THE Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1874.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4012, 25 December 1874, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1874.

It is to be hoped that the happy fortune which attended the Dunedia Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute at the last annual meeting will not desert it next month. It is true that we cannot expect that such burning questions as that of the Sunday Opening will be to the fore. If there were but six Sundays in the week x and a debate upon opening on each of them were to occur every year, that Institution would shortly become the most popular and richest of its kind in the Australian Colonies. We accept Mr Stout's computation of the growth of numbers this year, which has not been questioned for its accuracy, although his inferences are not universally accepted. No such good fortune, however, can be expected every year. There arehot

many subjects like the Sunday Opening | question, upon which almost everybody | has a decided opinion one way or other. There are smaller matters, however —^ or rather matters considered smaller—v which promise to engage the attention of the'members next monthwith,' we trust ,, the same .fortunate result of increasing the prosperity of .the Institute. ' Fore--! most among these comes, the question", whether the Committee should accept j every book and newspaper offered to | it without payment, or •whether they : should excercise a certain discretion as to the books and papers upon their | shelves and tables. We put the alternative thus, because we do not see any practical course other than those two which can be adopted. The third proposed course, viz., that the Committee should accept all offers, providing the literature presented is not positively immoral, in the sense of coming within the scope of the law, does not seem to us practical. We have no such blind reliance upon the law of the land as to conceive it the best arbiter concerning what everybody, young and old, ought to be allowed to read. It is vastly convenient, and saves a very great deal of trouble, no doubt, to invoke the law as the great god who shall decide all those finer and more difficult questions of morals and so forth that constitute our puzzles now. A good j many people refer to the law of the, land as the great authority in such matters, and invest it with a certain ! infallibility, which, like most such dogmas, will not bear examination, and require a great deal of faith in acceptance. To hold that the statute book is the best authority to decide what literature should be allowed to lie on the tables of the Athenaeum, is entirely to forget what is the proper scope and limit of that law, for what purposes it is fiamed, and under what restraints its powers must necessarily be exercised. The odd part of the thing is that it is generally the most unrestrained thinkers, the most unfettered in their own private judgment, who are most ready to invoke the civil power as their guardian and guide. Remembering how and with what objects, by what powers, and under what difficulties our laws are framed, it seems positively childish to appeal to such a pope to decide the very difficult questions—How can the space at the Athenaeum be best used? What class of literature is best to be exposed upon its tables ? We have very little patience with the doctrine of the " divine right" of the Provincial Council or House of Representatives which seems to cling to those who are for ever defining the rights of the public to read, by the answer to the question : Does the law allow such a book 1 The Council is chosen for far other purposes than to decide what books are immoral or licentious, so immoral, so licentious, that they should not be allowed to lie on the Athenaeum tables. If Government is to decide all these minute questions, it must he chosen for that very purpose, and would very soon pass much stricter laws than are now necessary. The representatives of the people have not, as yet, assumed this, among other functions, to themselves, and until they do, these matters are much better left to Committees chosen for that very purpose. We have every respect for the representative bodies of the people, but they do not include the entire wisdom of tho community, and there are many matters concerning which their combined judgment is worth much less than that of almost any one of the units that choose them. The question, Is this book fit to appear among the literary treasures of the Athenaeum? is one of those things which could hardly be submitted to a tribunal less fitted to give a sound judgment than the power that makes the law of the land. We hold that it is a mere reductio ad absurdum of the theory of paternal government to say that every book or paper offered to the Athenaeum should be accepted and find a place there, unless it is of such a character that its public sale would be prohibited and punished under Lord Campbell's Act, forsooth. The Cpmmittee of the Athenaeum must exercise their discretion. It is one of the purposes for which they are appointed. If they exercise that discretion under the guidance of either orthodox or free-thinking bigots, arcade* ambo, the subscribers have an easy remedy every January.

If they keep out works which are merely displeasing to the Churches, or if they admit works which are delightful only to prurient youths and crackbrained philosophers, they are equally to blame. To solve the. difficulty by denying them any discretion at all may suit the Doctors of Laputa, but will not go down in Dunedin. The mistake is to make so much of saying that the Committee must accept all offers, or else find themselves landed in the difficulty of having to decide whether a book is unfit for admission. Of course it is a difficulty, and equally of course it has to be met by considerable care and liberality of selection. Those who would deny the Committee the exercise of their discretion are really asserting that the subscribers are not be trusted to choose men to represent their opinions. The fun of the thing is that these same good people do not venture to question the, trustworthiness of those who elect the law-making powers. We do not know whether the matters, the intricacies of which we have touched upon, will assume the position of a v bm-ning question," that depends upon the zeal with which the business is worked. We have no moral doubt whatever that the question will be somewhat keenly debated this next January. It is to be hoped that the subscribers will not be deluded by the fallacies of pseudo liberalism into forfeiting their right of choice, into binding themselves by hard and fast lines. This sort of thing is great fun to lawyers, as presenting them with an opportunity of exercising their legal subleties in driving a coach through an Act of the Assembly ; it is quite out of place in an Athenaeum.

Mr Fox has caught a Tartar, and he has been read a lesson, which it is to be hoped he will profit by ere he again addresses the public on the Temperance question. He has tried the dangerous experiment of introducing into his pleas statemenis which will not bear too close examination, in the hope that the other side would not come into court, and that consequently his uncontradicted pleadings would pass for gospel. The other side, however, has come into court, and we would recommend a perusal of the Eev. Mr Stanford's letter to those who listened to

or read Mr Fox's lecture. Surely Mr Fox ought to have known all that Mr Stanford tells him. For many years all who, like Mr Fox, are advocates of prohibitory legislation have watched with interest the result of the prohibition of the liquor traffic in the State of Maine. Nor has this experiment been a matter of interest to Good Templars only. * .Wherever amongst civilised communities the evil of drink has been felt, an anxious ' eye has been kept upon the,, operation of the Maine Liquor Law, with the view of ascertaining its effects. Did Mr Fox know that the host of eminent Americans whose names Mr Stanford "quotes condemned the law as pernicious ? If he did, why did he not tell his audience the other evening what these men had said 1 If he did not, it becomes evident that he has not made himself acquainted with the. facts about prohibitory legislation, and that he has shown the most profound and crass ignorance that a man could exhibit —ignorance which is not pardonable—ignorance, which, in a legislator and ex-Minister, is culpable in the highest degree. The honourable gentleman will, doubtless, recognise these words. We confess that we entirely fail to see that any good can accrue from his misrepresenting the facts which surroiind this interesting question. Surely, if-prohibitory legislation is the panacea for intemperance that Mr Fox, makes it out to be, nothing could further the cause he advocates better than his telling people the whole truth about the experiments that have been tried in that direction. Is it not fair to assume that he is aware that a narration of the whole truth on this subject would scatter his arguments to the wind ? As an amusing sample of Mr Fox's method of dealing with evidence which is against him, ; we would refer to that passage in his lecture in which he speaks of Mr Plimsolls visit to Maine. As the evidence is not in his favour, Mr Fox refers to the wellknown member for Derby as "a gentleman named Plimsoll, a member of the British Parliament." Mr Plimsoll, he says, once paid a visit to Maine, spent one night in the principal city, Portland, and made a flying visit through some other parts of the State. Now, if Mr Fox wished his audience to know the truth, he would have spoken somewhat as follows :— ""A" year or two ago Mr Plimsoll, whose philanthropic efforts on behalf of merchant seamen have won for him a world-wide fame, determined to satisfy himself by ocular demonstration of the actual results of the working of the Liquor law in Maine, with the view of enabling him to bring to bear upon the discussion on the Licensing Bill to be brought before the House of Commons, as sound a judgment as possible when the vexed question of prohibition was introduced. His mission, therefore, to America was a special one ; and if he had any prejudices at all, they were probably on the side of the prohibitionists, as, like myself, he is a total abstainer. The result of Mr Phmsoli's enquiries and observations was that he pronounced the whole system a failure." But Mr Fox, for reasons that are obvious, did not say this ; nor does his lecture furnish one instance of a fair and candid statement of the result of independent investigation into into these matters. The honourable gentleman has been clean bowled by the Rev. Mr Stanford, and the exposure ought to convince him that discredit will necessarily be cast upon many of his other statements. Cannot some of his followers point out to him how much damage he is doing to a cause which has the support of many excellent men, and which will continue to flourish without the aid of special pleading ?

We received the following telegram last night from our Wellington correspondent:— Judges Arney, Gresson, and Chapman all retire early in the year. Judge Chapman refused to retire until the Government gave a pledge that Judge Ward should not have the seat. Judge Gresson preferred to retire rather than leave Christchurch. Judge Johnston goes there: he is now preparing to remove. Mr-T. B. Gilliea has accepted one of the vacant seats on the Bench. It is not known who will get the other. Mr Prender"gast of course takes the Chief Justiceship.

Mails for the United Kingdom via San Francisco, by the Cyphrenes, will close at Auckland on Monday, the 28th December, at 4 p.m. Telegrams by this route will be received at the Telegraph Office, Dunedin, up till 1 p.m. of the 28th inst.

The unfinished, Cricket match between the Tradesmen and the Press will be resumed punctually on Saturday, at 11 o'clock, when players are expected early. The Invercargill team having made definite arrangements for a steamer, will play their match on New Year's Day. There ■will be a scratch-match played on the oval to-day, commencing about 2 o'clock.

Among the amusements announced for Boxing Day, the annual pic-nic to be given by.the H.A.CB. Society to the children attending St. Joseph's Catholic School promises to be not the least attractive. The site chosen for the pic-nic this year is at Green Island, not far from the railway station; and as great preparations have been made for the diversion of young and old, we have no doubt the event will pass off with satisfaction to all who attend. '

We understand that owing to the great length of the grass on the Town Belt the annual competition by the members of the Golf Club for the Club's gold medal will nofc come off to-morrow. It is likely that the Corporation will permit sheep te be grazed on the links, and in that case the turf will soon be fit to play on.

Yesterday evening, the main streets of the town presented the appearance they usually do on Christmas Eve. The streets were filled with people, bent on making their purchases for the festive season, or on enjoying themselves. The butchers' shops, poulterers, and confectioners had large displays of goods* and were well patronised.

We learn from the Chief-Postmaster that two additional Post Offices will immediately be opened in the suburbs of Dunedin, viz.: —rOne for North-East Valley, at the store of Mr Prictor, a short distance beyond the tollgate ; and one in the township of Kensington, at the store of Mr John French. Parties resident in the vicinity of these places should at once instruct their correspondents to address their communications accordingly.

The bazaar at Bluoskin, in aid of the fund for the erection of a Sunday School in connection with the local Episcopalian Church, will open on Boxing Day. Visitors will be conveyed to Blueskin by Mr Chaplin's coach, which leaves Dunedin at 9.30 a.m.

The following resolution will he moved by Cr. Isaac at the next meeting of the City Council:—" That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable the Corporation property extending from Police street to the Spanish Restaurant be immediately put np to auction in suitable building sections on twenty-one years' lease."

A mysterious French clock, recently imported by Mr J. Hislop, Princes street, was exhibited for the first time yesterday, and attracted considerable attention. The plate glass front, which has large silver figures, is about half an inch in thickness, and fifteen inches in diameter. The clock is worked by a most peculiar and delicate piece of mechanism in the lower part of the minute hand, which is of platinum, and ten inches in length. The hour hand is nine inches in length. The patent time-keeper is suspended by means of loop-holes in the glass front, and contains the address of the above firm. We are informed that the clock keeps excellent time. Nearly £400 worth of jewellery presented by

the New Zealand friends of Miss Alice May, prima donna of tho English Opera Company, was also exhibited in Mr Hislop's window. The diamond set valued at 250 guineas, was " presented to Miss May by a few friends in Wellington." The centre is of brilliants and the outer rim of rose diamonds set in silver and gold. The gold, necklace from Miss May's admirers in Christchurch was made exactly after the same pattern as that presented to the Duchess of Edinburgh at Home. The locket attached is set with pearls. We also noticed the emerald and pearl bracelet "presented to Miss May by her Dunedin friends on her benefit, Bth April, 1874." The testimonial from Auckland was a beautiful diamond locket. A silver hal6n bears the following inscription : —" Presented to G. B. Allen, Esq., by the members of the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal English Opera Company, Auckland, N.Z., 1874" An excellent piece of quartz has been attached to one end of the batdn, and greenstone to the other. There is a gold circlet of New Zealand fern, as a scroll, containing the words, ''Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson, Auckland, Napier, &c.''

: Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphed last night as follows : —Scheib's dray, loaded with beer, capsized into the Kawarau to-day, two miles above the Gorge. The driver wag badly injured, and has since died. The horses broke loose, and saved themselves.

A portion of the town of Musselburgh near the Anderson's Bay road will be offered for sale on Saturday. Musselburgb is the property of Mr 1). Proudfoot, who has constructed a splendid chain-wide road through it, leading from the Anderson's Bay road to the Ocean Beach. This road will run parallel with the Dunedin; Peninsula, and Ocean Beach railway. There will be two railway stations within the new township.

la one paragraph with reference to the turning of the first sod of the Dunedin, Peninsula, and Ocean Beach Railway, Mr D. Proudfoot was alluded to as the contractor. Mr M'lntyre is the contractor ; Mr Proudfoot being a Director. In his speech on the occasion, Mr Proudfoot stated that the making of the railway would increase the value of the sections on either side of the road fourfold, and not four per cent., as reported.

We are informed by Mr Edwards, manager of the Switzers Freehold Gold Mining Company, that the engine is at work with the pumping winding gear going smoothly. The shaft is expected to bottom on the lead in about 14 days, at a depth of 130 ft. A telegram from the mine manager states that the last sft of sinking is through wash dirt, with gold visible all through, and that he is fixing boxes to test the wash. , -,-. ;

The annual festival of the North Dunedin Presbyterian Sunday School takes place today, at Woodhaugh. '.-....

A notorious character named Mary Ann Cook, alias Miller, residing at Hampden, was received into the gaol yesterday evening, sentenced at Hampden on the 23rd instant, by Mr Parker, R.M., to two months' imprisonment, with hard labour, for stealing a sum of money from Thomas M'Kay, Hampden.

The 22 chosen to practise for the coming Interprovincial Cricket Match have been practising hard during the week, and are getting into something like shape. We have been informed that neither Clark, Macfarlane, M'DonnelL, Rhodes H., and Lambert can get away, but there is still plenty of strength left, although in the two former the strength cf the team in fielding will be materially reduced. The match, we are informed, will be played on the 27th and 28th January current, the team leaving here about the 23rd. We trust that arrangements will be made so that, they maybe taken direct to Lyttelton, and not kept knocking about the coast as on previous occasions. We have not heard whether Downes will accompany the team, but trust that arrangements can be made in order that he may. Should he do so, the team will be well provided with bowlers. The final selection will shortly be made, and we have received the following names as a tip : —Tait, Sampson, Eeade, Paramo?, Kettle, Godby, Fulton J. CL, Allen, Collinson, Downes, and Fen wick, with Meares or Rhodes D. X., for 12th man. All we can. say in reference to this team is that the Province might be represented by worse.

Dr Hocken yesterday held an inquest on the body of George Bussell, architect and surveyor, who died suddenly in Dr Crawford's shop, Rattray street, on Tuesday even T ing. The evidence showed that the deceased was a single man, about 44 years of age, native of Keynsham, near Bristol, England, and a member of the Episcopalian Church. He was occasionally intemperate, and had an apoplectic fit about two years ago. He had a brother in London, and was not in good circumstances. The deceased took tea with Dr Crawford last Tuesday evening about six o'clock, when he fainted, and was given some brandy and water, which revived him. Shortly before eight o'clock Dr Crawford left the deceased, saying that he would return at ten o'clock, and see him home in a cab.. Upon Dr Crawford's return he felt the pulse of deceased, whom he found ou the floor coiled up, and dead. He then gave information to the Police. The deceased had been taking quinine and strychnine at Timaru, and wished to have the prescription renewed. The medical testimony went to show that the cause of death was apoplexy, caused by an effusion of blood on the brain. The Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

About half the prizes in Messrs Eeith and Wilkie's Art-Union were drawn for persons living in the country districts. The two first, each valued at 27 guineas, went to Otakia and Outram, and the third prize was won by a gentleman residing at Green Island, who secured two valuable pictures, worth 26 guineas. An excellent little pic. ture goes to Catlin's River.

Banking premises in which an agency of the Colonial Bank is to be carried on are being erected for that institution in Palmerston, at the corner of Young and Sunday streets. The building is to be one storey high, the elevation from the ground line being about 19ft. The banking hall will be very commodious, being 30ft. by 17ft. The foundation, and the walls to the height of about six feet, will be of concrete, and the remainder of the building will be of timber. The whole of the fitting 3 and the interior lining will be of the finest selected native timber, and will be elegantly finished. This is done with the intention of showing what can be made out of our native products. The front will be finished in an ornamental manner, and the building will be such as to be a credit to a country town. Mr Ross is the architect.

For two days last week there was not a single case for the Resident Magistrate at Invercargill to deal with. This fact speaks well for the people of that town.

We have received a copy of the Victorian gold mining statistics prepared from the reports of the mining surveyors and registrars for the quarter ending 30th September, showing the following results:—The number of miners is 46,239, of whom 33,555 are Europeans, and 12,684 Chinese —33,083 being employed in alluvial, and 15,186 in quartz mining. There are 1134 steam engines, with an aggregate of 24,902 horse-power, and their value, with that of other mining plant, is estimated at £2,101,788. The number of square miles of auriferous ground actually worked upon is 1063, and there are 3398 distinct quart? reefs proved to be auriferous. The deepest shafts in the Colony are the

Magdala, 1457 f t; the Newington and Hea« saufc Creek, 1360 f t; and the South Scotchman's, 1256ft—all in the Pleasant Creek division of the Ararat district. The estimated yield of gold for tho quarter was 105,5050z 6dwt from alluvial, and 170,2450z 2dwt from quartz mines — together,. 275,7500z Bdwt. The quantity exported in the quarter was 207,5130z 3dwt. The, Koyal Mint received during the period 92,9770z of gold or bullion, and issued 86,8040z of gold coin and 8460z of bullion.

Some considerable improvements are being effected at the premises vacated by Mr A. R. Hay, draper, since the recent conflagration in Princes street. The workmen of Messrs Craig and Gillies are transforming the building into an excellent caf6 in the most approved style for Mr William Savage, who lately arrived here from Melbourne. The shop (17 x 24), besides the usual luxuries contained in a confectioner's establis1 ment, can boast of the largest Christmas cake made in the Southern Hemisphere. It measures 5 feet in diameter, and about 4 feet high. It is a superb piece of workmanship, and contains the following ingredients: Flour, 3601b5; sugar, lSOlbs; butter, 1801bs, eggs, 2160 j currants, 5401bs ; sultanas, 961b3; candied peel, 901bs; almonds, 401bs j flavouring, 201bs; icing sugar, SOlbs. The total weight is about 16Jcwt. The cafd-room [(29 x 24) will be fitted up very elegantly, and the ladies-room (13 x 24) adjoining is to be tastefully decorated; besides which, the next apartment will be set apart as a sort of boudoir. Mr Saunders is the architect, and Mr Leves has charge of the decoration of the walls. A. winding staircase leads.from the central room to a suite of apartments for family use over the: shop. The workshop (70 x 24) underneath the caf4 is necessarily in a rough condition at present. The monster cake occupied about a fortnight in making, and three days were spent on its ornamentation. It is mounted with a beautiful vase of flowers. About 6 o'clock last evening the cake was christened " the Paragon," and when the shop was brilliantly lighted it attracted much attention. We understand that the cafe* will be completed before Tuesday next.

The small community located in the Government buildings on the land reclaimed at Mussel Bay, Port Chalmers, is earning a most unenviable notoriety. One or two Court cases have been the outcome of the bad behaviour of the people there, and yesterday another was heard at the Police Court, and revealed a very bad state of things indeed. Two women and one man were implicated, Catherine Mcdix having preferred a charge of assault against Robert and Ellen Turner. The evidence of both sides consisted of a volume of disgusting language, and left but little to choose between complainant and defendants. The swearing was particularly hard, and'gave His Worship no option but to dismiss the case. In doing so, he remarked, that, living as he did, near Mussel Bay, the conduct of the people residing on the reclaimed ground was brought under his notice very frequently, and he could only stigmatise it as disgraceful, that of the women especially so. On the evening of the day on which the alleged assault took place he had heard the most disgusting language on the part of some of the immigrants, and he had made up his mind that their behaviour did not undergo a very marked improvement he would have them before him and compel them to find sureties for an amendment of their manners. We quite concurred with His Worship's remarks. The little colony of Asiatics and Carolines established at Mussel Bay is anything but a desirable addition to the highly respectable community of the Port.

The measles is pretty prevalent amongst the rising generation at Clyde. The children attending the public school were in consequence dismissed for their Christmas vacation almost a fortnight before the usual time. Whether the measles was the cause of the non-awarding of prizes at the annual December examination it is difficult to divine, but the omission of this interesting custom proved a great disappointment to the youngsters, many of whom had for months previous been exerting themselves to gain some little souvenir of the result of their studies.

The northern goldfields residents appear not so keen this year in the matter of their annual race meetings. At Clyde and Queenstown, no meets have as yet been announced. The usual Christmas meeting comes off on the Cromwell course, but the attendance of horses promises not to be large. For the two principal handicaps there were only seven nominated—four for one and three for the other. Whether this apparent neglect of the national sport is to be attributed to late malpractices on the turf elsewhere, or whether it is the result of bad times, it is hard to say—perhaps both causes have something to do with the matter.

An accident, attended' with rather serious consequences (says the Clutha Leader), occurred on Tuesday last at Waitapeka.- It appears that a coach belonging to Messrs Yeend and M'Neil was proceeding to Catlin's river, for the purpose of conyeying hands employed at the saw-mill to Balclutha, en route for Dunedin, where they proposed spending the holidays. Upon reaching the vicinity of Mr DWhytoek's store, the pole of the vehicle broke, and the horses bolted. A spring cart, loaded with merchandise, was standing at the door of the store, and in passing the coach came into violent contact with it, upsetting the cart, its contents, being scattered about and damaged. In attempting to arrest the horses a man named Neil Moley was knocked down, the wheels: passing over hia chest and otherwise injuring him severely, if not dangerously. Captain Eeenan, a passenger by the coach, was also injured in his endeavours to check the horses, and the driver, James Strachan, was thrown from his seat. When pulled up the coach was found to be so much injured that the further prosecution of the journey had to be abandoned.

A Victorian paper states that two squatters went to law some time ago to decide who was entitled to the possession of a ram worth £2 10s. The case has been before the Courts several times and is not yet decided. The costs up to the present time were said to amount to £500 on each side.

The manager of the Waipori Gold Mining Company, Mr E. Hill, informs us (Tuapeka Times) that the preparatory work at the claim is now being pushed on vigorously. A main drive to cross-cut the reef is in 80 feet, and he anticipates striking the lode when another 10 feet has been driven. The machine has been shifted from its old site to its present scene of operations, and it- will immediately be put in working order. A turbine wheel for driving the machine is ordered from Messrs Kincaid- and M'Queen's Foundry, and by the time it is in its place the. manager anticipates being ready to start crushing. Fourteen men are at present employed on the claim, and a large amount of work has already been done in the shape of road making and constructing a tailrace. The first section of the head race was completed by contract some weeks ago, and there is now a good supply of water on the claim, though the head of the race ia still being extended, and will be continued until it reaches the Waipori river, it being the intention of the company to sell what water they do not require for sluicing purposes, as the ditch commands a large number of auriferous spurs. It is refreshing to see so muoh enterprise sbowtt by a smaJl party of

in^jjl^pero has been .displayed in this. extensirl'andertaking. This company first offered the claim to the public in scrip, but not meeting with a ready response they deter, mined to undertake the work themselves. Se far it has been carried through in a veryrapid manner. It i» to be hoped the claim will repay them for the large outlay, as it is but seldom tho Drmetlia capitalists care to expend, their mon«>y on oar hitherto neglected reefs. The mining resources of the Province? will have a better chance of being developed by a small party of men in a claim than by the cumbrous and expensive workings of the existing system of company management, which in so many instances has led to a failure in this and other provinces.

The coach conveying the English Opera Troupe to Oamaru yesterday morning (saya the Tiniaru Herald of the 23rd) was arrested by the flood in the Pareora, the river being swollen from bank to bank. When the flooded stream came' in flight some cbasternation was caused among the occupants of the coach, and before- the vehicle was itt the water the leading comic member of the Opera Troupe was observed emerging from the inside, and taking liis place in the boot (from which the luggage had already been, removed to the roof) with'a profusion of gesture and grimace which only he is capable of. But for the real peril in whicJk the passengers were placed the scene wouM have been eminently ludicrous. When. the coach reached the middle of the stream, the boot passenger was immersed, up to his neck, and squalls very different from. those to which the habiluis of the Mechanics*' Institute are accustomed arose from the fair occupants of the interior of the coach. "We are glad to learn that the whole party escaped with no worse consequences than & wetting. The Otaio and Waio, we are informed, have been flooded, but the waters are fast subsiding in all the rivers. ;

Among our southern neighbours, Westport (-ays the local Times) is getting into good repute. At Hokitika t'j.e rumour has spread on semi-official authority that within, two years time Westpart will export a hundred tons of coal for every one sent out front. the Grey, and business men are awaking to the fact that despised Westport has a great future before it.

' The Mexican Government sent a party of astronomers to. Japan to observe the Transit of Venus. Their station was to be at No-

gasaki or Yokohama. The announcement that Sir Arthur Gordon: is appointed Governor of Fiji (says the PostJ is, we trust, incorrect, as, if not, the moefc unpleasant results, aie almost sure to ensue. A more unfortunate appointment could not, in fact, have been made. Sir Arthur Gordon's career in Mauritius shows thai; he m utterly unfit to occupy the position of. & Governor in any Colony, and more especiallyunfit to hold it in a Colony like Fiji. If he is appointed he will soon be at enmity witfit both the natives and the settlers, and not improbably cause enmity between them. Slip Donald M'Lean would have done much .better. If, however, the English Governments sends Sir Arthur Gordon out, then we trusfc that the various Australasian Governments will flatly refuse compliance with Lord Carnarvon's paltry request for a contribution of £4000 a year each towards the expense of maintaining the Fiji Government. If t&e Colonies are to contribute anything, they should certainly have some voice in the administration, and not be called on to find, money for a man like Sir Arthur Gordon to expend.

"Specialities," in the Queenslander, thußv writes of the heir apparent to the ex-King Cakobau: —The ncble savage has been ia. Sydney in the person of Ratu Timothy, heir apparent to Cakobau. Ratu Timothy is every inch a prince. He stands upon his dignity, but the other day he rather safe upon it. He was recently the lion «£ a stately dinner at Government House, and comported himself with native dignity. Bu6 what unsophisticated virtue is, proof againsfe the wicked inventions of civilisation ? , Rata Timothy came to grief. He assumed his place at table, escaped the liquid allurements of his finger-glass, and might have pulled through had it not been for his table napkin. What that complicated snowy model of the cocked hat of a man-of-war officer mighfc symbolise he could not divine. He cast furtive glances at the enigmatical structure, bufi pride forbade enquiry. He speedily congratulated himself on his self-command. Sim. opposite neighbours one by one unfolded their cocked hats and conveyed them under the table. He understood the matter at a glance. But he was a prince, and bis motions must be attended with fitting pomp* He rose from his chair, gracefully waved Ms snowy damask a space, then flung its folds -to adopt the language of Poe, slightly varied—" upon the crimson velvet lining; which the lamplight floated o'er, threw it o'er his chair-seat truly, stately eat, ood nothing more." The London Standard says thatM. Gigne£ captain of a frigate in the French navy, rinds himself in a singularly awkward positions The gallant officer, who has been stationed : for some time in the Celestial Empire, havingbeen lent by his own Government to assist the Chinese in organising the maritime arsenal of Foo-chow, has beeu awarded the '- order of merit of the first clasa Ti-Ta. To refuse the decoration would be an insult to> His Ethereal Majesty, the,, brother of the sun; besides, no Frenchman was ever known to refuse a decoration, and Captain Giguel had not the discourteous courage to go against all precedent. He accepted the distinction. But here the difficulty arises !; The order confers on the. bearer the exalted privilege of wearing a jacket of yellow the Imperial colour. To join a band of knighfchood without the intention of ever wearing its insignia would be a peace of lubberly ' sneakishness, of which no French seaman could be guilty; but to walk about the Boulevards dressed in a gamboge nightgown, like the doomed heretic of an auto da-fe; is a,'.'. procedure hardly to be contemplated by a ' Bane mind. Captain Giguel is very unhappy^ and oscillates between the exquisite national sense of courtesy, and the delicate national dread of ridicule.

New Zealand, and its finances (says th* Home News) have attracted a good deal of attention in commercial and other circles o£~ late. The fact that Mr Julius Vbgel pur-'. ' poses visiting England early in the ensuing; year with the intention of raising another';.,, loan—to the extent of four millions' sterling-" ■ it is said—has naturally tended' towardsV concentrating this interested. That New Zealand is a great Colony no one acquainted with it or its capabilities can doubt. Ths6 it ia expending money far faster than ifc ■ earns it is patent to all the world. To sjwgjtj money is, nearly always, a pleasant gra» ~ cess, but, as a rule, a day of reckoning must ' come. Mr Charles Fellows, who appears to know the Colony well, has addressed a couple of letters to the PqJJ Mall Gazette, calling attention to what Jt» deems the ruinous and suicidal policy of paying; interest on loans out of other- Burners - raised for reproductive purposes. This, he contends is practically the habit o£ the New Zealand Government, and, if true^ -. must have an unfavourable, influence upon the commercial position of the Colony, '"'ft 1*""" would be a pity to bring suoh an effect to boftr upon the circumstances of the Qajonyi and it is to be hoped that Mr Vogel's money* borrowing propensities may be restrained within becoming limits. His iPofynegiaK scheme is not looked upon with m,u.ch favour',, here, and be will find it difficujij to "worifc.v , the oracle in- that direction,] ~; ;-'

The Tasmaaian Tribune, speaking of the Crovernor's levee, says that there was a .great variety in the form and fashion of the cards that were used; but the most striking instance of an impromptu in that direction was the half of a bottle iabel on which the name of the worthy cisizen who presented it •was printed. The following paragraph about a wellknown Colonial artist is from the Home News :—"Mr Nicholas Chevalier — who is busily engaged on a picture representing the j marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh to the <2rand Duchess of Russia, at the command of Her Majesty the Queen—has recently "been elected a member of the Graphic, a position that any artist may well be proud of. "We are sure that Mr Chevalier's friends in the Colonies will be heartily glad to hear the news." The Tasmanians have for some years past been exporting stud sheep and cattle to the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. It is stated in a late number of the Mercury that a number of pure bred Leicester sheep and Durham cattle were sent to New Caledonia from Tasmania a few weeks ago. An amusing story (says the Ballarat Star) las been going the rounds lately. A certain young lady, who considers herself in the cream of society, was betrothed to a wellknown merchant. Before the ceremony her " ma" persuaded her to pay a visit to the fashionable Bourke-street drapers, where an elaborate trousseau was purchased to the extent of about £60. Injunctions were given that the bill should be sent in to the expectant sjiouse, but not until a oertain date, a few days after the ceremony, the approach of which was not of course mentioned. By an accident the bill was sent out at the end

of the month in the usual course, and the

bridegroom expectant, of course, at once —Availed to explain to the drapery firm that, being still a bachelor, he could not possibly have incurred a heavy liability for feminine frippery. The state of the case was represented to him, the result being that he declined to fulfil his matrimonial engagement and to pay the bill. The lady (says the Ballarat Star) is therefore left without her sweetheart, and with hertrousseau on hand for the next emergency of a similar character, for which "pa" will probably have to pay.

The Hobart Town Mercury states that on the 4th inst., at the sitting of sthe Criminal Court, before the Chief Justice, Sir Francis Smith, the present position of the Church of Scotland in Tasmania was brought somewhat frominently forward, and some passages at arms took place between Hh Honour, the Rev. John Stone, of St. Andrew's Church, and Mr Crisp. The case before the Court was that of the youth William Hopwood, charged with perjury, in having sworn certain false statements before Mr Storie, whereby he induced that gentleman to marry him to a damsel named ;Ellen Haylett. Mr Storie was placed in the witness box, and •deposed to having married the defendant, at the same time producing!the affidavits. Mr ■Crisp, who appeared for the defence, then proceeded to cross-examine him, with the •object of proving that Mr Storie had not sufficient authority to perform marriages. 'The rev. gentleman held an authority from -.the Rev. R. S. Duff, who signed himself as Moderator of the Presbytery of the Church of Scotland in Tasmania.; and Mr Storie not only asserted that there was no Presbytery lin this Colony, but that Mr Duff was not a minister of the Church of Scotland. The •Chief Justice thought Mr Stories conduct in .acting under, an authority .from a man whom ihe did not recognise-even as a minister, much jless as Moderator of his church, was so reprehensible, that he twioe told him he ought ■to be ashamed of himself. Mr Storie re- • ceived the reprimand-very quietly, and it did not appear .to disturb the equanimity of his i temper in the least.

Among the many amusements to be presented to the public on Boxing Night, not the leastattractivewillbe that of Dr Carr on-Mesmerism, at the Masonic Hall. Each ; seance will not only be amusing but instrucitive. A newifeature ia the programme will ■be introduced in the shape of laughing gas, :for the administration of which the Dr has , all the necessary appliances. On Sunday evening Dr Carr will lecture on "Jesus of Nazareth." 'There w3l be no charge for admission, but .voluntary contributions will be /received, in Aid of the Hospital funds. To-morrow iis 'the opening night of the English Opera Company at the Princess Theatre, andvweihaye no doubt they will be welcomed baok to Dunedin by a crowded

; house. Rossini'siepera of " Cinderella" will "^"ibe produced, and ike management appear to 3 have done all iin their power to ensure its success. Mr 0", "S. Willis has painted some jnew and I beautiful scenery, and we believe that the opera will be put on the -Btage in a complete form, especial at- ■■ tention -having been paid to the ballet. Miss Alice May, of course, takes the part of * Cinderella, and Mr Hallam that of the Prince, -while tike other characters will fiad j representatives in Miss Johnston, Miss Howe, Miss Lambert, and Messrs Newton, Templeton, "'ST'erndn, and Wilkinson. The jplot of tfate opera is tolerably well known. .A beautiful transformation scene has be_en ,prepared, and no pains have been spaaed, to i make the CJhristmas pantomime a success. 'The comic business is under the direction of "JUr Inglis. Mr C. Newton will be iarlequin; Mdlle.Kate Lester, columbine; Mr. Howard clown;. Mr C. Lester, pantaloon ; ■■while ifike Brothers Siegart will appear as sspritee. The pantomime is full of fun, and .contains a number of local allusions and hits tihafraire sure to cause no end of amusement.