TOWN & COUNTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 813, 30 September 1887, Page 20

TOWN & COUNTRY.

v We have received a recent number erf “The New Zealand, Schoolmaster,” the accredited organ of the scholastio profession in New Zealand, It is as usual a most valuable and instructive publication, which cannot fail to be found very useful by the teachers of the Colony. It contains muoh interesting information touching educational matters, and some well-written articles on suitable subjects. It continues to be ably edited by the Rev T. Flavell.

The Taranaki Herald of the 20th instant says the land surrounding Punehu, seven miles inland of Opunake, that was set aside as a special settlement for the Constabulary some-time ago, is, owing to the failure of the scheme, to be put in the market. The Land Board, on Monday, recommended the Government to put a fourth of the sections, of which there are about 30, on perpetual lease, aud the remainder on deferred payment. This would mean, as there are some 4000 odd acres altogether, that 1000 odd will be on perpetual lease, aud 3000 on deferred payment.

A deputation from the Star Boating Club, consisting of Messrs W. Fitz Gerald and Field, waited on the City Council last night week for tho purpose of askingthatin the preparation of the specifications for the new reclamation, the Council should, as far as possible, prevent the reclamation being carried along the shore in front of the shed until it was absolutely necessary to do so. Nothing detiuite was stated in answer to the deputation, but it was understood that the City Surveyor should consider the matter when preparing the specifications, keeping in view the question of cost. In reply to Mr Fitz Gerald, the Mayor stated that the actual site for the Club’s shed had been fixed near Cuba-street, as shown on the plans. Between 1 and 2 o’clock last Friday morning a cottage near the old “ Devil’s Bridge ” at Karori was burned down. The cottage, which contained four rooms, was occupied by Mr Luke O’Connor and his family, and was owned by Mr James McKenzie, of the Survey Department. It was insured, for £IOO, the furniture being uninsured. It appears that Mr O’Connor, while hunting a rat in a bedroom, had put a candle on the floor. The flame caught a flax mattress, and spread with such rapidity that Mr O’Connor was unable to do anything to subdue the fire. He then turned his attention to his family, and got them out with some difficulty. He was unable, however, to save much of the furniture. The family went into a vacant house in the vicinity. The Mayor reported at the meeting of the City Council last week that the committee appointed to deal with the question of lighting the city with the electric light had held a preliminary meeting, and it had been decided to ask Dr Lemon, Superintendent of Posts and Telegraphs, if he would give them his advice on the matter. They had also applied for the use of the telegraph poles. A communication was read from Dr Lemon, stating that Sir Julius Vogel had given him permission to advise and aid the Council in the matter of lighting the city by electricity ; and also that he (Sir Julius) had given him power to use the telegraph posts, and grant such facilities as the Electric Lines Act will admit of. The Mayor also stated that Dr Lemon had offered to place an electric lighting machine at the service of the Council for a practical test of the light. In answer to a Counoillor, the Mayor stated that a report on the matter would probably be brought up at tho next meeting of the Council. Councillor Danks asked iE it was proposed to use the lights in the outlying districts. The Mayor replied that it had been agreed to start with 400 lamps, and as they only had 260 gas lamps now, he considered that number would pretty well light the city.

The choir of St John’s Presbyterian Church, assisted by their friends, gave a grand Celtic concert at the schoolroom, Dixon-street, last evening week. The schoolroom had been very tastefully decorated for the occasion by Misses Bentley,. Gardner, MoKerrow, M. McKerrow, Pope, and N.. Smith, and Messrs A. J. Fraser, R. Hi Pope and F. S. Pope. There was a good attendance, and the programme, which was commendably short, was got through-by-the very reasonable hour of 10. It was. as follows : Glee, “ Let Erin remember” (Moore); song, “Jessie, the flower of Damblane” (Tannahill), Mr Martin; song,, “Kate Kearney” (Lady Morgan),. Miss Paul; violin solo, “ Last rose of summer (encored), Miss Kebbell; song,. “ Afton Water” (encored), Mr P. Bell; solo-and* quartet, “ Eileen Alannah ” (E. S. Miarble),. Misses Liddell and Watson, Messrs Fraser and R. H. Pope; song, “ Megan’s- faindaughter- ’ (vociferously encored), Mr® Parsons; gin®, “Come o’er the stream,, Charlie ” (James Hoag); glee, “ The harp, that once through Tara’s hall” (Moore-)}; song, “ The meeting of the waters’" (encored), Mr J. A. Todd ; song, “ Kathleen Mavourneen ” (encored), Mrs Parsons ; instrumental fantasia, Irish airs (J. McGlashan and R. J. Pope),. Messrs Pope (4) and McGlashan ; song, “ Jack o’ Hazeldean,” Mr P. Bell ; song, “Ash Grove” (Oxenfori), Mr J. A. Todd : glee, “March of the men of Harlech ” (William Duthie). The accompaniments were played by the Misses Smith and Staples, and the concert was under the ccnductorship of Mr McGlashan.

You Can’t Look Happyj if you are cold, and cold you must be, at least out of doors, until you provide yourself with a good, serviceable overcoat. Try the best place for getting this, namely, Te Aro House, Wellington. We have a grand choice of overcoats^-—in fact, we may say, the best in the city, made of Pilot, Witney, V'eaver, and Tweed for Men, Youths, and Boys at Te House, Wellington. Some of these are with capes and some without, aud we are selling them at actual wholesale prices for a single garment, for men, 17s 6d, 21s, 255, 3fts, 85s, 42s ; foy youth?, 8s 6d, 12s 6A, 15a, 17s 6d ; and for boys 6s lid, 10s 6d, 12s 6d, 15s, at the Wholesale Family W&rehQUSQ To Aro House, Wellington.

We regret to learn that Mr G. V, Shannon has been suffering from severe illness, and has had to undergo a painful operation. We are glad that he is considered to be making satisfactory progress. A Wainui-o-msta' correspondent writes Y‘■'As the fishing season is close at hand, and preparations are now being made'by some of the old fishers to have everything ready by" the Ist of October, I should think there will he larger baskets of f&h takon this year, iff one can judge by the quantity of fish seen in the river, than has been- in any previous s year. I have been watching them while spawning, and they are very numerous, and some very large ones among them.—l am, &c., J; Mulevride.”

Last' Friday Was the vernal equinox-,, and accordingly the sun rose and set at. pre--cisely 6' o’efs-ek a.m. and p.m. respectively. The equinox ; is- usually attended by atmospheric disturbances of 1 more or less severity, and if we may j irefze* 'from the steady and rapid descent of the barometer, and the great difference in theheight of the mercury in the North and inthe South, we shall probably not escape it this year. On Friday morning rain tell fer' several 1 hours and came from the N;E., ©► very unusual circumstance. A'lnan named David Francis was arrested; in Willis street on Monday on a charge of having stolen from the person of one Whitmarsh, in Viviau-street, • on Saturday night, a silver hunting watch. Whitmarsb,. it appears, was slightly the worse forliquor, and he alleges that the prisoner* whom he was unable to : identify, cameup to him and snatched his watch out of his pocket. A- stop notice was--at once sent by the police to the different pawn offices in the city,, and on Francis having presented the watch as a pledge at- MrFruhofFs pawn shop in Willis-street he was* given in charge aud arrested. Three small boys named* William McKay, Frederick Sparkes, and James Wright we re--charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning before Messrs F. Allen and J. Lachman, Justices, with having: stolen a'quantity of lead from the premises* of Messrs Bethune and Hnnter, Old Custotn-house-street. The three boys pleaded guilty. Inspector Browne stated that the boys had: stolen about 381 b of lead,, and had sold it to - a marine dealer for a shilling. The dealer had denied that he knew anything aboutit, but it was subsequently traced to his posses-• sion. The accused were remanded untilTuesday to be dealt with by the Resident Magistrate.

Two charges of assault preferred by wive® against their husbands came before MessrsJ. Lachman and F. Allen, Justices, atsthe Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday., In one Eliza Bird accused her husband, Win. Albert Bird, of assaulting her. Mr-Gray, was for the prosecution, and Mr. Devine for the defence. From the evidence taken it appeared that the parties were separated,' and that the wife, having taken one of thechildren (who are in the husband’s charge), out, brought it back, whereupon Bird; knocked her down, and knelt on her;, blackened her eye, made her nose bleed,, and. scratched her face and neck. The evidencefor the defence denied this, and said that-,the* woman was living in a brothel. The Bench fined the accused £5 with costs, ia,default amonth’s imprisonment. In the otherGeorgina Gibson was the prosecutor,, and Gibson the defendant. The matter-- - was adjourned till Wednesday. A correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette advocates resuming the use of dogs as boasts of draught. He says : —“ Having Decently returned from, a little trip in Belgium, I should be glad to call attention ia- your columns to a subject which L cannot but think of muoh importance in these- hard, times to the poorer classes, particularly in our towns and cities—namely,, the use of dogs ‘for the purpose of- drawing or helping to draw carts, &.0.-’ which was prohibited throughout the whole of the United Kingdom by an Act ; . passed- in 1854. For the purposes of light draught* such as that of small carts, or barrowe delivering linen from, the laundries, or, milk* or vegetables,, or the like, the use, of a couple of sturdy dogs properly harnessed: is, I submit, as legitimate as it is convenient and thrifty. At a. time when the struggles of the poor and hardworked men and women of our towns, ore so severe and trying, surely the forbidding the use and co-operation of thisanimal, which is especially the friend of man . and-which ia to be seen ah all times and ia. all; places on the Continent so proudly and. pluckily pulling its and so patiently and faithfully guarding, its trust, and withal, in, so healthy a condition and so well cared for, is both unjust to. humanity and unthrifty to the State.”' The' vexatious dispute between the squatters and shearers has been lightened by a little sensationalism* as will be seeq*from our Adelaide news of to-day (says the Sydney Echo of August 30;.), It appears tliah at a meeting of the, stockholders of the. West Coast and Gawlor Ranges, a novel.scheme was urged whereby to checkmate tb@* tactics of the Shearers’ - Union. The scheme is neither more, nor less than a combination of stockholders throughout the Australasian Colonies to* import for the shearing season a sufficient, number of Kaffir shearers, who would arrive and commence operations at. the most northerly sheds in June, and finish, off and take their departure iai January fol-, lowing.. When it is uu/lesatood that* the stockholders discussed this proper, sal in, full knowledge that Kaffir shear* ing ia women’s work, their happy and enlightened point of view may be properly appreciated ! Now, everybody must r,limit that the stockholders of these colonies; have : been exasperated not a little Biupe tha 1 commencement of the present shearing season. As a matter of fact, a good deal of public sympathy has been felt, for them in their straits between ugaesßonable shearers and pressing bankers. A good deal of allowance must therefore be made, for any extravagances of a harmless naturein which it, may please them to indulge. But if this proposal to import Kaffir shearers should prove to be anything more serious than a senseless threat, they will speedily find all public sympathy on the side of- the Shearers’ Union. If Australian squatters cannot hold their own on fair and manly lines, they will hardly succeed by such a. a degrading expedient as th&t of Q^UiP-g, , womeu abenreiß to their aid s

Captain Page, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, has reported very favorably to the Maaterton Borough Council on the steam fire engine. He considers the engine perfect and strong in all its details.

His Excellency the Governor went out to Petone by special train at 3 o clock last Friday afternoon, accompanied by Major Jervois and Captains Medley and Fortescue, to visit the Wellington Woollen Company s works The visitors were shown over the hnilding by the Secretary of the Company, and expressed themselves as highly delighted with the workings, and especially the elec--tric lighting,of which they spoke very highly. There was a lively scene at Mr Bunny’s meeting at Featlierston last evening week. Mr Buchanan attended the meeting with a view to refuting certain statements which had been made against him, and at the conclusion of the candidate’s address he mounted the platform. He could not get a hearing, however, in consequence of the uproar created by a number -of people, mostly boys, m the gallery. At a meeting of the Aged Needy Home Committee, held last Friday, the tender of Mr Trevor was accepted for the erection of the home, part of which is to be left over for completion at a future date. The amountof Mr tender was £3616, and the -work is to be finished in Bix months, lhe tender of Mr C. O’Conor was also aocepted (conditionally) for the necessary excavation. The gentlemen present were Messrs \\ ardell (chairman), Danks, Williams, and McKenzie.

Owners of dogs are warned to take precautions, by conforming to the law iu such case made and provided, for the preservartion of their pets. In the spring of this year the Inspector of Dogs, rejuvenated by his -winter retirement from the arena of active •canine politios, sallies forth from his lair in search of the unregistered, and ruthlessly murders those innocents who have attamea their majority, and whose owners have not paid up. This is the spring, and the Inspector is girding up his loins for the fray.

A slight difficulty arose at the beginning •of the case against the two clerks charged with embezzlement in the Resident Magistrate’s Court last Friday morning, owing to the fact that two members of the bar were under the impression that they represented •one of the accused. When the case was called on, Mr Edward Shaw announced that he appeared for ithe accused Worsfold. Mr W. Fitz Gerald also stated that he represented the same prisoner. Worsfold denied -that he had asked Mr Shaw to appear on his •behalf. Mr Shaw then said he would withdraw from the case. Mr Fitz Gerald stated ’that Mr Shaw had received notice from him that he would not be required to act for Worsfold. This Mr Shaw denied, and as he 'left the Court he complained that he had ■been treated with discourtesy.

The Napier Telegraph of Wednesday week baa the followinglf Sir Julius Vogel comes to Napier it will of course be with the view to defend his outrageous Customs tariff proposals. He will probably repeat the speech he has been delivering down South, *nd trot out the Ashburton woollen factory .as an evidence of the good things arismg irom local industry. If he does get upon this .subject we hope the audience will not be led .away by any clap-trap, but bear in mmd that the Ashburton factory employs 100 hands, .and pays out in wages £l5O a week. These are Sir Julius Vogel’s own figures. Now a business paving out £l5O a week looks like a. good thing, but, when that amonnt has to be divided amongst a hundred hands, it only "pans out” 30s per head. But, as a matter of fact, a woollen factory employs more women and children than men, and -these females don’t earn on an averags 17s a week wages, and have to find themselves out of that scanty pav. About half a dozen men—the engineer, the overseers, pattern, maker, &c.—earn big wages, but the factory hands are the same the world over-badly paid and under fed. After the terrible licking Sir Robert Stonfc received at the hands of Mr Scobie Mackenzie, we do not suppose Sir Julius will risk a similar tournament with Mr Ormond.

Before proceeding with his address on Saturday night, Mr Menteath referred to certain statements which had been made to the effect that those who are supporting liim are actuated by unworthy considerations by beer and dollars, to wit. Mr Menteath said he should not have alluded to this but he thought it was only due to the 117 gentlemen who had done him the honor to come on his Committee, to those who had been most closely connected with him and who were doing their best to get him into Parliament, to repudiate these insinuations with scorn. On his Committee were men of all classes, rich and poor, united in supporting him. By far the largeat portion of the 117 were the working men of Te Aro, and if he were returned it would be by the working men of the district. The accusation he had referred to it was his duty, therefore, to hurl back at the persons who made it. Men had given him their time and labor because ?ihey were convinced that this was a critical era in the history of the .country, when large issues were pending, -and that it was their duty to work and vote for whom they considered the best man. Mr Menteath went on to deny emphatically that he was the nominee of anyone but him. a elf. Many of those now supporting him, be said, looked coldly upon his candidature when be first came out, not having heard his speeches and read his pamphlet, they came to him and said that though they did not agree with all his views, they recognised that he believed in what he said; and they thought that a flattering tongue always in accord with them might be a lying one. "And I say it would be better,” said Mr Menteath in conclusion, “to bo the nominee of any citizen or any part of the people of New Zealand, than to be the nominee of the present Government.”

WELLS’ HAIB BALSAM.

If gray, restores to original color. An olegairt dressing, softens and beautifies. No oil nor grease. A Tonic Bestorative. Stops hair coming out; strengthens, cleanses, heals scalp. SKINNY MEN. * VfeXhf Health Kenewer” restores healtti and vigor, cures Dyspepsia, Impotence, Sexual Debility. At chemists and druggists. Kempthoroe, Prosser & Co., Agts„ WefijogtoPc

The Hospital steward begs to acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of the following . Parcels of old linen from Mrs Elliott, Ade’laide-road ; Mrs Stock, Abel -Smithstreet : and Mrs Kenny, Ghuznee-street ; and books ana papers from Mr R. Barlow and Mr Bedford.

Another claim for compensation for the loss of foreshore frontage has been made against the Corporation. The claimant is Mr T. G. Macarthy, and the damages are set down at £6OOO. In alluding to the fact that notice of the claim had been served on the Council, at the meeting of the City Council last night week, the Mayor said lie was getting quite used to this sort of thing. The Rangitikei Advocate says :—“ So far we have received good accounts of the lambing season from flookowners of this district. The farmers in this district who have as yet ‘docked’ have got yields averaging from 85 per cent to 110 per oent, while those in the Sandon district report averages of from 90 to 100. The recent wet weather caused some mortality amongst the lambs. After the ordinary meeting of the City Council last night week, the Council went into committee to consider a matter relating to the payment by the Harbor Board of the £39,000 as provided by the Reclamation within the Harbor of Wellington Act. The Board wished to have the money deposited for twelve months, and that at the end of six months the Council should take their deposit receipts. In committee, however, the Council declined to agree to the Board’s proposal, and decided that the money should be paid to the Corporation at its due date, the 2Sth February.

Late news from Rotuma (says the Fiji Times) is to the effect that cases of fish-poi-soning are still frequent. A correspondent says : —The natives will continue to eat fish, and therefore continue to die. Societies have been formed, the members of which bind themselves, under heavy penalties for breach, to abstain from fish-eating, yet when their time expires, and they are free to indulge, they do so. The desire for fish diet seems at times irresistible. Three or four fine young fellows have paid for their indulgence with their live 3 within a short time, but these continued warnings are not sufficient to deter others from following the fatal example. Professor Elisha Gray is perfecting his telautograph, and soon expects to he able to send autographic messages between cities. The chief feature is the plate on which the writing is done. No particular kind of pen op pencil has to be used ; in fact, a sharp-pointed instrument of any kind, or even a piece of wood, will answer the purpose. The paper on which the writing is done and the autograph reproduced does not have to be prepared, for in the first instance it is the pressure on the plate which gives the impulse to the machine, while the reproduction is brought about by a tracing point, which may be a pro perly inked; pen or even an ordinary lead pencil attached to a movable arm in the receiving machine at the other end of the line. At his Highland Park laboratory, Professor Gray has made a number of very satisfactory trials of this invention, and he is inclined to think the machine will be demanded in all cases where absolute accuracy in the delivery and filling of an order is required, and that it will eventually supersede the present system of telegraphic communication; In fact, that the operator will Bimply transcribe a message, and, while in the act of so doing, will wire it to any point on the Continent, the reproduction at the other point always being a fac-simile of the writing of the person at the machine.

The New Zealand Trade Review referring to the trade of the Colony for the year ended 3Gth June last, saj)s —“ The United Kingdom still secures by far the lion’s share of the trade of the Colony. Of the totals for the latest year, about 65 per oent. of the imports came from the Mother Country, and rather over 70 per cent, of the exports went thither. It is noticeable, however, that as regards the imports, the decline in the value received from the United Kingdom is larger than the decline in the total for the Colony. In fact, while the imports from the Home Country have fallen-off by £967,628, those from other places have increased by £142,036. The figures for Victoria and New South Wales combined, show an improvement of over £117,000. From the United States the imports have declined by over £95,000. Fluctuations in the sources of our sugar supplies may no doubt be traced in the sudden expansion of our imports from Java, and the increase of £IO,OOO from Queensland, and £39,000 from Fiji, while from Mauritins we have taken fully £50,000 less. The efforts of Germany to push her trading relations are, we presume, evidenced by the increase of £23,000 in our direct importations from that country, but the trade has as yet attained only moderate dimensions. The export columns show an increase in the later year of £373,705, but the increase to the United Kingdom alone is equal to £644,438, so that to places outside the Home Country there was a shrinkage of £270,733. We find, however, that exports to the United States alone exhibit a falling-off of £310,967 ; but as the shipments of the earlier period included something near this amount of gold in coin or bullion, the decline in this instance does not argueja falling-off in profitable trade. We do not notice in these columns any indication of an opening out of new markets for our productions. The utter insignificance of our trade with Canada is still very striking. This extensive British Colo nial territory has not in two years been New Zealand’s enstomer to the extent of one shilling ; whilst we have taken from Canada only £4619 worth of their products. Some desire has been manifested on the side of New Zealand to increase our imports from this sister colony ; but it is scarcely to be expected that a healthy trade of any extent can be developed unless it is characterised by some degree ot reciprocity, and we have not heard of any willingness on the part of Canada to become purchasers of any of our products. The apparent increase of our trade with the SouhAfrican colonies is due to an entirely except tional importation from Natal, that, namely, of 48 ostriohes, entered as of the value of £IO,OOO (?) in the March quarter of this year,”

It is said, on very good authority, that Mr William Tyson will be a candidate for the Mayoralty. A correspondent of the Christchurch Press at the Chatham Island writes:— ‘ This island is peculiarly situated, as it is one of the habited points of the globe where the day of the week ohanges. It is just in the line of demarcation between dates, H er ® ”ign 12 on Sunday or noon ceases, and instantly Monday meridian begins, Sunday comes into our house on the east side and becomes Mondav by the time it passes out the western door We sit down to our noonday dinner on the Sunday, and it is Monday before we finish It.

Before the meeting of the City Council concluded last night week, Councillor Young asked the Mayor if he intended to declare a holiday on Monday, on the occasion of the general elections. He suggested that a holiday should be declared, as he considered that precious little business would be done on that day. Councillor Heaton favored the suggestion. The Mayor said that if a requisition was presented to him he would declare a holiday, but he pointed out that a great number of workmen would lose a day’s work, through it. As far as he was concerned he was averse to it. (Hear, hear.) The general opinion of the meeting appeared to be against declaring a holiday. Councillor Edwards remarked that it would be in the interests of the candidates not to have a holiday, because a lot of the electors would go out of town, and not vote at all. The matter then dropped. William C. Fitz Gerald, who has fo r some time past been in treaty for the sale O his well-known business as chemist and druggist, Manners-street, completed the transaction on Monday. Mr Fitz Gerald leaves with his family for England in about a month’s time, it being his intention to settle for a while, at any rate, in the Mother Country. In common with his many friends in this city, while greatly regretting his departure, we wish him and his family a very pleasant voyage and sojourn at Home, and we hope that at some future day they may again be residents in Wellington. Mr FitzGeralds successor in the Manners-street business aro Messrs Turner and Co., who are favorably known in this Colony. Mr Turner was formarly in tli6 business witb Mr Fitz Gerald in Wellington, but during the last four years has represented the New Zealand Drug Company in Auckland. His partner, Mr YV. Parker, is also well-known in Auckland business circles. We wish them all suoeess in their new undertaking.

Mr William Angus, of Taylor-street, Waltham, has invented and patented a pump which possesses very oonsiderable advantage over that in common use, inasmuch as it is not liable to the objectionable habit commonly known as “ running -dry,” and does nob require to be coaxed into action by pouring water down the barrel. At the bottom of the barrel of Mr Angus’ pump is a chamber into which the “ bucket ” dips. At the side of this chamber is the inlet for the water from the well-pipe, placed at such a distance from the bottom of the chamber that a, quantity of water will remain therein whether the pump is being worked or not. The suction valve, which is of brass, is in the well-pipe, just below where the water enters the chamber. As the water in the chamber prevents air from getting into the suction pipe this valve may be dispensed with for short "dips,” but in dealing with deep wells it materially lightens the labor of pumping. By means of the water retained in the chamber a vacuum is produced, as no air is under the bucket when the upstroke commences. This enables the pump to start easily, and the leather around the bucket is less liable to leakage. The pump can be very easily fitted to a well-pipe, and as easily removed when requiring cleaning or repairing. The water chamber, which can be made almost any depth, would doubtless also do good by catching and detaining a proportion of any foreign matter which might be in the water. The success of the pump has been proved by a large number of trials, and the invention has been warmly approved by several practical men.

to the success of New Zealand students at the Home universities, the London correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writes:—"Mr James Johnstone, 8.A., of Port Chalmers, has been distinguishing himself in the Medical School of the Aberdeen University. He has taken his degrees of M.B. and C.M. with the highest academical honors, he has obtained with credit the diplomas in public health, and has been awarded the George Thompson Travelling Fellowship. Principal Geddes, in his address to the students of the university, alluded to this circumstance in the following words: —‘I did not anticipate that the Travelling Scholarship would have fallen to one who has travelled further than most, or perhaps any of us, but we none the less heartily congratulate him on the distinction which he has won. It is the blue riband, I may say, of the Medical Sohool in Aberdeen, and I have no doubt it will be worn well and worthily. It is not for me to prescribe or suggest any course of study or travel to Mr Johnstone, but I feel and I express the assurance of the medical faculty that he will repair to the best centres of medical knowledge and experience, and render himself more and more an accomplished physician. It does, however, suggest, if not grave thoughts, at least matter for reflection to us in Aberdeenshire, that a young gentleman from New Zealand should be the first to obtain, in fair ordeal of competition, so important a distinction. It is a sign for us to be up and doing—l mean for our youth and their preparatory preceptors, when we find that we have here already amongst us from a country where a century ago Captain Cook could hardly land from the savagery of its inhabitants a young colonist who can hold his own and more against us in the subtlest and toughest contests of academic study. The famous New Zealander who figures in Macaulay is among us, not quite in the form predicted, sketching the ruins of our cathedrals, but he is among us picking the prizes of our colleges. It will be well for us to take note of the fact that we have now to compete and contend in the race of life not with a parish or a province, but with all the corners of the world,’ ”

A cable was received by the New Zealand Shipping Company to the effect that the R.M.S. Ruapehu loft Plymouth for New Zealand on Saturday last.

The Tarawera arrived at the Bluff from Melbourne, via Hobart, at 6 a.m. on Monday with an English mail. The Hawea brought up the Northern portion of the mail, arriving at Wellington on Wednesday.

Ten shillings a day, or Is 3d an hour has been refused by the carpenters employed at the skating rink, in Ingestre-street, and the men have strnck for 103 6d a day. The promoter of the rink now advertises for a number of men at 10s a day. A collision between two vehicles occurred in Manners-street, opposite the Greymouth (late Royal Oak) Hotel on Saturday night. It appears that a carrLge drawn by two horses belonging to Mr Gormley, was being turned round when a spring cart ran into it, and as a result of the collision the springs of the former were broken, and the carriage otherwise damaged. The cart escaped without damage. A movement is on foot in this city having for its object the establishment of a public gymnasium. The promoters have met with great success so far, subscriptions to the amount of £3OO having been promised. Should the matter receive further encouragement, and there is every reason to believe that it will, as it is a most desirable object, a meeting will be called to take into consideration the initiatory steps in connection with the erection of a building.

Although the Government refused to provide any facilities in the way of special trains to enable residents of Wellington who were-interested in the elections for Wairarapa and Master ton to record their votes in either of those districts, the supporters of the various candidates were determined that their favorites shall not lose the benefit of their votes. Accordingly, a large party of town voters left Wellington by the 10.5 train on Monday morning for the Upper Hutt, whence several first-class coaches conveyed them over the Rimutaka Hil'l to Featherston. Arrived at Featherston, the Maaterton voters proceeded to Masterton by a goods train, and the Wairarapa voters returned to town by the ordinary 4 o’clock train.

Mr James Brown, the night-watchman, who is a special constable, made a smart capture on Saturday morning. He was parading the quay at about 5 o clock, when, near the Occidental Hotel, an elderly man came round the corner, and after bidding him good morning, asked him for “ the price of a wet,” offering to give him a stick of tobacco for it. Brown’s suspicions were aroused by this, and, noticing that the man had a bundle under his arm, he plied him with cunning but pertinent questions as to what it was, and finally walked the man off to the police-station in the name of the Queen, and there lodged him in durance vile. It appeared from subsequent inquiries that the man’s name is Edward Elton, alias Thomas Edmonds, and that the tobacco was stolen from the shop of Margaret Baker, on Lambton-quay. Elton was brought before Messrs J. Lachman and F. Allen, Justices of the Peace, on Saturday, and remanded till Wednesday. Mr Fraser’s meeting at the Lyceum Hall on Saturday evening was a very orderly one. Only one interruption took place during the course of the candidate’s address. A number of the audience and Mr Fraser himself attributed the disturbance to the fact “ that a member of Mr Menteath’s committee was present.” At the conclusion of the address several questions were put to the candidate, one of which was, “If elected, would you do your utmost to stop the drunkenness and 1 gluttony indulged in at present, at the public cost, at Bellamy’s ?” Mr Fraser said he did not think 'ihat was quite true. If people got anything there they paid for it, and, as far as he was concerned, be had never seen any drunkenness or gluttony there. Another elector wanted to know, if the candidate was returned, would he do his best to see that the messengers got proper treatment with regard to the hours they worked. The House only sat four days a week, and yet these men were there from 10 o’clock on Saturday morning till 10 o’clock on Monday night. In reply, Mr Fraser said that if returned to the House, as he expected he would be (applause and cheering), and any messenger came to him to get relief, he would do his utmost to get the men off. A strange bequest of land has just been left by a Frenchman to the German Government, for the purpose of founding a German settlement. How this strange bequest came to be made is explained by the following story, supplied by the Paris correspondent of the Daily News M. Bareiller, ex-mayor of Boissise-le-Roi, a oountry town situate in the Seine-et-Marne, not far from Paris, was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment in 18S6 for having fired at and wounded a workman who pressed him for payment of a debt of 10a. M. Bareiller, who was naturally of an ungovernable temper, was driven mad with anger by this sentence. During his detention this sense of bitterness grew deeper on account of his impotence to give vent to it, added to the hardships of prison life. His constitution became shattered, and the disappointment of not receiving a pardon on July 14 wrought an alarming change iu his condition. From that day he could eat no food, and on the 20th instant he died at the Melun Hospital, where he had been taken some hours previously. This illfated man was a landowner of good means, being worth about £24,000. He was a cultured and gifted scholar. Shortly before his trial he had offered as a free gift to the department of Seine-et-Marne, his property at Boissise, on condition that it was made a farming settlement, but as he stipulated that he should manage the eatate during his lifetime his offer was rejected, because it was feared his_ ungovernable temper might eventually bring _ trouble on the Department. He made a will in 1885, opened after his death, whereby he bequeathed the land to the State for the same object. During his imprisonment he conceived an abhorrence of his country, and he drew up two wills at different periods by which he has left his property of Boissise to Germany, represented by the Crown Prince, with the object of’ establishing there a settle ment of young Germans.

During last week the following duties werecollected at the Customs at this port v Customs, £4641 5s 9d, and beer, £75 0s 3d. The coal exported from Greymouth last week amounted to 5103 tons, the largest quantity ever sent away from that pore in tac time.

The meeting of creditors in the estate of Alfred Chorley, butcher, to have been held Tuesday morning, again fell through, owing to the want of a quorum.

The Wellington Bootmakers’ Association held a meeting at Fraser’s rooms, Mannersstreet, Tuesday night, the business of \ibich was of a purely private character. _ Representatives of the press were not admitted.

It is expected that the whole of the Ministers will meet in Wellington to-day or to-morrow, and until then no action with regard to their present position will be taken.

With reference to the difficulty between the carpenters employed at the skating rink, and the promoters, we are informed by the carpenters that they did not strike for 10s 6d a day, or against 10s a day, but that the difference only related to the Saturday halfholiday, which was refused them. The absence from the charge sheet of any charges of drunkenness at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, was commented upon by Mr Wardell, who on taking his seat remarked that there could not have been many votes bought with beer, since there were no cases of drunkenness arising out of the elections. Cuba-street bore unmistakable marks next morning of the larrikinism which was carried on there at the Te Aro election polling on Monday night. Flour, stale fruit and eggs were well strewed over the street and footpaths, and some of the shop fronts had been bespattered with all sorts or vile stuff. Traces of the excitement were to be seen, too, all over Te Aro, and the quantity of flour used during the election must have been enormous.

A large number of Wellington residents went up to the Wairarapa on Monday to record their votes for candidates in that district, principally in the Wairarapa electorate. The voters went by train to the Upper Hutt, and thence by coach to Feather, ston, stopping at Kaitoke en route, in order that Hutt votes might be given. Mr Buclianan’a contingent occupied five vehicles—drays, coaches, &c., and the supporters of Mr Bunny were accommodated in a couple of expresses. Having entered Featlierston in great style and duly recorded their votes, several of the visitors went on to the Masterton electorate, while others returned to Wellington by the afternoon train.

A very pleasing ceremony took place at the summoned meeting of Court Sir George, No. 3118, A.0.F., on Tuesday evening at the Foresters’ Hall, Lambton-quay, viz., the presentation of a testimonial to Bro C. H. Gillespie, P.C.R., who had been connected with the above Court for over 25 years as trustee, the duties of which he had most ably and efficiently carried out, and which office he was reluctantly compelled to resign throngh his inability to carry out the duties as he wished. The presentation, which was rather out of the ordinary run of presentations, consisted, of a Milner’s safe (large size). . This being rather too weighty for presentation, a plate, which had been beautifully engraved by Messrs Book and Cousins, of this city, was presented to him bearing the following inscription Presented by Court Sir George Grey, No. 3118, A.0.F., to Bro. C. H. Gillespie, as a memento of his 25 years’ serviceas trustee of the above Court.—September 27th, 1887.” Bro. Gillespie very feelingly replied. P.D.C.R. Bro. J. J. Harris was eleoted in his stead. About 50 members then adjourned to Bro. Sullivan’s and indulged in harmony, various toasts being given and duly honored.

An ordinary meeting of the Hospital Trustees was held on Tuesday, there being present Messrs F. H. Fraser (chairman)-, T. McKenzie, Gaby, C. Luke, Danks, Kebbell, Taylor, and Willeston. The Chairman reported that he and Mr Gaby had waited on the Colonial Treasurer in reference to funds, but did not get any satisfaction, the Treasnrer being unable either to help the Trustees out of their difficulty or to advise them. The House Committee’s report hav* ing been read and adopted, Mr Danks said that the new drain would b 8 completed either that or next day, and he invited the Trustees to then inspect the sanitary arrangements, which, he said, would be among the most Complete in the city. It was decided to recommend the case of the young man Schotter to the Benevolent Trustees. A Committee was appointed to take an inventory, after a short discussion, in which Mr Kebbell objected to the Trustees being called upon to do this sort of work. The Treasurer submitted a statement which showed that there would be a deficiency of about £I3OO for the half-year ending 30th instant. The Trustees then went into committee to consider matters of finance.

The Cnnard steamer Umbria, which arrived at New York on July 30, reports a remarkable encounter on July 27, at 5 o’clock a.m., with an immense wave. The weather had been nasty all the way over, with head winds, cross seas, and fogs. When the wave was seen approaching the officer on the bridge, 40ft above the water-line, was unable to see over It. He says it seemed to tower above him like a covered pier to a man in a small boat alongside. The wave struck the Umbria forward on the port bow, and carried away the port light The white light on the fore mast, 60ft above the water line, waß put Out. The raised house covering the forward hatch was smashed in and forced down the hatchway, and . tuns of water followed. The brass rods about the bridge were broken and badly bent, and the crow’s nest was smashed to pieces. The officers of the Umbria say they never saw such a wave before. Something of a panic prevailed among the few passengers who were in the cabin at the time, and others awakened by the tremendous crash, rushed on deck in their nightdresses, screaming hysterically, and fell on their knees in prayer. Much damage was done to the clothing of the passengers, but no one was seriously hurt.