THE Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1875.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4026, 13 January 1875, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1875.

No one who looked round the'room during the meeting upon Tuesday to elect the School Committee for 1875 could fail to see how deeply interested the Dunedin public felt in a careful selection being made. It might have been supposed, a priori, that in a large town like Dunedin, where the school is only one of many institutions, a certain apathy and neglect would be apt to creep over the mind of the public concerning it. In the village towns of the interior something of this kind has happened, and in the purely agricultural districts, where, of all places, the school is chief, just there it is almost entirely uncared for. Certainly there was no lack of interest upon Tuesday night. The electors were evidently possessed with the idea that they were exercising one of the most important of their rights, and were eager for all care to be taken that their real mind should be fully expressed.

We must congratulate the Dunedin School world more especially upon the excellence of the Committee chosen. Year after year the material offered has been improving, and we may say that a better Committee has never yet o been chosen in Dunedin than that of Tuesday. So long as men of the same standing and ability freely offer themselves for this work there need be no talk of diminishing the powers of School Committees. If anything like the same sort of men could be got to work for their schools in other places, we should not even grudge more extended powers to them. Something was said, with a good deal of force, about the saving that would have resulted if the Dunedin School Committee had had the control and management of the funds devoted to building a new school. Of all the means for spending money, of all the powers that waste it in detail, commend us to a Government like ours. There could be no possible objection, in case of a new school being immediately required, to the School Committee having the requisite sum given them to expend instead of their taking the building over when finished. It seems that the Normal School building is the next on the list of new buildings which we are to expect. Already the foundations are laid, and the present year will, in all probability, see the school open. We fancy that a good many of our readers have very hazy ideas as to what a Normal School means. It is a need forced upon our attention by the extreme difficulty of finding competent school teachers in the Colony. The same difficulty which seems to beset all the churches in procuring efficient ministers, besets our school managers, only with stress greater in proportion to the greatness of their demands. Since it is found to be impossible to get trained teachers from other places, it is but an act of wisdom to endeavour to train them on the spot. Those who predict evils for the new institution—who compare it unfavourably with similar homes of culture which they have known in Great Britain—always seem to us to forget the urgent necessity for supplying the want that has been felt. Before objecting to the foundation of a Normal School, it is but fair that they should suggest some other means by which to fill the vacant ranks and give us teachers. For a Normal School, with whatever difficulties it may have to contend from the fewness of its scholars, or its overlapping and rivalling other district schools, does bid fair to supply in a measure the want of teachers. We want additional teachers to the extent of some fifteen or twenty at least, every year; the Normal School should lay its account to producing some ten or fifteen trained skilled teachers. Given a three years' course, and it should, in order to fulfil its work thoroughly, have always some thirty-five men and women teaching, and at the same time beiug taught, within its precincts. Now, in order to do this to the best advantage, there should be some twenty children for each teacher. By a simple sum in multiplication we arrive at the result that there should be at least seven hundred children being taught at the Normal School. This is undoubtedly a number considerably in excess of whab may be expected to attend. We draw, therefore, this conclusion — that the existence of a Normal School will not render it unnecessary to procure fresh help from home. It is difficult to understand how any real opposition can exist to a scheme so manifestly useful. If there were but fifteen schools in the Province, when all were told, it would be the height of absurdity to propose an institution especially devoted to training teachers. Mere theorists in such matters do at times propose this kind of thing, only to get laughed at for their zeal. The need for a Normal School arises just exactly at that moment when there are a great many schools looking for teachers, and but few good applicants. We earnestly support Mr R. Giilies's proposal, and hope that the new Committee will push on the matter of the Normal School with all diligence. A good deal was said upon Tuesday night about the overcrowding which was going on in the present schools, and the consequent (if it be consequent) want of ventilation. One new school every year is the proper remedy, or, perhaps, if the town goes on expanding as it has done in the last year, two new schools. A most serious injury is done to the whole system when one of its warmest friends is compelled to admit that he did not wonder at people not sending their children to the district schools, considering the want of room in them. Consideriag all that is said against the system, it is surely the height of folly and bad policy to leave so plain a cause of offence unremoved.

A letter upon " Constitutional Changes," from the "pen of Mr E. Jerningham Wakefield, takes up rather more than four columns of the Lyfctelton Times. The points to which the writer chiefly addresses himself are—a possible reconstruction of the Ministry before Parliament meets, and the probability of an attempt on the part of a portion of the "re-formed" Cabinet being made "to annul the proviso for localisation of land revenue." Mr Wakefield seems to think that Mr Stafford will take Mr Vogel's place in the Cabinet, and he concludes that this arrangement has been contemplated for some time past. He refers to the general support accorded by Mr Stafford to the Premier's policy during last session, and

to his silence upon matters of moment regarding which his views were opposed to those of the Government. The first step taken to prepare the Cabinet for the reception of Mr Stafford as "its head was the appointment of Major Atkinson in Mr O'Boeke's place. Major Atkinson having been an old colleague of Mr Stafford's, and having been a consistent opponent of Provincialism throughout his political career.1 are facts which Mr Wakefield deems it ;to full of significance. He asserts, moreover, -that Mr Bo wen's political antecedents point to the likelihood that he also is probably willing and able to co-operate with'Mr Stafford. The most interesting portion of Mr Wakefield's letter, however, is that in which he endeavours to indicate the real views of the members of : the Cabinet respecting " the Compact of 1856." Mr Reynolds, when addressing his constituents recently, was emphatic in his desire that the terms of the Compact should be maintained inviolate ; and Mr Bowen, when at Kaiapoi, took up the same ground. Mr Reynolds and Mr Bowen, moreover, see no objection to the abolition of all the Provinces save Otago and Canterbury. The New Zealand Times, on the other hand—which Mr Wakefield assumes to be the organ of the other members of the Ministry— urges that all the Provinces should be abolished, and that the Land .Revenue should be seized for Colonial purposes. Whether Mr Wakefield be right in his assumption that the views of the New Zealand Times upon the impending " Constitutional Changes" are in accord with those of a section of the Cabinet, we cannot of course tell; but that that journal recommends the seizure of our land revenue there can be no doubt. This proposed act of spoliation it terms "the equalisation of taxation." Let the Times, however, speak for itself : — " Now, it is not in contemplation by any one that we know, to ' take the land fund from the South'; but it clearly is the intention of a majority of the inhabitants of this Colony to have such a revision of its fiscal property as shall result in an equalisation of taxation. How that is to be effected, it is for the General Assembly to determine. The Assembly has full power to make any disposition it pleases of the public estate, and of the revenues accruing therefrom ; and the representatives of the people will doubtless consider the question with a view to settlement, at no distant day." In presenting the substance of Mr Wakefield's letter to our readers, we by no means wish it to be believed that we coincide in the conclusion he has arrived at. Possibly there are some germs of truth in the straws he has gathered together amongst the public offices at the seat of Government. At all events, his words may set people thinking about some of the large questions which our legislators will, ere long, have to consider. Longing eyes are being cast at the land revenues of Canterbury and Otago ; and when tlve Assembly meets, the attempt to secure them for Colonial purposes, under the plea of equalising taxation, or some such plausible grounds, will undoubtedly be made. Let us hope that our representatives will be ready and powerful enough to repel the attack.

Our Auckland correspondent telegraphed last night to the eflect that there was nothing further of interest to communicate with reference to the Cospatrick. The agents had received no English telegrams with reference to the vessel, and were de. pendent upon those that had been published by the Press. The Melbourne Age says : " The Cospatrick was a well known trader to the Colonies, and Captain Elmslie, of the Sobraon, now. in this port, was the commander of the vessel prior to his taking charge of the Sobraon. His brother was then appointed to the post vacated. Captain Elmslie, of the Cospatrick, had his wife on board, but had left hia two children at home.

A presentation of 200 guineas was made last evening to the Very Rev. Father Coleman, the Roman Catholic Vicar-General of the Diocese of Dunedin. The rev. geD tieman at once presented the sum to the Right Rev. Bishop Moran, for educational purposes.

The customary services in connection with theopeniDgof the Presbyterian Syaod will be held this evening in the First Church. The retiring Moderator (Rev. J. H. M'Naughton), is announced to preach the sermon. The actual business of the session will probably be commenced at 11 a.m. tomorrow. We have been informed that Mr R. Uillies's case against the Rev. W. Bannerman, about which so much has been written, will come before the Synod for con-

sideration.

The Civil Sittings of the Supreme Court with special juries commenced yesterday, when the case of A. R. Hay v. Hogg and Hutton and Another, was partially heard. The jurors summoned for the case Mouat v the Bank of New Zealand, were dismissed until Thursday, Mr Macassey stating that in all probability an arrangement would be i ffeeted.

An important meeting of the Education Board tcok place yesterday, when a tabulated statement of the recent Provincial Scholarship examination was submitted. j The following minimum rate of school fees to be charged hereafter in the District School s was recommended by Messrs Hislop and Petrie, and approved :—Pupils in the first standard, 6s per quarter; second, 7s 6d; third, 9s ; fourth, 10s 6d ; fifth and sixth, 12s. The Secretary to the Melbourne Education Department wrote suggesting the desirability of the various Colonial Boards before appointing teachers to ascertain the character of the applicants and whether any objection existed, as, for instance, an applicant having been trained at the expense of the department of one Colony, and not having subsequently served the stipulated time (in Victoria this time is four years), or any other objection whatever. The Board simply noted the letter as read. The Secretary said they had a very smart leader on , this subject in one of the papers, but he did not know who it emanated from. A report in exlenso appears elsewhere.

The case Turnbuil v. Mackay and Another, a libel action brought by the present Provincial Treasurer against the proprietor and late editor of the Bruce Herald, will probably not be brought before the public through the medium of the Supreme Court. The special jury summoned to try the case were discharged yesterday, and we understand the matter is to be submitted to the decision of arbitrators.

At a meeting of householders and occupiers of land, held at Forbury on Monday the following gentlemen were elected a school committee :—Messrs Utting, Hodges, Hargreaves, Hardy, M'lndoe, Casey, and Halligan.

The prizes won at the Caledonian sports on Saturday afternoon, amounting tj £60, were presented last evening at Wain's Hotel. After all expenses have been defrayed, there will be a balance of about £25 for the Benevolent Institution, in aid of which the games were arranged. Had everyone who patronised the games by their presence contributed the trifling entrance money, about twice the amount (£B2) collected at the gates would have been received.

A scratch match between the team chosen to represent Otago in the ensuing contest with Canterbury and an Eleven of the D.C.C., has been arranged for Saturday afternoon. The following are the teams : Representatives—Allen, Fulton J. C, Glen, Godley, Kettle C, Lambert S., Rhodes d! X., Sampson, Tait, Fulton P. *(sub.), and Marshall (sub.) D.C.C. Eleven- Paramor, Macfarlan, MacDonnell, Fenwick, Clark,

Thomson, Park, Meares W. D., Meares C, Rhodes H., and Morrison. Emergency men —Austin, Sutcliffe, Rose, and Waugh. Fulton F., and Marshall are substitutes in this match for Reade (Oamaru) and Downes (Lawrence). Paramor.will be playing against his own team to strengthen the D.C.C. Eleven in the bowling department. We shall watch the contest with considerable interest, as the time for j meeting Christchurch is rapidly drawing close at hand. Play will commence at 2 p.m.*sharp. • ;

The first practice of the Choral Society for its next concert took place last evening. " Maritana" was the subject of rehearsal. There was'a good attendance, there being over 50 performing members on the platforih.

By the outgoing San Francisco Mail there will be forwarded nominations made in Otago since the 19th of December for 97 immigrants, equal to 81J statute adults. These nominations do not include those made within the past week. It should be generally known that nominations made on the last moment cannot be sent, as if made within a week of the closing of a mail they must stand over till the next mail. In consequence of this about eighty nominations made during the week cannot be forwarded till the next mail.

The immigrants by the ship Margaret Galbraith were removed to the Quarantine Island yesterday in the ship's boats, towed by the steamer Result. The vessel will probably be admittod to pratique on Thursday.

An attempt was made at Port Chalmers yesterday morning by the Captain of one of the vessels in the stream, to jump into the train after it had started. The authorities have taken action in the matter.

The meeting of the Chamber of Commerce •called for yesterday afternoon lapsed, only five members putting in an appearance, and ten being necessary to form a quorum. The following is the report which was to have been presented :— " The Committee, in obedience to the instructions' of the Cham, ber, conveyed to them in a resolution passed at the annual meeting, took into immediate consideration the question of obtaining a suitable apartment for the purposes of the Chamber, and have the satisfaction to re" port that as a result of an application made to His Honour the Superintendent, the Provineial,Governmenthas agreed to place attheir disposal a very suitable room in the Government Buildings, next the Resident Magis trate's Court. It now remains to secure such additions to the membership of the Chamber as are necessary to strengthen its interest and provide the needful funds to meet the annual expenses. To this end, the earnest co-opera-tion of all existing members is demanded in bringing; in as many as possible of their friends who may be eligible. It is desirable also, that the Committee should be authorised to invite such persons to join at once, without ballot. The Committee have not yet before them the.means of estimating the expense of fitting up the room and providing a supply of papers, &c, but will have to be guided by the amount of funds which may be placed at their disposal."

The Police here have reason to believe and do suspect that the man John Mercer, referred to in a Christehurch telegram as having been arrested for murder, is the same man who was sentenced to twelvemonths' imprisonment here some time ago, for indecent assault.

The accumulation of business to come before the Resident Magistrate's Couit is remarkable, and although a great portion of yesterday's list was adjourned until auother day, the sitting lasted until half-past 6— Police business only. The man charged with attempted rape, and Mary Fleming with theft, were both committed for trial.

It seems that another person in Dun. edin has lost a relative in the Cospatrick. A well-known publican in George street has just received notice by the San Francisco mail that a niece of his had taken her pasiage in the ill fated ship. She was shipped for Dunedin, and was informed by the agents that she would be forwarded from Auckland by train, and that the fare was only 30s.

The annual meeting for the election of a School Committee was held in the Schoolhouse, C'aversliam, on Monday evening ; Mr Rutherford in the chair. There was a small attendance. The report of the retiring Committee was read and adopted. The following gentlemen were then elected by ballot as members of Committee for the current year : —Messrs Rutherford, H. Calder, D. Baxter, W. Laing, John Anderson, Cameron, and Craig.

The annual parish meeting of the Holy Trinity Church, Port Chalmers, was held in the vestry of the Church on Monday evening, the Rev. Mr Leeson in the chair. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the chairman, who then delivered a short address, first congratulating his hearers upon the satisfactory condition of the Church and the progress made during the past twelvemonths ; he next recommended that the number of the vestry men should be increased to ten. He was pleased to take the opportunity of publicly thanking Mr Mansford for the very valuable gift of an altar cloth made by that gentleman to the Church, and he also thanked both him and Mr Gray, retiring churchwardens, for their services in that capacity during the year. Th<s subject of the Church's indebtedness was next touched upon by the rev. chairman, and he urged the meeting to take active measures to reduce ths debt. He concluded his remarks by calling upon the secretary, Mr Nicoll, to read the balance sheet. That document was duly introduced and placed the total receipts of the year at £282 7s, and the expenditure at £239 19s 4d, leaving a balance of £42 7s Bd. The nomination and election of Churchwardens was then proceeded with, Mr Downes being nominated as clergyman's churchwarden, and Mr Hudson elected as the representative of the congregation. The meeting then elected the following gentlemen as vestrymen :—Messrs Nicoll, Gray, Hooper, Davidson, Manson, Chick, and Southerland. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Mansford, seconded by Mr Nicoll, that an annual subscription list should be opened for the liquidation of the church debt, the list to supersede the subscription list of the stipend fund, and carried. On the motion of Mr Downes it was resolved to take immediate steps to have the parochial district of Port Chalmers formed into a parish ; and Messrs Monson, Nicoll, and the Mover were appointed a Committee to forward the object in view. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the

proceedings.

Lurline ran second to Wollotnai, the winner of the Midsummer Handicap in Melbourne on New Year's Day. Calumny secured third place in the Werribee Park Handicap at the Wiliiamstown Races.

Statistics of the principal Australian colonies (says the Southern Cross) show that New Zealand is the healthiest of the group, the death rate being lower in this colony than in any of the others. The deaths per thousand of population are, in New Zealand, 12.67 ; in South Australia, 13.48 ; in New South Wales, 13.84 ;in Victoria, 14.74; in Queensland, 16.06 ; and in Western Austra-

lia, 16,24. The rate of births is also high in New Zealand, though less so than in Queensland, which, following the usual experience of young colonies, is more prolific. Queensland birth rates are, 40.82 per 1000 of population. New Zealand and New South Wales

39 per 1000; South Australia, 36.42; and Victoria 36. Placing the low death rate of New Zealand in comparison with that of the other colonies • named, this Colony gives a higher vitality than any of the others. She has fully 2 per 1000 more than Queensland; about 14 more than New South Wales, nearly 3 more than South Australia, and fully 5 per 1000 more than Victoria. These unerring statistics form the best testimony to the climatic conditions and general salubrity of New Zealand.

The work of completing the Peninsula Beach road as far as Broad Bay is being vigorously proceeded with, and wherethereis now a gap in the chain of communication the road will be finished in about three weeks time. There will then be a fine and perfectly level carriage drive from town as far as the Broad Bay jetty. The new length of road will be a great convenience to the settlers, and will be appreciated by citizens taking a ride or drive along the beach. It is to be hoped that the beach road will be soon continued as far as the district road leading to Harbour Cone, as if this were done people coming by the beach road could return by the higher road, or vice versa, and and in this way be able in a few hours to have an enjoyable trip over the Peninsula. If the road were completed as far as the district road to Harbour Cone, another advantage would be that vehicles could get by the latter road to Porfcobello, which would be a i convenience pending the beach road being formed all the way to Portobello. | The full cleaning up of the Tokatea crushing of 26001bs of specimens (says the Coromandel Mail) amounts altogether to 24100z5. 19dwts. 12 grains of gold. The Royal Oak's return for December was 2600z5. sdwta. 12 grains. At a meeting of the Dunstan Jockey Club, held on Friday last, it was resolved—" That, taking into consideration the paucity of entries for the handsome programme offered by the Cromwell Club at their late meeting, and the uncertainty of there being a meeting at Qucenstown, this Club decide not to have a general meeting, but to offer a liberal programme for the ensuing spring meeting." A new definition of the word "civilisation" reaches us from Japan. Lately, a Japanese visitor to the English Club was induced to take some champagne, and on putting away his third tumbler, exclaimed, with great fervour, " I like civilisation." The Southland Times states that on th e 6th instant James Hennings, a miner, at Orepuki, received serious injuries from a fall of earth in his claim. The Lyttelton Times has a leading article, in which it discusses the present anomalous condition of things caused by the simultaneous rise in the value of money, and of the things which money buys. The Times asks: —"What reason can the Banks have for restricting their operations and for raising their discount 1 The public function of a Bank, the reason for which it obtains its privileges, is to facilitate the transaction of business, to promote the exchange of valuable commodities. Where does the difficulty lie which compels the Banks to charge higher than usual for the assistance they afford ?"

We have been informed (says the South Canterbury Times) that on Saturday evening a cask of coal tar and a ship's boat were observed in the sea, a short distance from Messrs Allan and Stumbles' camp at Pighunting Creek, three miles to the south of Timaru. The men secured the cask of tar, but were unable to obtain possession of the boat. They looked for it on the following morning, but could see no signs of it The above would tend to show that a wreck has evidently occurred somewhere off the coast.

The Bruce Herald states that Mr Carruthers, the Government Engineer, is at present engaged on the inspection of the Clutha and Tuapeka lines of railway. Mr Coyle, C.E., is now engaged making cross sections on the Tuapeka line at the mouth of the Round Hill Tunnel, in order to ascertain the nature of the country, as slips are anticipated.

The following story is told by the Wellington correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle :—"ls it actionable for a gentleman (other than the husband) to squeeze the hand of a young married lady, look unutterable things into her eyes, and press her to kiss him 2 This is what a married man of property here, aged 70, and named Bragge, has been accused of doing. Bragge owns some property, and recently when collecting the rents thereof called on one of his tenants, a Mrs Desforges. There was no one in the house but herself and children, and according to her story, the venerable yet amatory Bragge waived the pecuniary question* ot rent for a preliminary discussion on a softer subject. The lady indignantly rejected his overtures, and told her husband, who forthwith hied him to a lawyer and raised a civil action against Bragge, claiming £25 damages for the unwarrantable interference with his marital rights. The case was heard at length and judgment given for the defendant on the ground that the lady had sustained no actual damage. There was an attempt made to show that the proceedings had been taken through spite, because Bragge had raised the rent, but things were not made clear. Moreover, Bragge did not venture to go into the witness box, or in any way to deny the damaging allegation made by the lady. I dare say Mr Bragge has had a lively time of it in the domestic circle while explaining his somewhat eccentric conduct, which in truth affords another illustration of the time-worn adage, that ' There are no fools like old fools.' " We fancy we have seen this bfcfere.

The Age states that the Commissioners appointed to make the preliminary arrange ments for having the colony of Victoria re presented at the forthcoming Philadelphia Exhibition have sent in a progress report to the Government. They suggest the holding of a preliminary exhibition in Melbourne in August next, and state that, in addition to the Australian colonies and New Zealand, the following British settlements have been communicated with, and asked to co-operate in promoting the inter-colonial Exhibition : —Fiji, New Caledonia, Cape of Good Hope, Bourbon, Mauritius, Ceylon, Java, Singapore, Hong Kong, Manilla, and Japan.

For some time past (says the Araus) it has been found that the blue-books and statistical reports issued by the several Australasian Colonies were less valuable than they might be. In consequence of diverse modes of preparing them prevailing in the different Colonies, they could not always be properly compared, and the consequence was that the rates of progress of the different Colonies respectively could not be so represented as to show at a glance which was going fastest ahead. With a view to the remedying of this state of affairs, it was proposed that the Government statists of the different Colonies should meet in Hobart Town, and endeavour to agree upon a new system to be followed in each. The negotiation to this end has led to the fixing of the 14th of this month as the date of the conference. The statists of New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania will be present ; and also the Registrar-General of New Zealand, if he can get away from his home duties. The business which the gentlemen will meet to discuss is important to all the colonies. Trustworthy statistical information is to the statesman, legislator, and journalist what his base line is to the trigonometrical surveyor — the ascertained quantity from which he can safely carry forward his investigations, and rely upon arriving at just conclusions in the end. It

is to be hoped, therefore, that the business of the conference will be successfully completed, of which, there can scarcely be any doubt, the representatives engaged in 7it being skilled in their science, and there being no reason to anticipate that political feeling will arise to disturb their deliberations or warp tVieir judgment.

The Ballarat Star states that rather a novel speculation is at present under consideration by some of our leading sportsmen, and negotiations have been commenced, we understand, for the purpose of carrying it into effect. It is intended to take four of the besfc Australian steeplechasers to England, together with an equal number of colonial jockeys, and having eDgaged some convenient course to issue a challenge to any equal number of cross-country horses in the world. It is also the intention of the promoters to have the ground laid out after the manner of the principal Australian steeplechase courses, and in fact to have everything as nearly approaching Australian as possible.

Si* Redmond Barry, as judge of the ViceAdmiralty Court, gave his decision on December 24th (says the Argus) in the suit relating to the barque Lady Franklin. The vessel had belonged to Mr Thome, of Auckland, and was despatched on a voyage from Auckland to Melbourne, thence to Newcastle, N.S.W., there to await orders. After the vessel arrived in Melbourne, it was found necessary to expend large sums for necessaries, rspairs, &c. Messrs Lord and Son, the agents of the ship, advanced, in the first instance, £395, receiving a draft on the owner for the amount, which was subsequently paid. Afterwards they advanced further sums, making altogether £1000, and for this the captain gave them a bottomry bond. Messrs Lord and Son sought to enforce the bond, as Thome had become insolvent The validity of the bond was disputed by the Bauk of New South Wales, who were mort gagees of the vessel, on the ground that the advances were really made on the personal credit of Thome, and that the bond was an afterthought, to secure Mesars Lord and Son, when it was found that the owner was becoming embarrassed. The judge decided in favour of the bank, but without costs.

The following sad story of a darkened life is given in the Boston Transcript:—"ln Nashau, N.H., resides a young girl whose pitiful lot excites the deepest sympathy. When a child she was scalded about the head and face, and although she survived her injuries, the rosy face of childhood was changed to a mask—a travesty on the human countenance—absolutely frightful in its hideousness. In Lowell, Mass., where she once lived, so great was the horror excited by her appearance that she was forbidden by the authorities to show herself on the streets. At Nashau she ventured out the other day, and several ladies fainted at the sight of her, and a call is now made on the authorities of that place to forbid her appearance on the streets. What a mournful fate is hers! To live through the terrible physical suffering only to endure henceforward a keener mental anguish in the knowledge that she is a thing of horror to be abhorred and shunned by human kind."

" A flowering fern," says the Geelong Advertiser, "is acknowledged to be one of the curiosities of nature. Among botanists it has long been a disputed question whether buch a natural phenomenon existed in the colony. One or two of our forest explorers have said that they have witnessed ferns in flower during their travels, but as they always forgot to provide themselves with specimens, the. fact has invariably been doubted. Mr Robert Lucas has, however, resolved the question within the past few days. After a good deal of searching he found a number of plants of the kind described in full flower, and he has now preserved a number of specimens which the curious can be furnished with. The fern grows about 18in. in height, and has pendant flowers of a pure white growing from the leaf joints. The flowers are fin. in length, and have five petals with bright stamens. The root is bulbous. Mr Lucas has secured about a dozen stocks, some of which he intends forwarding to England."

With respect to the St. Osyth, which made the quickest passage on record, the Argus says :—" The new screw steamship St. Osyth arrived yesterday (Dec. 25th) from Plymouth, after a splendid passage of 47J days. The St. Osyth is a large full-powered steamer, built originally for the China trade, but on being finished she was placed on the berth for Melbourne, and filled up remarkably well in a short time with passengers and cargo. The St. Osyth is to be credited with having made the fastest passage known between England and Australia, and her commander (Captain M'Nabb) is sanguine of yet doing the distance under 45 days. The steamer has magnificent machinery, which drives her at 12 knot speed with ease in ordinary weather, but on the voyage she had to contend for more than thres weeks against heavy adverse weather. She also put into Sfc. Jago for 24 hours, which caused another delay."

Alluding to the escaped communists, the Brisbane Courier remarks :—" Judging from all the surroundings of the story of the escape of the two Communists who arrived so opportunely at Moreton Island with only a pound of biscuit and a pint of water, we have little reason to doubt that the escapees never traversed the watery waste between this and New Caledonia in the cockboat, with its bagging sails and one oar, which has jnst been cast on our shores. That the interesting strangers are escapees from New Caledonia there is no reason to doubt. But if this is the case, it appears nearly a certainty that they must have escaped in some vessel ' for a consideration,' and that the skipper, with a wholesome fear of consequences, has dropped them at the first handy spot. Should this hypothesis prove correct, it will deprive the adventure of its more romantic features, although sufficient of the marvellous will remain to be related by the actors in the drama to tak«s them out of the dead level of obscurity."

Our special correspondence from Tuakau (says the Southern Cross) respecting the inquest into the cause of the death of Miss Porch, gives a narrative of the extraordinary conduct of two drunken ruffians, who appear, from the evidence, to have conducted themselves in a most disgraceful manner in takiDg away the body of the unfortunate young woman who was drowned in the Waikato River last week. Our readers are aware that the body of Miss Porch was found at Tuakau. some nine miles down the river from Mercer, at which place she was bathing and swimming in the evening, as was frequently her custom. On missing her from the house, a search was made down the river, resulting in the discovery of the body at the place indicated by George Mowbr&y, one of the persons sent. Acting strictly in accordance with the practice, as laid down by Judge Johnston, Mowbray secured the body the best way he could, and went and gave information to the Coroner. Two drunken men were guilty of a gross breach of the law, and an unwarranted and shocking breach of that decorum and propriety which the presence of the dead ought always to evoke and secure. They removed the bedy from the spot where the finder had secured it, and, without waiting for an inquest, took it, as they say, to give it burial in a Christian burial-ground, they themselves at the time, as the evidence shows, being as drunk as savages. Their conduct after they were pursued by order of the authorities, their refusal

to give up the body, together with their bias* phemy and brutality of language, as notified in the evidenced before the Coroner, are extremely revolting, and shows to what depths of degradation drinM will reduce men, whom, even the solemn presence of the dead fails to restrain within the bonnds of ordinary decency, If o wonder that the customary qniefr of the little hamlet was greatly disturbed bysuch extraordinary conduct, and no wonder that the Coroner's jury attached a rider to their verdict strongly censuring the conducfe of the two degraded men, Wayte and Millefr, who have so shocked the feelings of the peopTe and scandalised the- community, and. we hope the whole circumstances, from firsfc to last, will beinrestigatedwith the utmost care.

"A very curisus fact," the Spectator ofeserves, " comes out in the Judicial Statistics of 1873. It is well kinwn that Ireland* apart from its perennial agrarian difficulties-,, some drunkenness, and great laxity in punishing murder, is singularly free from crime. The Irish in England and Wales, however are not free. Out of our 22,712,000 inhabitants, 566,000 are of Irish birth, and instead of furnishing 4000 convicts in the prisonsj, they furnish 22,100—five times their properproportion. The women- are especially bad!, forming one-fifth of the whole prison population. It is suggested that Ireland export* her criminal Glass, but we take it that tie fairer explanation is that the Irishman, K&e the Englishman, suffers on exportation from. the absence of the social atmosphere ta which he has been accustomed. The pressure of the only opinion he values is mffidrawn, and in England, as in America, te becomes indefinitely self-restrained. Tfce Irish in Liverpool are like Englishmen in. the South Seas, or the leas orderly parts oC Asia, and betray precisely the same impatience of control."

Writing of the visit of Sir Georre Bowea to Europe the Melbourne Argus says: '' Sir George has neither been inactive nor nn_ observant during his public career in this part of the world. He has taken advantage of every opportunity which has atisea fe» make himself personally acquainted with the scenery, resources, industrial capabilities^ and social life, of each of the three Colonies confided to his government, and will be therefore well qualified to furnish authentic information concerning Eiem to the statesmen of the mother country, and to those leaders «£ public opinion in England with whom ie may be brought in contact Nor will th© value of the information be impaired by in© fact that His Excellency is a fluent speaker, and a 'travelled Thane;' and that thesmhomie of his character enables him to fc&a general views of men and things, and to mate the necessary allowances for the crudenew and immaturity of political institutions, and. for some of the rugged aspects of society "m a new country., That, as often as an occasion, may present itself,-we shall find Sir George bearing frank testimony to the variety an* potency of the inducements which AustraHav and New Zealand hold out. as fields of'-.emi-gration for the uneasy classes in the mother country, we do not doubt."

Mr Gladstone, and Mr W. H; Gladstone (says the Pall Mall Gazette of November 2J are now, it is stated, amusing themselves afc Hawarden by felling trees. The other day they cut down a fine one, on the Well-house Farm, Saltney, measuring 13f 6 Bin round the. trunk, the work occupying two hours.

The Age of January Ist says :-" We regret to announce that. Professor Sale, off Dunedin, lias declined to allow himself to Be put in nomination for the lectureship o£ history at the University.

The Argus of December 30th. says tha* Captain Simpson, aged 45 years, a passeager by the Eliza Firth, from New Zealand, was admitted to the Melbourne Hospital having sustained fracture of the leg. H© was pulling on a tackle, when the rone broke, and he fell heavily on the deck.

The Sydney correspondent of the Argus says that the funeral reform movement ist meeting with considerable opposition on the ground of its attempting to abolish all mourning except some black bands on the arm. The ladies are not easily converted to thia view of the case. The notion of giving up becoming mourning is evidently not popular. The imaginative and emotional sex, if they do not like "the sweet ecstasy of woe," et least are not averse to its symbols. The reformers, however, are sturdy in maintaining their point. They contend that there is quite as much waste of money over the dress of the survivors as over the last pomp bestowed upon the dead, and one of their specral objects is to break up customs which are op~ pressively expensive to bereaved families left with slender means.

Speaking of the decline of republican fed. ing in England, the New York World observes that that feeling " was stronger e\re» ten years ago than it now is. It will not be the fault of the republican party in the United States if it preserves even a ghost off vitality for two years longer. The spectacle presented in the actual condition of Carolina and Louisiana of the worst forms of despotism, sanctioned and sustained by a republican Congress and a republican President, is not calculated to excite in the breasts of a practical people like our British kinsmen, any very lively desire of experimenting in the direction which has led £a such hideous results. It is cheaper in the end even to pay the debts of a Prince o£ Wales now and then than to be obliged fe» foot the bills for the military occupation of states larger than England, and the worsfe follies of a Marlborough Souse are not so demoralising to a nation's conscience as the clinking of glasses at an 'Aztec Club' dinner to the accompaniment of cannon and musketry mowing down the citizens of & great city in their own Btreete."

The Saturday Review, speaking of the [ proposed transformation of Soho-squaw^ London, says :—" It is just a hundred years since the fortunes of Mrs Theresa Cornleya began to decline, and with them the glories of Soho-square. Who remembers her now » Yet she was once a central figure in the fashionable world. Her house (now a pickle shop) was crowded with princes, nobles, and. fine ladies. Her ball-room, now a Romanist chapel, was the head-quarters of extravagance and gorgeous appareL It was at one of her masquerades that the beautiful daughter o£ a peer wore the costume of an Indira princess, three black girls bearing her trains a canopy held over her head by two negra boys, and her dress covered with jewels worth £100,000. It was at another that Adam, in flesh-coloured tights and an aproa of fig leaves, was to be seen in company wit&i the Duchess of Bolton as Diana; Death, na. a white shroud, bearing his own coffin and epitaph; Lady Augusta Stuart as a vestal; the Duke of Gloucester, in an old English habit, witb a star on his cloak; and the Duke of Devonshire, "who was very fine, but in no particular character"—all these and others passed through her rooms; yefe before many years bad gone by, she waa selling asses' milk at Knightsbridge, and ia. 1797 she died in the Fleet Prison, forming schemes to the very last to retrieve her broken fortunes. Attempts were unsuccessfully made to keep up the festivities of Carlisle House, but Almack's drew away the great, and the square gradually declined ins. the world, from fashion to philosophy, from artists to tradesmen, from shops to hospitals, until at length its lowest depth seems to have been reached, and the beautifier of Lei-cester-square has been summoned to tb© assistance of Soho.

A Maori who went down the shaft of the '"Crown Prince Company lately, sent the following letter to the Thames Advertiser : — " December 15th, 1874. —At three o'clock in ' the day I went to a claim where they mine for gold, the Crown Prince. That claim is a good one. The name of the Captain is John Beeche. There was the reef carrying the gold plain enough, but what would put the Maori all wrong was its great depth below •the surface. If the Maori had good brains, it would be all right. "Well, indeed, how the thing has been lying unused. Our ancestors were ignorant, and we are so also, and we continue mistaken. The man who is right amongst the Maoris is the man who has money in the bank. —Hoera te Mimiha, •of Ohinemuri."

The following is from the New Zealand Times of the Bth inst. :—" Friends of Mr J. of the New Zealand Steam Shipping •Company, to»the number of about 40, enter"tamed him at dinner at the Panama Hotel last evening. After the usual toasts had been duly honoured, Mr Logan (chairman) oalled upon the company, in a few well■chosen remarks, to drink to the health of * Our Guest.' He also had a most pleasant •duty to perform, that of presenting to Mr •Cannon, as a slight token of the estimation •in which he was held by all who had come "into business contact with him, a gold watch -and chain. He was sure Wellington could ill afford to lose so valuable a citizen. Mr Cannon briefly, but earnestly, thanked the company for the honour they had done him, -and expressed his sense of the kindness ■evinced towards him. The watch, which is a handsome gold English lever, bears the following inscription :—' Presented to J. C. Cannon, Esr^., by a few friends, prior to his ■departure from Wellington. January 7th, 1875.' The evening was spent most agreeably. Mr Cannon, who till recently held the •appointment of accountant to the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, proceeds ■South to-day in the steamer Wellington, having been promoted to the post of com.pany's agent at Dunedin." An English paper says :—" The gory auithoress of 'Aurora Floyd,' and similar hair raising contributions to light literature, figures at present in a little mystery, which will, perhaps, be given to the .public between yellow covers, garnished and -embellished with sanguinary deaths by that •agreeable child of fancy. It is currently reported that her heartbeats in sympathy with that of a Mr Maxwell, a Fleet street publisher, wo must be a particularly ferocious person to find companionship in such a ghoulish disposition. Mr Maxwell was married in 1543 to a sister of Mr Eichard Brinsley Knowles. Not long ago Mrs Maxwell abandoned her husband—which, it is plain, was not a very astonishing proceeding—and then a paragraph appeared stating that Miss Braddon and Mr Maxwell had been married. This paragraph was instantly contradicted by Mr Knowles in the newspapers. Then Mrs Maxwell died suddenly in Dublin, and the public pricked up its ears, for matters were becoming interesting. Thereupon, Mr Maxwell had his turn at contradiction, and issued a circular stating, with compliments of Mr and Mrs Maxwell,

that they were in no way responsible for the

malicious announcement of the lady's death. | It is supposed that the Mrs Maxwell here mentioned is the ci-devant Miss Braddon."