COMMERCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5269, 8 January 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

Daily Times Office, Tuesday evening. ThD amount of Customs Revenue received to-day on goods entered for consumption was as followß :~ & «. d. t . Brandy . 17« 18 3 Tot.aojo ..433 12 6 *™kv .I . 2UO 16 II Tea .. .. 261 14 2 Rum ■.. 19 0 6 Sugar.. .. 281 910 Geneva .. .. 32 6 0 Drapery .. 134 3 1 Wins .. ~ 80 8 1 Sundries ..360 6 1 T"u! ' £1920 It - i

WONfcY MABKET.

At the present moment there is somewhat of a lull in the operations of the money market. When fuller news of the late dis.s'rous failures at Heme wa» received here, hi.h authorities uepreratfd too idea of any unfavourable effects being produced, beyond a momentary depression ; but daily exferienca teaches us that the vibrations of bo sensi ive a machine as the money market cmnot be wholly controlled by the most careful f )re',h ught. Jt may seem strange that tho value of an acre of land in rvew Zealand should be affected by a commercial failure in Glasgow, but such is proved to be the case. Tho valuo of l»nd here lately has been almost entirely regubtsd by the amount of the advance tlut cou'd be secured on it, and the effect of the tightening of the puise-strlngs is to lower the price of the commodity. A few months ago tho excitement in land speculation WA9 loitered by the llborftl advance? f ranted to purchasers, and now when securities are being more ojrelully weighed, the reaction has set in, and it is no exaggeration to fay thit the marketable value of land n depreciated to the extent of one-half. At tho present moment money is both tight and dear, and for advances on first-class freehold aecurty for moderate amounts and nhort dates, nine and ten per c*.nt. are freely offered, while for large sums at lona terms, eight per cent, is tho minimum accepted. From lending companies vhoae advances uro reuuluted by the leciprocal advantages derived 'rom ihe charge of wool and pr.cluce mnn«v is not co diflicu't to obtain; bin. from those •whose business is confined to advancing loans on llroßhold stcurity, pure and bimple, the needful is rir.led out with a «irto nnrgm. .vouey !■• at the sme lirao p-omiful ennnch for mercantile operations; hut tht- syetem of ovcr-im: orlinjr, which hus prcvaiUd fi,r the last your or two, hus shut out <-ny chiiico of a fair profit to the importer, and, in many ii stance?, his barely loft sufficient margin to pay interest on capital In tho share market there is considerable depres■diOTj, and prices have a downward tendency. Thi9 1s felt more especially In bank and lmurance stocks, which, from the almost unlim'.ted liability to which rthair holders are expose), carry with th«m ft feeling ■of dread and insecurity. This depression we banevo, however to be only temporary, and with the turn of tho year, and tho btroas vitality of a progressive country to help us, » break in tho cloud will probably bo seen ere long.

Mr Montagu Pym reports having sold theschoonor Rosannah Ho>e by pub io auction, for tho sum of £700, to Mr Colin M&cwidrew.

POST OFFTOE NOTIfiK.

Mails cfose at the Chief Post f'ffico, Dunedm (oubject to necessary alterations), as undor: - Taw Day (Wednesday), January Stii. ffor Northern Pom ol New Zealand, per Arawata, at 1.00 pm. Lata lettora, guard'u van, Poit Chalmers train, 2.50 p.m. TIIUJSBDA7, jANirARY Bril. For Australian Colonies, via Southland and Hobavt Town, Ftr Kotorua, *n 1.60 p.m. Late Itttera, guaid'a wan, Port Chalmors train, ai 2 30 p m. I'woAy. jANUAiiy 10rn

For Chatham Islands, via Lyttelton. at 6 a.m. For Northern Ports of New Zealand, por Wai aka, j.fc 11.40 a.m. LateUt'.eis, Kiurd's van, Port Chalmerß *F r Northern Ports of New Zealand. Now South Wales and Quoonßla-.d, per Ea&by, at 1.50 p.m. L-ita letters guard's yin, Port Chalmers train, at 2 30 p.m.

Hails for the Uritod Kinirdoiu, via Roulhnmpton and Brinuisi, close at this oili c on the 17th Inst. (S!2C«<J) AKOU. HARK, Chi<f Poßtoftater.

Oblef Post Ofllce, niinfeilin. January Blh iK 9

ABSTRACT OF SALIiS BY AUCTION, THIS DiY.

VChhSDKSBS, Hkhsdun, ahh Co, at Port ChalmersBarque Jjist Lothltn. D. 11. Sksdeinu, at Rooms, Princes street—Potatoes

and onions. M. Pym, at Uooms, High stteet—Huusehdd furui turo, &c.

MARRIAGES.

On the 23rd October, ».t I'otcrhtad, Scotland, by ttio Jtov. Jiiraos Yulo, David Cowan, Ehipmiistcr, toAlaty Agnes Oroighton. On'tlio iiiul January, at the rcfcidenuo of tlio biide'a fathtr, by Rev. I indsay M.ckio, Mr'J'liornas Dodds, Oarairu, to Anna Roao, oldest daughter of A. Wood, wnortrnaiter, Dunediu.

making a hit, or saying a sharp thing, he will throw principles—as philosophers do physic—to the dogs. Not that he has no principles : there is one that he never forsakes, and that is imperfectly expressed in the words, " To thine own self be true." His aim in life is to see Mr WAKEFiKLDa Ministerof the Crown.

It was for this he left the ranks of the Atkinson party, and joined the Opposition. Indeed it has been whispered that Mr Larnach actually promised him a portfolio. But as there are some flowers that are born to blush unseen, and waste their sweetness on the desert air, so there are some politicians who do not meet with fitting reward for their immense services to mankind. We have said Mr Wakefield's views are of little importance. In his speech there are really no views expressed. The Opposition, if we are to judge by such speeches as these, have no programme ; all that is required, they say, is "steady administration, sound finance, and improved local self-goyerni ment." Add to these denominationa education, and the Opposition's programme is complete,— voilct tout! We are afraid that this will not satisfy the country. There are many things crying aloud for reform, and " careful administration" means that old abuses must not be perpetuated. It would, however, be hardly fair to treat Mr Wakefield as one who has any influence amongst the members of the Opposition in shaping their policy. The truth is that Mr Wakefield is profoundly ignorant of politics ; a treatise on Political Economy he seems never to have read. All his political knowledge has been picked up as a private secretary to Mr Stafford, and he does not seem to have made much use of even that opportunity. As showing the ready way in which he changes front, we shall select two examples. Toe first is that of education. In 1877, when the Education Bill was before the House of Representatives, there was no secularist so uncompromising as Mr Wakefield. He said:—" Having gone in in for secularism pure and simple, such as I and many other honourable members of the House would agree to," &c. Again, " In introducing that provision [the reading of the Bible] he forgets the pure and simple seculariam which he himself had advocated before, and which I am convinced will be supported by a large majority of this House and by the people of the Colony generally." As for Mr Curtis' bill, this was his opinion of it in 1877 : — " Had the honourable gentleman brought down a bill based on the principles advocated by the honourable member for Nelson City (Mr Curtis), he would have plunged into a sea of difficulties, from which he would never Lave extricated himself in this House, and from which a general election would not have extricated him." Now the scene has changed. Mr Wakefield has become suddenly impressed with the belief that it is the duty of the State to aid in teaching religion. He says : —" The object of this bill [Mr Curtis' bill] was to restore to some extent these denominational schools, which, I believe, would have been a very good thiug, but the Government was opposed to it, and did a very unjustifiable thing in attempting to burk its being discussed: and as to absence of teaching religion, such a system [the secular system] I am sure is a very bad one, and one which is sure to land us in a very bad position in a short time."

His views on lamkinism are unique, but as he may have obtained an acquaintance with it that other people do not possess, we quote them : —" I say that I attribute half the prevailing larrikinism in our towns to the present system of education." When we mention that the Education Act has only been one year in operation, Mr WakenEU)'s statement does not require refutation. The only thing that can be said as an excuse for his action is, that Major Atkinson, formerly the Premier of that Government by whom the secular Education Act of 1877 was introduced, has also changed. He now votes for denominational schools. Great men have their imitators, and the member for Geraldine is walking in the shadow of him of Egmont.

The other examplo we intend to give is of Mr Wakefield's action in regard to the Electoral Bill. Before Parliament met last year he denounced Sir George Grey for proposing manhood suffrage, and his utterances received the cheers of his constituents. He is now in favour of manhood suffrage. Before the meeting of Parliament, the Timaru Herald reported Mr Wakefield as addressing his constituents thus :—" He would next touch on the most important matters likely to come before the Assembly at its next session. One of these was the franchise question. According to Sir Georoe Ghey, the Government intended to introduce a bill providing for manhood suffrage. He would at once say he should oppose such a measure. Every man who paid rates should be put on the roll and registered as an elector, and if this were done the franchise would be quite liberal enough. He did not see why every man, simply because he happened to be in the country, should have a vote. It would introduce an element into their elections which should not be allowed there. They had seen how manhood suffrage had worked in Victoria, and he believed, if that Colony had done as we had here, it would Imve been far better for the country. He hoped Sir George Grey would not introduce such a measure, but simply make better provision for registration." After making this very decided speech against manhood suffrage, he had the audacity to state iv the House the following :—" I was nofc opposed to manhood suffrage from the beginning, and I am now a sincere and ardent advocate of it." Such is Mr Wakefiklwl Happily for New Zealand there? arc not many politicians like him —ho is the "shocking example" of his class; and happily also, such politicians have little influence. There are, we may add, certain misstatements in his speech which we are sorry to see, if the reports of what took place in the House are reliable. Whatever the views of a politician may be, and however changeable his conduct, he ought in all political discussions to have some regai'd for facts, IJnhappily, Mr Wakefibld's " faeta " undergo, in his speech, as great a change as his views. We may mention a few niisstatements. Mr Wakefield moved no amendment in the Electoral Bill to grant manhood suffrage, as he states he did; he only propos.edanamendment in the househol4

qualification. Again, the referring back of tb.B Milford Harbour Bill to the Waste Lands Committee was not opposed by the Government, as he says j on thecontrary, it was supported bysome of the Ministers. We might mention several more cases, but wo think our readers, from the extoacts we have given, will be able to judge what kind of a politician Mr Wakefield is: If he was not so convinced of his own importance we should like to tender him a little advicei First, we.should say to • him that it is necessary for a* politician. to obtain some little acquaintance with political science; secondly, consistency is of considerable importance in one who aspires to be a Minister of i the Crown; and, thirdly, we would like to impress on him that political honesty/, is, after all, the best policy. Were Mr Wakefield to remember these things, and act accordingly, he might jet become a useful member of the House, as he has a certain amount of talent and a considerable power of speech; but we despair of him.

Mr Shebhan made an excellent address to the working men of Auckland on Friday night, full of sound common sense and good advice. He told them to avoid discussions on religion and politics, to decline patronage from big names, and to cultivate habits of independence and self' reliance. He, however, remarked that in the struggles which had; in other places sprung up between capital and labour there had been a want of conciliation on both sides, and that..,means were adopted which' he deprecated.^" On the Chinese labour question he was very moderate, and though he does not liko Chinamen he very properly strongly disapproved of the extreme measures taken against them—such as the assault on the two Chinamen at Wellington the other day. Very amusingly, he thinks it quite proper that they should go to Queensland, which is suited for them, but considers that we can do without them here. The Queensland people, it seems, are not quite so satisfied as to the suitability 01-Ohina-misnto their Colony, and wish todo Without them also. His advice to the working men to make their children learn a trade was more necessary than. at first sight it appears, as with the growth of education there is a growing desire on the part of many families of the working class to rise in the scale of gentility ; and mechanical trades are not genteel. The trade of a mechanical engineer was pointed out by Mr Shebhan as one of those which is almost certain, in a Colony like this, to lead to independence. Many foolish parents, however, object to this trade, because it gives grimy clothes and grimier hands. It is quite "true, notwithstanding, that such a trade affords a far better prospect to a capable youth than mere clerioal labour, or a place behind the counter in a grocer's or liaendraper's shop, besides being one of the most useful branches of trade that a young Colony can boast. We quite believe that Mr Sheehan has given good advice in this respect to the Auckland working men, a.id indeed his remarks have a wider scope, and apply to others besides those who are commonly called the "working classes." " Learn a trade and be independent" is advice that might wisely be given to many who are far higher up in the social scale, whose present ideal of life is to get into a bank, or a Government office, or an insurance office, and rise by slow degrees to a salary just barely enough to keep them in respectability. Year by year such occupations are becoming more and more full of competitors, and it is well to be reminded now and then that all caunot be translated to such a heaven as this, and that some must be content with the lower world and learn.a trade. Whoa .a man can command a price in the market for his labour by reason of his skill, he rises in the scale of humanity, and when he cannot, but is just liko hundreds of others, a mere passable clerk, he sinks intellectually below mediocrity, and gradually loses both hopo and ambition. If Mr SjiekjiaX had said nothing elsa but this his remarks would be timely and forcible, but he fairly told the Auckland working men that the people of Auckland were inferior in energy and enterprise to their brethren in the South, and in this and in other respects he showed that he had the courage to speak what he believed to be the truth, whatever they might thiuk of it. Altogether we have not met for some time a more sensible and moderate address than this of our Colonial bred and born. Native Minister, whose tone of mind appears to be both candid and conciliatory, two very good qualities in a young and democratic politician.

Telegraphic communication on the Port Darwin line has been restored, so that we are able to publish cablegrams brought by steamer from Singapore to- Batavia. The cable has not yet been repaired.

Wo are compelled, through pressure on our space, to hold over our report of the Supreme Coiut, the meeting of the St. Ivilda Council, the trip of the ltotorua, correspondence, and other matter.

Nearly the whole of the criminal business of the present session of the Supreme Court was concluded yesterday, the only case remaining on the list bein^ the charge of perjury against Jane Reid. A number of prisoners were sentenced, viz.: Margaret Barratt, for larceny from a dwelling, wa? sentenced to four yeara' penal servitude ; Robert Angus, for larceny as a bailee, to five yeaw' penal servitude; H Lyon Metz to two years' hard labour, for forgery; and James Morgan to twelve months' imprisonmeat for a similar oft'ence. George Brown, charged with indecent assault ; Eli Coolan, with hou33-breaking; and Margaret Scott, with manslaughter, were tried and acquitted by the Jury. In reference to the chargeb against Brown and Ooolen, the remark that the evidence was not sufficient to support the indictment was made by the foreman in each case.

The offisiats of the Land Tax Department are hard at work completing the details for the valuations now about to ba made. They are all business men, and have endeavoured to' place the Department on a basinesa-like footing ; but, of course, numerous minor difficulties spring up from day to day in working an entirely new department under an untried Act and regulations. These difficulties are all being overcome as they arise, and there is no reason to doubt that tho valuations will be completed within reasonable time. A telegram from Timaru yeaterday endeavoured to throw ridicule on the returns required, and stated that no one can understand them. We have aesn the form of return from owners and occupiers to which this must refer, and can see nothing of auy importance in it that any ordinary person inDuuedincouldnotreadilyunderstand; but wo presume the intelligence of Timaru is of a lower oharactei1, and not equal to coping with such problems as tho proper mode of iilling in a form whichrequires the name and address ofjthe owner, ths samo for the occupier, the area, tho number of block andHßction, andtiam-Dof Burvey district, the .capital value of tho whole property, and tho value of uupnj Yemenis separately, such as houses, fences, drainage, planning, {jra?s, &c, and the condition in which these improve? ments are. There is, perhaps, one defect in these papers, namely, that sections Nos. 5, 6, and 7 ot the Act are referred to, but are not printed on the form, probably many persons have not ready access to the Act, We reprint these in another column for the information of "all whom it may concern," and that phrase in this instance comprises a large number of persons.

It is gratifying to hear that the Public Works Department are alive to the necessity of additional railway station accommodation in Dunedin, which we lately pointed out. One or two additional sidings are to be put in as a temporary measure in front of the Harbour Board's offices, (md also between that building and Crawford street, The mineral traffic will thus be partly taken oft' the present goods station,

But when i» the long-talked-of, eagerly-ca». vassed, diplomatically-negotiated, and muchsettled station site proper to be commenced 1 Who is to blame that it is not commenced ? Is it the Government ? is i t the Harbour Board ? is it the Corporation 1 If the thing is to be done at all, in the name of goodness why is it Hot begun ? After all the trouble and talk that has for months, we might say years, been expended upon its initiation and settlement, surely it is time that there was some result. ■

Messrs J. L. Gillies and D. L. Simpson, *3VP.'s, presided at the City Police Court yesterday and disposed of the business, which consisted of fining a few drunkards and reprimanding two little boys, named William Rodgers and J. W. Lowry, for. stealing.some fruit from the garden of Mrs P. Long. Some charges, against cabmen for infringements of the byelaws which were brought before the Court included one for the breakage of a Corporation lamp with a Chinese cracker, and the offender was fined ss, with costs. ; ; '

• : We understand that a telegram was yesterday received from; London by the nominators of All Saints', Dunedin, informing them-that no appointment of a clergyman had been made in England. Mr Fitchett's appointment t6 the charge of the parish under license from the Bishop's Commissary will, therefore, Btand good. We believe the Bishop of Mel. bourne ha 3 agreed to ordain Mr Fitchett. to deacon's orders. ' ' ' '

♦ The business transacted before Mr J. Bathgate, R.M.,. at the Resident. Magistrate's Court yesterday consisted of the hearing of the oase Herron and Sinclair v. Alexander Came-.. Ron, which was a claim of L 6 6s for the depasturing of heifers. Mr Stewart appeared for the plaintiffs, andMr Harris for the defendant. A Verdict for the amount claimed, with costs (L 5 6s), was returned;.' About 75 .cases are set down for hearing'l'o-day. ; '

By the courtesy of the Secretary of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association we have received a pamphlet entitled " Remarks on the Agricultural Prospects of Fiji," by Mr Home, the Director of the Botanical Gardens at Mauritius. The pamphlet speaks highly of the climate and soil of Fiji as suitable for the growth of L cotton, coffee, the cocoanut, but especially sugar, which he estimates to produoe a crop of L6O per acre in value. He also regards the islands as adapted to the growth of certain kinds of tropical timber, suoh as teak, mahogany, ebony, guttapercha, caoutchouc, &c, and recommends the naturalisation of a number of tropical plants that would hereafter repay cultivation. The pamphlet is published at Levuka, Fiji, by Mr L. Griffiths, and does

credit in its " get-up " to the youthful Press oi the islands.

The usual quarterly meeting of Court Pride of Dunedin was held last night in the OddFellows' Hall, Rattray street. The auditors' report and balance-sheet were adopted. The membership was shown to be 220, of the money value of L 3337 12s Id. The following

were elected officers:—C.R., Bro. White

S.C.R;, Bro. Peddington; Treas., Bro. Tofield ; Sec, Bro. Wilson; S.W., Bro. Taverner; J.W., Bro. Lewis; 5.8., Bro. Dickison; J. 8., Bro. Baker; Assistant Seoretary, Bro. Chisholm. Bros. Watson and Murdoch were elected auditors ; Bros. Nimon and Youngman were elected as delegates to the next District meeting.

At a meeting of Linden Lodge, 1.0. G.T., held last night, the following Grand Lodge officers attended and installed the officers :— Grand Master, Bro. Wheeler ; Grand Marshal, Bro. Treacy; Grand Treasurer, Bro. Alexander; Grand Conductor, Bro. Richard- ! son. The following officers were duly installed :—N.G., Bro. James Stewart j V.G., Bro. John Moffat; Secretary, Bro. Wilkinson; Treasurer, Bro. David Ferguson j R.H.Si to N.G., Bro. John M'Laren; L.H.S. to N.G., Bro. David Malcolm; R.H.S. to V.G., Bro. John Wohlers ; L.H.S. to V.G., Bro. John Torreus ; R.S.S., Bro. Chas. Hodges ; L.S.S., Bro. Henry Hadlee; 1.G., Bra. Sidney Haigh; 0.G., Bro. D. Matheson ; Warden, Bro. Alexander Williamson ; Conductor, Bro. James Pattison. We have again had our attention called to the necessity for steps being taken to prevent sparks and pieces of live coal issuing from the funnels of the American engines used on the railway between Dunedin and Christchurch. The crops alongside the line are now ripening, and unless something is done a destructive fire is almost sure to take place. A gentleman who travelled from Christchurch to Dunedin yesterday also complains that trucks containing pigs and sheep are placed in front of the carriages, the disagreeable smell causing a good deal of annoyance to the passengers. Surely this is a matter that might be remedied. Those who know John Brocklehurdt, who has tilled the position of guard ever since the opening of the railway between Dunedin and Balclutha, will be pleased to hear that he has at length gained honourable promotion, having been recently appointed station - master at Lovell's Flat. "John," as he was familiarly termed, was as widely respected as known; and while many will be sorry to miss his face upon the train, they will be glad to wish him the full enjoyment of his well-earned promotion.

On Sunday evening last, Mi1 Hautrie West organist of St. John's, Invercargill, now on a visit to Dunedin, assisted Mr Monish, organist of All Saints'. The musical portion of the service was exceedingly well rendered by the choir. Mr West played as a concluding voluntary the well-known " Hallelujah Chorus," which was much admired. This gentleman also assisted at St. Paul's in the morning. For some 41016 past there has been a likelihood of a public debate on a theological question being arranged between the Key. M. W. Green, minister of the King Btraet Chapel, and Mr Charles Bright, and last night a committee meetiug was held, at which a subject was decided upon. Mr Green and Mr Hislop, on the one side, met Mr Bright and Mr Stout on the other, and, after, some discussion, the following proposition was agreed on:—"The Divine Origin of Christianity," accepting the following definition of terms: 1. By "Divine Origin, "it id understood to be of.Divine origin in the ssnse in which no other religion is. 2. In the term " Christianity," it is understood that there are included the Deity of Jesus and His death as an atonement for man's sin. Mr Green affirms; Mr Bright denies, A working committee 13 to be appointed to make the necessary arrangements, and the debate will probably take place the week after next, It will ba remembered that a week or bo ago a number of informations were laid at the City Police Courb against persons for allowing cattle to wander in the Borough of St. Kilda, the informant in the casss being the Bovough Council's inspector, a person named John Stokes. It was manifest by what passed in Court that the defendants looked upon the action taken with a good deal of bad feeling, and this appears to have found vent in an attack by two of the alleged offenders upon the official in question, who is sa,id to have been rather roughly handled. The subject was brought up at last evening's meeting of the St. Kilda Council, and a motion was tabled that legal proceedings should be taken on behalf of the inspector, but it did not find a seconder. We have ou more than one occasion drawn attention to the existence of what may very properly be termed a nuisance, caused through contractors who have on hand the erection of buildings in the main thoroughfares of tho city neglecting to havo temporary pintf'oriaa ld&c?d wound tho builciiui; material for tho use .of pedestrians,- Besides the inconvenience felt in consequence of having to wait while, for instance, a large stone !« rolled over the footpath or swung roun4 by a crane, there is always the possibility pf an accident happening to passers-by. The advisability of a bye-law being: made to compel contractora to form suoh side-path? might well be considered by the City Council. On Monday Mr E. W. Capstick was elected to represent West Ward in the Milton Borough Council. He polled 53 votes, while his opponent, Mr H. White, only polled 27 votes. We understand (says the Palmerston Times) that Mr Coutts, the successful tenderer for making the permanent way of the Shag Point Railway, commenced operations yesterday. The Tokomairiro settlers are' considering the advisability of purchasing one pf John Fowler and Son's steam cultivators. .: Borne three or four weeks sfyco the fine specimen of that remarkable plant, the Aaierl. can aloe {dpave Americana), in M» Cfsorge

Matthews' grounds, Moray place, commenced throwing up a gigantic flower-stem. This stem is now about 20 feet high, and six or eight inches in diameter at the base, tapering to four inches in diameter at the apex. It is still growing, and near the summit bears a number of bractoa. It will be a grand sight when in full bloom, as it will probably bear 3000 or 4000 flowers. The plant itself is 10 feet in width, and about nine feet high. It is 15 or 16 years old, and is probably the first one to i bloom in New Zealand.

It is probable (says the Bruce Herald) that at least three members of the Bruce Rifles will attend the meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association'at Nelson, the programme of which has been issued. It comprises eight matches— four for rifles and four for carbines—open to Volunteers only, in which the ownership of the champion belts, &c, will be decided. There are ten matches open to any members, two' of these being for carbines and two for ■■small-, bores. Between L9OO and LIOOO will be expended in prizes. •Sub-Lieutejiant Reid and Private M'Latchie will be among the members of our local corps who will abtend the meeting. In an article on the accession of the Rev. A. R. Fitchett from the Wesleyan communion to the Church of England, the New Zealand Churchman says:—" Our Church needs power; we are lamentably weak in the pulpit; and, Bay what men will, so long as preaching is an important part of the functions of the' Christian ministry, so long will men be impatient with dull mediocrity, and demand something

that has thought, and originality, and pith in it, from the occupants of the pulpit. At least, here and there, one or two clergymen of preaching power may be tolerated in metropolitan parishes j and character and general attainments being in every respeot good, it is not any great disadvantage to a minister of our Church that he should have been once a Wes-

leyan. We may feel sure that if such a; man accepts the Prayer-book and submits to reordination, he will loyally submit himself in all' things to the established order and practice of the Ohuroh. As regards doctrine, there is probably not so great a divergence in opinion between earnest Wesleyan ministers and sincere Evangelicals or devout Broad Churchmen, as there is, on the other hand, between the extreme Ritualists or the Rationalists of our Church, and the extreme Low Churchman. Breadth of toleration, with loyal submission -to the Prayer-book, are the two distinguishing characteristics of good Churchmen nowadays, and in that point of view we do not see why Mr Fitchett should not prove a great accession to us. We are aware that some of Mr Fitchett's views, on scientific questions have not pleased everyone, and have made him some enemies; but we believe that his desire has been merely to point out a possible via media between certain positions of modern science and the teaohings of Christianity. Whether he succeeds in this or not, his motive is a good one, and should not be condemned. On the whole, we think if Mr Fitchett obtains orders in our

Church he will not be unfaithful to our

standards, and will give us a much-neaded stimulus in the way of both thought and practical work. At all events, when the Church at Home is discuaung the possibility of a comprehension of whole bodies of Nonconformists, it is surely not for pur clergy to give the cold shoulder to one who is, in every respect, a representative man, and is likely to form a link between the members of two communions that are so closely related by history and traditions a3 are the Wesleyan body and the Church of England."

The Kelly and Leon Minstrels repeated their entertainment last night to a good and appreciative audience. To-night "Eoae Michon" will.be presented.

The following are the names of tho3e who will represent the University C.C. in the Cup matches: - Barclay, Cameron, Chapman, Karnie, Fowler, Hendry, Huma, Kennedy, Kueen, Moo;e, Montgomery, M'Leai, StiUing-, Wheeler, J.ffcoat, Milne (emergoncy). It is notified elsewhere that tenders for the Riverton Corporation Loan will be received up to the 2.th inst. .

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Builders' Association will ba held at the Athet.amtn at eight o'clock this evening. Iha City Council are calling1 for tenders for the leasing of porasns of the Cattle Market reserve, and the sheds on the Southern Market Keserve. Particulars will ba found lv our advertising columns. A meeting will bo held at the Custom-house, Dunedin, at noon on ths 22nd inst, to omsider applications for auctioneers' licenses.