GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 7507, 19 June 1885, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS.

The Wellington Manawatu Railway line is making good progress, • The tunnels at Paikakariki are all but pierced through, and the other contracts are being poshed on. The line will probably be open to Parramatta by August next. At the meeting of the Educational Instil ate held on Saturday, a number of articles made by the students of the College at the tramway sheds, under the supervision of Mr Kobertsou, were shown. Same of the exhibits were very neatly made, and reflect credit ou the teacher as well as the pupils. Among them were a model of a railway bridge made by a hoy of 13, a pair of Indian clubs, sets of horse shoes, engineers* hammers. See, The railway workshops in connection with the Wellington-Manawatu Railway line are a scene of busy activity just now, a number of men being daily engaged in fitting up the new carriages, which weremanufacturadinAmerioa. They are got up in a very luxurious style, the painting and decoration being quite artistic. The carriages are in two compartments—first and seoond-olast—and will seat about 40 passengers in each. They are fitted up on the Pullman car principle, with reversible banks, which are covered with red leather. The framework of the chairs is very beautiful., Messrs R. Holliday and Co.’s stationery establishment on Lambtou quay had a narrow escape from fire at about S o’clock Wednesday afternoon. It appears that when the window was lighted the gas caught the windowaash above, and as the smouldering wood was not noticed for a minute or two the flames presently burst out, Fortunately the fire was seen before it had time to do any serious damage, and the hose kept by Mr Robert Hannah was brought to bear upon the window. The fite was subdued in a few moments, little or no damage having been dune.

The Rangitikel Advocate is informed that over 500 shares have already been taken up in the proposed cheese factory at Sandon. A good many settlers in the Douglas Block have withheld their promises on account of the high freights charged for conveyance of milk on the tramway —f I per gallon—which would have been a heavy tax, seeing that it Is proposed to give only 31 per gallon at the factory. To meet this objection, Mr Sanson brought forwark a motion at the Manawatu Council meeting on Thursday, which was carried, to reduce the rates to one farthing per gallon from or to any station on ths line, empty transport cans to be returned free. Now that the settlers in the Douglas Block have this guaranteed concesiion, it is expected th t nearly all of them will take up shares. The Ven. Archdeacon Harris, the news of whose death in England arrived by cable on Sunday, was at one time headmaster of Christ’s College, Chiistohurch, but about a dozen years ago resigned in bad health, and left Che Colony for England. Subsequently he returned to New Zealand, and was appointed General Secretary for the Diocese of Canterbury, Chaplain to the Bishop, and Archdeacon of Akaroa. About two months ago he left again for England, accompanied by Miss Harris. At that time he was suffering from an internal complaint, and was so ill that many of his friends feared that ho would not survive the voyage. Archdeacon Harris was comparatively young, being only about 45 years of age. He was a man of great ability and learning. He leaves a widow and family. There are oases occurring nearly every day whioh tend to show that there is an absolute necessity for some place of refuge for aged people who cannot maintain themselves. There is a poor old Maori woman at the Hutf, the wife of Okawe Brown. The County Council is willing to contribute to her support, but nobody will take her io, and as she separated herself from her own people when she married Brown, the Maoris, who seldom display any great consideration for old folk, do not appear to cars much for her. An uotenanted cottage across the river was placed at her disposal, but the rats wore so numerous that poor old Ann had to depart, and leave them in possession. She then wandered about the township, and in order to obviate Ihe necessity of her sleeping out, Constable Mackay placed her in the look-up, a’lowing her as much freedom as possible. The case has been repotted to the Col mi 11. Secretary. It should bo another strong argument in the bauds of the deputation whioh will shortly wait upon the Government for the purpose of securing a suitable piece of land for a home for aged people who have no friends to look after them. It is time steps were token to have what is left of the Te Are House building removed or pulled down. It is at present a source of danger to passers-by and the buildings in the neighborhood. On Sunday sheets of the iron, weighing nearly a ton, were blown off the building on to Ouba-street, and : it was very fortunate that no damage was occasioned by the collapse. Mr Eades and : Mr Lindsay’s manager had the iron, whioh filled a couple of drays, secured, and afterwards had it carted away. During a fierce gale whioh prevailed a couple of months ago at Opunako a portion of the foot of Courtney’s auction mart was swept off and blown on to two or three other buildings, all of whioh were considerably damaged. The same thing might happen in the case of a dilapidated building like Te Are House,wbtoh is in such a condition that a gale from almost any quarter must necessarily affect it. We understand that the old building has been kept standing in consequence of some diffionlty in the adjustment of accounts with the insurance companies, but no good purpose oan bo served by permitting it to remain there any longer. The Hon R. Stout, Minister of Education, accompanied by Mr J. B. Blair, chairman of the Board of Education, Mr C. P. Powles, secretary to the Board, and Mr Mackay, principal of the Wellington College, paid a visit last Friday to the Tramway Sheds, Newtown, for the purpose of inapesting the industrial classes held there in connection with the College, under Mr J. Robertson, the engineer to the Tramway Company. The visitors were met by the Hon Dr Qraoa and Mr B. Greenfield, the proprietors of the tramway. There were abont thirty hoys employed at the time in carpentering, engineering, - blacksmithing and horseshoeing, and the visitors remained for about an hour inspecting the workshop. The Premier especially took great interest in the work, and expressed himself very warmly on the subject, showing an intimate acquaintance with the various processes. He talked to the boys individually, and before leaving requested Mr Robertson to supply him with a full report on the classes, which have now been established some four months, A number of articles have beea~mauufactured by the pupils for the Industrial Exhibition, and these will, be shown at the next meeting of the Education Institute, :

Mr ; W. A. Ellis gave illustrations of thought and mind-reading at the Athenmum Hall last Friday. He did not claim to read everybody's thoughts. He said that flabby, cold hands were almost unimpressionable ; but from nervous, impulsive persons satisfactory results were more generally obtained. How he received the impressions ha could not explain. Mr Ellis then went amongst the au lienee, and gathered looks of hair, lockets, photographs, chains, letters, &c., and took them on the etage, where he placed them on a table. Each article was taken and held to the . forehead, and- explanations given of the various places through wbioh they had passed, aad the persons to whom they belonged, or those who were intimately connected with the owners. Mr Blits vjas not successful in every instance, bnt he obtained quite the average percentage of results. With letters mote especially he was very successful. The names of some of the persons connected with the writers or receivers were given. In the cose of a chain with a locket attached, belonging to a Ifldy, everything connected with it was described with great exactness. It was evident that there was no collusion whatever between the lecturer and h a audience. : It is certainly wonderful to find a quiet gentleman like Me Ellis, with na pretensions tp oonjuting art, walking amongst the audience in a darkened room, and telling some of the people he had never seen before what actually happened to them; without obtaining any clue whatever. This waa dona during the dark seance” which followed the lecture.

At the request of Sir Julius Vogel, Dr. Hector forwarded three cases of Taranaki ironsand by the R.M.S. Tonganro. When M. da Harven, the Belgian representa'ive, visited the Colony, he expressed a w*sh that a quantity of the irnn*aud should be sent to him to Antwerp , . The erection of S*. Jobu’o Ohurch 10 ft streefc, on the spot where th ♦ «*!d church was burnt down, is being proceeded with rapidly has been nearly completed, and the main building is so far finished as to show that the church will, when finished, be one of the handsomest edifice* in Wellington. His Worship Mr Wardell gave judgment Thursday in the suit United Importers Co. v. G. Fisher. His Worship held that the plaintiff had been properly constituted a shareholder, and therefore gave judgment for the plaintiff Company for £66 la lid, with costs. He was prepared to stay execution for a reasonable time, if necessary, in order that the defendant might get his name taken off the books of the Company. An interim dividend, at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum on the pjid-up capital, has been declared by the Directors of the Gear Meat Preset ving find Freezing Company’for the half-year ending 31st May. This will be very satisfactory news, not alone to the shareholders, but to the general public, who are to a great extent interested in the success of the Company. As showing the extent of the business carried on, it may be stated that about 4000 sheep and ISO bullocks are slaughtered every week by the Company. This must mean a large distribution of money amongst all classes in the community.

Mr Cecil Keyworth informs us that he will bo able to hand over about £SO to the fund raised for the widows and orphans of the men drowned at Evans Bay. That amount will be made up frnm the subscriptions forwarded to Mr Keyworth, and the surplus left, after paying-all expenses, in the Wellington Dramatic Club’s entertainment. In addition to the subscriptions already acknowledged, Mr Keyworth has received £1 Is from W. P., and 10s from Mr J. B. Page. If the Committee of the Benevolent Society find that they cannot take charge of the funds, the amount collected will probably be handed over to trustees.

At the Ijst meeting of the Committee of the Society for Prevention of Crulty to Animals, Mr Blackmore, the honorary inspector, brought under the notice of the Committee the fact that a six-legged sheep, which had been ua id for show purposes by a man named Smith, was in such a condition that it was an act of cruelty to permit it to remain ali-ie. The Rev. Mr Van Staveren, who occupied the chair on that occasion, promised -to have a look at the sheep when he next visited Petone. The rev gentlemen, after careful inspection, considers that it would he au act of wantou cruelty if the Society ordered the sheep to be killed, as it is quite healthy, Herbert Alieudale, the hero of the recent jewel robbery, was on Wednesday committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the 4 Supreme Court. He was undefended by counsel, and appeared to be very indifferent. Only once daring the trial did he manifest any interest in the proceedings, and that was when Detective McGrath gave evidence as to the finding of pieces of cardboard in Allendale’s lantern which corresponded with other pieces subsequently discovered in Allendale's room at the Te Aco Hotel. This circumstantial evidence appeared to perplex the prisoner, and he asked to be allowed to see the pieces of cardboard. An inspection of them apparently satisfied him of the ’cutenesa of the detectives, and he handed them back without comment.

At the adjourned meeting of the Directors of the Island Bay Park, Racing and Coursing Company, held on Tuesday, Mr G. S, Graham presiding, the secretaryship was conferred upon Mr B. S. B. Bell, of Christchurch. Mr Ball is said to be an expert in racing matters. He has been for some time one of the directors and boa secretary of the Plumpton Park Company, and has also been secretary to the Plumpton Park Racing and Coursing Clubs, and chairman. and treasurer of the Papauui Conrsiog Club. It was decided to hold a race meeting at Island Bay the week alter the W.R.O, Steeplechase Meeting, which is to be held on Saturday, IBih July. Ths Directors have decided to place about 1000 £1 shares iu the market in addition to those already taken up. At the meeting yesterday promises were given for 600 new shares. The calls are not to exceed Is per month. The prospects of the newly-formed Company look very hopeful. A special meeting of the Board of College Governors was held yesterday. Present— Messrs A. de B. Brandon (Chairman), J. H. Blair, O. J. Johnston, H. Bunny, Drs. Newman and Hector, Rev J, Paterson. Dr Hector moved that throughout the Consolidation Bill to be brought before Parliament the words Boys’ High School be substituted wherever required for ” College,” so as to avoid any future difficulty in distinguishing the institution from any University College for higher education which may hereafter be . established here. Dr, Hector said that there was a tendency on the part of the public to bslieve that Wellington already had a College,” and did not want another one. The present College was simply a secondary school like the Boys* High School in Auckland, Dunedin, &o, Mr Johnston seconded the motion. Mr Bonny opposed the motion ; bat Dr. Hector urged that Wellington would inevitably be placed at a great disadvantage as compared with other cities. A division was taken, with the result that the motion was lost by 4 votes to 3., The remainder of the business, which consisted of the consideration of the Consolidation Bill, was done in Committee.

The following from the Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Times will be read with interest at the present time - “ Mr Booth’s mission does not seem to have lost its Influence yet. Throughout the whole of the city wards the polling in the local option elections showed decisive majorities against the increase of publiohouse licenses. At Onehunga, whore last year the increase of licenses was carried by a majority, this year the temperance people polled six to one. In the Devonport district, where the return of a Licensing Committee favorable to the granting of bottle licenses was a matter of financial importance to the Devonport Jockey Club, the racing people, dissatisfied at only getting one man on the Committee, upset the election on technical grounds, and were rewarded for their pains by having their man excluded on -the second contest, every candidate returned being in the Good Templar interests. Soma idea of the keenness of the struggle may be imagined from the fact- that in the last half-hour of the polling both aides triad to bring up another voter, but could not find him. Large numbers went from Auckland to record their votes. The publicans themselves are now satisfied that every successive attempt to resume their old ascendency and power is likely only to lead to their getting worse terms, and they have accordingly been counselled by their leaders to “ rest and be thankful.” We regret to learn that Mr G. S. Searle, a journalist, who is well known all through the Colony, was seized with a paralytic stroke late on Tuesday evening. Mr Searle was playing chess at the Chamber of Commerce on the night mentioned, when ho was suddenly stricken, aud was only able to exclaim ” Ghuzcea-street ” before he fell helpless. As Mr Searle had only recently returned to Wellington, his place of residence was not generally known, and every effort to discover in what part of Ghuznee-stroet he lived was unavailing. Eventually, at about 2 a m. bn Wednesday morning, it became obvious that the best course would be to remove him to the Hospital, and that was accordingly done. Meanwhile, Dr Henry _ attended upon the sufferer, whose right side, it was found, had been paralysed. At the Hospital ha was attended by Dr Chilton. Mr Searle’s right side is completely paralysed, and he is only able to faintly artioul.it! “ Yea ’ _ and ‘‘ No.’’ He is almost -unconscious, and his condition is a very critical one. Mr Searle re one of the oldest journalists living in the Colony. He adopted the literary profession at an early age, and ! wrote for several years for soma of the higher class English newspapers. He was also a valued contributor to magazines in London. His eyesight, however, failed him, and he took a situation as accountant, in the employ of Messrs Baro'ay aud Perkins, the celebrated-brewers, in London, In 1852 he came ont to Victoria, aud commenced life there as a schoolmaster. Subsequently he bought and conducted for several years a papar in the Oyeus district. From there he went to Melbourne, where ha edited a commercial journal. While be was in Melbourne, Mr J. VV. Bain, proprietor of the Southland Times, engaged him as editor of that journal, and this position Mr Searle filled for two years. At the end of that time he wsq appointed Secretary to the, Bluff Harbor Board, Leaving that position he want to Qhristohuroh, where he remained for three or four years, bis main object while residing there being to finish the education of his daughters, one of whom, Miss Edith Searle, an M.A of the New Zealand University, is at present engaged on the teaching staff of the G’ris’- High School at Wellington. From Christchurch Mr Searle caiqe to Wellington, under engagement as editor of the New Zealand Times, a position which be filled for about twelve months. Shortly after the conclusion of the last session of Parliament he accepted the editorship of the Mataura Ensign,published at Gore (Otago). He returned to Wellington for the approaching session a few weeks ago. He is universally esteemed, and everyone who knows him will, wo feel euro, sympathise with him in his misfortune, The opinion of Mr Seatle’s medical adviser is that something haa given way in the brain, from which paralysis supervened. At the Hospital be is very comfortable and meets with the beat of treatment,

Mr Thomas Deuuistou, who recently retired from the editorship of the Southla-ad Times, which position be bad held for five and a-h'df years, was last week presented with a very massive black marble clock, subscribed for by every member of the staff. The presentation in do hv the general manager, and iuit-

bly ack -a vl.- Me DsuuMou. Tne Lytt‘iito i Ti’iir« says thaS the mission of Mr U. T. B ha.* b.oa commemorated by the publication of a Temperance Morch song and chorus, entitled ** The Bit of Blue, 1 ’ which has been composed an 1 dedicated to that gentleman by one of hi* converts io ChrU’charcb. The words and music are of a spirited character, and that they will excite the enthusiasm of a temperance meeting seems to be expected from the fact that the Audience are directed when certain words are reached to rise to their feet and wave their handkerchief?.

Mr Booth, in the course of his lecture Wednesday, said he had noticed, amongst other things to be admired iu this city, that additions were being made to the Lunatic Asylum. The action of the Government iu preparing (or the accommodation of lunatics seemed to him to be similar to that of the mayor who was tel* graphed to ** to prepara for the cholera.” Asktd what preparations he had made, he replied that he had had a grave dug for every inhabitant. The Government were preparing for the results of the drink traffic in much the same way by building asylums for lunatics.

Mrs Leavitt, the delegate of the American Women’s Christian Temperance Union, has just completed a successful mission la the South Island, and has formed local unions at Christchurch, Dunedin, Port Chalmers, and Raegiora. At Invercargill the Union existing there adopted the same constitution as proposed to bring themselves into Uue with the other Uoinns. At Christchurch over 100 ladies joined the Union, and 70 at Dunedin. Although Mrs Leavitt's mission was held at Christchurch after that of Mr Booth, 508 pledges were obtained, including those of the Rev Mr Hodsou and Mrs Hudson. Mrs Leavitt left on Saturday by the Waihora for Napier. After holding a mission there she will proceed to Sydney, via Auckland John Mclntosh, of the Family Hotel, Lower fiutt, was charged at the Hutt Resident Magistrate’s Court Wednesday, before Messrs W. V A. Fitzherbert and J. S. Manning, J.P.’s, with a breach of the Adulteration Prevention Act, 1881. The analysis showed that the brandy was 33 degrees under proof, whilst the Act provided that the adulteration should not exceed 25 per cent. Defendant, who pleaded guilty, explained that the Natives generally called for a glass of brandy, and afterwards asked for lemonade with it; so he kept the brandy in a bottle for that special purpose. The Natives did not call for the two together, and he could not afford to give them a glass of brandy and lemonade for 6d. Had complainant got the brandy from any of the other bottles it would have been all right. Constable Mackay stated that defendant’s son, a youth about 11 or 12 years of age, sold him the brandy, and defendant told himsoon afterwards that he got it from the bottle kept for the Maoris. The Bench stated that defendant would not be Hued, but the conviction would have to be recorded against him on the license, and posted up in the hotel. The Auckland Star says t —ln the course of his sermon to the City Guards and Victorias, at All Saints, on Sunday week, Bishop Oowie pointed out that there was nothing inconsistent in a soldier being also a servant of Christ, and contended that there was nothing tn bis discharge of Christian duties incompatible with bia profession as a soldier. He referred to the late General Gordon iu support of bis argument, and instanced Lord Cairns, former Lord Chancellor of England, as another eminent man who was not ashamed of hie Master’s work. Nothing delighted Lord Cairns more (hao teaching in the Sabbath school. In our own country, too, there weie remarkable examples in the persons of the late Sir William and Lady Martin, two devoted servants of Christ. Each of us, the Bishop arid, had a mission in the world, although we were not all bound to carry out that mission in the same way. For instance, Volunteers who were Christian young men might perform their duties and conduct themselves amongst their fellows iu such a way that other young men, taking notice of them, would strive to imitate their example. In the course of a lecture in Dunedin last Monday, Professor Parker said, in all seriousness, that a popular science lecture that professed to teach people the subject talked of, was likely rather to do barm than to do good. He could not help thinking that popular science lectures were little better than transparent frauds, and the econer people learnt that they were frauds the better, for their sham teaching would have to give way to something real. It might be asked, if be held this opinion, why he had given the lecture ? His reply was that he believed that popular lectures had an important function, though that function was not to teach. They served to remove prejudices and to create an interest in different subjects, and had something of the same connection with actual teaching as torchlight?, tambourines, and red jackets had with the work of the Salvation Army ; or, if be might be allowed to say bo, as tea meetings bad to do with the work of the Churches. His time bad not been wasted if he had shown them that even in the ugly octopus there was something beautiful and something of interest to every human being. Communication by the cable from Lyells Bay to Whites Bay was interrupted ou Friday evening, the break being shown by test to be about sixteen miles from the latter. The cable, which has been laid for about nineteen years, contains three wires. The route by which it crosses the Straits is imperfectly known. As the repairing steamer Agnes is supposed to be somewhere about the Straits of Malacca, there will be considerable delay before the repair can be made. In the meantime, messages will have to be sent by the line from Wanganui to Waknpuaka, and means are being taken to u?e it to the best advantage. Two of the best .operators in the telegraph service have been seat to Wanganui, and all that is posable will bs done at the Wakapuaka end. The interruption is most inconvenient at the present time. During the sitting of Parliament, a very large number of Press me sages are sent from Wellington, and it is to be feared that the means of communication will be found insufficient. It has been suggested that in order to overtake the work the Telegraph Office should be kept continuously open during the evening. This would make necessary a re-arrangement of office hours, which no doubt would be troublesome. There can he no donbt, however, that the officials of the Department will do their beet to lessen the public inconvenience caused by the accident. The Government monthly inspection parade of the Wellington City Rifles took place at Mount Cook Barracks on Monday evening, when there was a capital muster, sixty men answering to their names. The officers present were M*jor Crowe, Lieutenant Collins and Lieutenant Cole, Major Butts having inspected the corps, the men were put through manual and firing exercise, company drill, and sword bayonet exercise, after which Major Butts addressed them, expressing himself much pleased at the manner In which they < bad drilled, saying that the corps had always the credit of being well-drilled, but now they really anrpnaed him—in fact, they were perfection in the various movements, due no doubt to their* constant attendance on parade. After the parade was over a sword bayonet competition between two squads of the Company took place. Both squads bad been practising for some time, and a close contest was expected. Maj >r Butts and Lieutenant Cole were appointed umpire;. Both squads were put through separately by the Sergeant iu charge, first by word of command, and afterwards in quick time. The clock-like precision in which both teams went through i the movements elicited much applause, and gave the umpires some trouble to decide as to the superiority of either team, but ultimately they gave their decision ia favor of No. 2. It is worthy of remark that Nm \ was the representative team of the corps, who, it will be remembered, ran the Mar ton Royal Riftes so closely for the championship at the Nelson Encampment that there was little to choose : between them.

At the sitting of tlie Compensation Coart on Monday his Honor Judge Richmond delivered the awards in connection with Blimmer, Reaves and Co.’s wharf. In tl\Q ease against the Corporation £1390 was awarded, with 25 guineas to the assizors, to be paid equally by the parties to the suit; no costa to be allowed on either side. In the case Jacob Joseph v. Harbor Board, tl\a Court awarded £1221 ss, 25 guineas to be paid to the assessors by both parties j no coats allowed on either side. A case is to be stated for the Supreme Court to apply to both. In the event of the Crown’s or Harbor Board’d right being established to prevent landing or shipping goods the first award to be reducible to £IOO, and the second to £5. In the cose Jacob Joseph v. Corpora* tioa, £1221 fie was awarded; 25 guineas to the assessors, to be paid equally by both i parties ; no costs on either side. With regard to the legal questions, his Honor stated that they had assessed that the depth of water was the same as. it vyaa iu December, 1882. With regard to the second point, his Honor said ■ he had directed the assessors that the claimants could use the store for general purposes. The present award was a provisional one. The final award would be drawn np by the Supreme Court, Mr Martin : Is there no alternative award in the case against the Corporation? His Honor : No ; we assume that it does not affect the strip ci wharf near the street. Before the awards were delivered his Honor suggested to counsel (Messrs Shaw and Chap* man) that they should agree to the costs to be paid by the unsuccessful to the successful party. Mr Shaw replied that there would be ; no difficulty in the sqatte^

By the tire which took place la their premise* last week, M'ssra Hullid«v and Co. fcust ined «am g-*, w> a e informed, to tho exfenfc of tearlv £2OO, tie window being at the time of the accident well Mocked with good* easily injured. A of the tonnage at the pork of 'VeWngton fer the month of May was laid upon the table a v , the il'rb ir Board mreting a ■•'•W'l'k. It showed an increase of 36 vefsels a*ifl 15,000 ton* compared with the cartepoadiug month in 18S4.

Ninety-four sections, varying in size from 122 acres to 41 acres, in the Upper WakaGlenorchy, and Eamslaw Districts of Ot.ig», are set aside by proclamation for lease under the Land Act Amendment Act of 1832. Two village site* In the Southland Land Diarlct are also set aside. Mr Peter Hansen ia rather unfortunate, Ou Saturday morning a man, nam-ed Thomas Smith, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment for stealing a pair of boots from Me Hausen’s shop in Cuba street. The same evening a man named James Shaw, alias Williams, stol * another pair from the shop, and ia now iu custody. A few weeks ago there was a similar robbery. As showing how property has depreciated iu value in Patea, tho Taranaki Herald says that education reserves were let there to bring in about £250 a ve»r, but owing to bad time?, the lessees have failed to pay the rents, and the Board have received numerous applications for leniency. Owing to this, and to many of the leasees throwing up their leases, only about £SO is expected from Pate*.

Shortly after 9 o’clock on Monday morning the engineer of the steamer Waihi, then lying at the Queen’s Wharf, observed the body of a man floating in the sea close to the vessel. The body was brought on to the wharf very shortly afterwards, when the captain and parser of the steamer Suva identified it as the body of a man named William Moore, who was employed on the Sava, and disappeared early this month. The body was removed to the Morgue, where a Coroner’s inquest was held. Ere long the despised North will be looklog up (says the Kawakawa newspaper). On the one hand a new coal company iu the vicinity of Kawakawa, coni mending a I*rge capital, is at present behind the curtain, awaiting terms with one party out of four ; while on tho other, a good payable goldfield iu this district has been proved to exist—a crushing producing 2ozs to the ton having taken place but we are debarred from letting out the secret until those entitled put in their claim for the usnal reward.

The Governor has appointed the Hon George Randall Johnston, Messrs Arthur Winton Brown, William Clark, Samuel Danks, Francis Humphries Fraser, Herbert G*by, Robert Mackay Greenfield, John Chantrey Harris, Charles Beard Iz\rd, Charles John Johnston, Joseph Edward Nathan, Alfred Kiugcoma Newman, James O'Shea, William Henry Quick, William Richard-Waters, Charles Edward Waster Herbert James William*, and the Mayor for the time being of the city, to be a CLmmitteo of Management for the Wellington Hospital. A full rehearsal of the Festival Chorus took place Monday evening in the Drillshed. There were upwards of 200 present, including some of the orchestra. The works rehearsed were u Elijah ” and ft Creation,” Mr Parker conducting the former, and Mr West the latter work. They were both greatly pleased with the manier in which the choruses wore gone through, and the fine volume of sound was heard to great advantage. The acoustic properties of the Drillshed appeared to be admirable for the purpose for which It ia intended.

A peculiar disease is rife !a Blackall (Queensland) jast now, terminating fatally to a number of children. The complaint attacks the throat, and has somewhat the appearance of diptheria, although the local medico? aver that it is quite distinct, ana results from defective drainage. One family of selectors, named Johnson, have lost their four children from the disease in as many weeks, and many families mourn tbo loss of one or two of their loved ones.* Opthalmia also prevails ; aeveial bud cases have occurred in which children have entirely lost an eye, and in one case an 'unfortunate woman became totally blind. At the last meeting of the Hawkes Bay County Council an Interesting discussion took place on local government. Mr Tanner argued in favor of a return to provincialism in a modified form, and Mr Sutton, the chairman, replied that the old Provincial Government of Hawkes Bay never did one-fourth of what the County Council had done during its existence. It was, too, quite hopeless to expect that the whole of the Hawkes Bay provincial district would be content to be governed from one centre. His impression was that Mr Tanner was iu a minority of one in that belief—certainly ninety-nine out of every hundred ratepayers in Waipawa and Wairoa counties would object to the change. The Lyttelton Times says there Is a difficulty in the way of successfully acclimatising the salmon in Canterbury, a difficulty arising from want of funds. The young fish are certainly in the hatching boxes, and are doing well. The accommodation for them when they leave the boxes, however. Is not by any means what could be desired. A large race and aa artesian well, the whole coat of which would be less than £2O, are absolutely necessary. Even this small expenditure is beyond the means of the AccUmat r aatioa Society, and it la to be hoped that some of the public will come forward at this juncture to lend & helping hind towards making a mssb important addition to our food supply. A very successful concert was given In aid of the prize fund of the City Rifles' Volunteer Corps last evening week. There was a large attendance* and the programme was got through with great zest. The Garrison Band played an overture. Among the most noticeable items were the comic duet, “ The happy policeman, 11 by Miss Williams and Mr W. Hare ; a stump speech by Mr A. E, Obale ; the song, “ The Irish jaunting car,’* and 11 Sailing o’er the deep blue sea,” by Mr G. Hammond. Two items had unfortunately to be omitted, unforeseen circumstances preventing the performers from appearing—viz., “ The bellringer,** by Mr w.' Eotfc, and “Bine Alsatian Mountains” by MrS. B, Bead. Two very well rendered comio songs, sung by Mr W. M. Hare, concluded the vocal part of the entertainment. The accompaniments were played by Mias Smith. After the concert was over, the hail was cleared for dancing, which lasted until a late hour. A woman named Elizabeth Harris tried to commit suicide about 2 o’clock oq Monday afternoon by casting herself into the bold of the e.s. lonic, now lying alongside the pier. She bad gone on board about ao hour before, with another woman, and after looking over the ship, eat down near the main hatchway, which was open for the discharge of cargo. She suddenly made a spring, and getting over a chain supported by stanchions which was between her and the hatchway, threw herself down into the bold. Her companion tried to hold her back, bat was not strong enough, and the woman fell on the kelson from height of nearly 30 feet. She wai attended to atones by Dr. Lenney, the ship’s surgeon, and was afterwards sent to the Hospital. The report on Monday was that she bad injured her back, but no bones were broken. The woman bad been drinking, and making no attempt to spread ont her hands and feet to break the fall, suffered less injury than she probably would have if she had been quite sober. She la a married woman Kvlng in Te Ar-?. Immediately after the reading of the indict- ; ment at the trial of Oharles . Trengrove at ■ Timarn, bis Honor Mr Justice Johnston asked who M. A. Pratt was, to which Constable ' Willoughby stated that she was the sister of the prisoner. His Honor then directed that she should come forward, and on stepping forward be asked her why she had written to him. Mrs Pratt said that her brother was deaf, and she thought be would not hear what was said. His Honor said. he would take care that prisoner knew what passed. He said be presumed she was anticipating legislation, and was desirous of exercising the privilege which her sex would have of acting as lawyers, and asked her if she wished to appear on her brother's behalf as his counsel and to ask questions, to which Mrs Pratt answered that she would like to ask Mrs Bennett some questions. His Honor told Mrs Pratt that she might sit in Court and suggest questions, but she must cot Interfere, and mentioned that probably if some legislators bod their way anybody passing along the street might soon be able to come in and interfere In oaoes. Mr Blacktnore, Honorary Inspector to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has placed in our bands lor perusal the correspondence connected with a aiz-legged sheep, which appeared to be in such a diseased condition that it was an act of cruelty to permit it to remain alive. We referred to the matter in our issue lost week. The case was reported by the Honorary Inspector to the Society on 22 nd May, and Mr Michte, veterinary surgeon, was Immediately instructed by the Resident Magistrate to examine and report upon it, but in consequence of obstacles which were placed in the way, together with the removal of the animal to a distance of about ten miles, Mr Michle could not inspect the sheep until the 28th May, when he made a written report, which wound up by saying that “the sheep was suffering from disease of tbe bones (caries), and ought to bo destroyed.** Mr Blackmore acted quite right in reporting the case to the Society, and hie report is backed up by the testimony of a duly qualified veterinary surgeon. Mr Blackmore's duty ended when he duly reported the case to tbe Society, and personally solicited the ’Magistrate to grant an order for the veterinary surgeon to examine and report upon the case. It is uodoobtadly the duty of the to ■ keep a watch upon such cases, anddn ao doing • they impose a useful check on any possible cruelty.