THE Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1875.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4240, 20 September 1875, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1875.

We are getting rather tired of the eternal complaints about the insubordition and the inefficiency of domestic servants* In England, servaatgalism has become a household word, and is now regularly recognised as .a stock subject of. conversation, like the weather, the Pope, and the fashions. Indignant masters and worried mistresses pour forth their tale of woe in every local and metropolitan paper. The "Cornhill Magazine" publishes grave essays on "Maids and tjieir Mistresses," discussing, philosophically, the pros and cons of the all-absorbiug topic; while " Punch," the faithful representative of British middle-classprejudiceand middleclass snobbery, which he affects to ridicule, is never weary of satirising the Maryannes, who are unable fco retaliate, "carent quia vale sacro." We ate quite sure, however, that there is another side to this question, and that the frequency and one-skledness of these jeremiads points to a conclusion altogether different from that which the complainants wot of. When we hear that the soldiers of a regiment are in a state of chronic insubordination, or, when we are assured time after time that the boys in a school are utterly undisciplined, we know pretty well what to think of the officers and masters concerned. The plain English is that the relations between, mistress and servant are just now in a transition state, if indeed they have not already got beyond that; and those who are too stubborn or too ignorant to read the signs of the times, and adapt themselves cheerfully to the altered conditions under which alone the services of domestics can in future be secured, must make \\p their minds to undergo that very unpleasant kind of buffeting which is in store for those who insist upon swimming against the stream. It is high time that the favoured few who are able to purchase, or as they themselves would probably put it, who have the misfortune to need domestic servants, should understand that the state of things that prevailed, in this respect, so late as the beginning of the nine-

teenth century, is now as extinct as the moa. The change may be fitly typified by the jest of Punch—taken, however, in a very different;•• sense from- that which our jocular ;ojd'friend dreamt of — r" Pray, tell mej"i;sayS :the jrtiistresii1 about to engage a cook, " what was your reason for? \leaving your last place ?" "I will "tell you: that,ma'am," is the not unreasonable' reply, ...'f when you let me know why you patted with your last cook." We cannot say that we regard with utter disfavour even this revolutionary state of things, when a mistress has to learn that she and her cook have reciprocal rights and duties. It hasstruckus that the word sorvant, so directly derived from'the name of that human chattel whom his Roman lord could throw into his fish-pond if he were so minded, has something to do with the misconception that still pre-; vails as to the relative positions of the modern mistress and her domestics. Mere words/as they are termed, do unconsciously affect our thoughts and conduct more than is usually believed, and we should be glad to see some word substituted more in accordance with existing facts. The American term "help," we know not. why, has. never taken root among us, though it expresses the ideal of the domestic of the present and the future, much better, than servant. For the gulf between servants and' mistresses -that once seemed so t wide as t0... be > t impassable :.;;has ::: .;' been: .gradually ' filling up, thanks to the dissemination of education, and the general softening of manners*- until, in some cases, it has become almost imperceptible. Pianoplaying, a .correct enunciation of the " h," and a smattering of French and German, make but. a slender stock of material wherewith to build a wall of demarcation' between mistress and maid, when the latter probably writes and spells as well as her employer, knows as much of " light. literature,'/ and, possibly,- somewhat more. of '*. geography andthe nse of the globes." To thenshame, be it said, the ladies have too often'been standing still, while the ladies'-raaids have been aclvancihgl The great diffusion of wealth, and the rapid turns in the wheel of fortune with which we in the Colonies especially have of late been so familiar, have also contributed largely towards level ling the enormous disparity which formerly existed between mistress and servant, when the untaught, uncared-for drudge and her refined mistress really seemed like beings of different.species. But,, nowadays, hundreds are constantly surging up from the lower strata of society to the middle Or, servant-keeping class, who have ' not only had no experience of command but also have, not learnt that best of all lessons for,one mV power-I—how to obey. That insubordination on the one side and "nagging1" on the other should ensuels not to be wondered at. We. believe that the inevitable change in the relations, of mistresses and servants, both in England and the Colonies; will bean almost unmixed good for both parties concerned. To cultivate habits of forbearance" and courtesy to her inferiors, r in. which even the best-bred; women are usually lamentably deficient;,, to study. to effect that by tact which1 has hitherto been left to browbeating ; to learn- that thai payment of a few shillings weekly: does not entitle a mistress to pry into and regulate every- detail of a domestic's life, from the form of her cap :to the form of her religion. These will be invaluable lessons for many an ill-bred and undisciplined employer of servants to learn. : On .the7,other hand, a servant who finds that her occupation no longer involves a painful and Pariah-like inferiority, and who is not; kept in a perpetual state of suppressed irritation by insolences that she dare not openly resent, but which she cannot help feeling, will gradually acquire a sense of self-respect th at will teach her Mrender a moreicheerful and courteous service than a " policy of repression";could ever compel. Those whose temper or whose want,of tact will not allow,them to conform to the new order of things will—we shudder as we write it— actually have to do their work themselves—r& penalty that many unfeeling people will regard with much equanimity. The check upon the luxurious and indolent habits, of. the modern fine lady that-the ever-diminishing supply of patient drudges will impose, is not the least of the indirect advantages that the new order of things must bring with. it..-- — —

The condition of the. Fire Brigade is-a matter'"which.' requires the most serious attention, and which has even now been left too long. To-day, the notice of resignation given by the old Brigade, that has served bo long and faithfully, expires, and the efforts made to supply its place have as yet resulted in the formation of only half a Brigade. Unless, therefore, strenuous efforts are immediately made to obtain the services of a sufficient number of volunteers, we, in the city, shall be left at the mercy of fire. Without being alarmists, we feel it our duty- to call attention to the gravity of the situation, and to suggest prompt action to prevent the poss ble occurrence of a calamity. It may be said that in the event of a fire occurring 80 soon the old members of the Brigade would turn out to prevent the destruction of property ; or if not,-that willing hands will be found to undertake the duty for the nonce ; or again, | that it is supposing an extreme improbability to imagine that fire will break out immediately upon the dispersement of the old Brigade. We-have little doubt that the old members will sacrifice a point in the same willing way that they have always placed their services at the disposal of the public. We do not like to give its proper name to the feeling that would deliberately calculate upon such public spirit, and trade upon it. As to volunteers being found on an emergency, I everyone who has any experience of fire 3 ! knows very well that time is of almost priceless importance, and that the confusion which would naturally and inevitably arise in getting men new to the work, and unpractised, would render the work of subduing the flames incomparably harder, if not impossible. . Even as it is, the new Brigade must very very largely consist of . men new to the work, and consequently unable to get to their stations with the rapidity only to be acquired by long use. For some time to come Dunedin will be more at the mercy of fire than it has been for many years, and we must expect to sec more destruction of property accomplished than has been our wout of late. As to the last hypothesis of the contented" we can only say that it is by no means unlikely that fire will break out on the first night we have no Brigade. .Those who understand these things only. laugh .in your face if you speak of fire as resulting from chance. The difficulty of detecting an incendiary is enormous, but it would be affecting a virtue we do not possess if we did not admit that in nine cases out of ten fire is the result of intention, and not of carelessness. It may be taken for

granted that there are men now. waiting the opportunity-,, of .^clearing : oiit .their stock, and they fisfdo i^lhja fir^tStiig% there is no Br.igalSie, because they:lcri;ow» that the chances of: detection 'are, much > ditninishbdby an ail:consftming£jre. Under \ theae circumstances,; we do.. trust : that' efforts will.be made at once to organise a new Brigade., It is riot a dase for sticking, at trifles,, and we hope the City-Council;; will rise to: the situation. ..-':•'''

v The idea of connecting the signal station at the entrance of the Harbour with Dunedin by electric telegraph iB not so. new as may, perhaps, be imagined in certain quarters. The necessity of establishing rapid and sure communication with the Heads was recognised as long ago as the yearlß6l; and it :is somewhat remarkable that this journal, which, during the last two years," so persistently advocated1 the construction of the line 1 far advanced towards completion, should, in those early days, have been :• the medium' for ventilating what Ho doubt was then; regarded as a startling proposition. ; Wei were then a newly-fledged journal, and; it was in our eleventh -appearance, on, November 27th of the above year, that the article we allude to was published. '■. Truly the Times was in advance of the times, in. then taking up the question of electric- telegraph communication with, the Heads. .What changes! have taken place ! what startling events have occurred in the comparatively shortperiod of time 'that has elapsed since! then ! 'tis barely fourteen years. The in- [ crease and spread, of population, the de-, velopment of the Colony's splendid rej sources, the strife of. politics, and all the ! turmoil, social and otherwise, incidental; to the struggles of a young country encircled' with. glorious promise like the, land we live in, in its efforts to win.a place in the.ranks of nations, "have passed as in a phantasmagorias/but with.thedifference-that good and substantial results have; accrued, instead of illusions, j The ..writer of the ..article in the infant Times took a very fair view of the subject he was discussing, and put his finger on the-moot point of .the subject when he said : " The line which the tolegraph would take -is still- an open (juestion. That: by Pbrt r Chalmers wbiild involve 'ai submarine ..cornmunication in shallow water, arid that by Portobello, if direct1 with- the i Heads, would cut: off all communication wjtluPort Chalmers, a result not to be dreamt of. However, the enterprise is desirable."' The writer then alluded to .-'the! success:! of kindred enterprises iri'Vicfcoria^ and by the tenor of his remarks, evidently legarded the construe tiqn.,of,a line to-the. Heads as. Un fait accompli, or next to it.,, Little.did he imagine that so many years :would elapse ere the subject was again introduced even, and that ■ , by. inothei writer Cof nearly;; cbincident ideas. : Now, the "enterprise" is nearly matured, .and the question of route has , been decided in favour of Portdbelioj" We think that the. adoption of that routewjw influenced by'sound discretion, inasmuch that settlement; is progressing upon the^Peninsula, and the inhabitants of Pbrtobello liave long felt the - want of telegraphic communication with Duhedih. 1 ■ The new-line will supply that, and also just as direct communication With Port t)haimers—;f or we presume that arrangements will be made idrender thie electric circuit from the Heads right round to the Port unbroken,, when circurastanceH, as will be'very often the case, demand instant communication between the Heads and,the Port. Unless this- is provided for,, the.new line will not prove a perfect success. ...

' ' Telegraphing1 on Saturday from .Wellington, our. own corresjibndienfc ( says :—" The interprovincwl football match this afternoon : excited great, interest, aod was very largely [attended.' The'day, was; beautiful. JFrotn the first it was apparent; that the Auckland men were overweighted. ) The^ Wellington team was superior in weight, activity, force, and organisation. The Aucklanders struggled nianfally, but had no chancei They took their' beating in good temper, and will be entertained' at 'dinner to-nightr—The Wei.lington:country,diatricfcelebtion;bf a member of the Educational Board resulted, in Mr. Tobniathf beating Mr Travers by :16.; The former strained every herve,.while thelatterdid not work at : all.-r-There is '■> no political news.".'.' '".;,■■■'■,.■.;'..• V'.:;:;^;':^-'" if ';'

: . A. telegramfrom our Auckland correspondent states that the Katikati special settlers drew lota lor the selection of land.—-The first four;, tons of ,the Tairua crashing I yielded 130oz. of amalgam. ' :'■ ■' ■ }■:]'•' ' " A Press Agency telegram received -last evening 'informs us of a shocking accident which -occurred on~the Mataura line-lost evening by jwhich Charles Gardiner, of the Waihopai Flour Mills, losti hisjlife. Deceased, - who was hinder .the; influence of liquor, had been sitting in a culvert in the centre of_the tract opposite the mill road, when a ballast engine coming intolitown about 11 o'clock struck .him on .the" head. The body must have been, doubled up, as it was dragged about 250 yards on by shaving: caught the brake rod;■•'• ■•■'■ Death-!must' r have been:instantaneous. The body was badly ; mutilated, both ,arms were shattered, the leg 3 brokeu f and the head smashed. Deceased had resided in the district for 17 years, and was widely known. An inquest wili be held on Monday/ .'. . ■ ■■'•••■ ■•.-, - ■■■■■■•;

The Anglican Synod services; will take place to-morrow; Afc 11 a.m. Holy Commam'on will be, celebrated,, in. St. Raul's Church, and full choral service ■ will be held in St. Matthew's Church at 7.30: p.m., when Dr Nevill is to deliver his Synodical address. We are informed that, owing to the Temperance Hall having been pre-engaged, the Synod will meet in the City Council Chambers. ■■..•■'■.. . " : The construction: of> the new Museum buildings in Great King street,' which, tip to late, has been progressing so favourably, was suddenly stopped last week, As the buildings are .urgently required, we trust nothing will interfere wish the work being pushed forward. On Saturday, September, 18th, the Sailors' Home contained twelve" boarders. Ten entered and five left daring the week. A hawker, named Robert Stivens, was found dead in a yard adjoining Pavletich's Universal Hotel, Maclaggan street, about half-past 6on Saturday morning. He' had been, drinking heavily of late, and on Friday evening the Po)iee : advised him to go to the Hospital, as he was sleeping in a waggon belonging to him, but he refused to go. Deceased, who was 50 years of age, and a" native of Devonshire, had abundant means.

At the City Police Court, on Saturday, before Messrs Hickson and Flexman, Justices of the Peace, David Gray was fined 5s for being drunk in Priuces street: and Wm. Reid, a low brothel keeper, was fined £5 for a similar offence, in default, 14 days' imprisonment. Henry Harris, alias Mockford, answered to his bail on a charge of committing an assault at liivercargill, and was remanded in custody to that place, on warrant; William Cummings appeared in the .dock, on a charge of ill-treating his wife, but, as prosecutrix would not appear to take proceedings, the case was dismissed. ■ " The New Zealand Churchman" is the title of a new journal to be published in Dunedin next month. Its object is to promote the interest of the Church of England. One of the names suggested for it was the Otago John Bull.

Though, the weather was showery at Montecillo.on Saturday afternoon,.our footi ball players mustered strongly and played a plucky game. With one exception the Otago representatives were in attendance, and captained by A. K. Smith. The cap-

tain (8. Lambert) of the opposing side f >numbering fifteen, had the advantage of'Jitfie . wind. The grand scrimmages and beaufjjiftii Spills into the water-hples caused much fqierriment to the spectators, of "whomthCTe were a large number." Some capital ruca-for touch downs were made. :'The representatives scored four goals, Rose, havmg kicked two, Sampson one, and Macfarlaii one. No goal fell to their opponents, but "Dickson's play was generally commented upon and aeLmired. Time was called shortly before five o'clock. The immigrant shfp : \Vaimea was a centre of attraction yesterday to friends of many of the new.-, arrivals anxious to communicate personally-with those from, whom they-had been so long separated. Greetings, howv ever, had to be confined to mere verbalism^ instructions having been issued by the Itnrni-; gratiou. Agent not to allow strangers to board! the ship. They.were strictly obeyed,. the; result being that whilst friends could se!e-and' address friends, and so receive assuranca.of; ■well-being or otherwise as the case might be, j on both sid^s, thev utmost 6rdeir and harmony were preserved on board the ship. A "great many persons went .alongside, and through-' out the afternoon'the; watermen were kepi; busy plying to and fro.. ' „■' : i Last evening the Queen's Theatre was; again;crowded to inconvenience, -and the: discourse's jitere delivered by; Messrs lunesi (Saddle Hill), arid Conniell. .; The various; hymn 3 were heartily sung by, the congrega-;

Daring the week euded September ,18fcK,; 30 patients were admitted and 14 dischargedj from the Dnriedin Hospital. Harriet Arnold,: aged.2s, native of Tasmania, died from, de-i lirium tremens ; and Ellen ■ Shaw,, aged'; 29, • native of Ayrshire, died from typhoid; fever.] The number of-inmates at .present in:the! Hospital is 188, of whom 40 are females. • The ceremony of laying the' foundation : stone of St. Paul's parochial will be performed at 3 o'clock next .Saturday afternoon.- ... .-. !-!■' .■■■ '•■/' "

The Mount Ida Chronicle reports;that at the-enquiry-regarding the circnmstances attending the alleged drowning of Hugh Hepburn in the Taieri River at Hyde, held there on Wednesday, last before H. W. Robinson, Esq., R.M., the only additional evidence elicited was; that:. the missing man and the women were, under the influence of liquor,,but nptidrunk;.;fHepburn told-the women, when at the junction of the track and the road leading1 to the river crossing, that as Mardling would be in bed he would ford the river and bring over the boat. Mrs Mardling tried to persuade him not to venture; but he went,'taking: a'iamp with him, and carrying a pair, of gum boots across his shoulders.1 "As she did notsee the light shortly afterwards she Bupposgdjthat .he must have fallen. It was also stated that he had Jon (several occasions previously forded the river on foot, but not when/ifc.was so high. Although, the riyer has been dragged, and. the banks searched by the police, and others, no trace of .the body or- the -lamp or boots have been found. • W& are indebted to Snb Inspector M'Cluskey, who conducted the inquiry, for the above information. « It has been truly said, remarks the Cromwell Argus, than the man who plants a tree confers a benefit upon posterity. Especially must this be true in a treeless district like this where timber is so much in requisition,' and likely to become :- more so in the future when our mining resources reach a higher state of development, and building extends in Cromwell and the various towhßhips...ljhrbughottt the district. Besides, the climatic influence which extensive tree-growing would exercise is worthy of deep consideration. That some residents have nob lost .sight of these advantages in the future we are'glad to know, and ,so successful: have . they been; in their endeavours thatdthey are' :npw in a position to supply others with the means t res-planting. may become: almost nniyersa% The other day Mr' Wiimptt, of Mount Pisa* .Station, lefb "at this; office a' quantity of acorns for distribution among those! who are. desirous of rearing:the British,Oak,and will be glad to second thai; gentleman's laudfable purpose 'by handing "over small parcels to applicants who have facilities for growing them. The acorns have been gathered frota itrees on '., the" station,..and are a', verysfm^', sample./>. Early■: application "musfc'be iaade-' as already'_l(hey!are"-g6ing.-/V^-.'.^.-:;!'"'"' '" '"■■V j The Tirnaru, Herald,: like .some "other of our contemporaries who have declined to espouse the popular'cause in the; matter of Abolition, is wroth -with, the • for ( . referring the question to the constituencies,* Says the Herald;—" Weare decidedly of opinion that in negotiating with the Opposition at all, or in. yielding to their demands on even a trivial point, '■■ the; Mmißt'ry>thaye^ flighted the powerful and enthusiastic party who have been supporting" them throughout the country, and have, serioujly prejudiced the prospects of sound Parliamentary Government in the future." : :';

Another new township (says the Mount Ida Chronicle) is about to spring up in the Waitaki Fiain. • The'hame of this additional centre of population is to be Duntroon, and the site is on the west bank of the Maerewhenua, on the opposite side (and very nearly adjacent) to the terminus of the Awa moko Railway. The ground forms a portion of the extensive property of the Hon. Robert Campbell. .Lithographic,plans,are, already in circulation,- and it is expected that the sale of the sections will take? place in October. Being so near the torminua of a rail-, way, of the extension of which there exists little or no probability for years to come, there can be little doubt; that Duntroon wil| have an unusually successful career. Already are the Oamaru people on the alert to secure the best sites, and report alsb; has it that some of the present residents at Maerewhenua are contemplating a removal thitherward. ■■■■• '■:."■ ■■'•::': ''■'<!"'■■ '■:■■'■ '-': ••i--- ;'.■; :... ....^y\

' The Medical Press and Circular says'a " revival "■ among children has been in process in San Francisco. The little creatures, from four to twelve years of age, gathered in a large church, and after having been, warmed to the work by, the, singing of hymns, stating how full of guilt they are, and that the day will come when heaven and earth will pass away,-certain "revivalists"'. begia to stride up-and down among them,' clapping hands, and crying as they tell them of the hopeless state of iniquity into which they hadfallen, and:of the probable early; death and certain hell awaiting them. ■ Only the most uneducated or grossly careless parents would subject the brains and nervous systems of their children to a physical strain: so unhealthy,; and only those profoundly ignorant of the true relation which religion ought to bear to human life would countenance.such a false and hurtful phase of it.' : With reference to the pretended discovery of Leichardfc's remains, which proved to be a hoax, a correspondent of the Wagga Wagga Advertiser writes : —"I see a telegram has been going the rotind of the papers, stating that two skeletons had been unearthed in the Barcoo district,, supposed to be the remains of white; msn." Some yearß ago ,a pioneering expedition, of which I wa3 a member, came from the Flinders across to the Thomson, and ran that river down to its junction with a brook named afterwards the Rodney. We ran that stream ujj to its junction with the Saitoh (not Saltern) creek' below that junction about 30 miles, and within 100 yards of the Rodney Creek we saw four billets of wood about sfb long, whioh had been rudely split and placed against a gidyea tree; they had evidently^ been there several years, as they were were almost rotten. We ran Salton Creek

up to its. hpad,- and when near the Spinife* cpu^iry^i^eifparid;the remains of a saddle and: two saddle-straps j which we reported to the oWn^rs of \a station on the head of tb.e» Logon reached their camp, and were, informed iy them that it formed a portion ofV.^wo (travellers' equipments who had been;; 'killed'!-near there .by the blacks at short time pre^ipusly, and that some of tne settlers had gone out, and finding the blacky camped dcrthe creek, them ' fits.' The body of a German who lost himself is also buried not a great distance from the same creek.; It is well known- in- that neighbourhood that a settler, who was one of the first on the Barcoo, traversedI'alfrthat-cbunfay ; and marked, hia tree? ;L, E sey,eral; sV p| tlJ wi!Jcli I saw." r) ;?'iT>7,.;f-:.-.-ff. The Cromwell Argus observes:— '-' Some people-are: n'ever-Bappy'unless'they-yre 2idulging in a grbwt;i'Aod ib does not detract from^' their' peculia^pleaSure that the persons :6r policy they grn'mbieria'ture qjaite s in.uocent of the m(stives r imputed .? :tHw &ct:oni^'seeijiirto 'add^zeßt^&^bp-^''^- ■ cisc of 'what* is cbnside'red''au«E,^glisjfcLn«mi B J! privilege.- Oar Clyde1 bdntdmporary'l^ mense'at tliis sorfc'df- thing,"aWitr desiifeto do: tMe^iriubusly lKdiguaiit and' appear tKttj champion of thr:i'pebple'i>:rignt9l>s6ftea .learls that journal,into-'making^statemento of a false, if not. malicious, character;; An! Uliuc» Jtration .df ; ;ho'* j .th!e,puMtaii''^i^ey^ja i in^a • ■ . a straw into, atether when.it .suits a purpose ocburs iii'.iast'lissue.pf Jttaf JiapSrl,'iti'c^iin^tion wifchan applicationiby.. MessrsiStrodes and Fraser for an agriduituraT lease" 3oa tneir run. The^^ granting,^? .a ; certificatftto these gentlemen" by Mr»Warden Simpson, baa formed the basis whereon our contemporary

builds ftp a ptructure' of assumptions, aild affords opportunity for the write'Ho come oufc powerfully;; the wishesf of lhW;;people,?|^ anH^her olar^" trap expr^ip^;i^No^'^^.ite'|rae>ii^ ■'' •of the case 6Jurconteinporary"::puts -'i^w* would be the 'first :to }6iri rrwith"l!liim in pta-

venting any action tending to injure the ia-

terests of the community, or which would have the appearance of injustice or unfairt ness. But: when, he aeta^oiihe^pok(tlmterest\as. a shield r behind wniiaK|^>sS|r shelter himself while darting sha'fttfol Uf-^nfi. or malice against iridividualsi we think sack a course of conduct should; be exposed and.denounced." .. ~ , . *, ft' The Tasmanian TribWe, *'2ith Angnsfi writes :—" It has long been an unsettled' question amoiigcorttparative anatomists how the Echidna of the naturalist, or the porcupine of the Colonist, perpetuated its specier. About nine years ago Professor' Owen "wrote to Mr S.. H^^mtle;;,expressing a strong desire to obtain one of these animals in sqch a conditipkLai:j6©Jhrb^Jign^ MriWintiej ; a,month:»go;V while) tricfcjofcGeorge'sßay^caughtoneiina.cOntiiition that, without a, doubt, will solye this oue in queitioniancls opened it he found * veritable well-developed egg,' about the-size of large :r waluut.,^ This.;W,a^,imittediately foUowe4l>y;:ono,ther,vwit^':pth^r^ Theße-he succ^^a^i in' bi^j^agWMMij, together with tho'atan,* inan'exceilent stale of preservationj inteads to forward them £6^^Professpr^^weln'witlout 7delay;;''' A^y#y large number"bf "these animals, some few, eve.** alive, have been forwarded -to , Europe, and not,a,single one of them has been in a condition to throw light on the matter in question. : •'■■"/Ehosa physiologists and nafcuralista who have seen this,-one., are unanimous in. the opinion that these..creatures are ovigarous.f -,-,-., v ■{-*;'■ :"']:Vl'^f^r\^i.« y t g. ;i " A discovery yras^ nwde'L!y',mere Mcideitfe at the claim of, ithe Eoch's"Pioaeer Gompany.in'the; begmningof i^t^te^^iucJl^ says the Bendigo Advertisef, "shouidproml ;of immense, ipaportance^to the pompanj^s interests. Some of the men engaged in thet . claim wfere walking Wbui the'^mttllock heapy Iwheri brie of them picked up what -stnieSt ■ him aa being a peculiar piece of stone. This iwas submitted to!jihe;inflttpMe of fire, when. 'to the astonishment^bic'ali^it^burned away, ■'• land "(,emitted ; Bulphurepus; fumes. fejiliss'gß ; quantities of similai; iStpne Jia^e since been, picked up about' the heap," and a small piece ot it has, we believe, "been analysed. It has ibeen, pronounced tp be almost pure rsulDttUKand contains i a relight; proportion .of ;rsilvtS.. ;N"6%ne'-lconnSt"e^!: I wiii;&'/ih^ [^x^"^ jidea as to where this" strange and unusual stove came from, but"tol amount of it that; Ihaß .^eeii'fbffifd; iaM ihfSrmldJ pW ,'th'e^maiag^ra -oa- tfelbJk'patl'^SHibnH^el- • succeed in rinding thes place whence it land should it prove—of the thickness it is iSupppsed.tob^ from the jblock^ picked^ dMCQvery.of/yast'impor.tancaiwi^ ,rn^dft'ttd:one;%Kjc'h:^w^::'.r^ ■ profitable'as a good q'l*^-i'ee£'«to, the ■ (imi■pjuig.":.i: t :V'% ;I.';".'."'"v;.':.'l' l:!1:^-,^^;!1^'^ ,' ( "The following extract from" a^letter written the iße^'Ji '-& Selfry^'ffipin? ■'■ jVanua Lava, Banks Group, and dated 23rd June, 1875," observes the Sydney Morning; H^l|, ;^l^&ad^t^^^4^^" "- Conflict^,(orie i .(of;H;.:M,^^^hipsjirflftprtiaiibayipg' been at Santa Cruz, in Carlisle Bay, but unable to communicate7"~The natives were" afraid _ to corno^u"' board jrand though they jianceil sand waved, boughs, and- ■dip^allsh~ey could to entice tihi^jjioafs icrew ashore, tliey , ia their turn were afraid of going, and,^^*" thiilkayei^ righjjly;' ],]Thuf,;r%s.eemHitlia% somemißchief;-wWSrfoot'atithat-itiiwk Mk.! Sejfwyn-^to with -every* member of,the^M^lanekaii. tnisßion^4ndi' m-\ deed, with' every lover of missionary thMughowfc, the, .woyld,,, the, death of tt9 Comnjiodpre r w,ill jbe a sad^blow,—is expecteii to arrive ia Sydney early.in October. ■', ■ The;programme, of the:weekly;concert afc he Oddfellows' HalL..pn, Sajturday f evening attracted a numerous audience, and was well received. , Councillor. Leary, who, ably i: presided, explained-fchat the Concert Committee -• would continue to devote any surplus after paying expenses"'to Bome^charitable in^feita-^ tipn, •;: -This: aßtJipritatiyei fetatement shpuid. satisfy those who have circulated rurnpfirs to the effect that the Committee wefe arrangittg the Saturday night concerts for their own. special benefit. *"~~ | Theiaf(feMMSpe:rfo^^ T#mg; perance Hall, on Saturday, attracted anKinnumerable tribe of'juveniles, who tired.

them elves with laughing .at (the^:groteajjae §gures of Mr Da vies. They were sent away ( in high glee, with, an abundant distrib"uti6a * of lollies -TheiHaU'Waa again well attended in the evening. Mr and Mrs Empson, gifted vocalists, and the former an excellent - negro delineator, were well received 'in^ their . specialitiesi ( Thesl)u Ville■'.Bnrtb.ieWl'vaftoifi;'.' wards perform^ Bpme :^r^fuiftnd:'difficulfc. feats on the horizontal bar, "as well as some ' more startling ojieapnthe/hofizontal ladder. Of Mr Davies: and b.is venfriloquisoii''-ili*;; 1 audience never appeared to' tir<£;' andi *wtK^ Mr C. Weightman, tha '."■Maii lKghi*4ni-Saß3i» sub-aqueous perfbrmanceS) th'|By;, TweVe fairly.... surprised. Mr Davieia • intimated his Imteaw^ tion of distributing gifts,during the week. An; emergency, meeting of Lodge St. Andrew, No.: 432,:5.C., wjjl .'be ljeld in the , Masonic^Hall this evening, at 7.30.