TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 691, 29 May 1885, Page 16

TOWN & COUNTRY.

The mail steamer Zealandia, which, owing to the trouble with the Seamen’s Union, did not leave Auckland until the Ist instant, three days after contract date of departure, arrived at San Francisco yesterday week, two days behind time.

We have received a copy of the Wellington Corporation Leaseholds Bill. As the provisions formally embody the recommendations of the Special Committee of the City Council, published by us elsewhere, it is unnecessary to print the Bill. A free pardon is offered to.any person implicated in the crime, other than, the principal offender, who will give information leading to the conviction of the persons who set on fire certain stacks of wheat at Seafield on April 29,

The following applications for patents have been made :—Percival Everitt, of London, for improvements in weighing machines ; F. EL Wenham, for improvements in gas lamps and burners ; and Henry Reynolds, of Waikato, for broadcast sowing machines. Sir Julius Vogel has forwarded to the City Council a letter addressed by him to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce (published in a recent issue of this journal), in reference to the Fiji trade. The Council deferred consideration of the matter till its next meeting. We have received from Messrs Laery and Campbell samples of Tahiti oranges, some of which are. of enormous size and all of excellent quality. The trade with Polynesia in the sorts of fruit which are not grown in this climate has every promise of' increasing to great importance. A letter was read at the City Council meeting last evening week from Mr Francis Stevens, of Oriental Bay, protesting against the public traffic in that neighborhood being impeded by a boatshed, for the erection of which the Harbor Board had given permission. Mr Stevens’ letter was referred to the Public Works Committee.

We are requested to state that a refuge designated the “ Christian Home,” for which funds are now beiDg collected, is connected neither with the Wellington Ladies’ Christian Association (established in 1858) nor with the Home in Newtown, or the Refuge in Nairnstreet. The Christian Home above alluded to is, however, a most worthy object for support, and we trust that the ladies who are interesting themselves concerning it will be successful in their efforts.

The following tenders have been received by the Public Works Department for the Winton Courthouse contract, Southland. Ac. cepted—John Campbell, Invercargill, £659. Declined—W. W. Potter and Co., Invercargill, £693 ; McLeod and Shaw, Invercargill, £713 ; William Birss, Invercargill, £734 ; Robert Ridell, Orepuki, £754 ; Alexander Menzies, Invercargill, £845 ; Erasmus Peterson and Co., Invercargill, £B5l. We have received a copy of the Masonic Directory of New Zealand, compiled by Mr George Robertson, a brother of the craft, who holds a considerable position in it. It contains a complete list of District and Provincial Grand Lodges, Craft and Mark Lodges, Royal Arch, and Rose Croix Chapters, Preceptorie3 of Knight Temp’ars, and much other information connected with masonry in the Colony. The Directory will be found exceedingly useful by all Masons. The names of the following new Legislative Councillors are gazetted : John Bathgate, Esq., of Dunedin ; Courtney William Aylmer Thomas Kenny, Esq., of Picton ; George Bentham Morris, Esq., of Tauranga ; Robert Pharazyn, Esq., of Waitotara ; Joseph Shephard, Esq., of Nelson; Samuel Edward Shrimski, Esq., (of Oamaru ; William Swanson, Esq., of Auckland ; Hori Kerei Taiaroa, Esq., of Dunedin; and Launcelot Walker, Esq, of Christchurch.

The wretched condition of the streets between the railway station and Waring Taylorstreet, during the past few weeks, has been freely commented on, If they are not put into a proper state of repair before the Exhibition opens, visitors will not be very favorably impressed with the way our thoroughfares are looked after. It is quite a common occurrence to see ladies crawliug along on the ledge of the railway fence, in order to get to the railway station on one side, or to the centre of the town on the other. It is very poor satisfaction to unfortunate pedestrians to be told that the duty devolves upon the Government of putting these streets into a proper state of repair. If the Government will not do so, the Gity Council ought to take the matter in hand. The death of Victor Hugo, the famous poet and novelist, at a great age, is announced. He was born at Beaangon, 26th February, 1802., Amongst his first literary ventures were “Odes and Ballads,” which appeared ia 1822, and his tales, “Hans of Iceland” and “Bug-Jargal.’’ In 1826, he published a second volume of “ Odes and Ballads,” which exhibited a change in his political and literary opinions, and in 1827, he composed his drama, “ Cromwell.” In 1829, he published his “ La3t Days of a Condemned Criminal,” the terrific interest of which secured it an immense success. His drama of “Hemani” was first played at the Thdiltrd Frangais, on. the 26th February, 1830, and in the same year “ Marion de Lome ” was produced with much success. He was admitted into the French Academy in 1841, aud was. created a peer of France by Louis-Philippe. After the accession to the throne of Napoleon 111, he remained in exile till the fall of the Empire, when he hastened back to his native country, entering heartily into the Republican movement, and was returned to the National Assembly at Bordeaux. During his exile he wrote many works, the principal being his satire “ Napoleon le Petit,” “ Les Ohatiments ” and “Notre Dame de Paris,” which has been translated into most European languages, and is known in England under the title of the “ Hunchback of Notre Dame.” His semi-historical and social romance “Les Miserables,” translated into nine languages, was issued at Paris, Brussels, London, New York, Madrid, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Turin, the same day, April 3, 1862. His last novel “L’homme qui Rit,” appeared in 1869. He was a prolific writer, amongst his best known works in England, being “Claude Guenx,” a tale; “Lucrece Borgia,” “ Marie Tudor,’’ “ Ruy Bias,” “ Les Burgraves,” and “ Marion de Lorme, ’ plays ; and “ Le Rhin,” a book of travels.

A newspaper printed upon cotton cloth has been started in America. It is called the Pocket Handkerchief, which title at once explains the purposes to which it is to be put when intellectual demands have been satisfied.

Proceedings are to be taken under the Volunteer regulations against certain members of local corps for firing rifles out of railway carriage windows on their return from the review at the Hutt on Monday. The following tenders were accepted Tuesday by a Committee of the Hutt County Council :—Widening 52 chains of Hayward’s to Pahautanui, T. Coffey ; widening 40 chains of Mungarua to Waikanae, T. Bowden ; metalling 64 chains of Mungarua to Waikanae, H. Buttler.

At last night’s meeting of the Harbor Board Mr Heaton was to move :—“ That instructions be given to the Board’s Engineer to obtain information, take soundiogs, and make all the necessary preliminary inquiries, with a view of ascertaining the most suitable site for a graving dock, and report same to the Board.”

Inspector Goodall and Constable Milton visited a number of milliners and drapers’ establishments on Saturday afternoon, aud in two places girls were found working after the hour of 2 p.m., contrary to the Employment of Females Act. It is very probable that legal proceedings will be taken against the employers in each case. About 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a horse attached to a butcher’s cart, but without a driver, came tearing down Willis-street. Constable Madden, who was on a passing tram, jumped off, and very pluckily stopped the horse at great personal risk, being dragged off the ground and thrown down in the attempt. The horse had bolted in Taranaki-street, the driver, John Carston, in the employment of the Wellington Meat Company, being thrown out of the vehicle. Dr Cole was sent for, but found no serious injury had been sustained by Carston, who will be able to work again in a day or two.

Some time ago the Wanganui and Taranaki police districts were amalgamated and placed under Inspector James. Previous to that change, Inspector Goodall, now in Wellington, was Inspector at Wanganui, and Inspector Bullen, who is at present in Christchurch, had charge of the Taranaki district. The amalgamation has not worked quite as well as was expected, and the Defence Minister has decided to again separate the districts. Inspector James will have charge of the district between the Otaki and Patea Rivers, and Inspector Pardy of that betweeu the Mokau and Patea Rivera. Each district will still be a large one, so that the change appears a desirable one.

The Rev Mr Van Staveren asked, at the meeting of the Benevolent Society on Tuesday, if anything had been done in reference to the Old Men’s Home ? Mr Wardell, who occupied the chair, said that nothing could hie done till the question of site had been settled. Several of the subscriptions depended on that. Dr Chilton was taking great interest in the matter, and was preparing a plan of a portion of the Hospital Reserve, which he thought could be devoted to the Old Men’s Home, without in any way interfering with the Hospital. It was said by a great many people that there was no necessity for proceeding in the matter, as the Government were about to bring in a Charitable Aid Bill; but the Committee were dealing with the present state of things, and not with the future, and were doing all they possibly could. During the Hon. Mr Ballance’s late tour through the West Coast, he found many of the Natives anxious for the individualisation of their lands. He has in consequence asked the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court to hold sittings as quickly as possible. The Native Minister believes that the settlement of the Natives upon their own plots of land will be the most effectual method of doing away with any soreness which may still exist amongst the Maoris living in the neighborhood of the confiscated lands. The Natives complain of the high per-centage charged by the Public Trustee for the collection of their rents. In some cases it amounted to 20 per cent, independent of the cost of road-making and surveys, which has also to be deducted from their rents. Mr Ballance has referred this to the Colonial Treasurer, in order that it may be remedied. He considers 20 per cent altogether too high a rate to charge for the collection and disbursements of the rents.

Members of the Hutt County Council are now obtaining a fair impression of the fickleness of Government departments. Having a surplus remaining of a grant under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, the Council is desirous of expending it in the direction of erecting a culvert iu the Karori district, which is rendered necessary by a recent flood which washed away the small bridges. But the department refuses to sanction this expenditure, on the ground that it was not included in the works for which the allocation was made. The Council appointed a deputation a month or two ago to wait upon the Minister for Public Works, but they were unable to see that gentleman. Then the Clerk to the Council wrote to the department asking that a date should be appointed for the meeting. That was about three weeks ago, and no reply has yet been received. Meanwhile, the residents of the Karori district are waiting for their culvert.

The Natives in the Wairarapa (says the Wairarapa Standard) are very anxious that the Native Minister should have a talk with them about the lake boundaries. Several of the Native Committee were in Greytown last week hoping to hear that Mr Ballance was (coming up. Wi Hutana received a a telegram from him asking if the Committee were in Greytown, and being unaware that the Committee were gathered, he telegraphed to say they were not, and consequently there was no meeting. From what we can gather, the Natives desire that the boundaries of land sold on the borders of the lakes should be properly defined. When the land was sold the then high water mark was said to be the boundary, but the Natives affirm that the Government have surveyed to low water mark, which upon a mud flat takes a considerable amount of land from them. When the great earthquake occurred some years ago the land in the neighborhood of the lakes was raised considerably, and the high water mark changed in favor of the Government. The question now is, Which is the high water mark by which a settlement can be arrived at ?

Several Fiji settlers are training homingpigeons for the purpose of establishing a system of pigeon-post between the islands, The Natives, however, seem generally to kill the birds whenever they can catch theta. A Nativeßoman Catholic teacher named Kasiann is an exception to the rule. He lately caught a pigeon with a message on its leg, and finding out the name of the owner honestly sent him his bird without asking for reward. A striking political demonstration occurred lately during the performance of “ Bobadil,’’" at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne. In the second act, the hero of the comic opera, who has been raised to the throne of Arabia by way of a practical joke, appoints his own mother Grand Vizier, and when she exclaims that she is “ not the. first old woman who has been made Prime Minister,” the allusion was immediately taken up by the audience as applying to Mr Gladstone, in reference to his policy in Egypt and Afghanistan, and was received with ringing cheers. These were repeated again and again,., and they were most vehement in the stalls, upper circle, and gallery, the latter being crammed as full as it v/oulcl hold. There were a few dissentieut hisses, but these were promptly drowned by a fresh outburst of applause ; and the business on tbs stage was suspended for some little time by this unexpected manifestation of popular feeling. The following is from the Dunedin Herald —“ The large sum of £BOOO a year, which iB at present spent in Dunedin on benevolent assistance, might surely be laid out to better purpose than at present. A large portion of the amount stated is the consequence probably of bread winners being out of work. Instead ©E doles of charity, would it not be more beneficial to lay out some work near at hand, sueh as the reclamation and ornamentation of the Town Belt, which might afford work for the unemployed? A lady in London has given £IOOO for laying out public gardens, on condition that the work: be done by the unemployed poor of the metropolis. One of the most beautiful walks in or around Edinburgh is that at the base of Salisbury Crags, called the Radical-road, which was made by the unemployed weavers some sixty years ago. Before allowing our destitute poor to degenerate into mere paupers, something should be done in the way of utilising their possible labor. -

Yet another version of the late General Gordon’s betrayal ia furnished by the Vienna correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, who, wiring on Mar.ch 31, says :—“The Politische Corresponded! z publishes a communicationfrom Constantinople, stating that the Porte has received a very different explanation of the arrest of Zebehr Pasha from that which wa© published at the time. It is asserted that a Nubian servant of Zebehr’s succeeded some time ago in making hi© way to the Mahdi, and thence reached Khartoum, and that it was through this man’sagency that Gorden was betrayed and Khartoum given over to the rebels, and it is furtherstated that it was this same Nubian who was the actual murderer of Gordon.' The whole vile plan is said to have been concocted by Zebehr, in revenge for the execution of hi© son; which, as will be remembered, was ordered by Gordon. It was on suspicion that he was the instigator and prime organiser o£ this act that Zebehr was arrested by the English authorities, and not, as has been alleged, lest he should incite the Cairenes to create disturbances.’’

The Wellington YouDg Men’s Christian. Association is making extensive preparation© for the ensuing winter session under the management of the energetic Secretary, Mr J. Millar Smith. The Association has in the past year made great strides in the rightdirection, and its efforts to gain fresh adherents by making the various branches of it© work as attractive and vigorous as possible, have resulted in a considerable amount of success. The programme of the social and intellectual gatherings, lectures, &c., for the next six months has just been issued in the shape of a neatly printed card, giving full information with regard to the Association. The first of the series of social entertainments will be given on Thursday next, June 2, in the Athenaeum Hall. His Excellency the Governor will preside. The lecture of the evening will be on the “Life and Letters of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy,’* with illustrations from his works, by Mr Robert Parker, who, there is no necessity to point out, is sure to treat the subject in a thoroughly competent and interesting manner. Farther lectures will be given once a month, on the following subjects :—“ The Brain and Nerves,” by Mr H. B. Kirk, M.A.; “Heat’ 2 " (with experiments), by Mr J. YouDg j “ Hymns and Hymn Writers,’’ by the Rev. W. 'll. West, 8.A., L.L.8.; “Islands and Islanders of Melanesia,” by the Rev. J, Still, M.A.; and ‘-'Air and Water” (with chemical experiments), by Mr A. Purdie,. M.A.

The interim report of the Inspector of Schools shows that the following results have been obtained at the examinations of schools in the Wellington District: —Wangaehu—Percentage of passes, 100. “Very creditable work had been done in the year. The children had made great progress.” Mistress, Mies McKerizie. Bideford (aided) —Examination made soon after the opening for the purposes of classification and advising as to the management. Mistress, Mrs Farrer. Term? School—Percentage of passes 100. “ The high percentage of results is due to the indefatigable and painstaking work of the teacher.” Master, Mr Turkington. Kaiwhata (aided) School —Percentage of passes, 100. “Mis© Reid has taken great pains, and shown considerable skill in . the instruction of children, who have made good progress.” Mistress, Miss Reid. Tauertr School —Percentage of passes, 80. Opaki School —Percentage of passes, S 7. “Very creditable. The general progress of the scholars is good, and the teacher spare© neither time nor pains in conducting the work of the school.” Mistress, Mrs Salt. Mauriceville School—Percentage of passes, 68. “ During the year the head teacher was seriously ill. Thiß large school waß kept in good order by the assistant mistress. Good results can hardly be expected.” Master, Mr L. Johnston. Eketahuna School—Percentage of passes, 65. “Mr Shelten (head teacher) has not yet taken up the whole work of the standard. He has reorganised the Bchool and laid the foundation for better results next year.” Pahiatua School—Percentage of passep, 100. “ The school is generally well conducted.” Master, Mr Yeats,.

■An Order in Council, under the Public

"Works Act, 1882, appears orderiug that a Tailway, having am average width of: 300 links, extending from a point on the right bank of the Ponui river to a pfinr, at the intersection of the Foxton and !?ew Piymou h railway, in

the Raogit.jfco district, shall be constructed through Native lauds.

The following appointments have been made under the Brands and Branding Act, 1830 : —■ Registrars of Brands : 13. Clifton, K ckoara District.; G. B. Cooke, Amuri District; E. Robson, Bay of Plenty District ; VV. Miliar, jun., Danstan District R. W. Rayner, Chatham Islands. T. J. Mills is appointed Deputy Cattle Inspector, Otsgo District.

We have received a pamphlet by Dr. Ginders, Resident Medical ■ Officer, Rotorua, giving hints on cases likely to benefit by treatment at the thermal springs at Rotorua. A perusal of this work may cause much bitter disappointment to sufferers who may be inclined to expect impossibilities from those valuable springs. There are now 100 men, including the Artillery,-stationed at the Defence Works at Point Halswell, Major Gudgeon being in charge. A start was made with the mounting of the guns last week, and other works are being pushed forward. There is a very good track to the works round the Bay from Kilbirnie. The Clerk to the Hutt County Council has received a reply from the Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department in reference to the expenditure of £IOO on a culvert in the Karori. ■ District, alluded to in another place. -The Under-Secretary states that as the culvert to which the Council proposes to apply the money is a maintenance work, and as these works do not come under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, the Minister -cannot authorise the expenditure. Therefore * v he does not appoint a time to receive the deputation appointed by the Council.

We have received the report of the New Zealand Loan ahdMercantile Agency Company on the produce markets of the' Colony for May 21st. In the wool market hardly anything is doing, the lots offered being-small ones by fellmongers. Little tallow and fat are offering. Owing to the wet weather and late harvest, a good deal of grain in Central Otago has been injured in stook. The wheat market has been firm, but latterly the demand has been less brisk. The market for oats has been active. Wheat is fast coming in to several of Southern ports. Dairy produce, as usual in •winter, is increasing in price.

The list of candidates who passed the Civil Service examinations in April are gazetted. Among them in the junior branch are Hugh Mclntyre. Wanganui, with 1564 marks ; W. H. McLean, Wanganui, 1525 marks:; Ewen McColl, Wellington, 1421 marks ; William Seldon Pyke, Wellington, 1270 marks ; Arnold • Charles Lewis, Wellington. 1220 marks;; and •Henry George Franklin, Wanganui, with 965 ,marks. Sixty candidates were examined, of whom 21 passed. In the senior branch there-are, among others, the folio wing names :—Alfred Thomas Easton, Wellington, with 2255 marks, and Frederick Sidney Pope, Wellington, >l-888 .marks. Twenty-three candidates were .examined, of whom 10 passed.

The Booth Executive Committee met last Friday night at Fraser's rooms, Manners-street. A •considerable amount of business was transacted, mostly of a routine character. The Webb-strest Band has consented to perform on the opening night of the mission (the 4th June), and prayer meetings in aid of the mission will be held on the previous Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, at the Methodist (Courtenay-place), St John’s •(Wood ward-street) and the Independent Churches. It was announced that 2000 hymn books and tune books had been received. It-was decided to invite-the co-operation of the various church choirs in the city in forming a •choir for the mission.

An inquest was held at the Hospital last Friday before Dr. Johnston, Coroner, into the cause of death of Rachel Johnstop, a patient in the Lunatic Asylum, who had been in failing health for a long time past, and who had died at halE-past 9 o’clock on Wednesday night, death being caused, in the opinion of Dr. Levinge, Medical Superintendent of the Asylum, through disease of the kidneys and brain. Mr J. W. Wrigley was chosen as foreman of the jury. Dr. Levinge stated that deceased had been a patient since Christmas Day, 1884, and had been a patient at various times siuce 1882. She was very quiet and harmless, but required a great deal of attention, as she often refused to take food and had to be spoon-fed. She came from Palmerston North, and was suffering from atonic melancholia. She was a married woman, and had a husband and family at Palmerston North. A married daughter, who resided in Wellington, used to visit her, but she had left some months a uo. Dr. Levinge had written to the busband from time to time, and had telegraphed to him when Mrs Johnston died, a reply being received from him, stating that he could not come down. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony.

The Survey Department is about to issue books containing views of New Zealand scenery. They will not be confined to waterfalls, mountains, ferns, geysers, and such like beautiful objects. Landscape views of settled districts will also be given, so as to enable people at Home to form a better idea of what the Colony really is. One of the first will be a panoramic view of the W&imea Plains and Tasman Bay, with Mount Arthur and the Backbone Ranges in the distance. It is finely got up, the coloring being very faithful. The first book will contain different viewa of Milford Sounds, the Hot Lakes and geysers, Waikato River, Tongariro, Ruapehu, Huka Falls, suburbs of Auckland, the Upper Harbor and Octagon at Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula, Lake Hawea, Lake Taupo, Mount Earnelaw, &c. The book will also contain portraits of well-known MAori chiefs, such as Rewi, Major Te Wheoro, Renata, Eawepr, as well as portraits of some very good-looking Maori wahinee. It is intended to issue a series of these books, which will contain appropriate letterpress. They will be forwarded to the Agent-General for distribution throughout Great Britain and the Continent. The books will be a novel and attractive form of advertising, and will doubtless give a handsome rethe Colony for the The pictures are got up by the photographic process, and there will be about two dozen in each book.

It was noticed on the wharf on Monday that the vessels in port only displayed bunting in honor of the Queen’s Birthday after the example hid bsen set by a foreign ship, the German barque Carl Both. Even then, only a minority of the vessels at the wharves and in the stream took the trouble to do so. The neglect of the railway authorities to advertise the train time-table for Monday has caused no end of trouble and annoyance to she public. Scarcely anyone seems to have found enlightenment in the haidbill issue that the railway authorities, in their great sapiency, adopted. We wonder what the next innovation will be ?

The first number of the “ New Zealand "Volunteer and Civil Service Gazette " has appeared. It is published in Christchurch, and is intended, as its tit e indicates, to advance the interests of the Volunteer corps and Civil Service. The paper is well got up, and, in addition to appropriate articles contains the civil and military gazettes. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of a paper by Mr F. VV. Marchant, Asso. M.1.C.E., extracted from the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. It gives an interesting account of the Tekapo Blidge, Mackenzie Country, Canterbury. There is a capital woodcut of the bridge and the surrounding scenery.

The two employers who are charged with committing a breach of the Employment of Females Act, by employing young women after .2 p.m. on Saturday, are Agnes Paul, milliner, of Lambton-quay, and David Jacobowitch, tailor, of Courtenay-place. The informations were laid on Tuesday, and the charges will be heard on Tuesday next, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court. We have received .a copy of a pamphlet on Life Insurance in New Zealand, by Mr J, Moody Stuart, Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries, Edinburgh. This was originally a paper read before the Actuarial Society of Edinburgh last March. It gives a very fair and accurate account of the rise and progress of the Government Insurance Department in this Colony.

The B.M.S. Tongariro arrived at Port Chalmers from Plymouth on Saturday afternoon. Her mail was sent on to Lyttelton by special traiD, and arrived here at half past one o'clock Monday morning by thes.s. Rotorua, which was detained at Lyttelton for the purpose of bringing it on. The s.s. Hawea was detained here to take on the Northern portion, together with the outward Sau Francisco mail. During the Napier Harbor. Board’s meeting la3t week it was stated that the loan debentures had been shipped as ordinary cargo, and that the shipping authorities would therefore only hold themselves liable for damage to the extent of £5. The Bank, however, had insured the debentures for £IOO. It was also stated by Mr Wilson that the shipping agents at first wanted to charge £3OO for taking the debentures to England, on the ground that they were “ valuable securities,”

It seems that the clairvoyant part of the Baldwin entertainment is extremely puzzling to some people, and they are ready to aver that it is all trickery. Perhaps the answering a question put in a language unknown to the clairvoyant is also trickery, and if it is, a telling trick was made the other night, when Mrs Baldwin replied to a question written in modern Greek, of which she knows not a word when in her normal.condition. This can be verified to any doubter. The football match between the Christ chureti and Wellington Club 3 on Monday was won rather easily by the local team. The visitors left by the Wairarapa late in the afternoon, and a 9 |the boat left the wharf the members of the team gave three cheers for the Wellington Club, and “one more for Jewett.” Two matches were played at Masterton between the Union and Masterton lightweights, and juvenile teams representing Wellington aud Masterton. The visitors were in each instance defeated.

The meeting of delegates to the Wellington Cricketers’ Association, called for Saturday last, in reference to Messrs Wrigglesworth.and Binns’ trophy, frll through from the paucity of attendance. The following geutleme.n put in an appearance up to 9 o’clock : —Messrs Gooder, Crowt.her, Farmer, Mclntyre, Fleming, Barnicoat, Hyams, and Alpe, ten being required to form a quorum. After some discussion, the matter was adjourned till the annual general meeting, as the ActingSecretary’s time will be otherwise occupied in the meantime.

The following nominations for the office of City Auditors were handed in to Mr Ames, Returning Office, on Saturday : —Wiliiam Bishop, nominated by J. R. Blair and E. U. Crease ; William Hester, nominated by J. Jameson and E, W. Mills ; H. M. Lyon, nominated by C. E. W. Willeston and J. McDowell ; and W. Widdop, junior, nominated by C. J. Johnston and W. EL Levin. A poll will be taken at the City Council Chambers between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday next. Two out of the four will have to be elected.

Co’oael Roberts is about to be appointed Resident Magistrate for the district between the Waingongoro and Stony River. This will give Colonel Roberts civil as well as military jurisdiction over all the disaffected portions of the West Coast. Parihaka will be within the boundaries of the new Resident Magistrate’s Court district, and eo will Tito Kowaru’s settlement at Okiawa. As the Natives will have to apply to Colonel Roberts for licenses to buy powder aud shot during the shooting season, he will be in a banter position to know ths actual state of things. The appointment will give general satisfaction on the West Coast, and it is a pity it was not made sooner.

The following statistics, just drawn up by M. Leon Donnalt, a Belgian statistician, give a correct view of the moral state of Europe, as shown by a comparison of the relative expenditure for war and for education by some of the States ;—France, per head, war 203, education la 5d ; England, war 18s fid, education 3s Id ; Holland, war 17s 9J, education 3s 2d ; Saxony, war lls 9d, education 3 s 4a ; Wurtemburg, war lls 9d, education, Is 9d ; Bavaria, war lls 9d, education 2s 6d ; Prussia, war 10s lid, education 2s 51 ; Russia, war 10s 2d, education, lOd ; Denmark, war 8s Bd, education, 4s 7d ; Italy, war 7s 6d ; education 2s 3d ; Belgium, war 6s 9d, education, 2s 3d ; Austria," war 6s Bd, education, Is 6d ; Switzerland, war 4s 10d, education 4s 21.