The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, JULY 31, 1882.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6385, 31 July 1882, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, JULY 31, 1882.

Two reports haye recently emanated from the Minos' Department and been laid before Parliament, which, relating as they do to very important industries, invite attention and are worthy of special not(ce. The." Keport on the Groldfielda," with its voluminous appendix, gives a general account of the' condition of the gold-mining industry and its probable prospactg ; the " Report on tho Qontrol and Inspection of Mines," aa the name implies, shows tho operation of "The Regulation of Mines Act, 1879," during the paat ye«r, and contains further particulars in detail of the coalmines, and completo statistics of the output and tho

imports and exports of coal. During tho year 1881,8 a the Secretary for Goldfields reports that there has beon continued activity in mining operations, both in tho further development of auriferous quarts: - mines and alluvial areas, and in the prospecting of now ground. The total yield of gold shows a arkod increase upon the returns for the preceding 12 months—namely, 293,2290z against 270 5870z, the diftoronco in value to the good being £59,244. Tho total yield of gold for the Colony from 1857 to tho Slat of March, 1882, as taken from tho statistical returns, is !),861,0110z, of tho value of £38,687,(512. Althoughseveralnowquartzminea have been opened out, tho numbor of tons crushed is some 14,000 tons loss than last year, but the yield of gold is within 4000OZ of tho return for that period. This is accounted for by rich stone having been struck in tho Beefton and Otago mines-tho formor yielding 20 1540z from 14,894 tons of quartz, and 'the latter 70420z from 8473 tous. The total returns from quartz-min-ing giro C5,7120z from 84,792 tons of quartz, in addition to this, 88530z' are returned as having been roalised in tho Tuapeka district from " cement and quartz," but the quantity of stuff put through is not stated. Alluvial mining still maintains its ascendency in the returns, contributing nearly two-thirds of the total yield of gold for the year. The Secretary, however, remarks that " the numerous points at which auriferous quartz is already opened out in the Uolony, and tho results so far attained, are but the mere earnest of what is yet to come in thia branch of mining." A table in the appendix, compiled from information furnished by the Wardens of tho several goldfields districts, shows the number of persons engaged in mining on March3lstlast tohave been 14,714, a slight decrease on the numbor 12 months before, when it was estimated at 15,063. Of the total (14,714), 8583 aro European and 4106 Chinese alluvial miners, 2015 European and 10 Chinese quartz miners. Taking tho value of the gold exported as tho quantity to be divided between the producers —a rough system of calculation adopted in the Victorian statistical tables,—we have a total value of £1,170,520, giving an average of £79 11s for the year ending March 31st last. The Secretary, in regard to these figures, observes : "Such average annual earnings would represent low average wages for men employed in Colonial (owns, with rent to pay, and all the expenses incident to town life ; but the miner, settling as he generally does upon his residence area, to which his annual miner's right fee of £1 entitles him, and living in his independent way, frequently combining his work with agricultural and other pursuits, probably finds this income more equal to his requirements than the apparently largor income may be to artisans in towns." As a fact, few bona fide miners have such a limited income: the low avorag* is due in aome measure to the large number of companies which have not yet attained to the delights of dividends, but which employ wage3-men at the current rates; and more especially to the fact that not two-thirds of the persons returned as " miners " in the wardens' reports devote themselves entirely to mining, whilst many are simply holders of miners' rights for the purpose of securing sleeping interests in claims. The system of granting* subsidies to local bodies for the construction of tracks and reada in country notably or presumably auriferous, has proved must useful so far, and seems to be the most practical and sensible way of aiding the development of the goldfields by the encouragement of prospecting. "Frequentreference,"says the report, " will be found in the wardens'Teports to the good work of opening otherwise almoit inaccessible country, which this assistance has enabled the focal bodies to undertake. In many cases these prospecting-tracks are so laid out aa to fit in with communication by or between permanent roads, and in this respect they serve the double purpose of opening the country to both miner and settler."

The " Report on the Control and Inspection of Mines " is on the whole very satisfactory, and contains in the appendix very valuable information. It ia stated, to begiD with, that, judging by results, the object of bringing the Regulation of Mines Act into force has to a large extent been attained, and the hope is expressed that "increased experience and the removal of causes of danger may lead to a continuance of the success which has so far attended the efforts of the department, assisted in many cases by the hearty co-operation of owners and officers of mines, to secure, as far as possible, immunity from accident in the prosecution of an industry Biirrounded by a variety of peculiar dangers." All the coal-mines of importance have been inspected during the year, and we notice frem the reports of the inspectors that the condition of the Shag Point mine in respect of the safety of the miners is much more satisfactory than it was last year, and that the Kaitangata mine is now most carefully managed, every precaution being taken, especially in view of the fact that the presence of gas is still occasionally observed. Inspection under the Act ha 3 been extended to the principal quartzmines in th.9 lleef ton district. These are the first gold-mines which have been brought under the Act, those at the Thames and adjoining districts being inspected under " The Gold-mining Districts Act, 1873," which is only in force in the Hauraki mining district. Referring to the statistics appended to the report, we rind that the number of coalmines is three less than last year, owing to some small mines having been struck off the list, The number now recorded are five in the North, and ninety-five in the South Island, but many of these latter are on a very small scale, and are noted only because they are of sufficient importance to require inspection, The statement furnished by the Secretary of Customs (printed in the appendix) of coal imports and exports for 1881 shows that 129,902 tons were imported, and 6626 were' exported. The total output for the Colony during the same period was 337,262 tons. The total consumption in the Colony, was, therefore, 460,598 tons, an increase over the consumption in 1880 of 44,398 tons. Tho increase of coal won from tho mines in 1881 was 37,339 tons over the quantity raised in 1880, or 106,044 greater than the product of the mines in 1879, and 175,044 tons moro than the yield of 1878, the output having thus more than doubled in three years, 'lhe increased output for 1881 is principally derived from the Westport Company's Banbury mine, Westport, and from the increased yield from the Kaitaugata Company's mine. " The quantity produced in the Colony," says the report, "would no doubt have been considerably greater if the appliances of certain mines and the means of transit from them had been in a more forward state. Increased facilities in both of these respects promiso to bo effected beforo long." Tho number of accidents during tho year was exceptionally small in proportion to tlie number of persons employed in the coal-mines. Three men have been killed, and the injuries to other persons were only of sufficient importance to report on six cases. These casualties all occurred in the South Island mines. Of the three fatal accidents, two happened to trespassers in ns way connected with the working of the mines, and who had no business in them at all. Putting, therefore, these cases out of the question, there has been but one fatal accident during 1881 for 337,000 tons of coal raised" This occurred through a fall of coal, and the inquiry olicitod that thore had been no breach of tho Act by wilful negligence, carelessness, or want of proper precaution. Of the six other accidents, only one was eerious. On the Ist April of the current year a fatal accident occurred in the Brunner mitio from a fall of coal. As it appeared from the circumstances that tho accident w*a caiued through neglect to set timber, tho inspector laid an information iigaiiwt tho underviower of tho mino. Owing, however, to insufficient evidence, although it w.13 sufficiently clear that thtro had bean neglect of duty or grave orror of judgment, the case was dismissed ; but tho more fact of the prosecution is likely to havo a good effect. i

Thb wickedest partisan of tho Ministry nevor punted tho Opposition in dqxkor colours t(ia.ii tlioy aro tainted in iVfr VlihV-rn letter, part of which appeared

in our columns on Saturday. It seems that Homo busybodies—the bellwethers, probably, of Stanmore Liberalism—had written remonstrating with that gentleman for voting on cortain occasions with the Government, and of course against his own party. Whoreupon Mr Pilliet gives those constituents of his a pioce of his mind. He indeed owns the soft impeachment ; he did vote against his own party—but if the Oppotition had not been a factious rabble they would have voted with him ; and he had no intontion of making a fool of himself evon to please the Stanmoro electors. Such ia tho purport of Mr Pillikt's reply. Wo all knew the Opposition wero thoroughly disorga niaod, but there is a littlo novelty in some of Mr Pillikt's statements. A leading member o£ the party, for instance, told him that in tho event of their turning out tho Ministry "they would ballot among themselvos for the portfolios'! We should imagine the country would have as fair a chance of gotting a good Government if the dicebox were substituted for the ballot-box. Further ou he saya that, in order to obtain votes, tho same portfolio has sometimes been promised to two or' three expectant Ministers. These two statements are perhap3 not quite consistent with each other, but they aro quite consistent with the unscrupulous expediency of a demoralised party. We agree with Mr Pilliht that " this is an unwarrantable way of doing things"; and it happily seems as if it would not prove a very successful way either. The hopes of the Opposition, notwithstanding their multiplied promises, are doomed for this session at least. There will be 110 chance of balloting for the portfolios, except by anticipation; nor will any particular portfolio have tho honour to be divided among a number of* possibly antagonistic administrators. How could Mr Fish and Mr Gkeen have possibly got on together with tho eight-houra system if they had both happened to find themselves, for instance, fractions of the Colonial Secretary ? We wonder, by-tho way, if those promises have had anything to do with the recent movements of certain of our Otago members. There is no effect without a cause, oven in politics ; aud it would be not a littlo amusing to get a peep into tho motives which induce honourable members to choose or change their aides. It would certainly be a surprise to find that zeal for the public good was the main spring of action in all such cases. But what, meanwhile, is to bocome of the poor Opposition 1 This is a question that concerns the country very intimately. Mr Pilliet says they must " wait until they can form -a compact, cohesive, and wellassimilated party, cemented together on main questions, and led by a unanimously recognised leader." That is precisely what they and the country have, been waiting for the last three years or so, and the event -seems as far off as ever. We had hoped that the general election would have solved the difficulty, but it seeniß rather to have increased it. If Mr Pilliet, one of theii number, is to be credited, tho Opposition are nothing short of a public scandal. They are certainly of little or no use to the country— not worth their salt, to say nothing of their honorarium — but how to mend matters, hie labor, hoc opus est. But the member for Stanmoro is an exception to the rule. If he has not a very familiar acquaintance with the usage and idiom of the English tongue, he seems to have what is infinitely better—a largo fund oi excellent good sense and honest indignation.

Sir George Grey behaved uncommonly^ well for a little bit at the beginning of, the session, and when he does act up to his abilities and character there is nobody in Ne,w Zealand to compare with him. That, however, is unfortunately very seldom the case ; and though we were delighted with the wisdom and moderation which'he showed for a few weeks after the meeting of Parliament, we had our doubts as to the permanency of the improvement. It wa3 too good to last; and we suspected that as soon as he had shoved Mr Montgomery aside and rendered t.ViB Opposition powerlooo for another session, he would return to his old way». Nor were we mistaken. He is now again as wayward and impracticable as ever. He still seems determined to have nothing to do with his old party as such. Perhaps he is waiting till they openly profess their penitence for the wrong they did him. However this may be, nothing is more certain than that he is absolutely indispensable to thoir success —nay, to their very existence as a paity; and as he cannot but know this, as well as that he could easily jput himself at their head again if he chose, he is probably, after all, quite sincere in disclaiming any wish for office. But power of some kind or other fcir George Grey mud exercise as long as he mixes with his fellow men. First deprived of thst of the leader of a party, and then appareutly rejecting it, he humours his bent in all kinds of mischievous pranks—delighting to disconcert the plans alike of friend and foe. If the truth, however, must be told, he is much more complaisant to the Ministry than he is to the Opposition. But ho has, no consistent policy, his action being merely the result of the caprice or whim of the hour. It is, besides, sometimes difficult to tell whether he is in jest or earnest. We believe no man up to tho present hour can say with any certainty whother his proposal to grant a railwaypass in the shape of a medal to the late Mr Moorhouse and his heirs forever was not one of his dry jokes. The Houso took it in earnest; but we could almost lay our life that h« laughed in his sleeve as one member after another, the very Premier himself among the reßt, got up and . discussed the matter in all sober seriousness. In like manner, who can say what ike secret motive of his Constitu-tion-tinkering Bill ? What, however, but love of mischief, or perhaps the wish to poae as the people's friend, could have moved him to ask leave to introduce 3, bill to upset the present taxation arrangements ? Whether it would be risht or wrong to throw the chief burden on the land, ' Sir George. Grey must have known that a private member could not make such a proposal, except, of course, as an amendment on tho financial scheme of tho Government; and though he is said to have looked daggers when the Speaker ruled to that effect, we have no doubt he was secretly satisfied with his fling at the property tax, especially as the rebuff which he received gave him an opportunity of rounding off some periods on the subject of grievances, which, to say the truth, most taxes are to the great majority of citizens. It is, however, a thousand pities that a man of such talents and accomplishments as the ex-chief of the great Liberal party should fritter himeelf away in mere political tomfoolery.

Sporting news by " Beacon," and Australian sporting news by our correspondent "Warrior," ippear on our fourth page this morning.

The news from Egypt this morning is very important. Ourabi Pasha has offered to surrender on condition that he is allowed to retire to a monastery. It is expected that Aboular will be bombarded by the English ships to-day. Turkey has agreed to despatch troops to Egypt, but on condition that England withdraws her force. The Australians have beaten the Scottish Gentlemen at Edinburgh by an innings, with several runs to spare. -, The heavy rains on Saturday caused a number of slips on the railway-lines, both North and South ; but as will be seen by the particulars given elsewhere, tho department had men at work during yesterday getting tho lines clear, and it is not expected that there will hn any interruption of traffic to-day.

The dredge Vulcan is now at Port to dredge alongside the Port Chalmers piers, and after four or five days' work will go into clock.

A fire was discovered in the cellar of the premises of Mr Thomas M'Gill, in the Arcade, at 7 o'clock yesterday morning. Constable Bird was the first to see the fire, Mr M'Gill, who was on the premises at the time, not being cognisant of it. With the assistance of another constable, the fire was soon extinguished. Mr M'Gill's stock ■of drapery> shop fittings, and household goods are insured for £2000, the insurance being equally divided between the National and tho New Zealand Insurance Companies. Mr M'Gill informs us that the value of his stock fluctuates ft-qm ivi'OpO. to £2100, so that he is probably fully insured- It sceins tl)at a quantity ijf piled wrappings, tugs, &c, were discovered 911

fire, and in such a position as led the police to conclude that arson had been attempted. During tho evening Mr M'Gill was arreßted, and will to-day at the Police Court be charged with having wilfully set fire to the premises. Tho police have taken charge of the shop and belongings.

An impression seems to prevail that the Marsala, expected hero to load moat in September, is an old boat of that name built in 1870. This is not tho case. She is a new boat, built on the Clydo, and advertised in the London papers as of 3800 tons gross. By cable her tonnage is stated as 2500 tons, and this is doubtless her not tonnage.

Tho seventeenth annual social meeting of the Knox Church Literary and Debating Society takos place this ovening, in the class-room of tho old church. Tho Kov. Dr Stuart and ProfoHßor Sahnond will each give addrOHSOH, and a pleasing programme of songs, recitations, and pianoforte music has been arranged.

Tho man Wells, injured by the accident at a building in King street a few days ago, has now been removed from the Hospital to his own home. The lad Gow still remains in the Hospital, but is progressing favourably towards recovery.

The ovangelißtio services which were conducted by Mr Duncan Wright at West Taieri last week have been quite a success, the public hall having been filled every night. In addition to the people in the township, many persons have come from the Woodside, Maungatua, and Lake Waipori districts. As the interest is growing, a feeling has been expressed that the meetings shou Id be continued during part of this week.

A lecture by the Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, on " Christianity," will be delivered at the Garrison Hall this evening, E. B. Cargill, Esq., in the chair. Admission will bo free, and working men are expressly invited. We have no doubt there will be a large attendance. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, the Otago Hunt Club did not meet on Saturday. The Albion Cricket Club have notified to the secretary of the Otago Cricketers' Association

their intention to heartily support, and to continue members of, the old Association. The secretary of the A.C.O. intends canvassing members of his club with a view to their becoming subscribing members to the parent Association. The recommendation of the Albions that the revised rules of the old Association should be submitted to a general meeting of cricketers will be laid before the Association Committee at their next meeting.

William Jones, who turned informer in the cases of burglary at the Pelichet Bay railwaystation, Mr K. Ramsay's office, and the office

of this paper, was on Saturday, at the Polic* Court, charged with being concerned in them and committed for trial.

We are in receipt from the Agent-general's office of a pamphlet entitled " England's New Sheep-farm." It is from the pen of Mr Michael G. Mulhall, F.S.S., and was originally written for the Fortnightly Review, but having been crowded out from the current number, Sir Dillon Bell had it printed in pamphlet form in order to place it before the Hqme public whilst the Dunedin's shipment of frozen meat was creating interest. Mr Mulhall shows that Britain herself cannot furnish her own meat supply, and expresses the opinion that the bulk of it must come from the Australasian Colonies. In 1896 he believes that Britain will have to import a million tons of meat yearly, her present import being about 600,000 tons, and he quotes statistics to show that New Zealand possesses great advantages over all her competitors in regard to meat-pro-duction. The pamphlet is particularly in. teresting as showing the possibilities to which the trade now initiated may grow in the course of a few years.

The certificate of thff Melbourne Exhibition awarded to the Mosgiel Woollen Company for the excellence of their manufactures, and a model of the Company's mills, are exhibited in the window of Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co,, Princes street. The design of the certificate is graceful, and its execution masterly, while the model is neat, and, being made to scale, is perfectly accurate. Both objects arc-sufficiently interesting to warrant attention being drawn to them.

"A correspondent writes : —" We understand that the Naseby curlers are anxiously looking forward to the promised visit of their metropolitan brethren, and that extensive preparations are being made to have a grand gathering of curlers from all parts of the country to meet the Dunedin men 'aroon' the Tee.' As the " bonspiel" 'cannot ,be played much later than last year's date—viz., August sth—our players have no time to lose, and' wo trust for the honour of Dunedin a sufficiently strong team will bo got together this week to go up and wrest the laurels from Mount Ida's classic brow."

What their mountain tracks are like in the Wakatipu district is exemplified in the case of a patient recently conveyed from Skippers to Queenstown to the hospital. According to the Mail, 05 men ware engaged in attending and carrying the man (whose name was Morton) from Skippers to the Saddle, and after that some 40 men to bring him into Queenstown. He has since died in the hospital.

Messrs Murray, Munro, and Kennedy waited on Mr E. R. Ussher, district engineeron Saturday as a deputation from Upper Shag Valley relative to a siding at Inch Valley Farm, or Brown's store, near Murray's road, Mr Ussher received the deputation very cour. teously, and pointed out on the plan to the deputation that a siding at the place indicated could only be worked as a "back shunt,1' which those who had the working of the line had a very decided objection to ; but a loopline could be put iv about 20 chains lower down than this point. The deputation, however, urged that the back shunt at the place referred to would bo preferable to the loopline farther along. Mr Ussher said that he would consult with Mr Lowe, the railway engineer, and see if he would havo any objection to the working of a back shunt, and he would let the deputation know in a few days; in any case he would place either a loop-line or a back shunt near the place indicated. Mr Murray thanked Mr Ussher not only on behalf of the deputation, but also on behalf of the settlers whom they represented.

On Saturday morning a man named John Dunlop, from Rocklands Station, was admitted into the Hospital suffering from a fracture of the left leg, caused by a waggon passing over the limb.

Rather a queer scene was enacted near Riverton the other day. Messrs Smith and Kingswell have been cutting a channel in the bed of Jacob's River, which many of the neighbouring settlers believed would lead to flooding their properties. Some 30 of- the Otautau and Strathmore residents therefore repaired to the spot, and, the eight online men at work on the channel having refused to stop, they proceeded to fill it up, of course a great deal quicker than the men could dig it out. At one time matters looked serious, but Mr Smith was sent for, and he agreed to cease operations until next meeting of the County Council.

A case of sudden death is reported in the Wakatipu Mail from Skippers. A young girl, aged 13, named Helen, eldest daughter of Mr Egbert Sainsbury, was found dead in her bed ( one morning. She had gone to bed about 10 the night before, apparently quite well, except that she complained of a slight pain in her stomach. A younger sister found her dead at 7 the next morning. It is thought she had ruptured a bloodvessel, as her mouth was filled with blood.

In a recent debate in the House Mr M. W. Green said he disliked very much to talk about himself.—(" Oh !" and laughter.) He had lived 42 years, and was prepared to prove that, in regard to indomitable energy and ability to use his hands, he could compare favourably with other lion, members.—(Loud laughter.) People thought that because ho had been a minister he know nothing; but they wero mistaken.—(Renewed laughter.)

A man named Andrew Horn, at Queenstown, has been fined 10s, or seven days'. imprisonment, for hitting Sergeant Gilbert with a snowball.

Vegetables are vory dear at present jn Sydney, a cabbage costing Is, and French beans 3s a peck, while " eggs are eggs" at 3s 3d a dozen. An exchange suggests that these' prices afford an opening' for New Zealand exporters.

One of the smartest stock operators in the city (says the World) has set the prices of Indian gold-mine shares a-moving within the past few days by a decidedly clever dodge. We believe he is a very large holder in some of these mines, and would be glad indeed to see his money back; but he professes to bo an eager buyer, and has inundated his fellow-sharebrokers with circulars stating that ho has some large orders to fill, and would bo glad if they would tell him what their intentions are, whether they are sellers, and, if so, how many shares they can let him have. Naturally the effect of a notjfjcatifjn 'qf tljjs )ihul, so, pj.-aGtica^looJring and yet so full oi mystery, is just the very

reverse of the ostensible object of its author. The recipients at once conclude that "something is r.p," and that the something must be very good indeed, else this sharp person would not want to buy. So instead of selling what

toy hold, thoy become buyers of more, and

the astute operator works up the price for their bonefit to a point that enables him to sell at a profit.

A sailor on the barque Oregon, at Lyttelton, named F. Payne, had a rib broken on Friday through falling down the hold whilst loading cargo. Whon in the ship Waimato he, by a like accident, broke his arm, and in the ship Rakaia ono of his logs was broken. From oxporionce, he not unnaturally believes ho is not to bo killed by accident.

Griffith Griffiths, a boarding-house keeper at Quoenstown, has boon fined £5 for sly grogBelling. The information was laid by Wong Gye, Chinese interpreter, who described himself as "a police constablo for Chinese, but also supposed to look after Europeans." Ho added, "My duty lies all over Otago; and I will take up Europeans as well as Chinese, if I can manage it."

Messrs Ronayne, Lintott, Moss, Johnston, and Dodge have beon appointed a committee to draw up the prospectus for a Plumpton coursing-ground at Oamaru. It is proposed to establish it at the racecourse, the lessees of which will be asked to grant terms.

The Alexandra bridge over the Clutha has cost £18,300.

Vincent County Council has liabilities to the amount of £7344, and an actual overdraft of £5502. The bank has intimated that in future it will not allow the limit of overdraft (£5000) to be exceeded.

The Pall Mall Gazette says: — "General Ignatieff has not been long in following M. Gambetta into retirement. Alike. on her eastern and western frontier Germany has been relieved of a secret dread. Russia, like France, is now placed under the guidance of mediocrities, and Prince Bismarck is more than ever master of the European situation. That is the first and most obvious result of the displacement of the Russian Minister of the Interior. General Ignatieff was unscrupulous and cunning, but his pre-eminent ability has been questioned as little as the uneasiness with which his ascendency inspired his neighbours. All things were believed to bo possible with Ignatieff in power, and the relief which his fall will bring to Central Europe will be only second to that produced by the overthrow of M. Gambetta. For good or for evil, the influence of Germany will be strengthened wherever that influence extends. The change in the Ministry of the Interior at St. Petersburg will be felt at Cairo and at Paris; nor

can it be a matter of indifference to England

that the only formidable rival of the German Chancellor should disappear from the scene on

tho eve of the coming Conference. At the

beginning of the year there were three statesmen in office in Europe who possessed a European reputation—M. Gambetta, General Ignatieff. and Prince Bismarck. To-day Prince Bismarck alone remains, and the whole Continent is overshadowed by that solitary and commanding figure.

The Scotch concerts in aid of the Burns Statue Fund are evidently gaining in popularity, no less than three having been givenl last week—one at Naseby, another at Lawrence, and a most successful one at Balclutha. At the latter one, which took place on Friday evening last, the local performers were ably assisted by the quartette party of the Dunedin Burns Statue Fund Choir—Messrs T. Stewart, A. D. Denovan, W. Morrison, and W. Packer —who contributed part songs and Bolos;*Mr Denovan in addition reciting "Tarn o' Shanter." The concert was admitted on all hands to be the most successful ever given in the district and must have resulted in considerably augmenting the fund.

Kreitmayer and Woodroffe's exhibition of waxworks and glass:blowing will open to-night in the Lyceum Hall. On future days there will be an afternoon exhibitioh, tout not to-day, as the hall cannot be got ready in time. It ho« been arranged that Mr I<\ B. Mills will join the comp*any. Mr Mills' specialty is instantaneous, engraving on glass. The process by which he effects this is one of his pwn invention. With an ordinary steel pen dipped in a combination of acids, he is able to engrave on glass any design that may be required. Mr Mills also engraves address cards, &c. He has been exhibiting his handiwork for some time at the Christchurch Exhibition, and the new addition to the entertainment will probably be very interesting.

Mr Donald Reid will sell rabbitakins to-day

The Standard Property Investment Society mcci on Wednesday.

Mr D. M. Speddtng wi 1 sell marble anil slate mantel piecea on Thursday.

A notice to those in arrears for municipal and water rates is advertised.

The Gaelic Society hold their monthly meeting 01 Wednesday.

Never wishing to have more than a fair profit, whatever the wholesale price may be, I have, in consequence of glutted markets, made a further reduction. See."Our prices" in our shop window*. Who wants a aide of mutton cheaper than 2d per lb for cash, let him como to me and I will give him my opinion. Most delicious sausages, puddings, brawn, &c. The public wi 1 appreciate the above reduction these dull times.—A. Dorxwbll, and branches. [Advt.J