Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7513, 17 December 1885, Page 4

The crisis in the Balkan Peninsula still continues. Prince Alexander, however, is showing a praiseworthy disposition to conform to the wishes of Turkey, and has expressed his readiness to comply with the demands of the Porte, provided the- latter compels the Servians to evacuate Widdin. A. Ministerial crisis has occurred in New South Wales, and the Dibbs Administration has ceased to exist. It is expected that Sir John Robertson will be entrusted with the task of forming a new Ministry.

We are informed that tho Onehunga Iron and Steel Smelting Company know nothing of any proposal to smelt quartz, as referred to in a paracraph iu our columns on Tuesdav. taken from the Tβ Aroha Nowa.

Mr. A. Buckland held " eeaaon'e Wool Ba , e8 n6 JJ the third of th , yesterday. There were 3% h } hytn besides a number of%„ bales offerer) with the excXVrKlfr 3; which reserves were fixed, aU Z P J Ot » °* of. There « H no advance nth l 8p °' ed compared with the last ealee hat fif rice «■ no falling off, and the prices tL here »»• -a.tau.cd. There W £ "Sjwer, of buyers, and fair compftjtL attend «nce certain limit. A £."»? .*> I appears in our commercial column * Bale Perhaps no subject is of more'in* our citizens at preeeat than h " *?* to mining industry. They w t £ at , ° the glad to learn that Professor n ° re ' b arrived yesterday from So * Ck, Who lecture this evening at the So? ? e ' >» eight o'clock, his topics being 1 *! 1,4 "* motion of a Thames School of* M in » Jotl 'The Mineral Wealth of the fW ' an,l Peninsula." Mr. G. Aickin v r ° T I tnande l the Chamber of ComnW I " deflt of A 1 interested in the mining indL/T 8,,6 - citizens generally, should e n de avou aD present, to hear what Professor EllclrV" got to say concerning our RoldSeld* Tn J* 9 he visits the Freezing Company's ir d, ' the Sulphuric Acid Works (Otahuhni > hunga Iron Works, and, if t £ will '' On * the Sugar Works (North™te7 , mit ' Tobacco Manufactory. Pr O f e L r Ud p, the leaves to-morrow for Waikato, lectin* ? k same evening at Cambridge on " A Dri ?he Chemistry,'- proceeding on to the Sf L^ 1 and thence to Napier, where J e ' lectures on "Agricultural Chemi.tr, *' Wellington he will lecture on " \J V r ' sions of the Thames Goldfielde'" , -!.'? 1 !.?'- lecture will conclude hie WOkin tSeNort'h

The Presbytery of Auckland will m . to-day, and induct the Rev. A MrK'! eet the vacant pastorate at Avondale *? ceremony taking place in th ß a. }, Presbyterian Churon at three J m Av °l\ dale will be a service in the evoniDo" J? Avpndale Hall, when addres? w ! l ! delivered by various clergymen w! i ■ musical selections will be rendered % Peter s choir. y '''• The Union Company's steamship R o . n mahana arrived from Sydney vestal morning, with a general cargo and Ps « y Rengers. Of these, there were 90 mile >, \ s ■,? male n'S" 1 ? 1 »d 7 male "I 'hSi children. The Rotomahana is to l ea « , Southern ports and Melbourne at DO oa £.

In yesterday's issue reference was m *,] B to the death of Mr. Michael He J el v , known at the Thames and in An'kul through his connection for the paat ei B h lit years with the Thames as and mining agent and speculator We w « m error ia stating that he died in S an Francisco. His death occurred in Victoria British Columbia. It apoears thai IZ leaving han l< rancisco for Victoria (only three days journey), he was attacked by a win in his knee, and on arrival at Victoria h, was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital where he had to undergo an operation We gradually sank, and expired about six weeks ago. During hie illness he w a3 assiduously and carefully attended by the nuns, to whom he expressed himself up to the last as being under the deepest obi'™. tion. Letters have been received by hii sister-in-law, Mrs. William Hennelly codveymg the sad intelligence of his death and also his wishes as to the disposition o'f the little money and property which he possessed. v

A sentence of death has been issued against all the rabbits in the colony whether they are nt large or kept in cou' finement. When the Rabbit Nuisance Act 18S2, was passed it was to be ia force for a period of three years, and was applicable to the whole colony. The tame rabbit, or rabbits kept in confinement, were then exempted from the operation of the Act by the 27th clause, which was as follows •- " Nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to render it imperativeon any person to destroy any rabbits kept by him in cages or similar enclosures in close confinement, or to authorise the destruction of such rabbits without the coneent of the owner thereof" J)uriDg last session of Parliament there was rxn Act passed for the continuance of the Rabbit Nuisance Act, ISS2, and in this Act the section we have quoted was nxpresslv repealed, so that all rabbits, whether kept in ontinement or otherwise, are liable ti destruction, and it becomes a punishable offence for keeping these pets. The Sheep Inspector, who is the local Inspector under the Rabliit Nuisance Act, is taking steps to enforce fchie unpleasant part of the last ses&ioi. '-i legislation.

When the exhibits were sent from the Girls' High School, Auckland, to the Wellington Exhibition, Miss B. Paulder was one of the exhibitors. She sent an arrascene work cushion, aud as the woik was regarded as of a superior character, surprise was felt that no mention was made of it in the reports from Wellington respecting the prize awards. The mystery, however, was explained on Tuesday by the return of the cushion, in tbe box in which it was sent away, with » ticket attached with the following written thereon in pencil :—" No name; 2nd prize." It is singular how the "No name" arrangement was arrived at, aa the box in which the cushion was forwarded and returned bore the following address; "Exhibited by Miss B. Faulder, Girls' High, School, Auckland."

The master bakers have again met io solemn conclave at Robeon's Diningrooms, and resolved, for the third time, that "the ruinous custom of giving cakes at Chriatuua shall be discontinued." One can understand "the linked sweetness long drawn out," but, keeping this melancholy announcement before the eyes of the public hard upou the festive season, seems very much like piling up the agony, of the mater/amiiiaiti think the bakers are joking. Anyway ttiey take the cake this Christmas.

Referring to Mr. John Gudgeon, who wai for many years principal telegraphist at the Thames station, and who was removed to the South some time ago. the local paper has the following :— " Mr. Hobertshaw resumes duty on Monday, his ' relief' going North next week. Mr. John Gudgeon, during the short time that he hae been in Kaikoura, h»s gained the esteem of everyone with whom he has come in contact, boaring out Mr. Kobertahaw'e remark on the arrival of Mr. Gudgeon, that he is one of the beat anl most obliging officers in the department. If there is one more so we should hke to know him. As between Mr. Robertshaw and Air. Gudgeon Kaikoura occupies very much the position of the coquette, we could be vory happy with either were the other away. If Mr. Gudgeon's recollections ci Kaikoura are more pleasing than his visit has been to those who have met him, his tirno will not have been misspent here altogether."

Apropos of the discussion which the Rev. Mr. Mason's letter has provoked, the following extract from the Vienna correspondence in the London Times may be accepted as an opportnne contribution to the controversy: —" Moneignor Sogaro relates a conversation which he had with General Gordon as the latter was going to Khartoum. Gordons laat words to him were : ' Do uot forget me ill your prayers. Catholics and Protestants are but soldiers in different regiments el Christ's army, but it is the same army, ana wo are all marching together. , " We have to acknowledge the receipt by the last English mail of a copy of a song, with four-part chorus, entitled "Our Colonies, published at London by W. H. Loug, who is also the writer and composer. It > 3 » stirring composition of the national type, suitable for baritones, vigorously written, and sympathetically sot, and deserves w become familiar. The usual weekly drills of the College Kifles and the City Guards were held in me Drill-shed last night. The former baa » muster of 35, under command of Lieutena Houghtou, and the latter numbered ov, under Lieutenants Shemilt and I >ormer. The following is the wport of the Female Prison Gate Brigade for the fortnight ending December 13 :—Received into Home, b [remaining, 0 ; number of bode given, i*[ m ™ supplied, 225. Donations :- Bread : "V Evans, Crowe, Waters, Parsons. «Ada«, Wilson, Buchanan, and Lester. Milt: mw don Dairy, Devonshire Dairy. Butter : MrsBright, Mrs. Meredith {Remuora). *» and fruit: Mr. H. B. Morton. Me*. Messrs. Garrett, Wood and Co F£J Company, and "A Friend. iotat r. esgr§ . cheese : Mr. Laybourn. Groceries : M«« ; R. few, Taylor and Kntncan- \ C B e ", th . Bag cabbage, Friend (OnehuDga). Uott ing : Mrs. Lovctt. Matting : Mr. BnoVjj fully received and acknowledged by Robert Fry. Treasurer, Shortland-streer, Mr F. W. Boyntoß, Secretary, Fort-street.

Some of the unemployed have expressed | themselves as decidedly opposed to stone- i breaking as being degrading. At a meeting 0 { the unemployed in Dunedin, one of the ipeftkers, Mr. Milne, remarked on this subject: —" As to stonebreakinp, that wan a profession. He knew a man worth £'2000, who broke stone because he cculd make good V as esb it." The contractor for the new grandstand, jlr. McColl, is well forward with his work, and expects to have all iu readiness for the Summer Meeting. In response to a numerously signed requisition, Mr. T. 11. Mackenzie has consented to allow himself to be nominated for the vacancy caused in the Purnell Borough Council by the election of Mr. J. Winks to the mayoralty. The miseion of Professor Black to the Thames has ended, and yesterday ho came on to Auckland from Coromandcl, where he has been lecturing for three days to the miners, and holding classes. Some '200 miners, etc,, attended thrse lectures. Professor Mack speaks in most eulogistic terms of the miners on the Thames goldfields, who for physique and general intelligence are not to be excelled anywhere. He conpiders that the School of Mines should be established at the Thames, as being a great mining centre : (1) on account of the great variety of valuable minerals in the district; (■J) the large scale on which mining operations an , being carried on ; and (3) as being a reeling country, and the peculiar character of ores to be treated. In the Rallarat School of Mines, he states, attention is given to botany, mathematics, telegraphy, zoology, astronomy —everything, in tact, except mining aud its allied branches. The same might be said of the Sandhurst School of Mines. What he would recommend in a Thames School of Mines would be to keep the practical ami utilitarian steadily in view ; to make thi> prominent features geology, mineralogy, general chemistry, chemistry of minerals and metals, testing and assaying in all their branches, imd the use of the blowpipe. As the institution grew and funds admitted of expansion, ho would puggest adding mining surveying and mining engineering. Referring to the treatment of the silvor ores. Professor Black says there arc now in America and Europe lii different modes of treatment in use, so that oven it the LaMonte process did not realise everybody's expectations, one or other of the 1.5 processes would solve the problem at preseut occupying the minds of the Thames miner*. What was wanted was a trained class of workmen fer sorting ores, who, by simply looking at etulT, could grade it according to its class-good, medium, and indifferent—cud thus save time, trouble, expense, and disappointment at the batteries or furnaces. About 70 tenders have now been received for the erection of the Costley Boys' Industrial Institute on the Surrey Hills estate. The time for receiving tender? closes on Monday next, at noon. Captain Daldy, ono of tho trustees, has been away South attending the sittings of the Congregational Union, but is expected back on >ur>d»y. so that the decision as to the tenders will be made during coining week. A new carriage and dray factory has been o.«tabliahfd in Chapel-street, Mr. Maurice Kirby, having taken a 40 years' lease of r. section and built a brick iactory thereon, 90 xSO in dimensions. The manufacture ot carriages and drays will b<> carried on in all their branches, as wel! as the manufacture of springs, &c. The furnace is nearly completed, and possessed .ill tho Lite.-: improvements. As Mr. Kirby his served in smile of the leading establishments in Melbourne, Sydney, iiud Tasmania, he. guarantees good workmanship. A four nights' debate has been arr.iuged between Mr. George Aldridge, minister of the Church of Chriet, and Mr. Thomas Walker, representing the Auckland Rational istic Association, on the following topics : — "The Divine Origin ot Christianity" am' " Atheism the Bent Gospel for the World. , ' On the tiret subject Mr. Aldridge takes tinaffirmative, and on the second the negative. The tirst debate commences on Monday evening next in the Lorne-street Hall.

The Canterbury i'ress says:—"SonnAmerican cattish have recently been added to the many useful varieties of fish kept for propagation at the Troutdale Farm es'-iMieh-meat near Christchurch. The peculiar appearance of the cattish, with their whiskers and topknots, bid fair to render then: an object of interest in the aquarium. The iuterfcßtinc; strangers measure five inches. Although they performed the additional journey to Dunedin and back, through a irastiake about a telegram from Auckland, all the rieh shipped reached their destination in a .ively condition, owint; to tSe care bcstnweii on them by the ofricers of the Union Steamship Company's Maaapouri,"

A sketch of the new premises of the Y.M.C Association, about to bo erected ut tne corner of Albert and Wellesiey Btrcct3, waa o» view yesterday in the show window of Messrs. J. H. L'ptun and Co., and was the BQDjeci of considerable interest. The sketch was executed by Mr. Burrows, architect.

The question of further echool accommodation it now agitating tome oi the residents of Remuera, and accordingly a meeting will be held in the Kemutra Hall this evening at half-paac seven o'clock, to consider what steps shall be taken in the matter.

A gang of men are at present engaged in the streets in the western suburbs in clearing out the watercourses, which have been overgrown with weeds aud grass.

The Weekly Register (London Catholic paper) of October 12 refers to an article in the Protestant Standard, and says : " The light thrown upon the history of two apostate mountebanks is distinctly interesting to Catholics, inasmuch as it shows how one of these two worthies regard the other, and how he, in turn, is spoken of by yet a third Protestant. The woman who styles herself Miss Edith O'Gorman, though she is a married woman, and was christeued Bridget, and her surname ia Auflray, has been attacked by the man who styles himself 'the ICev. F. G. Widdows, ex-monk.' He has been issuing bills about her which the Protestant Times calls ' most scandalous ;' he has been 'reflecting moat shamefully , upon her ; and he saya he intends to prove 'she is a liar.' This, perhaps, as Euclid observes, ' needs no demonstration.'" The Weekly ftegiater then goes on to show that Mr Long, of Glasgow, comes to the rescue of Mre. Auffray, and shows that the Rev. Mr. Widdows is a gaol-bird.

The committee of the Grocers' Association met for business on Tuesday evening, attbe residence of one of the vice-presidents. Tie question of the holidays wa» brought befoie the committee by somo. of the trade. As it was thought to be unfair to the to abridge their nardly-earnod holidays, it was unanimously agreed to request the trade to observe the Friday and Saturday of each holiday wot-k aa public holidaya.

We have to acknowledge the receipt <J " The Marriage ,Garment, and how to put At nn, being a Guide to Repentance and llecyuciliation." The preface in Hignod "Cha/tH Bodington, G. Kdward Mason, Mip/ion Priests. Auckland, New Zealand, Advent, 1385."

The anuual presentation of prizes takes plaoe this afternoon at the Auckland College and Grammar School. By the Union Company's steamer Kotomahana which arrived yesterday, Mr. and Airs. Thoinae Morrin and Mr. George Holdship were passengers from Sydney. For the laat five or nix days a large quantity of water has been eacaping from an evident break in the water pipe at tho corner of Albert and Customs streets. The water during that time has been running down tho lastnaaied street to the corner of Queenstr&at, opposite the Union S.S. Co.'s otfices, and has there into a pool, much to the annoyance and inconvenience of pedestrians So far no effort has been made by the city authorities to abate the nuisance.

Yesterday the Right Rev. Bishop Luck and Fathers Thomas, O'Farrell, Halstan, Keenan, Egan, aud O'Snllivan, arrived from Sydney by the s.«. Kotomahaoa. Father A hern was alao a passenger for Napier. These gentlemen have beeu to Sydney on business in connection with the Plenary Council reoontly held there.

A pleasant day's holiday can bo secured by visiting the choice and shady grounds of Mr. Edaon, Cheltenham Beach, North Xbore, tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday next, where a bazaar in capacious marquees is to be held in aid of the new Wesleyan church. Abundant provision has been made for the thorough •ujoyment of all visitors : tennis and bowls on a first-class lawD, quoits, ladies' cricket, tic. ; a fleet of beats under careful management in the Kangitoto Channel; and a most liberal refreshment stall. The Devonport r'erry Company run their fine steamers at short intervals under the new time-table. Visitors ehould debark at the Devonport Wharf. A band will be ia attendance ou Saturday evening.

Cardinal Manning, writing on the education question, says :—" A Christian people can bo perpetuated only by Chri«tian education. Schools without Christianity will rear a people without Christianity. A people reared without Christianity will soon become antiChristian. Whore, then, will be Christian Kogland ? " Speaking recently in England on the union of Catholic clubs, Sir Charles Clifford said it had been the dream of m»ny year? with him to see that action taken by the Catholic public of England that would result in a rtial union, He looked upon it th.it they were now entering upon very different times in the near future to anything that had occurred in the past. The country was to be governed by an electorate very much larger, and of greater influence than any that existed prior to the present time, lt'wns problematical in most men's minds as j' to what the result of this change would bo. He (the eptiaker) believed it would be for the best, and that Catholic clubs auoh as were proposed would be a great barrier, ae was the Catholic Church, to keep back the encroaching tide of Socialism and Coinmunium which threatened to overwhelm the world.

Thp anniversary entertainment of the Weslejan Sunday-school, Otahubu, was held on Tuesday evening. The meeting was addressed by tho Rev. Messrs. Taylor and Watkin, and several laymen, and the children, led by Miss Burns, sang a number of selected hymns with good effect. Some recitations and dialogues were given by somo of the children. Great credit is due to Miss Burns for tho success which has attended her painstaking etforts in the musical department of tho school. The anniversary sermons wore preached on th« Sunday by the Kov. C. Worboys.—[Correspondent. ]

Tho annual meeting of tho City Council was held at noon yesterday. Mr. W, R. W.uldel made the usual declaration on his assumption of the otliue of Mayor for the third term. Mr. Waddel, in the course of his address, referred to the principal works in progress, and those which would shortly have to bo undertaken. A report of hie addrose will bo fouud in anothor uolamn.

The Sydney Mail says :—"Signora Fabris will spend her Christmas vacation in New Zealand. She goes accompanied by one or two musical people, and will probably give concerts during her stay. As an operatic urtiet and contralto singer, Signora. Fabris jnstly ranks high in her profession."

While various colonial cities are suffering frosn the enervating elleota of depression in trade Melbourne is enjoying undiminished prosperity, and this too in epite of tho enormous influx of immigrants from other colonies where ba.-iness is less active :iud

■'tnp'o "v'ment is scarce. A correspondent writes :—" As tho intlux has now been going on fur several weens, aud all the now trrivala have come with tho intention of permanently settling here, it has been the iiieans <»f sustaining the laud fever ; because ■.'ottages in tbu immediate neighbourhood of the city tiud tenants &a soon as they are built, lad thus speculators s.re encouraged to j;o f.irther ntiold and spread their purchases of building allotments over a still wider area. S i far an 1 can learn, the newcomers haw b.-en readV.ly absorbed, and the labour market appears to be iu a buoyant condition. The building Grades are especially active, and the brickmakara have more orders than they can execute for some time to come. Architects am) ~neers are wonderfully busy, although I am continently informed »y some of the latter that the Saturday land sales are beginning to drat;. Presently, perhaps, the tide "i speculation will begin to ebb."

It is currently reported that the shipme :ts ■jf American apples not allowed to be landed hen: on account of the codlin moth scare,

;re seut on to Australia, where the paper wrappers are removed, and the apples ri'.shipped to tho colony as " Australian upplee."

At the Opera House on Boxing night, Mr Darrell's Australian drama, " The Suuuy Souih," will be performed by u specially selected dramatic company, the members of which, together with Mr. Darreil, arrived Irom Sydney yeeterday by the Mr. Darrells present tou-r will embrace all tho principal towns in New Zealand, after which he proposes to roturn to London and renew his acquaintance with English audieuces. The scenic c.FootH in " The •"-uiiuy South" are said to be very elaborate, whilbt thfl sensational elemeat ia very strong. The scenery lias been painted by Messrs. Georgu Gordon, John Little, Alfred Clint, and C. Matthews. The company, apart from Mi. Darrell, cousistK of Mist* Annio Mayor the late leading lady at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne and Sydney), Miss Mabel Tracy from the Opera House, Melbourne), Miss Crisay Peacuey, Misa Nellie Mayor, Miss Millie Frescoti, and Miss May Goleman, Mr. Oily Deering (the well-known low comedian), Mr. H. Jordan. Mr. George Forbes, Mr. J. P. West, Mr. J. A. Patterson, Mr. Joseph Kayner, Mr. VV. Love, Mr. G. Gore, and Mr. Somers. Misa Nellie Mayor and the other ladiea, with the exception of Mid 3 Feachey, have never before appsared in Auckland ; whilst the names of Messrs. Forbes, Jordan, and liayner are also new to local The business maoagor of the company is Mr. Joe Brown, formerly connected with the Melbourne Prtaa, but more recently associated with the dramatic profession in hie present capacity.

A case of robbery of goods from a railway truck at Waimakau railway station has juut como before the Helenbville Bench. The circumstances are &a follows :—On thu -nil instant, Mr. Roe, of Waimakau, and owner of the Onehunga sawmills, reported to the police authorities that a caae of ginger wine, his property, had been stolen from tiie Waimakau railway station. Constable Foreman, of Helensville, proceeded to tho dietrict to make enquiries, and ascertained that 3 man named Matthew Henry Frost, working as a carpenter at Waimakau, had been seen with several bottles of ginger wine in hia possession. On being asked to account for the possession of the ginger wine, ho denied all knowledge of it. The constable then arrested Frost, and took him to Helensville, where he was brought before Messrs. J. McLeod and K. Sinclair, J. P's. Frost then admitted the oflenee, but as he had aix children dependent upon him. the magistrate took a merciful view of the caee, giving him the option of a tine. He was fined £1 10a and costs, and ordered to pay 235, the value of the wine, or fourteen days' imprisonment. Froat paid the fine.

A London correspondent writes :—" One cannot be surprised at the irritation which prevails amongst colonists in England that colonial news should be so sparsely supplied to English newspapers. The proposal has more than once been made that tho colonies should furnish a telegraphic service for the gratuitous usa of the English newspapers, thereby bringing the affairs of Australasia before the knowledge of the mother country, aud supplying a serious want to all engaged in the colonial trade and to colonist* who happen to be in England. It has always utriick me as an excellent idea, if such au organisation oould be eatablbhed. The tirit necessity would be lot the colonies to agree amongtt themselves what should be tho amount of the subvention, and what proportion each coloiy should pay towards it. Under the new press tariff, which comes into operation next Aanuary, £1000 spent upon thie work would furnish a. good deal of news, and would largely contribute towards increasing English interest in the affaira of the colonies. It might be necessary, under the rul*B of telegraphic companion, to despatch tkis message to one English newspaper ollice ; 'nut the recipient in London could easily disperse it throughout tho length and breadth oi the land through a news organibation liko that of the Press Asuociatiou."

For somo time past the ladies of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church have been engaged in preparing for a sale of work for tho benefit of She Church funds. The sale of work will be opened to-day at two o'clock in the promises lately occupied by L'iahor and Co., adjoitiinc; the Bank of New Zealand. All the goods have been marked off at extremely moderate rates, and are of both a useful and ornamental character. There will bo a refreshment stall in connection with the sale. The aale of work will be continued tomorrow (Friday) aud on Saturday evening. Last evening a committee of ladies were busy arranging the goods, and in decorating the promises in which they are placed, -whioh has been done with flags and greenery in a very tasteful way.

The Union Company are considering about beginning a service between Queensland and New Zealand.

The Onehunga Rifle Company held a full dress Government inspeetion parade at six o'clock on Tuesday evening, Captain Luudon in command. Lieutenants Glenny and Webb and 50 rank and file were present, StaffInstructor Campbell waa inspecting officer, and he put the company through a couree of company aad skirmishing drill.

The homoly adage that it is better to be born lucky than rich haa been exouiplided iu the cane of Mr. Howard Speusloy, who has been elected to a seat in the House of Commons as one of the Liberal membern for Finabury. Many years ago he was editor, reporter, and general factotum of a small suburban newspaper, published in Prahran, Victoria. He found time in tho midst of these niißcellaneous duties to read for the Bar, to which he was called in due time. Then he got into the Legislative Assembly, and held office for a short time as SolicitorGeneral. Meanwhile he had a iortunato marriage to one of the dauphters of the late Simon Staughton, originally a bookseller in the country town of Hereford. Becoming a prosperous squatter, Mr. Stanchion, at hia death, bequeathed a considerable amount of property to his children. Fart of this consisted ofablock of land facing theCJenoral I'oatOmce, in Biurko-strcet, Melbourne. This fell to the share of Mia. Spcnsley, and hor husband shrewdly turned it to a lucrative account by driving »n arcade through it, from which be derivoH an annual rental of between £5000 and £6000 a-year, so that the newly-elected member tor Finsbury will not want the means of sustaining the. honourable position to which he has been elevated.

. \Yeeterday evening the preaentfttion oj prizes to the successful scholars attending Mra. Clayton's Young Ladies' School, St. Georgo's Kay Koad, Parnell, took place, '"ho Rov. (r. H. S. Walpolo presided ami distributed the prizes. A large number of parents and friunds of thu scholars assembled in the schoolroom and added eclat to tho proceedings. Before tho presentation of prizes, one of Mucaulny'e Lays of Ancient Rome was recited by the scholars of the eecond form in a manner which evidenced very successful training. Tho Chairman having made some very appropriate, remarks oa education, the report of tho school's procreea during tho year wab read and proved very interesting. Mr. Wai pole, remarked on the excellence of tho Scripture papers, paying a high compliment to the teachers and scholars. During the evening the young ladies of the first form gave a well-chosen selection from Shaksperc, showing excellent elecutionary power. The following is a list of the prizetakers : —Misses Abbott, Broofield, Flood, Griffiths, Laweou, Nienian, Scott, Ruck, Wood, Buchanan, Hull, Tenuctt, Waymouth, M. Wilson, K, Wilson. Wright, Hnrtwell, Ashwell, Peckham, and Jcrdan ; Masters Wood, Abboit, Flood, ;ind Waymouth.

A correspondent has a growl at tho closing of the otlu-e of the Collector of Kates, at tho City Council otiioes, from one p.m. to a quarter to two p.m., as causing inconvenience t) working men whose dinner hour is from one to two p in , mid whose desire is to nail in aud pay their rates iu their dinner hour.

In the list of applicants for the post of Assistant Irsyoitor under the Harbour Hoard, the n iu.t( of r'. W. Cray ni>tt(<iir*. This should bo J. 1 , . l'uwor, tu whom Mi". •■lμ} - guve ;i testimonial. Wo call attention to the extensive sale of modern English furniture, which takes placo nt tho mart o Mown. I!. Tonka «iv: r.\ at 01-vi-n o'clock this liny. rhe furniture iomi>risi's lirawinß anil rooin suites, iiu.lii aiui walnut, sideboards, inuiblelop w«»hsUiu!«, <v,i!nut nv»l tiblen, and, in (Act, nil rciiuircmuuts for furnishing- Tho sale taker, j'laco at olev<u o'clock this (lny. The sacred cantata "Under the Palms" will be perfnriuif! tnid cvunine, in tho St. .lames' Hall, by % choir of l.'ii l voices, under tho onductor--ship of Mr. J. H. Kdraond*.