THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9000, 13 March 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1888.

It is not known whether Prince Bismarck really desires peace or war at present, and the death of the Emperor Wilhelm therefore excites a peculiar amount of political interest and speculation. It is well understood that the aged Kaiser, who had seen a great deal of war during his long life, had determinedly set- his face against any more of it unless, indeed, required by some extraordinary circumstances, and although Germany has undergone constitutional changes, the Sovereign, as matter of fact, not legal fiction, can insist on having his own way. The Crown Prince, now Emperor, has been also desirous to maintain peace, but his health is in such a state that the news of his death at any moment would not be unexpected, and the young Prince, who would then ascend the Throne, and who now, because of his father's illness, is appointed Regent, is said to be thoroughly amenable to the opinions and advice of the great Chancellor, who, if disposed to start hostilities, will not find his policy opposed by the youthful monarch. The consolidation of Germany, like that of Italy, was inevitable sooner or later, but for its coming so soon Germany is indebted to Prussia, as Italy is to Piedmont. An army, and a Government possessing a practical reputation, were thus in each case at hand to be the nucleus of the work. It was by the politic conduct of most of its princes that the motley kingdom of Prussia, destined to play so important a part in German history, was built up. The reigning family of Hohenzollern came thither from Suabia, descended from a Count Thassilo, who figured thereabout

the year 800. His descendants became burgraves, or lords o£ the fortified town of Niirnberg, and one of them, in the year 1415, was made by the Emperor Sigismund Elector and Margrave of Brandenburg, then a mark or border land .of the Empire. With the good fortune which so easily follows skilful action, he and his successors enlarged their dominion on both sides, and from the then more than half Sclavonic country of Prussia, acquired in 1615, they finally took the title of King. But the most conspicuous figure in this line of rulers was King Frederic, surnamed the Great, who, in the middle of the eighteenth century raised the Prussian Kingdom." to the standing of a European Power. Frederic had to cope with a circle of enemies, and he re-introduced the tactics of the famous Theban general Epaminondas, the correct management of which enables the leader of a small army to cope with a far more numerous one, and even bring superior numbers to bear on the vital points of his adversary. Many years afterwards Bonaparte expressed unbounded admiration for Frederic's sucsessful study .and revival of this most important section of the old Greek tactics. In North Germany the rivers come down to the sea-, the ■ country is flat; except in some, favoured parts like Holstein, the soil is thin and sandy, and the commercial spirit is potent. In ■ South Germany the rivers have their rise, the country is more mountainous; and the scenery is romantic —travellers go there to thread the Black Forest or climb the Alpine solitudes of Tyrol. Berlin is a capital stiff and cold, com* pared with gay Vienna and its beautiful surroundings—a city of pleasure as well as capital. Most of Germany's poets, and they are a noble list, are from the South, but the North has oftener skilful men of affairs, and therefore the' North has come to predominate. Tho history of the two great houses of Hapsburg and Hohenzollern is as unlike as is the face of the country, and in degree the genius of the people at the opposite sides of the Fatherland. The record of the Hapsburgs presents the medieval splendour, for theirs was the empire of the past; while the Hohenzollerns have the modern strength, for theirs is the new-born empire—not a loose, sometimes nominal, confederacy, and with the dignity of its supreme chief hereditary, not elective, as in the former case. So far back as 1218 Rudolf of Hapsburg passed at a single step from the rank of a petty local prince, in what is now the Swiss Canton of Aargau, to the imperial throne of Germany, chosen solely for his personal merits. Thus having commenced their sovereign sway further back than did the Hohenzollerns, and at a loftier elevation, they, too, progressed, adding to their hereditary dominion— soon represented by the Duchy of Austria —not merely provinces but even kingdoms like Bohemia and Hungary. Gallant princes, followed by gallant armies of the many races over whicli they ruled, perhaps no great reigning house after all has been so unfortunate in modern times as tho Hapsburgs. Compelled by Napoleon, in 1806, to resign the title of Emperors of Germany, and to substitute that of Emperors of Austria, they were compelled in 1866 by their rivals of Prussia to a further fall —namely, the resignation of the chieftainship of the German Confederacy, which had still remained to them. We must not omit to notice, however, that this change of supremacy —this final triumph of Hohenzollern over Hapsburg—of the North over the South — was not accomplished by superior military prowess, but, characteristically, by scientific invention. The victory of Sadowa was the fruit not of the sword, but of the sudden presentation of the needle-gun. The hard practical talent bred by the bleak Baltic winds, and by the struggle with the ungenerous soil of the northern plains, ended the rivalry. But the misfortunes of the House of Hapsburg have nof; terminated. Despite the close alliance effected some years ago with Austria, and then spoken of as the most important achievement of his career, the Chancellor, none the less, openly threw over last year her interests in the Balkan Peninsula, to meet the exigencies of his arrangement with Russia. As matter of fact he is jealous of the Hapsburgs in their present position. He considers that they interfere with his plan for the full extension of the present German Empire, because of their popularity in their hereditary German provinces— Austria, Tyrol, &c. As he hinted not long after his French war, these provinces ought to be added to the existing Teutonic Empire, in which case the Hapsburgs "would find their compensation further south"—that is in what is since called the Balkan region, and in becoming Sclavic rivals of Russia. There aro visible obstacles, however, to this plan ; but the feud between the two Imperial German houses is likely enough to have further results.

A suggestion was yesterday conveyed to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in a letter from Dr. Erson, having for its object the training of nurses in midwfvery. The form in which the suggestion came appears to have not conformed to the rules of official decorum which have commended themselves to that administrative body, the members considering that such proposals did not come properly before them unless endorsed by the approval of the other members of the medical staff. The objection was a peculiar one, but probably was as good as any other for shunting a subject with which perhaps they did not wish to be bothered. For to anything that rises above the groove of ordinary routine this Board, like many other administrators, appears to have an instinctive dislike. Nevertheless the suggestion, in whatever way it comes, is one deserving of the most earnest consideration, for £he subject matter of it is one on which the lives of hundreds depend in the most critical periods of existence. As to the extent to which midwifery is practiced by women who have only nerve and audacity to carry them through, there is no doubt. It would be a cui-ious study to find in what way many of those who profess a knowledge of obstetrics have come by it; for to the multitude of them there is no special training, and seemingly, as in the case of the poet, the accoucheuse is born, not made. That a functionary so vitally important to the existence of mothers and infants should be left to pick up her skill by chance and experiment, does not argue very careful safe-guardinjg of

the public welfare J^ndTa^T 35 shape this matter may comn I Wh ft v the Hospital Board, I e C t U ?h b ? Ore opportunities which the ns & tha under its care present for riX* One amount of professional trainin,??^ 8 department will not be thrown thl3 The cases which may come under\T charge of the officials of the £5> the Refuge may not be very nur™ m but quite enough to afford coSSl' experience to nurses who are ir, + •!e ing ; and as the advance of th« J"" should by this time have carriS Sft"? the era of the Sairey Garni tf""? ministrators of our hospital and 1 aci " table aid should not beSow to oS to a proposal that is at least abrM the spirit of the times. We tru^T, of the action of the Board will notT '1 shelving of this suggestion, but that J medical staft will unite in press -5 e consideration as one likely to affnJ.7 s only a valuable auxiliary to 3°! practitioners, but increased eafp£ ♦ the public. J , l o

In another column we publish a practical letter on the vexed question l "? the water supply of Devonport, whip] should-be attentively perused by even one.having any interest in this subie t Our correspondent Mr. Milne aonl himself to the question only j,j - eS economical bearings, and as " lt3 tiehce of taxation/ , whether ijmorci or otherwise, is at the bottom of t( principal opposition to a scheme «f water supply, his statement of rt pecuniary gains is timely and tdl.v, MrV Milne shows that the ratepav?S gain in pocket yearly, so thatLfS of the scheme of water supply f Takapuna increasing the burthen?"* the people of the district, it willli e u: their expenses. We believe our corp U pondent's figures will be more th borne out by facts, and that the obtain* 1 ing of a good supply of pure Wate ; will be to householders a direct and immediate saving. It is needless for us to say that this is not the most important aspect of the question,'although it may most affect the discussi<fh of it: and considering the importance of the movement now before the people of that district, in its sanitary bearings, we do not hesitate to say that they are incurring a grave responsibility who take orTthem to move the public mind of the place against the proposal of a water supply It is in such circumstances one of the easiest things possible to organise a block to any public enterprise, "so many and varied are the influences and interests and prejudices that may be brought into play. But whatever differences or jealousies maybe indulged in respect of the competing plans, we trust that nothing will eventuate to even retard the realisation of this reul boon to the district.

Further particulars of an interesting character concerning the lost moments of the late Emperor of Germany will be found in our cable messages to-day. He counselled consideration towards the Czar, and expressed a belief that there would be no war between Russia and Germany. His last words related to his beloved Fritz, now Frederick 111. The new Emperor is ; now on his way to Berlin. The Russian press is doubtful and anxious as to the political consequences of Wilhelm's death. Mr. Goachen'3 conversion scheme has been made public, and has been favourably received. It has had the effect of sending up colonial stocks from 1 to H. The silver wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales was celebrated on Saturday in a quiet manner. We understand that the Hon. James Williamson was a little better yesterday. The criminal sittings of the Sunrenu Court were opened yesterday. The cafendai was somewhat lengthy, but not unusually so. His Honor delivered the charge to tin Grand Jury at eleven o'clock. The first prisoner arraigned was a youth named William Doyle, who pleaded guilty to horse-stealing, and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. Johanna O'Connell was convicted on a charge of arson, after a somewhat lengthy trial. She was undefended. Her sentence was four years 1 penal servitude. In the charge of larceny as a bailee, preferred against Arthur R. Welham, Mr. Humphreys ' appeared for the prisoner. Hβ made application that the hearing of the charge might be postponed till next day, as he had only been instructed at 11 o'clock that morning, and had barely had time to glance at the depositions. It appeared, however, that the accused had been committed for trial some time ago, and had ample time to prepare his defence, and His Honor therefore decided that the case should go on. He was convicted, and Mr. Humphreys applied to have him dealt with under the First Offenders' Probation Act His Honor deferred sentence, in order to afford time to the Probation Officer to report. The Court then adjourned till ten o'clock this morning. ■ Among the passengers by the Wairarapa yesterday from the South was Mr. W. H. Skinner, architect. He was a member of the Seacliff Asylum Commission, which has recently been holding an inquiry respecting the allegations as to the defective nature of the foundations of the building. The Commission have forwarded their report to the Government, and its contents will no doubt be made public m due course. The fifth ordinary general meeting of the colonial shareholders of the New Zealand Land Mortgage Company (Limited) will be held at the head office for the colony, New Zealand Insurance Buildings, Queenstreet, this day, at two o'clock p.m. f for the purpose of electing three directors, and for the transaction of any other business. A largely-attended meeting of ratepayers of Devonport was held last evening in tne Public Hall, to receive the report of tne Ratepayers' Committee, appointed at a meeting held on Wednesday night to repo™ on the waterworks scheme now before we ratepayers. The report was read, ana » lengthy discussion took place, after * ni , the report was adopted. A po" ol _„ ! ratepayers to authorise the loan ot ul rZ for the water supply is fixed to take piaco on Thursday. The District Court was occupied yesterday in the hearing of a remarkable case, u which Dr. Laishley sued Mr. C-»-}*™ for the sum of £53. The particulars of tne claim, with a report of the case, appeal elsewhere. The evidence throws some ukj» upon a peculiar monetary transaction tween the two solicitors who re tw principals in the suit, and a third nan* named Bond. His Honor Mr. Smith re served judgment. A meeting of the All Saints' Foneonbj Athletic Club took place last evening -in* Saints' schoolroom. The Rev. W. l*wt presided. The following committee vver elected for the ensuing year: Messrs. • Speer, G. McKenzie, R. Masefield, £ Lusher, W. N. Macgregor, J. gl» J. {J Cossar, C. Stone, F. TRing, F. Atkujcg It was decided to hold the usual sporb the Domain about the first week in May. The yacht Bluejacket, in which Me**. Joslin and Webster were capsized dunn voyage fromtheThameson Saturday evenu » last, was seen on Sunday ashore <ov the beach at Brown's Island. The two young men mentioned have gone down tosj be what condition she is, and if it » d worth their while to bring her to town a have her repaired. . , , There seems every prospect, J««g£? nce , the published newspaper fwespojde eV/ . that matters will be lively to-day.at *J market on the occasion of the elect J new licensing committee, genera . struggle is between the temperance -wo & publican party, but on this occa«on£ . q battle royal between certain brew which, from the exposures already enem y of each other, they are giving the en occasion to blaspheme. A correspondent writes =-" . I J" *££ astonished to see in the HkkaW a „ ment that a homestead settler at ;l* the commencing legal operations agam have Government for £1,500 damages, as long thought) that all Tapu could be » less money."

Tfc will be noticed from our obituary Ltd that another old colonist has passed »av in the person of the Rev. Alex. Maca nild Congregational minister, so long i favourably known in this city. Some fiftv years ago ho left the mother country with his young wife to go to Samoa as a rsdonary, under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. About 1851 r: removed to Auckland, where he commenced a Congregational cause, preaching i the old Mechanics Institute until such J? a as the High-street Congregational fhurch was built for him. Here he laboured usefully for a quarter of a century. Declining health and the infirmities of Z«e led to his rosigning active ministerial work. Of late years he has boon in feeble health, and he peacefully passed away yesterday at the residence of his son-in-law (Mr. F. Nutter), at pevonport, at the ripe age of 75. His wife died a few years ago. Tho deceased clergyn leaves a daughter and two sons to mourn their loss. One of the sons is Mr. Thomas Macdonald, of tho firm of Macdonald and Russell, solicitors, Invercargill. The funeral will leave Queen-street Wharf to-morrow (Wednesday), for tho Symondsstreet Cemetery, at three o'clock p.m. The , Hibernian Society have arranged to bold their annual sports on St. Patrick's Day. The programme, which appears in another column, comprises over a dozen events. Tho entries for the open events ,rul bo received at tho United Service Hotel this evening between eight and nine o'clock, and the handicap declared on Thursday. Some controversy has taken place reflecting the refusal of Mr. Haultain, the new Clerk of the Police Court, to publish the rota of Justices or give the names of those whose duty it is to attend. One side pf the question was given in yesterday's issue, and we now give the other side from Hr. Haultain's point of view. He states that he has conformed to the provision! of the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Act throughout, . and that then? is nothing in it making it incumbent up oa him to publish tho rota, or give the ngjoef of those whose duty it is to attend. Bush ft practice has its advantages and disgjjysr.taEres. lie gives an illustration of its disadvantages, as given to him yesterday. A Justice of the Peace called at his office during the day, and informed him that ho thoroughly approved of his action. The Justice showed how the publication of the rota worked. A plaintiff in an action came to hi? place of business, and said, " I see you are going to sit on the Bench on such a ay, and 1 intend to get my case adjourned 'that day, so that) you can adjudicate upon it." The J.P. said, " This is the sort cvgrthmhuk& thing which goes on with a published rota, and I felfc inclined to kick the fellow \ out of my office." We have heard reports that some counsel were in the habit of adjourning cases, or bringing them on, accordingly as certain justices were on the Bench to adjudicate on them. The administration of justice, like Cesar's wife, should be above suspicion. Mr. Haultain forwards the following circular to the Justices concerned every Friday evening, as to their j rota of attendance during the following week. Any man of business habits would fkv to it that the circular did not escape his attention. It runs as follows :—" Resident Magistrate's Court. Auckland, 18S. Sir,—l have the honour, in accordance with the provisions of The Justices of the Peace Act 1552 Amendment Act, 1886, to request your attendance as a Justice of the Peace at this Court, on next, at — a.m.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, , Clerk of the Court." The Auckland police authorities have communicated with the Inspector-General of Police, N.S.W., with a view of haying all the stolon property found on Seriac, the burglar, remitted to Auckland for identification. Seriac has just commenced serving a term of five years' penal servitude in Sydney, po it is hard to say whether he "Rill ever be brought to book for his Auckland escapades. Of course the extradition warrant is still in existence, which was taken oat by the New Zealand police authorities, when the news of his arrest in Sydney became known here. Tho second annual Council meeting, ineluding all members of the New Zealand Alliance, will be held at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms to-day. A breakfast will take place at Robson's Rooms »fc\i3lf-past eight a.m. The Council meethz will commence at ten a.m. in the lecture hall of the Young Men's Christian Association, when the chair will be taken by the President of the Alliance, Sir William Fox, end the annual report of the Executive Committee and the balance-sheet for the year will be submitted, and the president and other office-bearers will be elected. A public meeting will be held in the same hall in the evening at half-past seven. At each meeting important resolutions will be proposed bearing on the position of the movement, and the policy and operations of the Alliance. It would be well for intending applicants for space at the Melbourne Exhibition to remember that Saturday next is the closing day for receipt of applications. Foreign manufacturers will be present at the Exhibition, eager to seize upon any market; and, unless colonial manufacturers are well represented, foreign consignments which might be kept up for a period of years will probably result. We trust that our local manufacturers will take an active and intelligent interest in this matter, and see to h that our local industries are well represented at the forthcoming Exhibition. The following is the state of Her Majesty's prison, Auckland, for the week ending March 10, ISSB :—On remand. 1 male, 1 female; awaiting trial, 9 males, 2 females ; boys, 5 ; penal servitude, 38 males, 2 females ; hard labour, 115 males. 38 females; default of bail, 19 males, 2 females ; received during the week, 27 males, 4 females ; discharged, 16 males, 6 females : total in prison, 187 males, 45 females. The popularity of the Columbia Skating Rink appears to be established on a very firm basis in Auckland, for notwithstanding the inclement weather yesterday all three «fee.«ion3 were numerously attended, and the whole stafli of assistants were kept busy initiating the tyros into the art, while those more- proficient exhibited their skill in " wheeling round in graceful circles "with persistent vigour. An "■ At Home" will be given to-day by Rear-Admiral Fairfax, Captain Hammil, and the officers of H.Mts. Nelson on board the flagship. They will receive visitors from half-past two to halfpast five p.m. There will be dancing. A eteamer will leave the Queen-street Wharf at half-past two to-day to carry gufcete to the Nelson. The ship will be closed to visitors, except those having cards of invitation from the Admiral, captain, and officers. If the dance has to be postponed owing to the weather, a blue flag will be hoisted at the fore. The Waipu Agricultural Show takes place on Wednesday (to-morrow), the 14th instant. A resident in New Plymouth, who is at present in Auckland, writes :—" Noticing in your paper the other day some remarks re diphtheria at New Plymouth, I thought a few words on the treatment adopted down thtre for this complaint might be of interest. This course of treatment is what is termed the bluegum treatment, which was first adopted by Dr. Gibbos, but which plan is, I beliove, now adopted by the other medical en. That the treatment is efficacious is amply borne out by the fact that Dr. Gibbes ha« had pasa through his hands sincere commenced using the bluegum something »ke 70 patients, and I believe he has not lost a single case. This, I think, is proof that the treatment is good. The mode of procedure is as follows :~An infusion is *&»'le of the bluegum leaves, and the patient "as to inhale the steam arising therefrom, Should tho patient bo intractable, or a "We child, the difficulty of getting them to Inhale it is overcome by building a tent r *tht over the cot or bed, and by this means we child is compelled to breathe air that is *»tur»ted with the steam. Very little Medicine is administered, and on no account does the doctor allow the throat to be j>«rn«d with caustic, and Dr. Gibbes asserts «»t ihould this be done, he would have just J* many fatal cases as used to result under !*e old form of treatment. As it is the lQ tentlon of Dr. Gibbes to shortly publish * Pamphlet dealing with this mode of treatment, those interested will then be able to {**"» all particulars themselves, and no one flows how soon some in Auckland may be Interested, as I am informed that diphtheria {» nearer Auckland than New. Plymouth, j* n ng already claimed victims over at

A lad named Harry Smith, aged 11, was brought up at the Police Court yesterday morning on a charge of larceny of four newspapers. His stepfather appeared and said he was unable to control the lad, who left his home for a week at a timo, and slept out at nights. It seems that the lad on the preceding night had boon sleeping on a doorstep, and in the early morning saw one of the Herald runners depositing four papers at some promises. He waited till the runner had gone on his rounds, then purloined the papers, and was offering them for sale in tho neighbourhood when arrested. Tho justices, Messrs. J. P. King and Wilding, were puzzled what to do with the boy. They did not like to send him to gaol, and they were at first disposed to order him to bo birched by a police officer in the presence of Sergeant Pratt, but ultimately they referred the case to the Resident Magistrate, with a view of having tho boy committed to tho Industrial School. A fresh election is to take place in the Ponsonby licensing district for tho return of five qualified persons, to be tho licensing committee for the district. The election will be held on Thursday, the 29th inst.,, and tho nomination of candidates held on Thursday, the 22nd inst., at noon, at the drapery establishment of Mx. H. G. Oswald, Three Lamps. The following appears in the Ayr Advertiser received by last mail:—" Last ■week Mr. James A. Moir, grocer, Perth, received a sample of four kegs of butter from New Zealand, which is the first that has been directly imported to Perth. It appears that in New Zealand there is a regular glut of butter in the spring and summer months, which corresponds with our autumn and winter months, and the merchants there are trying to find the best markets for it. The butter has been sent so that it may stand simply on its merits, and it must be said that it is of very superior quality and richness, and has in no way suffered from the tropical voyage. Tho butter was speedily sola at the average price, and from the success of tho first experiment there is every prospect of a large trade being developed." In the same issue tho retail prico of fresh butter in Ayr is given at Is •>d j>er lb. Mrs. Fawcetfc Story's experience in Christchurch (remarks the Weekly Press) affords another illustration of how dearly the public love a free show, and how quickly the blood of the public freezes up when the words "admission free " give place at the bottom of an advertisement to the announcement of a fixed scale of prices. While Mrs. Story lectured gratis, at least as faras tho public were concerned, nothing could exceed the enthusiasm of the ladieg of Christchurch in their desire to feHrn the art of cooking. The Theatre Royal was crowded nightly, and so n ,fi}JU upon some occasions was every portion of the building that even the stage was occupied by ladies eager to learn to make ginger-bread, scones, sausage-rolls, and lemon cakes, in the most approved manner. Books and pencils were brought into requisition, and copious notes were taken, by ladies anxious to excel in the art of cooking. Encouraged and professionally gratified by this thirst for knowledge, Mrs. Story resolved to still further instruct the ladies of Chri«tchurch in how to make tempting dishes. But acting upon the principle of Bishop Moran, that people ought to make sacrifices for education, she decided to charge her patrons for admission. She announced, that the free series of lectures was at an end, but she undertook to teach all and sundry the art of making oyster patties, Napoleon cheese cakes, and the Genoese pastry at four shillings a lesson. As the prices rose the audience diminished. In sporting parlance, the ladies refused to " part " to the extent of four shillings a lesson, and Mrs. Story could not muster a sufficiently large audience to make the lectuies pay. The result i 3 that Mrs. Story, finding that free lectures draw one audience and lectures which are paid for another, has ceased her lessons, and the ladies have gone back to Mrs. Beeton, and we shall never know tho succulence and delicious aroma that lie in Mr 3. Story's oyster patties, the crispness of her Genoese pastry, or the flavour of her soups and stews. Another case of typhoid was reported to the Sanitary Inspector yesterday, the district being Ponsonby. A notification to medical practitioners from the Town Clerk appears in out advertising columns. Itsays :—" In forwarding tc the Sanitary Inspector reports of contagious disorders (under the provisions of the Public Health Act), medical practitioners are respectfully requested to include in their reports (by inquiry) the source or locality from whence the disease is supposed to have arisen." The Dunedin Protection League held a meeting on March 6. The tariff revision formed the subject of a lengthy animated debate. The first trouble arose over the Eroposal to place a duty on imported fruit, ut it was pretty clearly proved that the presentprices arealmostprohibitive. On this point the representative of Messrs. Peacock said:—" Although a large number of fruit growers had been invited to give an opinion a3 to the imposition of the duty on fruit, only one grower had replied, and his answer was that he viewed with alarm the proposal to place a duty on fruit, and that the prices growers were getting were of a satisfactory- character. Fruit should be grown so that it would be within the reach of the masses. One fruit-grower at the Teviot, though clamouring for protection, has not yet replied to the circular for the reason he had admitted that his orchard was a perfect gold mine. With a free tariff our fruit growers were protected to double the extent that growers in Victoria were. Another speaker said that while retail sellers of fruib claimed to pay 3d per lb for apples, it was strange that vendors went from door to door offering them at l£d. The speaker, who would prohibit every article manufactured outside the colony, proposed a duty of Is a bushel on fruit for sale and 6d for jam-making, the proposal was scornfully rejected. appointment of a delegate to the Welling." ton Conference led to a curious displaj- of feeling. Five candidates were proposed, and ultimately the choice was narromadE down to Mr. Shelton, who i 3 the life and soul of the Association, and Mr. Owen Hodge. With regard to the Elackwell episode, the latest phase is that Mrs. Blackwell has written a note to Inspeptor Shearman, in which she declines his invitation to prefer any charges she may be pleased to make against the police in order to its being duly inquired into. At the same time, while stating she does not desire to make any complaints against the police, she thanks the Inspector for the courteous offer contained in his letter to her. A correspondent at Hokianga writes :— Mr. E. C. Hughes, constable in charge of this district for about six years, left here on March l3t for the Bay of Islands. The Europeans and natives, as soon as they became aware of his intended removal, determined to give him a grand farewell, and also to present him with a testimonial of the esteem in which he was held here. The Europeans presented him with a splendidly got up testimonial, and the natives also presented him with another signed by over 100 persons. The presentation took place in the hall in the presence of nearly all the inhabitants of the place. The local band and all the local talent did their best to give him an enjoyable evening before he left. The whole wound up with a, grand ball, a blaze of fireworks, and the booming of our great gun every ten minutes. The fortnightly meeting of the Waipu Mutual Improvement Association was held in the library on February 28, the Rev. Mr. Jones, president, in the chair. There was a fair attendance. The chairman said the business for the evening were extensive speeches on some of the principal events in English history. Mr W. Finlayson spoke on Magna Charta with considerable ability. Mr. Jameson followed pn the war of " American Independence." We would call attention in our advertising columns to Mr. T. B. Hill's advertisement, by which it will be seen he has opened the rooms over his Pharmacy for the practice of Dentistry in all its branches, where the bess work by competent assistants of the most modern style will be executed at such prices as will ensure the patronage and support of the public. Messrs. Ahn and Reid, who arrived from the South yesterday, advertise in anotntv column to-day particulars of an instrument named " the aurophone," which is stated to afford great and instant relief to persona suffering from defective hearing. Water consumers are reminded that quarterly supplies due on the Ist instant, unpaid for on Thursday next, will be cut off without further notice.