .Minister of Finance), are all Protestants and Freemasons. Admiral Jauregnibery, the Naval Secretary, is » Protestaut, whilst M. Jules Perry, the Minister of Education, and General Gresley, the War Secretary, are both Freemasons' although they profess to be Catholics. In the same way, all the leading members of the Republican majority of the Chamber belong to the ' craft.' No wonder, therefore, that the policy which now obtains in France should be one of tho most implacible hostility towards the Catholic Church."

The following story is vouched for by the Timaru Herald as being perfectly true :— In an up-country township in Canterbury, not many weeks since, a gentleman named B placed a number of accounts in the hands of a commission agent named C for collection. A few days afterwards, B encountered C, and asked him how he was gettin" on. " Oh ! first-rate," replied C, " I've collected about £ ." " .Yell, then, let me have it as soon as you can," said B. " Oh, but you see, I had a heavy bill of my own to meet," rejoined G, " and I used the money accordingly." 'The , yott did," exclaimed B. "but that's embezzlement." " Xot a bit of it,"coo!lj replied C, and proceeded to explain how he had first of all sought advice on tbe question, and been assured he was not criminally liable for misappropriating the money. "You see," he added, "times are so bad just now that a fellow neels to be very smart in these matters. Come and have a drink." B now collects his debts himself.

Mrs. Harding-Britten is lectnrirg in Southland. " Delirett," writing in the Sydney Morning Herald concerning the confusion of ideas prevailing respecting the real status in the peerage of the new Governor of New South Wales, says :—"lt is just as well that we should not appear to the world to be more ignorant of matters known to everyone in England who mixes in society, than m st of ns really are. I hope, therefore, that the mistakes recently m*d« here respecting the designation and title of our new ruler will not be repeated. There is, properly speaking, no such person as Lord Loftus, and there certainly is no Lady Loftus. The Marquess of Ely is no doubt also Baron Lottus, but nobody would or does so call him. He is not 30 yrars of age, and is unmarried. Lord Augustus J-oftus, the Governor elect, born in IS 17, is that nobleman's uncle, and the proper appellation of his wife, ?iuce her title is derived solely from him, is Lady Augustus Loftus. Should the Marquis of Ely marry and have a son, that son will by courtesy be Lord Loftus. Should the Marquis die unmarried, his titles will descend on one of Lord Augustus's elder brothers. In no probable case will Lord Ln'tus have the title, or designation, so inaccurately bestowed on him by certain persons in Sydney."

We take the following from the Oamaru Mai!: —"A gentleman—a passenger by the Oamaru train, which lately came into contact with a Port Chalmers train—after having recovered from the first shock, thrust his head out of the window of his carriage and inquired in a stentorian voice if there was a life assurance agent handy. Mr. Stuart, representative of the Government Assurance Office, who was a passenger by the Oamaru train, was awakened from a contemplation of the uncertainty of life, and what a splendid harvest he would be able to reap—if sparrd to get to his journey's end—as the result of the accident, and was quickly on the spot whence the voice proceeded, and announced himself as the person who wa3 wanted. Bat, alas! so improvident is human nature, that no sooner was the scare over than the gentleman's desire to insure bis life for the benefit of his relatives fled. We can irmgine how Mr. Stuart will make use of this circumstance in setting forth the advantages of life assurance ; in fact, how all life-assurance agents will be able to point to it as another reason why life-assurance agents sbonld not be met by the old excuse, "Go thy way for this time ; when I have a convenient season I will send for thee."