TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 676, 13 February 1885, Page 15

TOWN & COUNTRY.

The temperance party in Masterton are taking steps to secure a majority of members on the Licensing Committee. _ They have selected Messrs Kiagdon, Girdwood, and Woodroofe as their candidates.

A temporary platform and booking offices are in course of erection fifteen chains north of the present railway station, at the bottom of Sydney-street. •It will ? be open for, traffic,' instead of the present station, after the 15th instant. .. , , ' I ' '■ ’• - i '

The Manapouri took away a very largenumber of passengers, probably about 300. It was a crowd that would have delighted Charles Dickens. “ All sorts and conditions of men ” were represented in the motley throng.

It is stated that a gentleman who nominated three candidates on the Thorndon Licensing Committee on Monday has vitiated his nominations through not being a resident of the ward, or a holder of property within the boundaries of that particular district. The Government has gazetted the regulations under which the size and weight of flounders which may be caught and exposed for sale are specified. Notwithstanding this, however, a number of bundles under the. regulation weight and size were displayed in one of our local fish-shops recently. Mangaone, containing in all 597 acres, have been set apart ar. permanent reserves for primary education ; section 466, FoxtoD, a°i a plantation and recreative reserve ; sections 51 and 69, Mutoa, as ferry reserves ; sections 4, 5, 6, and 7, block 21, town of Manaia, have been reserved as a site for a pound.

The following gentlemen have been nominated for the vacancies in the Education Board :—Messrs J. Young, A. W. Brown, Speedy, and Rev. J. Paterson. The retiring members of the board are the Rev J. Patersod, Hon. G. R. Johnson, ana Mr Thos. Mason. The two latter gentlemen declined to offer themselves for re-election.

The locfil meat freezing companies are at present very busy preparing shipments for the vessels leaving here shortly. Every boat from Foxton brings large numbers of sheep, which are landed either at Petone for the Gear Co., or at the peDS on the reclaimed land for the Wellington Freezing and Preserving and the Meat Export companies.

Mr W. Peacock, jam manufacturer, Melbourne, has applied for a patent for an improved apparatus for the admixture of air and gas for Boldering and other purposes ; Mr Julius Wittkowski, merchant, Sydney, for mi improved cigarette machine ; Mr T. M. Bryant, timber merchant, Onehungx, for an enamel-lined butter, meat, and general produce package ; Mr H. Rafton, basket manufacturer, Aucklaud, for a spring seat four-wheel perambulator ; Mr W. t'arr, miller, Timor a, for a windmill for ch.ff-cutting and other purposes ; Mr A. Burt, hydraulic engineer, Dunedin, for improvements in fitting rings into valves for waterworks and other purposes.

The cablegram received last week notifies the death of Mr James Winter, part proprietor of the Advocate newspaper, Melbourne. The Advocate 13 the organ of the Irish Roman Catholic party in Victoria, and was started as such by the late Mr O’Grady, who was on more than one occasion a Minister of the Crown. It is an ably-written journal, and whilst supporting the Irish National cause, has never advocated the extreme views put forward by men of O’Donovan Rossa s stamp. Mr Winter was a kindly gentleman, an excellent employer, and a good citizen of Victoria, in which colony he was born. The deceased gentleman was a brother to Mr S. V. Winter, manager and part proprietor of the Melbourne Evening Herald.

At yesterday week’s meeting of the ladies’ branch of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it was resolved that the society should be recommended to have the following lines placed over the water treugh at She junction of Manners-street and Courtneyplace : “ A man of kindness to his beast is kind j

But brutal actions show a brutal mind. Remember, He who made thee made the brute l Who gave thee speech and reason formed him

mute: He can’t complain ; but God’s all-seeing eye Beholds thy cruelty—He hears his sigh. He was designed thy servant, not thy drudge : But know, that his Creator is thy Judge !”

The frozen meat export trade from Napier is approaching enormous dimensions. To follow the Lady Jocelyn are to be the e.-'. lonic, the ships Opawa, Mataura, and Northumberland, "and the e.s. Tainui. These vessels will take away on an average 10,000 carcases each. ■ : /•:

Captain Percy, one of the officers'Of the Colonial Defence Force, who was wounded on the West Coast, and who went Home for surgical treatment fifteen years ago, has returned to Wellington, accompanied by his wife. Captain Percy has recovered from his wound,

Ti Kawenga, principal chief of Taueru, one of the Wairarapa tribes, lies dangerously ill at his pah. For some days past he has been unable to take solid food, and t here is little prospect of his recovery. Ti Kawenga and Sara are the owners of most of the lands that renain in the possession of the natives in the Taueru district.

The exports from the port of Napier for the qnarter ended 31st December, 1884, were of the value of £233,215, as against £167,0u0 for the corresponding quarter of 1883. The totals for the year were £676,951 for 1884, and £481,039 for 1833. Of the exports for the quarter wool is respon-ible for £219,000, rerepresenting 5,829,5231 b., the average price per , pound being 9d. The exports included 108,000 ft of sawn timber.

Preparations are being made for shifting the present railway station. If practicable we believe it will be removed to its destination without talcing it to pieces. They do these things in Chicago and other places in America on a large scale, but this will be the biggest attempt yet made here in that line. It will be rather an interesting sLht, for builders more especially. The following have applied for trade marks: —Mr Edward Waters, Melbourne, on behalf of Dr Jager’s Sanitary Woollen System Company, for & rectangular figure, with the words “Pure warranted wool Mr E. Waters, Melbourne, on behalf of the Hop Bitters Company, Rochester, United States, for the device of a sprig of the hop vine in combination with the words and figures, “ Dr Soule, Hop Bitters, 1872 Mi S. Kirkpatrick, Nelson, on behalf of the Anchor Preserving Company, Nelson, for a representation of an anchor. The Anchor Company intend to manufacture baking and currie powders, candied fruits, &c. The Victorian Kailway Department has imported from England a moat ingenious piece of mechanism in the shape of a combined steam boiler, rotary engine, and dynamo’ machine, technically called-a locomotive electric light. It is intended by the department to employ the machine in providing a powerful light, by means of which work requiring to be done during the night may be carried out under the most favorable circuurstances. The locomotive electric light will be most useful in the repair of brokeu bridges or damaged permanent way. At St. Peter's Church yesterday week a marriage took place between Mr H. de V. Gilbert, of Messrs Wilson aud RicbardsoaV, and Mi3S Ada C. Walks, fourth daughter of Mr W. Wallis, builder, of Nairu-street. The bride having been, until recently, eugaged as a pupil teacher at the Mount Cook School, about 200 or 300 children assembled in the church to witness the ceremony, which was thus rendered very attractive ; and a baud serenaded the newly-married couple during the evening. The firm of Messrs Wilson and Kiebardson presented Mr Gilbert with a testimonial aud a pair of drawing-room looking-glasses. A correspondent of the Taranaki Herald says :—“ I was told in Norraauby that, out of 1500 Maories who had marched by the hotels to attend the late me ting held under the auspices of Tito Kowaru, not one had spent a sixpence on intoxicating drink, though several had been audacious enough to ask for a drink of—positively—cold water ! Benighted heathens 1 Are they, then, reverting to their habits oi primitive barbarism, in those dark ->ges before the manifold blessings of British civilisation had visited their beautiful islands V

While employed penning sheep in the Wanaka woolshed a lad named McLaren found soma dynamite caps somewhere, and not knowing what they were, he carried a few in his vest pocket, while he ba 1 one dangling as an ornament from his watchehain. While jumping a fence au explosion occurred, wounding him in his right thigh and lacerating his ear, which bled profusely. He thought be had been shot, and no little consternation fora time prevailed. It being breakfast time, a hasty search was made round the shed for the supposed miscreant, who, of course, could not be found, but a dynamite cap was picked up on the woolshed floor, thereby revealing the cause of the explosion. Happily the lad’s wounds are not of a serious nature. This is but another instance of the folly of leaving dangerous explosives lying about.

The Woodvilie Examiner of a recent date contained the following:—“On dit that a gentleman well known in Hawkes Bay [who is said to have the reputation of being a “ Hard ’an ”], and who considers himself a prominent leader of the total abstinence party in New Zealand, was lately in Halcombe lecturing on temperance,- aud there volunteered to a young lady the information that his house had only 90 doors in if, that he had only 75,000 acres, one of his sons had only 50,000, and the other 40,000. However, he would not give a young man anything on behalf of the church he bad been lecturing in, but he offered to send the young lady some ef his photos for a bazaar, on condition that she did not sell them below their value. What that was -he did not say. Here it would be exceedingly low.”

A meeting of ladies was held in the Athenaeum yesterday week for the purpose of forming a ladies’ branch of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr J. E. Baker, bou. secretary of the society, was in attendance, and explained the objects of a ladies’ branch, and suggested work that might -be undertaken with advantage by ladies in this city. Mrs J. C. Harris was voted to the chair. On the motion of Mrs W. C. Glliver, seconded by Mrs Waters, sen., it was resolved that it was desirable a ladies’ branch should be formed. On the motion of Mrs Tringham, seconded by Mrs K. Hunter, the following office-bearers were elected, with power to add to their number :—President (pro tem.), Mrs J. C. Harris ; Hon. Secretary (pro tem), Miss Turner ; Committee, Mrs Waters, sen., Mrs W. C. Olliver, Mrs Manthel, Mrs Wragg, Mrs Tringham. A number of ladies handed in their names as members.

The Eevs K. Laishley and J. Bobertson (Congregational Independents), and B.ev Charles Fraser (We3t Melton Free Church) are authorised to solemnize marriages, in accordance with the Marriage Act, 1880.

' Major-General Scratchley will arrive here in about three weeks. The object ,Of his visit, to the colony is to consult with Sir W. Jervois and his responsible advisers on the defences of the colony. Mr C. W. L. Forbes, solicitor, of Aberfeldy, near Perth, Scotland, has been appointed a Commissioner for taking oaths, affidavits, &c., under the Commissioners of the Supreme Court Act, 1875. Messrs Andrew Graham and George MatthewsoD, merchants, Gisborne, and Mr Willi im Sievwright (of the firm of Sievwiight and De JLautour, solicitors, Gisborne), are the Government nominees to the Ginborne Harbor Board.

Owino- to the somewhat sparse attendance, the meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, which was to have been held on Saturday morning, was adjourned until the first Saturday in March.

The total number of tickets issued from the Wellington Kailway Station during the four days’ races were as follows :—First class, 657 ; second class, 2144, or a total of 2801. Counting return tickets for pa?sengers, the numbers would be—first-class, 1194 ; second class, 3799.

At a meeting held on Monday evening at the United Methodist Free Church to bid the Kev Mr Bedstone farewell, Mrs Bennett, president of the Woman’s Temperance Blue Kibbon Union, stated iccideDtally that the pledge had been administered to women since the establishment of the unioD. This, she observed, was altogether outside of what Mr Glover had accomplished while here.

Mr and Mrs Robert Freeman were, on their retirement from the stewardship of the Working Men’s Club, the guests of the members of the club Tuesday evening. Mr John Edmonds, president of the club, on behalf of the members, presented Mr Freeman and Mrs Freeman with a handsomely illuminated addres?. The chairman also, on behalf of the members of the ciuh, presented Mr Freeman with a purse of sovereigns, and Mrs Freeman with a valuable opera glass. The recipients, who were warmly received, returned thauka for the kindness displayed towards them.

The fifth edition of Mr John Cumin’s valuable book is now ready, Mr J. Stuart Reid, of this city, beiug the publisher. Thi3. index on the general, local, and provincial laws of New Zealand has been brought down to the end of the second session of 1884. All the lawyers in the colony will be glad to have an opportunity of purchasing this work ; they know its intrinsic value. But chairmen of local bodies, and all who wish to keep themselves posted up iu the changes which are so frequently made in our laws should also avail themselves of the results of Mr Cumin’s painstakiag labors, which he has so clearly aud concisely embodied in his handy little book.

The following gentlemen were nominated Tuesday for the Lambton Licensing Committee :—George Alien, nominated by A. A. Barnett and E. W. Mills ; C. E. W. Willes ton, nominated by G. W. Dutton and Charles Hill ; Joseph Saunders, nominated by W. Dawson and J. McDowell ; R. Greenfieid, nominated by W, Dawson and James McDowell ; A. A. Barnett, nominated by E. W. Mills and J. Powuceby ; George Fisher, nominated by J. McDowell and E- W. Mills \ J. E. Hayes, nominated by J. H. Wallace and J. Powneeby ; W. R. Williams, nominated by R. M. Simpson aud W. Dawson ; C. D. Barraud, nominated by R. M. Simpson and W. H. Levin ; William Clark, nominated by R, M. Simpson and Benjamin Smith ;J. C. Edwards, nominated by K. M. Simpson and W. H. Leviu ; J. M. Richardson, nominated by R. M. Simpson and William Dawson.

Mr W. E. Bidwtll, of Pahiatua, writing to the Wairarapa Standard on the “ Lung Worm ”in sheep, savs “We have tried one of the remedies suggested by Mr Foster—viz , one part turpentiue and two raw oil, and find that for lambs it has a most injurious effect ; out of a lot of 153 dosed, a dozsu died, We reduced the dose from a tablespoonful to a r.easpoonful, bat the effect was the same. We then substituted milk in place of the oil, aud since then we have never lost a limb, although we had given them of each in turpentine and milk ; but we find that a full dessert spoon of milk and the same of turpentine, well mixed, is the dose for lambs. The easiest plan for d sing the lambs is to procure half a dozen half-pint salad oil bottles, with a small funnel for each for filling them ; put each dose into a separate bottle and shake it ; by this means there is no fear of the mixture settling, as each bottle is filled as wanted. If you mix a large quantity together, great care must be takon not to allow it to settle, as some sbeep would get all turpentine and others all milk.”

Mr Stout, in the course of his Nelson speech, referring to the Press criticisms, said that his audience were aware that he had recently been addressing his constituents. . He had since been much amused by the criticisms his speech had evoked. For the first time he had learned that pressmen were thin-skinned, for he certainly had made them very angry. He was not altogether sorry for this, as be thought it might do good, and in future perhaps the journalist who criticised would remember that there were other thin-skinned people besides politicians. Not only did he recognise the power of the Press, but he admitted its great influence upon the welfare of a democracy, for without it they could have no pure government. On a late occasion he had pointed out the need or journalists being thoroughly trained for their profession, which was oue which should not be entered on as a commission agency. A man who had failed in everything else often took a little office, stuck a pea behind his ear, aud called himself a commission agent. So it was with some pressmen. But journalism was a profession which should never be taken up except by those who were keenly alive to its duties and responsibilities. Had New Zealand always had such journalists she would have bad better government iu the past and she would have better newspapers in the future. Hewould ask the Press to remember that if it criticised politicians it must expect to be criticised in return.

Mr G. T. Studd, the cricketer who visited the colonies with Ivo Bligh’s team, has made up his mind to become a missionary, and will leave England early in the year, probably for China.

Mr Stout says they were not “ true statesmen ” who urged aud assisted iu the abolition of the New Zealand provinces. Rather rough on his colleague, Sir J. Vogel, who was the prime mover iu that work (remarks a contemporary).

Mr Joseph Elliott, father of the American sporting piess, has been presented by the proprietor of the New York Herald, on which paper he worked for many years, with a retiring salary of 5000 dollars a year. Some of our contemporaries (remarks the Wairarapa Daily) are busy\ appointing Wairarapa R.M.’s to take the place of Mr Wardell. The probability is that Mr Wardell will still continue to work the Wairarapa district in conjunction with Wellington for the present.

A correspondent of Public Opinion (Dunedin) says :—“ln New Zealand we have £30,000,000 of mortgage debt, one half of which is foreign capital Many of our struggling settlers, especially in Canterbury, are unable to pay the present rate of interest, and are combining to force the Government to take up-their mortgages at 4 per cent.

A sensational wager was made at Quirindi, N.S.W., by a well-known commercial traveller, who bet the local doctor that Mr Underwood’s American imported brother to Boccaccio cannot trot one mile in 2min 38*ec. The wager is for £IOOO a-side, and the whole of the money has been deposited with the manager of the Commercial Bank. The event comes off in May.

' Lady Hillyar, widow of Admiral Sir James Hillyar, who died last December at Plymouth, at the age of eighty-six, is regretted throughout almost the entire Navy. The mother of two admirals and widow of another, she was devoted heart aud soul to the “ service." Iu her young days she used to accompany her husband on his voyages, and was fond of relating how she had entertained Lord Nelson’s captains at dinner after the battle of Trafalgar. Messrs Tomlinson and Hayward, of Lincoln, have sent us a catalogue of their agricultural specialties. It is very nicely got up, aud contains capital sketches of their sheepdip and chemical works ; also, a swimming bath and foot-rot race combined, which is a very ingenious contrivance for dipping sheep. Mr Hayward, who travelled through New Zealand last year, has done some good work for the colony by publishing his ideas of its great capabilities at Home.

In the Eastern Morning News (printed at Hull) of the 6th December we find the following :—“ A new plan of colonisation has been invented by a Mr Arthur Clayden, who has resided in New Zealand for some years, aud is now in England organising what he designates as a middle-class settlement for the colony. The idea is novel,and as an experiment, no doubt will receive a trial. The well-known prosperity and settled condition of New Zealand have probably had something to do with the proposals." The following despatch has been received by the Colonial Secretary from the War Office :—“ I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th September last, forwarding copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, together with enclosures, relative to increased facilities being afforded to graduates aud students of the University of that colony who may be desirous of entering the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that, after reference to the Civil Service Commissioners, Lord Hartington is of opinion that the first ex animation for the degree of B.A. at the above University cannot be regarded as equivalent to the examinations mentioned in clause 2 (b) of the regulations issued with General Order 116 of 1884 ; but there would be no objection to the benefits of this clause being extended to students who have passed the whole of the examination for the B.A. degree.” The regulations referred to were published in the New Zealand Gizette of 29th September, 1881. The exceptional quality of the Bingera (New South Wales) diamonds has excited the utmost surprise in English mining circles, and the London Mining Journal of November 29, 1884, in a leader on the subject, says :—“ The first commercial consignment of Australian diamonds has reached this country by the last mail, and gives good promise of Australia speedily surpassing Sontb Africa as a diamond producing country. Mr Philip Falk, of Great Winchester-street, city, has the honor of being the first consignee of these stones, which come through the Melbourne branch of the firm from the owners, the Australian Diamond Mining Company, for sale in London. The consignment consists of two parcels—the larger, consisting of yellow and da|sk-colored stoues, weighing 126,047 carats ; the smaller being fine, white stones, weighing rather over 101,562 carats. The consignees have submitted the stones to us for inspection, and we have no hesitation in stating that for color and form the white stones are decideldy superior to any we have seen from South Africa, though as yet nothing very large appears to have been met with. The Au3tralian stones have unquestionably the Brazilian ctavacter, which id altogether wanting even in the finest Cape atones. The Jagers fontein stones, for example, are certainly white, but they are so steely and wanting in the absolute limpidity which distinguishes the Brazilian diamond, that no ordinary judge would for an instant be deceived in selecting them. Now, many of the Bingera (Australian) stones are of beautiful octahedron crystallisation, and indistinguishable from the Brazilian. As the 227,610 carats were obtained from 250 loads of washdirt, it follows that the average yield was over 910 carats per load. With a sufficiency of water 150 loads a day could easily be washed, and even at the present price of diamonds the profit would be over cent, per cent, on the coEt of raising and washing.” The Australian Diamond Mining Company anticipate beiug able to wash from 900 to 1000 loads per diem, and that their return has averaged more than stated in the paper, being fully equal to a carat per load. The achievement that gave to the world Wolfe’s Schnapps will live in the history of curative science as long as the human frame is subject to natural diseases. 18

The barque Helen Denny, which Bailed for London the other day, takes another large shipment of Endeavor lolet antimony ore, consisting of 835 bags and 48 tons of loose pieces. Te Kaiweoga, the Maori chief, who had been ailing for the past three weeks, died at the Taueru Pab, Wairarapa, last Thursday. News was immediately forwarded to the natives in the Lower Wairarapa, Hawera, and Napier, and a large tangi will take place. An elderly maiden having had several teeth extracted, and being asked by a female companion if it hurt much, replied, “Well, I suppose it did, but I was so excited because be had his arm around my neck that I didn’t feel but very little pain.” Complaints of small attendance at the school committee election meetings are heard from Auckland. There are about 2400 children attending the city schools, and yet this large number were only represented by some twenty or thirty householders at the meeting. The first annual meeting of the Co-operative Bakery Company was held at Foxton last week. The report and balance sheet were read and adopted. The report recommended a bonus of 3d per share, a payment of 2a 6d to each member of the committee for each sitting, and a bonus of five guineas to the baker.

There are in London 251 Congregational churches, with the same number of “ chapels,” as English Non conformist churches are called. Besides these there are 145 preaching stations. The oldest of these churches is said to have been formed in 1573. Most of them, however, have been organised Bince 1800. There are 3 ’ 222 ministers in charge. The Prince of Wales is the greatest colonel, in a numerical sense, the world has ever known. To say nothing of his honorary colonelcies in foreign armies, besides the headship of the Blucher Hussars, he is the colonel of no fewer than 16 regiments in his Royal mother’s armies.

There are 14 markets of various kinds in London. The most important of these are : Farringdon dead meat and poultry market ; and Deptford Foreign Cattle Market, Islington Cattle Markets, 15 acres in extent ; Billiogrgate Fish Market, and Covent Garden Vegetable Market. A singular application is likely to be made iu the Melbourne law courts shortly. The litigants are two well-known residents in West Melbourne, one of whom has become annoyecl by the continuous barking of his neighbor’s dog, which breaks in upon his rest at most unseasonable hours. He has endeavored, without effect, to obtain an abatement of this nuisance, and intends, as a last resource, to apply for an injunction to the Supreme Court. According to a contemporary, Mr Justice Gillies ba3 shocked devoted society in Auckland by ruling, in the course of a recent libel action, “the word damn was of no consequence, seeing that ministers of the highest character were dealing out damnation all round every Sunday.” His Honor also saw no harm in a minister who played whist for fid or Is points, and said that he had known fifty ministers who did so.

Sir John Lubbock, the eminent banker and scientist, lately read a very interesting paper before the Anthropological Institute, London, on *' The Marriage Customs of ths Australians.” A paper on the same subject was also read by Professor Flowers, being a contribution from Mr A. W. Howitt, F .G.S., (son of William and Mary Howitt), now in Australia. Professor 1 lowers said it was to be regretted that no systematic attempt was made by our Government, such as was being carried out by the United States Government in North America, to collect all the information that could be obtained with regard to the native races and tribes iu different parts of the British empire before the traditions wtre lost.

With regard to the charges made to tourists iu the Hot Lake district, the New Zealand Herald says : —“ We understand it is the intention of the Government to stop the blackmailing which has been going on in this district, and put an end, if possible, to the present unsatisfactory state of thiugs existing there. The charges to tourists are to be reduced, and a scale will be proposed which, it is thought, the natives will agree to without much pressure. Tourists will then know exactly what they will have to pay. The Government recently appointed an able officer to this district, and the information he will be able to suDply, and his reports to the Government,shonld facilitate a satisfactory settlement of the difficulties.

Mr James Ames, Returning Officer, announced the nomiuations of candidates for the Licensing Committee for the Thorndon Licensing District at noon on Monday, at Mr R. Burrett’s premises, Charlotte-street. With the exception of the Press representatives, there were only tv/o citizens present. As the hour of noon struck, the Returning Officer gave the following nomination of candidates: Benjamin Smith, proposed by David Anderson, junr., and Thomas Garland ; John H. Cook, by Benjamin Smith and. George Thomas ; C. J. Toxward, by Benjamin Smith and W. H. Levin ; John Chantry Harris, by Benjamin Smith and G. Thomas; W. H. West, by Benjamin Smith and G. Thomas ; A. A. Barnett, by W. Wiggins and Walter Isaac Nathan ; George Allen, by F. Allen and H. Barber ; C. T. Richardson, by T. Pelbarn and G. Andersen ; John O’Meara, by W. McDowell and W. H. Levin ; George Fisher, by R. Burrett and James Salmon ; W. F. Parsons, by A. A. Barnett and C. D. Barraud. The Returning Officer stated that the poll for the election of five committeemen would be held on Monday next.

“The Chester miser,’’ Abraham Price, died recently at Chester, England, and his effects were sold. His hobby had been to collect second-hand books of all kinds. The worthJessusßS of the collection may be inferred from the fact that about 12,000 volumes were sold for about £4B 10s.

A cat funeral in great style is reported from Japan. The coffin of the defunct pussy was covered with a white silk pall and a body of chanting priests followed the cortege to the grave. In due course of time a monument was erected on which was inscribed the many virtues of the cat.

Among estimates as to what the latest visitation of the cholera has cost, it was calculated that the quarantine had already resulted in the loss of £1,600,000 to the Italian revenue. The falling off in Customs revenue of Spain since quarantine was established had amounted by the end of August to close upon £250,000, while the value of the exports and imports had shown a decrease of £675,000. May is said to be an unlucky month fo marriages. Au old bachelor says that, according to the testimony ot his frieuds who have slipped their heads into the matrimonial noose, the other unlucky months for marriages are June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February, IV? arch, and April.

The wages of a gang of Italian laborers near Saratoga were recently cut down 10 cents a day. Instead of striking they cut an inch off their shovel blades at night. The boss asked what it meant, and one of the men replied, “ Not so much pay, not so much dirt lift ; all right, job last the more loug ; Italian no foollike Irishman ; he no strike.” J-

An Irish lawyer having addressed the Court as “ gentlemen,” instead of “ yer honors,” after he had concluded, a brother of the bar reminded him of his error. He immediately rose and apologised thus : “ May it please the Court, in the haste of debate I called yer honors gentlemen. I made a mistake, yer houors.” The speaker then sat down.

A gentleman in Wanganui has received from Auckland the following application in response to an advertisement for a lady’s companion :—“ Seeing your advertisement for a companion to a lady, I apply at once : I can ride without knee pommels, walk twelve mile 3 easily, climb mountains, shoot, swim, drive, row, and paddle nay own canoe. I feel myself eminently suitable to be anybody’s companion. If you should care to engage me, I shall do all in my power to serve you, and will be quite satisfied with the remuneration offered.”

The Lyttelton Times states that the attempt to drill the lunatic inmates of Sunnyside has, thanks to the unremitting efforts of the attendants coupled with firmness and kindness, resulttd most satisfactorily. On the occasion of the visits of His Excellency the Governor and the Inspector-General of Asylums and Hospitals, the male patients were marched out of their respective wards, and drawn up id column for inspection on the cricket ground, behaving themselves with propriety. So premising appeared the endeavors thus made that a monthly parade call and inspection) has now been instituted. A Home paper remarks : s< Cambridge men, past and present, will note with interest the announcement that Messrs Studd and Smith are about to enter the field of missionary work iu China. Those who were “up” at the ’Varsity with the two muscular missionaries will remember the ridicule with which their first attempts at preaching and good work were received, ridicule which wa3 only equalled by the respect afterwards paid them. Mr C. T. Studd, the late captain of the cricket team which was so successful in Australia, is, without doubt, one of the fiaest batsmen of the age, and Mr Smith secured what, in the estimation of the undergraduates, is the highest University honor, in becoming stroke of the crew of the year. Both are men of splendid physique, and able in every way to withstand the terrible climate of Central China. If hearty farewells aud good wishes can gain success, the two young missionaries will soon become as famous in their new work as they were in that which they are now leaving.”

The Dunedin Herald makes the following statement regarding the man whose walk from Christchurch to Invercargill was mentioned in last week’3 telegrams :—“ The person who created such a sensation appears to have been making a regular trade of his so-called woes. Some time ago a man came to several members of the Dunedin Corporation with a similar tale, and obtained relief. He was put on to work at the Botanical Garden with wages at the rate of 5s a day with a free house. Bed and bedding were also procured for his wife from the hospital. Eventually he had to be discharged for drunkenness. The story he told in Dunedin seems to have been precisely the same as that told in Invercargill, except that there was no mention of any one named Henty. The coincidence is remarkable, aDd it is right that the people in the various towns should be informed that there is reason to believe that imposture is being regularly practised.

During the last two or three days (says the Wairarapa Standard) dense volumes of smoke have been arising from the bush on all sides, the firing of the bush having been commenced f in earnest. Last season the work was thrown back owing to the unpropitious weather, and the timber has been lying until now waiting for the match. The scene along the toad between Greytown and the Waiohine bridge on Mr Buchanan’s laud on Monday night was a grand one. Nearly the whole of the standing trees were aslow with fire, and the burning embers and flaming trunks, with showers of sparks crackling in the still night air, made the scene » most enchantin’ one. Last evening the bush to the east of Greytown, which had been burning all day, caused some anxiety to Mr Varnham, of Papawai, and we hear that assistance was sent for to Greytown in case danger threatened, but, fortunately, the wind changed about. Mr Ross’ house, however, had a very narrow escape, the stable even catching. Several of the residents at Papawai sat up last night on the watch. There will be some big bush fires this season in the Wairarapa. Catarrah of the Bladder. Stinging irritation, inflamation, Kidney and all similar Complaints, cured by “ Buchu, paiba.” New Zealand Drug Company, General Agents. 3]