TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 765, 29 October 1886, Page 20

TOWN & COUNTRY.

During the last quarter 169 vessels, of 118 831 tonß aggregate, arrived in New Zea. land, and 169 ves<els, of 118,197 tons aggregate, took their departure.

The Hospital Steward acknowledges with thanks the receipt of flowers from the girls of Mount Cook school, presented in person ; also old lineD, from Mrs Richardson.

Mr T. Fergus, M. H.R. for Wakatlpu, passed through Wellington last Friday by the s.s. Te Anau, on his way to Sydney. Mr Fergus expects to be absent from this Colony until the end of the year.

People in Southland are again bestirring thrmselves about goldmining on the Longwood Ranges, where some years ago much money was sunk in the search for gold-bearing quartz. A few evenings ago a meeting was held at Riverton to . devise means of further testing the ground. There is said to be a quantity of good looking stone unearthed from Port’s claim, which has always been looked on as one of the most hopefui on the field, but there are no means of crushing the stone.

The Union Football Club celebrated the close of the season by a ball at the Foresters’ Hall, Tory-street, last night week. About 89 persons were present, and capital music was supplied by Mr E. J. King’d band. The room in which the dancmg took place was beautifully decorated with flowers, etc. The ball was a thorough success, great praise for which is due to the members of the managing committee— Messrs Parsons, Kilner, Rigg, Little, Jeffreys, Hyland, Skinner, A. Dixon, O’Shea (secretary), and McCleary. The following applications for patents have been received :—W. Cameron and E. Kebble--white, of Masterton, for a wire-strainer ; B. C. Fryer, of Hastings, for improvements ia fire-grates ; H. Hughes, of Wellington, for improvements in apparatus for straining and splicing fencing wire ; Ma-y Rider, of Christchurch, for salve for curing cancers and other sores ; W. H. Kiddev, of Christchurch, for candle-holder with automatic extinguisher; C. F. Maw, of Waitar3, for invention for testing the soundness of eggs.

The following nominations of candidates for seats on the Hutt Town Board were made last Friday :—Robert Cleland,' proposed by Messrs John Cudby and Henry Eglington ; W. A. Fiizherbert, proposed by Messrs John Cudby and Aaron Collett ; Henry Darnant, proposed by Messrs C.' A. Humphrey and R. Orr; John Cudby, proposed by Messrs Aaron Collett and W. A. Fitzherbert ; C. G. Horne, proposed by Messrs R. B. T. Mellow and William Copeland ; James Knight, proposed by Messrs William Jones and R. C. Easby; John Wilkins, proposed by Messrs G. M. Mcllvride and R. F. Bettard ; Emannel Rosa, proposed by Messrs E. J. Riddiford and J. Cavanagh ; William Everest, proposed by Messrs J. D. Pinkerton and B. Mudgway. About six months ago a great sensation was caused in France (says the ParL correspondent of the Times) by the discovery that dead bodies not long buried bad been dug up and exposed in the cemetery at St. Ouen. On March 25 last the men jemployed in the place found lying on a htap of mould the body of Marie Fernande, a girl of 18, who had. been buried on the previous night. The corpse had been taken from the coffin and removed to a distance of 60 feet from the place of interment. It bore evidence of horrible maltreatment. The police failed at first to discover the perpetrators of the outrag-*. Three days afterward a letter {was received at the Prefecture of Police from a young man named Duhamel, who accused himself and a friend of having committed the crime. Duhamel was found te be quite mad, and was, in consequence, liberated. On June 13, at 5 o’clock in the morning, the people connected with the cemetery' found that another coffin had been displaced and opened. The body had disappeared. It was that of a little girl named Cbaillet, who had been buried on the previous evening. Continuing the ssarch for ihe body the manager of the churchyard found a winding sheet At the same time he saw a man jump from the wiudow of a neighboring house which was unoccupied. He was pursued and caught. The dead body was fouud in the empty house. The man given Into custody was Henri Biot, married, and 26 years of age, who had been employed as a gravedigger. The dead body in this case had sustained no injury. The accused was examined by a medical man, who reported that he was not insane. Biot was brought before the Correctional Tribunal of the Seine on charges of violating places of burial, profaning dead bodies, and committing outrages against dscency. He admitted that he was guilty of the outrages of which he was accused. He could not explain why he did it. He was drunk. He was mad, and it was in spite of himself that ha was impelled to act as be did. Witnesses stated that when Biot was a gravedigger they often saw coffins' which had been opened near the common grave. After he left the churchyard, this had not happened. The Court departed from,, the charge of outrage against decency* and condemned the accused to two years’ imprisonment.

The time has arrived when the ladies of Wellington and surrounding districts should be favored with a warehouse well lighted, well ventilated, where they can at all times make their purchases with pleasure and delight. This desideratum is now provided by the proprietor of the New Te Aro House. The display on the various tables and windows are all late importations, and must command the immediate inspection of intending purchasers. At no former period in the history of Wellington has the same display been aimed at and obtained as at the New Te Aro House.

The Millinery room is replete with choice trimmed hats and bonnets in endless variety. The hats and bonnets are trimmed with exquisite taste. The underclothing has received careful attention. Th 6 stock of stays is of such a description as can only be met with at the New Te Aro House.

The public are hereby respectfully informed that they are welcome to visit and inspect the various departments of the warehouse without being pressed to purchase, and will at all times find pleasant resting place in the REFRESHMENT ROOM just opened in the New Te Aro House.

Mr W. C. Fitz Gerald, druggist and Public Vaccinator, of Manners-street, draws attention to Dr E. C. West’s medicines, for which he isagent.

The Tarawera, with an Australian mail, arrived at the Bluff on ‘Monday morning,. T’- e mail reached Wellington by the Penguin, which arrived from South on Wednesday morning.

Mr Alfred T. Bullock has been appointed district agent for Wellington of the New * Zealand Accident Insurance Company, in the • place of Mr B. .Levy, who has resigned the position.

There are several charges of larceny to be preferred against John Finlay, now under sentence for stealing a tin of herrings from the shop of Panline Meier. A quantity of velvet which was recently stolen from Te Aro House has been discovered in his possession, and this he will be., charged with stealing. He is also to be charged withstealing a flitch of bacon.

M. Colladon, iu a paper to the Academic des Sciencp, suggests that the electricity so vividly illustrated by thunderstorms Is generated principally by friction of air and water vapor. During a thunderstorm the raindrops formed in the storm-cloud descended vertically to the earth, causing a partial vacuum, which is replaced by air drawn in.laterally and from upper layers. The friction caused by this movement is the principal canse - cf the generation of electricity. We understand that the U.S.S. Co.’s splendid steamer Mararoa, Captain Edie, which, has been running with the mails between Sydney and San Francisco since she came out from Home, is to take up the rnnning of*' the Hauroto, from Sydney, on the 28th inst. She comes down via Auckland and the East Coast, and will arrive here in time to startfor the South with the excursionists for the Canterbury races on the Bth of next month. This will be the first visit of the Mararoa tethis port.

News was lately received at Zermatt tbafcowiDg to a rapid fall in the temperature,, avalanches had blocked many of the mountain routes, and that a party of tourists who had ascended the Matterhorn were imprisoned by the snowdrifts. One of the guides with the party succeeded in making the ’ descent to--this town, and, on learning of the perilous position of the adventurers, steps were-?-at once taken to relieve them. A party of forty guides, with stretchers, blankets and ropes, succeeded after several hours’ labor and making almost superhuman efforts, to rescue the whole party. The gallantmen were accorded' an enthusiastic receptionon their return to Zermatt. The rescued mountaineers—-who consisted of two Englishmen, one German, one, Italian accompanied', by his son, a boy of 15. and five guides—are-.-, suffering from the <ffeots of their long ex--posure, several of them having had their limbs--frozen. ~

Mr George Farren, J.P., of Carnarvon, the late Unionist candidate for the South Division of Cam trvonshire, says The Times-.-of September Bth, has been cruising in hiesteam yacht, the Lady Bessie, along the French coast. On Sunday morning he was?off Perros Guirec, Brittany, when all on board were placed under arrest. The owner and some of his friends wers taken under guard to Lannioo, and Mr Farren-. was subjected to an examination lasting some hours. Refusing to enter the prison van, they were allowed to hire conveyances, and 1 although every courtesy was used, theprisoners were for some time refused permission to communicate with their friends. After examination, and upon the urgent representation of Baron de Cossod, with whom Mr Farren had been staying, theprisoners were set at liberty on parole,, but are still at l.anuion, and their vessel . under arrest, the local authorities await- ! ing instructions from Paris. Suspicion was excited that Mr Farren and bis companions were spies, Germans or Russians, and probably the suspicion was supported by the fact that tha crew spoke Welsh instead of English. Tbe yacht is a large vessel of about 300 tons burthen. The party consists o: Mr Farren, Dr Taylor Morgan and two sons, Mr Lionel Clark, and Dr Hartlet ; and the commander of the vessel is Captain Roberts, who, with the engineers and sailors, are also underguard.

The statement filed in the estate of Salvatore Lezza, confectioner, who was adjudged a bankrupt on Monday, is as follows : Liabilities—Unsecured creditors, £283 10» 2d ; secured creditor, £250 ; total, £533 10s 2d. Assets—Stock-in-trade, £235 ; book debts, £1 18s 3d ; cash, £2 11s ; furniture* £2O; surplus from securities, £2O 2s 7d; total, £279 11s lOd; deficiency, £255 18s 4d. The secured creditor is Mr S. Cemino. who holds a bill of sale over the stock and furniture as security for a debt of £250. The principal creditors are—N. J. Isaacs, £SB 6s 6d; W. and G. Turnbull and Co.* £54 19s 6d; C. Bates, Melbourne, £49; Hildreth and Sons, £ls 9s lOd ; G. Thomas and Co., £ls 4s 6d ; R. Hannah, £ls 3s 4d j H. Flockton, £S 13s Sd ; Aulsebrook and Co., Christchurch, £S 3s Id ; J. Sloan, £9 7s 6d ; G. Mee, £9 2s lid. A fairly attended meeting of parents and youths was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall* Petone, for the purpose of establishing a juvenile branch in connection with the local 1.0.0. F., M.U. The chair was taken by Bro J. Smith, P.P.G.M., President of the Wellington Juvenile Lodge, who explained in a very clear way the various benefits which juveniles would receive by becoming members, and hoped that a large number would join, and that the parent lodge would be greatly strengthened. He also pointed out the happy meetings held in Wellington by the juvenile lodge, which were very conducive to Bocial and mental improvement, and that if lodges of this kind were encouraged the Government would find there would be but very few paupers to provide for. At the conclusion of his remarks it was unanimously resolved to establish a juvenile lodge in Petone, and 15 names were handed in. The proceedings were enlivened by some of the Wellington juveniles giving instrumental and vocal selections and recitations, which were heartily applauded. The meeting terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, coupled with the name of J. Clark, G.M., Wellington District, and those juveniles who had so kindly rendered assistance.

A lady named Mrs Johnston, passenger for Auckland by the s.s. Maori, gave birth to a female child during the passage of the steamer from Greymouth to this port. Letters of naturalisation have been granted to Anton Hurliemann, wheelwright, of Normanb.y ; H. L. Wollerman, wine and spirit merchant, of Palmerston North ; and Prank Armor, laborer, of Featherston. Mr J. E.. Hume has been appointed a cadet in the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Wellington, vice G. B. Jordan transferred. Mr G. B. Jordan has been appointed a clerk ia the Department of Justice, vice Mr Bums.

The New Zealand gold export for the las'-. quarter was valued at £235,871, as against £238,860 for the September quarter of 1885. The total sold export of New Zealand np to the Ist instant has been 10,962, 6660 z valued at £43,014,891.

An Order-in-Council has been issued subjecting the Governors of the Wellington College to the provisions of the Public Bodies leaseholds Act, 1886. The provisions of the order are to apply as well to lands vested, in the Governors for the purposes oi a girls high school as to those vetted in them for the purposes of the College. At Messrs J. H. B-fchune and Co.’s sale last Friday there was a large attendance, and the bidding was spirited.' The freehold laud in Molesworth-Btreet, with the house known as Gloucester House, fell to Mr John Ross for £IOO. A property in Foxton of 6£ acres, with dwellinghouse and outbuilding*, was sold for £450 to Mr A. E. Rowdon. . A quantity of household furniture brought fair prices. The following appointments appear in last week’s Gazette Mr S. W. Von Stunner to be a Resident Magistrate for the Districts. of Y/airarapa, Napier, and Waipukurau, with extended jurisdiction to £IOO, and Sheriff of the District of Wairarapa; ako Mr C. M. Gordon to be Sheriff of the District of Otago, vice th 6 late Mr I. Nr Watt.

The appointment of Mr J. P. McAlister to the various offices in Dunedin formerly held by Mr A. D. Harvey is notified in the Gazstte. The offices are—Patent Office Agent, Deputy Sheriff, and Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court. Mr J. E. Richardson’s appointment as Clerk ia the Prisons Branch of the Justice Department, in succession to Mr McAlister, is also notified.

A row at the top of Woodward-street caused some little excitement late yesterday week. An elderly man and a woman were standing in tLe middle of the street, ap parontly arguing very fervently some excitable topic. Presently the man struck the woman on the mouth with his fist, and was within a minute afterward the recipient of a blow from the fist of a man standing near at the time. The parties continued their argument along Lambton-quay, and eventually the man was arrested for assaulting the woman. He described himself as “Dr Shannon,”, and he interviewed the R. M. next day, as is reported elsewhere.

A n apparent attempt to commit suicide caused great excitement in the neighborhood of the Gasworks yesterday week. Mrs Datey, wife of a bricklayer residing in Grainger-streefc, waß observed in the water at the back of the Gasworks by a girl, at about one o’clock. The girl gave the alarm, and the woman was rescued by several of the employ 4s of the Gas Company. Mrs Datey was properly attended to, and soon regained con-cioaaness. It appears that the woman wa3 suffering from the effects of drink at the time. It is not clear whether she fell off a culvert on which she was sitting, or threw herself in. It is improbable that she will be proceeded against for attempted suicide.

By '“Order-in-Council, dated October 19, the representation of the contributory local boaieß under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act 1885 Amendment Act, 1886, is apportioned. In the Vt elliogton district the Horowhenua and Hutfc Couuty Councils are to have one member each, and the Borough Council of Wellington four members °ln the Wairarapa district Wairarapa East County Council is to have three members, Wairarapa West County Council four members, Greytown Borough Council one member, and Mastertoa Boiough Council two members. In the Wanganui district tbe apportionment is the following : —To County Councils—Wanganui, one member; Waitotara, one; Rangitikei, two ; Manawatu, one; Road Boards in the Orona County, two ; Wanganui Borough Council, two members ; Palmerston North Borough Council, one ; and Feilding and Marton Borough Councils, one member for the two.

A Japanese gentleman in Hamburg went to see “The Mikado” there, under the impression that it pretended to be a native pro ducticn imported from Japan. Full of bis discovery that it is no such thing, he has written a long “exposure” of it loa Hamburg newspaper. Tbe names NaDki-poo, Ko-ko, Pook-bah are not Japanese. “ They have more resemblance with the Chinese.” The embroidery of the dresses is what in Japan they embroider bedclothes with. The girls open their mouths too widely ; bnt one is so exquisitely beautiful that “if she were only to procure a somewhat more exact belt, she would look quite like a-real Japanese.” The son of the Mikado, Nanki-poo, “kisses the young girls too much.” Very suspicious is the embracing, as “ that fashion is not known with ns in Japan.” Most damniDg proof of all, “ The Mikado” is fanciful ; and in Japan all plays are prohibited that do not stick to facts.

The Rev Henry Ward Beecher has been astonishing his friends in England by his preternatural activity of mind and body. Although he is seventy-three he gets .through as much work in a day as a man of thirty-seven. No matter at what hour he gees to bed he is up with the lark, and as fie h as a daisy. The Rev Dr Parker, whose guest .he. is, describes his energy as overwhelming. “The other morning,” he writes, “be went out before ten o’clock, did some shopping, weut to the Royal Academy and looked over the picture*, drove away in a cab some four milea to lunch, and talked all the afternoon ; then went to the Mansion House in the city of LondoD, and dined with tbe Lord Mayor ; found his way back to my house a little before midnight, aud by .6 o’clock the next morning he was busy at his desk—not in any dishevelled and outworn way, a doub!ed-up and exhausted old man, but looking as fresh as the morniDg.

We have have to acknowledge the receipt from the Registrar-General of Part V. of the Statistics of New Zealand for 1885.

’ Mr F. J. Burgess has been appointed Clerk of the various Courts at tbe Thames and Clerk of the neighboring Licensing Committees.

Phipps, the steward of the barque Wave Queen, who was injured a week or two ago, is progressing rapidly toward recovery at the Hospital. The Pahaufcanui wing of tbe Heretaunga Light Horse held a very successful ball at Pahautanui last Friday evening. Music was supplied by Messrs Gray and Robinson, and the affair was a most enjoyable one. Captain Scales, the officer commanding the troop, was present. Ths non-commissioned officers of the Wellington District will hold their first annual ball at the Volunteer Drillehed next Tuesday evening. The ball will be under the patronage‘of his Excellency the Governor, Sir Geo. Whitmore, Colonel Butts, and tbe officers of the district. Every effort is being made to ensure a pleasant and successful dance. A fire, which was fortunately smothered before it could do any harm, was discovered in Mr Watkin’a bakehouse in Brough imstreet on Sunday night. At about half-past 7, it appears, two gentlemen passing along the street observed smoke issuing from the bakehouse, and attention being called to the fire, the neighbors in subduing the flvmes. The damage is estimated at about £SO.

The Newtown Rifles fired their second period of class firing last Saturday. Private Embury headed the list with the fine score of 57, Private Oakley coming next with 53. These are the two highest scores made as yet in Welling! on this season. Private Oakley also compiled the largest number of points in the first stage, making 59. The following are the scores of those that passed Private Embury, 57 ; Private Oakley, 53 ; Private E. France, 44 ; Private Ballinger, 38; Sergeant Kinnis, 34 ; Private A. France, 32.

Tbe following tenders have been received by the Public Works Department for the Woodville conttact, Napier and Woodville Railway :— Accepted, Scally and McGrath, Napier, £3492, Declined, Glendinning and Griffiths. Napier, £3492 ; Gifford and O’Connor, Wanganui, £3501 ; Wilkie and Wilson, Wanganui, £3679 ; J. Shaunaban, Mauriceville, £2684 ; H. Burgess, Wanganui, £3741 ; John Wilkie, Waitotara, £3859 ; Daniel Scally, WaDganui, £3948 ; J. M. Watson, Wellington, £3949 ; J. McLean and Son, Wellington, £4067 : Bryant and Warsnop, Waipawa, £4992 ; M. Kelliher, Wellington, £4997 ; Alexander and McFarlane, Wanganui, £5212 ; D. Sinclair, Palmerston North, £6IBO.

What appears to be a deliberate attempt at incendiaii-m was discovered at Mrs Anastasia Ryan’s boarding-hou*e in Upper Ghuzneestreet (owned by Mr William Jameson), at about half-past one last Saturday morning. An alarm of fire was given at about that hour, aad two boarders in the house, going outside, found that a fire had been lighted in a small case at the rear of the house. The fire was at once subdued,' and it was subsequently found that a quantity of rags, saturated with kerosene, had been placed in the case. Fortunately, the fire had been discovered before it had done any damage ; but as it was, the wall of the building was scorched. The furniture is not iusured, but the building is insured in the Liverpool and London and Globe Office tor £3OO. It appears that voices were heard in tbe back yard at midnight, but no one could be seen. The police have tbe matter in hand, aud believe they have a strong clue to the identity of the person who attempted to start the fire. < The second heavy thunderstorm of this unusually inclement spring passed over Wellington on Monday night. The barometer, which had remained almost stationary at a somewhat low point for the past day or two, fell during the afternoon, but the weather continued fair until after dark. About 8 p.m. repeated flashes of lightning began to be visible in a north-westerly direction, and although no thunder was for some time audible it became evident that a severe thunderstorm was work - jog up from that quarter. The lightning was very frequent, often comiDg ia double and triple flashes. Soon after 9 _ p.m. the thunder could be heard in the distance, and then the storm rapidly closed m, passing very near to town, although keeping always to the westward. Between 10 aud 11 o’clock the lightning was extremely vivid and intensely blue in color, the flashes illuminating the streets so that everything could be seen as clearly as in davlight. The thunder-peals were loud and long. Rain fell in torrents for a time, and there was a moderate N.W. breeze. The storm had passed over shortly before midnight. The Lyttelton Time's, in giving an account of the trial of nine boys for larceny one morning in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, says : It came out that one of the boys, named Frank Watson, had been trying to -live honestly in haid circumstances and amongst bad companions. His story was a sad one, and seemed to bear the impress of truth. His mother, he said, was dead, and repeated thrashings by his father had made him leave home. Whenever he returned it was only to receive another thrashing, bo he had given up returning, and was endeavoring to support himself oy selling papers ; but he had not had much success. When asked where he lived, he replied that he had slept at the Press office, and there was something pathetic in hi* statement that he “ slept warm enough there,” u-tered in a tone which showed, despite his trembling voice, that he had a desire to be independent, and did not wish to be considered worse off than he was. Another point in bis favor was the fact that he had resisted temptation when in company with two other boys who committed themselves. He said he had “lifted a cake of blicking and put it back again,” and though his companions bad evidently tried to make him as bad as themselves at the time, one of them had the courage to speak out in corroboration of Watson’s statement to clear him in Court. Mr Beetham, in discharging Watson, advised him to kesp out of bad company—perhaps rather difficult advice for a boy on the streets to follow —and, his Worship added, “ Go away and earn your living, as you have dons hitherto, respectably and decently, and never mind where you sleep so long as you sleep in an honest bed. *

The Governor has accepted the resignation by Mr Frank Jellicoe, of Wellington, of his appointment as Justice of the Peace. St. James’ Gazette remarks :—The Egyptians may really be excused lor thinking that they do not get good value for the £400,000.a year which they expend on their European magistrates and administrators. In that small country, with a population of some 5,000,000, there is a Court of Appeal with ten European judges, who have so little work to do that all of them can manage to get away on leave together. There are eigbt-anc-twenty Europeans, who draw salaries of £I9OO a year and upwards, aud of these all but fix are able to take a holiday at the same time. “ Thoroughly capable men,” vre are always told these European officers are ; and if bo, perhaps their high salaries are not excessive ; but there ia certainly no reason why the burdened and impoverished country should be made to support two ‘costly officials to do the work of one.

An underground railway for New York is no longer a question of doubt, since the aerial lines are not sufficient. It is probable, however, that the electric power will be used on it, and several detailed plans have been made ouc for the working of such a system. Among these is a new electric locomotive, which has been actually constructed by the Rhode Island Locomotive Works, from the designs of Messrs E. M. Bentley and W. G. Knight. The gauge is that of an ordinary locomotive, six wheels being employed, each of 68 Inches. Two electric motors are coupled together and give a joint power of 50,000 watts, or about 670 horse-power. The armatures of the motors are 3 feet in diameter, and act directly on the axles without intermediate gearing. The locomotive is also provided with electric head lights, bells, and tubular brakes, worked automatically by electricity. The train is to be lighted with incandescent lamps, and fitted with electric brakes to each carriage.

The Canton correspondent of the New York Tribune states that the feeling in China in regard to the outrages on Chinese in America is now very deep and widespread. Chinese, resident foreigners, Americans, and Europeans agree that the refusal to make a just indemnity was a stain on the national honour of America. The present attitude of the Government at Washington is doing serious harm to American interests in China. The English and German residents (the latter being now a considerable power) perceive a chance of obtaining a control of the foreign trade, and they will not be slow to take advantage of it. The action of the United States will largely determine what share America will have in the improvements now imminent in China. Railways are to be built, mines to be opened np, and American manufacturers are to be left out in the cold unless some change is made in the treatment of the Chinese in the States,

Extraordinary devastation was wrought by the bursting of a waterspout at Swansea, in Wales. It travelled from the bay, aud when passing over Kilvey Hill, some 600 ft above the level of the sea, it suddenly burst. A scene of awful grandeur ensued. A torrent rushed down the hill with irresistible force, cairying everything before it. Huge boulders went crashing through the houses in Foxhole, a small village built at the base. Women and children were carried off their feet by the rush of water, and several had narrow escapes. Two children were almost buried by tbe debris and bad to be dug out. A man named Stephens was washed along for 200 yards, when he managed to grasp a lamp post and save himself. A woman was carried by the avalanche into her house, where she was afterward found up to the shoulders in debris, and shockingly injured. Many of the houses were entirely denuded of furniture. One old man lost a stocking containing £25. After the storm Foxhole and Kilvey roads were covered with earth and stones to the depth of 6ft. Hundreds of men were engaged next day clearing the rubbish away. Many people are houseless.

The so-called Hiteferien (heat holidays) which are now established by law in Germany and Switzerland (remarks a Home paper) deserve imitation everywhere. When the thermometer reaches a certain point lessons must cease. Throughout Prussia the observance of this regulation is compulsory in all private as well as in public schools. Indeed, the private school in Prussia is fast becoming public, since no director or proprietor of a private school is allowed to employ as teacher, either male or female, any uncertificated person, while even the books used in private schools are bouud to be legitimate school editions. The Basel Government has just issued a new regulation for the Hitzferien in the Baselt schools. When the tempecature rises to 20de-r. (Bdaumer) in the shade at 10 o’clock iu the morning, holiday is to be proclaimed to the scholars until the afternoon. Two such holidays were recently proclaimed during one week, to the no small delight of tbe boys and girl*, whose jubilant greeting of the announcement could be heard from the open windows of the gymnasium. Some idea of the value and importance of the Indian railway system, with the connected Bteamar services, may be gathered from the fact that the capital sunk in these undertakings is estimated at £161,917,840. Of this large sum the Government havespeut directly £82,255,391. The capital outlav of guaranteed companies stands at £71,032,838, and that of the “ assisted ” companies at £3,808,232. Native States —the principal in thi3 respect being Mysore and Hyderabad—are responsible for an outlay of £4 821,379 on lines within their territories. When tfce construction of railways iu India was first mooted, there were some who warned the projectors that caste prejudices would prevent the natives from using them ; but it is an astonishing fact that last year Indian railways carried no fewer than 80,864.779 passengers, who paid for their fares £5.538,126. In 1884 the number of paseengers was 73,815,119, and their freight was valued at £5,070,754. The chief income of most railways, however, is derived from, its goods traffic, and •in this respect the Indian lines yield moie than double the receipts obtained from passengers. No less than 18,925,385 tons of goods were carried, the receipts from which amounted to £11,915,375. Both tbe tonnage transported and the return show an increase over the figures of the previous year, which wad credited with a goods traffic of 16,663,007 tons, and receipts therefrom amounting to £10,565,941.

We are glad to learn that Mrs H. A. Atkinson, who has been ill for some time, is now very much improved in health. A meeting of the Commission on Military, Naval, and Yolunteer land claims will be be>d in the Defence Office in TYellington on tfce 11th and 12th of November.

The Education Board has rece.ved eight applications for the appointment of teacher at the Taita school, vacated by the removal of Mr Johnson to the Kaiwarra school. Constable Brown, of the City Police Force, has been transferred to Palmerston North, for which place he left on Saturday. - Constable Brown’s place will be filled by Constable Roskoe, of Nelson.

It is not yet known definitely when Major Atkinson will begin his “ stumping tour ” through the Colony. Major Atkinson is not likely to start this year, and he will probably begin about February next. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Charles Cheymol was to have been. held on Monday afternoon to receive the Official Assignee’s report on the estate. In tbe absence of a quorum, however, the meeting lapsed. The N.Z.3. Co.’s Royal Mail eteamera Kaikoura and Tongariro will make Wellington the final port of call on their next voyage Home. The former vessel leaves on the 10th November, and the latter on the 15th Decemher.

It ia understood that work will be commenced again in the Waitava freezing establishment very shortly. The Company which owns this establishment has iu 'the past sent, its meat to Auckland for transhipment, but it is probable that in future they will send it to Wellington. Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co. have received cable advice of tbe safe arrival at Cambridge Gulf of their barqnentine May, which left Wellington on the 29th August. The May was to leave Wyndham on tbe return trip, direct to Wellington, with 45 passengers, on the 17th instant, and may be expected here about the middle of next month. The large new shed on the southern end of the outer* tee of the Queen’s Wharf was finished on Monday. The new building has several offices Bet apart for the use of the Harbor Board officers, and also has a tower erected for the convenience of the night watchman. The shed cn tbe other end of the tee, now in coarse of erection, is expected to be finished in about a fortnight’s time. The Armee und Marine Zeitung (Vienna) states that the historical section of the German General Staff has prepared a complete history of the Danish war of 1864. It will form two large volumes, the first of which will be published this autumn, the other within at most one year. The first volume contains the history of the political events which gave cause to the war, and the operations in Jutland and before Duppel up to March 8, 1864.

The Fr*n;h Admiralty have given orders for the construction of a sea-going torpedovessel of a new type, and unparalleled speed, to be called tbe Ouragan. Her length will be 46 metres ; breadth, 4-80 metres ; draught, 2 55 metres, with a displacement of 148 tons. In addition to her torpedoes i* to be mounted with two guns. Her speed is to be 46 kilometres an hour. This, it is claimed, will be quicker than the speed of any warvessel existing.

An English paper says that a shock of earthquake was felt at tbe village of Kilsyth, ia Scotland, recently. It was felt most severely at the east end of the town, most of the inhabitants in that part asserting that their houses were shaken. One resident, says hi 3 property shook so ,much that he went out to see if the roof was coming off, while another in the same street says “ dishes were thrown down from shelves and broken.” The night was close and warm. A rumbling noise was heard at the time of the disturbance.

The new Enfield-Martini rifle ia, we understand (says a Home paper), coming welloutof its trials. In the hands of the troops it has made good firing, and has only developed a few minor defects, which will he at once put in order. At the School of Musketry the results of the shooting from the new rifle, compared with those of the . Bhootiug from the Martini-Henry, have been favorable to the former. In the competitions a large number of sergeants under instruction competed for prizes, one-half using the new arm, the other half firing from the Martini-Henry. The former non-commissioned officers beat their opponents by an average of ten points per man.

The Church of England Temperance Chronicle states tbe following appeared among the miscellaneous advertisements in a recent issue of the Irish Times “How to change the color of an alcoholic red nose. Recipe, which ia .effectual in nine cases out of ten, may be bad by sending postal order for 10s to K, 738, this office.” There is a very watchful worker in Dublin iu the person of Mr T. Willson Fair, the energetic Hon. Secretary of the Dublin Total Abstinence Society, so it is not a matter for surprise that on Tuesday the quaint advertisement above quoted was immediately followed by this : “ How to change the color of an alcoholic red nose—Don’t waste 10s ; call over to the Coffee Palace, 6 Townsend-street, and in 99 cases out of 100, sign the pledge and keep it. your nose will assume its nafcura. share and color.—Alcoholic red nose curing, 6, Towns-end-street, Dublin.”

A curious case is occupying the attention of the Amstgericht at Berlin. At the first representation of “Loraley”at the German Theatre, a lawyer named H. bought of R . a personal friend, a place whicn the latter had taken ia the front row of the stalls ; but finding he could not very well see what was taking place on the stage, he sued the vendor for the price of the ticket. Before deciding on the point, the. Judge visited the theatre himself, occupied the seat in question, found it to be badly placed both for seeing and hearing, and gave judgment for the plaintiff. The defendant has° taken the matter to a higher Court, and if he fails to reverse the decision will proceed against the management. _ Should the judgment be confirmed, it is anticipated that theatrical managers will be compelled to guarantee every person paying for admission a place from which he can both see and hear the performance.

The next sitting of the Divorce Court will be held in January next. The adjourned meeting of creditors in the estate of Charles Cheymol, which was to have been held on Tuesday*, lapsed. There were no creditors present. There were no fewer than four steamers on the Patent Slip on Tuesday last—the Gairloch, Wallabi, Lady Barkly, and Jane Douglas. The latter vessel has not sustained any serious damage by her running aground on Kapiti Island. An offer has been made to the Petone Town Board, by Mr David Buick, of eight acres of land, being part of section 7, for a recreation ground. The members of the Board have decided to personally inspect the Jand before replying to the offer.

We have received from Dr Cole a very useful and ably-written little work, entitled “Contributions to Public Health,” which we shall take another opportunity of noticing more fully. It is dedicated by permission to Sir Robert Stout.

The fewness of applications to the Benevolent Institution for assistance by old settlers was commented on on Tuesday afternoon by Mr Thos. McKenzie, who remarked that the circumstance showed the self-re-liance and independence of the early colonists.

At the meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees on Tuesday afternoon application was made for assistance on behalf of the Cook family, who figured prominently at the last criminal sessions of the Supreme Court. They asked for rations and rent, and tbe father of the family* asked that the Trustees should exert their influence to get him re-instated in the employ of the Railway Department and removed to some other part of the Colony. The Trustees decided to give rations and rent, on the understanding that it was to be “worked out,” but took no further action.

The ceremony of “driving the la3t spike” on the Wellington-Manawatu railway line will be performed by his Excellency the Governor, at a" spot about a mile this side of Waikanae, next Wednesday. A large marquee i 3 being erected on the spot where the ceremony is to take place, where a dejeuner will be served. The members of the Ministry and the Legislature, City Corporation, and all the Municipal bodies between Wellington and New Plymouth and Napier are to be invited, as are the shareholders in the Company and the leading citizens of Wellington. Trains will be run from Palmerston North and from Wellington. Gray’s band has been engaged to perform on the occasion. On Monday and Tuesday next it is intended to run cattle trains through from the. West Coast, although the line will not be open for general traffic for a week or more. Shareholders are requested by a notification in this issue to apply to Mr James Wallace, manager of the Company, for their tiokets nob later than Monday, the first November.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Petone Town Board was held on Monday evening, there being present—Commissioners W. J. Kirk (chairman), Jackson, Haines, Kelly, and Battersby. The following tenders were received for forming and metalling Union and Beach-streets :—Accepted : Jas. O’Callaghan, £SO 15s, for the two streets. Declined :J. W. McLean and Co, £BB 8s; A. Clark, £144 17s 6d; J. H. Greville, £lO7 2s 6d ; J. F. Fleet, £92 12s 6d ; J. Gordon, £75 5s ; J. D. Miers, £B7 10s. It was decided to direct the Inspector of Nuisance to take steps to prevent a repetition of the nuisance caused by householders depositing material on the drains, and thus stopping them up. It was decided to call for tenders for the supply of metal up till March next. The Chairman brought up the question of ths drainage and water supply loan, and it was decided to supply members of the Board with copies of the Municipal Corporations Act, and that the matter should be brought up for discussion at the next meeting of the Board.

A very attractive concert was given in St, Mark’s Church Schoolroom on Tuesday night, in aid of the Sunday School Fund. Judging by the large attendance, it was a great success from a financial as well as a musical point of view. The following is the programme : —Piano duet, Misses Upham and Forster; song, “The Postilion,” Mr Permain ; song, “When the Swallows Homeward Fly,” Miss Zohrab ; piano and violin, “ Blue Bells of Scotland,” Misses E. Filcher and L. Grant (encored); song, “He thinks I do not love him,” Missß. Gaby (encored); reading, Mr Kenneth Wilson, M.A. ; song, “The Old Lock,” Miss Garratt; vocal duet, “ Tell me where the Fairies Dwell,” Misses B. Gaby and Parkes (encored); song, “When the Boats come in,” Mrs Kayll; recitation, “The Bridge-keeper’s Story,” Mr J. E. Read ; sobg, “It was a Dream,” Mrs Greenwood (encored); song, “Leaving,” Mr E. L. Widdop (encored) ; piano duet, Misses Chatwin and Watson ; vocal trio', “.The Magic Wove Scarf,” Mrs Greenwood and Messrs E. J. Hill and E. L. Widdop (encored); Bong, “ Only One,” Mr W. D. Lyon. Herr Mosch ably presided at the piano. An amusing trial, which recalls the famous oneof Madameßachel in London, has justbeen decided in Paris by the Sixth Chamber of the Civil Tribunal. The defendant was no less a person than M. Duval, the manager of the well-known Bouillons Duval, and the plaintiff was a widow named Madame Lafitte, who advertised nostrums to make the hair grow. Undeterred by the fact that the widow Lafitte wore a wig, a proceeding which she excused on the ground that she had no time to use remedial agents on herself, M. Duval boldly entrusted himself to her treatment. He was subjected to innumerable frictions with all kind 3 of coma pounds, but he looked iu vain for the new sprouts of hair which, according to the widow’s programme, should appear after two months’ treatment. Tired out at last, M. Duval withdrew in disgust from the contest with irremediable baldness. What was his surprise when Madame manded a fee of £72, and this, notwithstanding the insurance that full fees would only be charged in case of success. _ M.. Duval had paid £4, and the Court decided that the sum was sufficient to cover the cost of the so-called remedies. The plaintiff was also condemned in costs.

• Tbo municipal debt of Berlin amounts to £10,375,000 sterling. The amortisation and interest of this large sum is entirely covered by r. surplus obtained from the gas, the waterworks and other city property.

Lady Jervois and Miss Jervoi3 visited Mount Cook Infant School ou Monday, and expressed .themselves as very much pleased with the organisation, discipline, and kindergarten lessons, and especially with the part singing, s lessou on Ourwen’s tonic sol-fa system being given during the visit. Lady jervois asked for a half-holiday for the children next week to visit the doll show.

Prior to the beginning of the meeting of the Benevolent Trustees on Tuesday, the members of the Trust had a lively experience. A woman who had on a previous occasion been before the Trustees, and had refused the assistance which was offered to her, honored them by again making an application. Her object was to make a gift to the gentlemen of the Trust of a piece of her mind. This she did in a very free style, and with marvellous volubility, Nor did she stop at Trustees. After dealing with them in a straightforward manner, the good lady expressed very pronounced opinions upon the worth of that harmless and necessary individual, the newspaper reporter. •‘She knew them,” she said; “they lived bn her for three months in Dunedin., Then she bounced out, casting a parting look of scorn and contempt upon the crestfallen gentlemen who sat around the City Council table.

Mr Jellieoe made an application to His Honor the Chief Justice on Tuesday, on behalf of Messrs Henry Mitchell and J. L.. Kimbell, for a decree of administration in the estate of Wm. James Scott, deceased. The plaintiffs, Messrs Mitchell and Kimbell, on behalf of themselves and other creditors, sued Mrs Emily Dallon Scott, as executrix under the will of the late Mr Scott, and their statement of claim set forth that Mr Scott was at the time of his death, and still is indebted to the plaintiff Mitchell in the sum of £546 Is, and to the plaintiff Kimbell in the sum of £lO7 3s 6d. Mr Mitchell’s claim is made up of Drincipal and interest under a bill of sale, £269 9s 6d and £44 9s ; principal of a promissory note, dated ISfeh December, 1835, £202, the endorsement on which by one Robert Greenfield, the plaintiff has since discovered to be a forgery ; and principal due on a dishonored cheque drawn by the testator, £3O. Mr Kimbell’s claim of £lO7 3s 6d is made up of the amounts of promissory notes and a dishonored cheque. Mr Skerrett, who appeared for Mrs Scott, offered no objection, and the decree was granted.

The sitting of the Supreme Court, in civil jurisdiction, which was to have been held on Tuesday, collapsed, none of the cases being ready for trial. In the case of Tonks v. Tofiks, Mr Devine, who was for.the defendant, asked for an adjournment, explaining t that as he had not been aware that the case \ was not to come on that day, his witnesses j were not in attendance. Mr Jellicoe (for the plaintiff) offered no objection, and the case was adjourned till next day. In Carter v. Bradey, an adjournment till next week was granted. Messrs Travers and Fitz Gerald, counsel engaged in the case Seager v Salmon and another (executors under the will of the late Robert Burrett) announced to the court that the case had been settled by defendants giving plaintiff £1650 out of the .estate, and allowing him to retain a life insurance policy of £SOO. His Honor the Chief Justice made an order on those terms. An application was made in the case Locke and others v Kahiatua and others by Mr Edwards, who asked what security the plaintiffs were to give before appealing against a judgment of Mr Justice Richmond’s. In the absence of Mr Justice Richmond His Honor said he could not do anything. An ordinary meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held on Tuesday, there being present the Rev. H. Van Staveren (in the chair), ana Messrs Powles, Danks, Wilson, and Wardell. A letter was received forwarding £157 9s, the amount to date of a fund in aid of the Ward family. It was stated in the letter that the money was forwarded on the understanding that at least that amount would be devoted to the family for whom it was collected. The Chairman said the total amount collected in aid of the family was about £I6S. A letter was, read from the Premier’s office in answer to one from the Secretary, stating that a subsidy could not be paid for an amount colllected for and paid directly to a special purpose as a grant, but that, there seemed to be no doubt that a subsidy could be obtained if the money was paid into the credit of the institution. It was decided to send a letter of thanks for the collections, and that the money should be paid in to the credit of the institution on the clear understanding that the whole of the £I6S was to be devoted to the Ward family. The relieving officer, Mr Johnston, explained that Mrs Ward wished to go to Kelson, where her friends lived, and where she might start in business for herself. It was agreed, after sqme discusvision, to pay the £l6B to the credit of Mrs Ward and the Chairman, of the Nelson Benevolent Institution. It was decided to take charge temporarily of two children whose case was mentioned by Mr Wardell. A man who had recently been discharged from, the Hospital, and :is suffering from chronic indigestion, wa3 given board and lodging; and the payment of 17s was authorised to obtain tools for another man. Various other cases were dealt with.