News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1001, 4 February 1871, Page 15

News of the Week.

Pheasant's 1 ' and partridges are rapidly spreading in some districts in Canterbury. A . Swimming ' Club' is . about, to be estabHshe4 r a6 ; Tokomairiroi ' , The'-V ve r '»* Mount Benger is unusually, low for the season of the 'year, and the beach claims are consequentlyiiHull work.

The Land Transfer: Act is, to be brought into operation. in Southland. during the, first; week'jin April next,' ' - . Christchurch now contains about 500 artesian wells, moire than 90 of which have been bored during the last year. . "A- QueenstowD telegram in the Tuapeka Times savs'j-^"iMr Shepherd will'stand for Mount Idajfor the. Assembly; H« has nol chance of- election here for the CounoiL" ..i-MrcW. Ai'MarEay,Vacc v ordingto the Bruce Herald, intends, to t joffe,r,,himself as a candi-, date for the 'representation 'of thja Mataura,. distnotih the Provincial Council. ! : ' Timaru narrowly esckpeddes^ructlon by a grass fire on Friday. ' To' the absence of wifld'atthe time, the safety of the town is attributed. ' • ■ ■' T ■ The hearing" 6T" the charge against Mrs "Watathpuse^ t jW,as, >proceeded. ., with; at the Mayor's Court" on -Tuesday, till close on seven o'clock, and was eventually adjourned till, Prjday,. f; ;.. /- ■ «>r Mr iR. H. Rhodes has been elected without oppositipn to represent, the electoral district of Akarqa Jui the General Assembly. Mr .Rhodes ia a supporter of the Government Financial Scheme. ' ' A correspondent writes to the Bruce Herald from Invercargiil > that' *■' Mr Reid's visit has materially improved .his position. The votes at tha ,Mataura Hundredanearly allgq i to him/ ..* Mr Reader* Wood, in a late speech, compared attendance at the session of the Generiil Assembly; in' "the desert of "Wellington" t6 T tihtree "months' imprisonment, with l!ara labour.;' ' , ;' ' , , Iche new township of Maxwell, near Wan- j sanpi is to.have its streets named,, after English! sftges., ifow^pn, Herschel, Faraday, LyelL f '!BuckTle, -Tyndall, Huxley, Darwin, Hooker, list.

Financial

A meeting of thej Catholics in. Dunedin, to take steps for the reception of the Right Rev. Dr Moran, was held in, the Schoolroom of Stf'.foseph's Church tha other eyeuing. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements? The following works for the Athenaeum are expected by the. Rangitoto:—Dickens's.Mystery of Edwin Drood, Disraeli's Lotoair, Bulwer's Life of Palmerston, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's English-Note Book, and two volumes of Wood's Annual. ; ',. A Chinese missionary arrived in Lawrence the other day. The Tuapeka Times learns that this gentleman is connected with the Presbyterian body, 'and that his labours will be'amongst his countrymen in this pro; vinoe. •- ' fl It Is rumoured, says the Press, that a bed of rock salt of considerable extent has been discovered to the north of the provinoe. We have been unable to' obtain any particulars of the aUeged diecovery, .but give the rnniour for what it is wbrth^ . , Rewi, in a letter to the Thames chiefs, regarding the murder "of Mr". 'Todd, says:— "He was killed at Pirongia. The case was the surveying of that, mountain. This is written that you may see that the root of thia European killing is land. " ; A man. named .William Joseph Jackson has lately- been brought to the Hospital from Blueskin, in wHcE: Quarter,' 'whilst he was chopping" 'woGd, the tomahawk glanced off the.piece.which-he was striking, and severely wounded -him in the left knee-cap. ' . '. John M'Keegan; aged 31 years, by occupation a sailor,' died in, 'the i Lunatic Asylum .on the v 27th* 'ult. from" disease of the brain, causing general paralysis.' 'The deceased was brought from the Southland;. 'Asylum, on the 6tb July, 1869. He w*a a native of CushendaaVCorAntrim, Iceland.' •- The population of .Westland is estimated by the police at 15,600, but these figures the West Coast Times "believes to be considerably within ' the truth.' ° The estimate in the Schedule to the. Payments to Provinces Act, passed during the last session- of the General Assembly,' is 13,500. "

By the ship City of Dunedin, the Acclimatisation Sooiety* has received six red and one axis deer. Two of the former died on the voyage, eight head having been shipped. Great care appears to' have been bestowed upon them oy Captain Carry, who had charge of them during the passage.

The three half-caste youths who were lately remanded to Invercargiil from the Industrial School, Dunedin, on a charge of rape,: were, brought up before the Resident Maglstr»te3t]jivercargill ; onFriday t 27thult., and were "committed for trial at. the next Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court.

The great heat that has prevailed in Dunedin ;t>f , jate seems to. have prevailed in Queenstown also. A telegram states that tiie heat, at ■ that place, - a few days since*- was t"only 80 : degrees in the shade." .We_ should like to know what the maximum is the«un was.

Mr Bunny, in a recent election speech at CarterJlonj- referred in hopeful terms to the Land Transfer ' Act, and as an instance of its simplicity •nd~«xpodition>'"mentioned the owe o „ gentiemsnjm. l aju£her ,osli>ny, jwho fT*r7th>g wttlea tefor6 evening, •<

In reporting a recent election meeting afc Blenheim, the Maryborough Express says :—: — The usual vote of thanks to. the chair olosed a meeting at which more . libellous language had been used than would make a fortune for all the'lawyers in New Zealand, had we put them in print, and the same practices obtained here as in England. -

-' The nomination of candidates lor the re- ( presentation of the Waiknia district in the General Assembly took place at the Court House, Switz<-rB,- on 'Saturday laßt. Mr J. F. Dean and Mr J. B. Bradshaw were the only candidates. The show of hands wan largely in favour of the former. Mr Bradshaw demanded a poll. There were only about 20 persons present.

The question of the prohibition of the sale of drink on Sunday is agitating the public mind in Wanganui at present. The Chronicle advocate's the closing of the pablic-houses from 11 o'clock on Saturday night until 6 o'clock on Monday morning ; while the Herald declares that "this is a piece in keeping with the intolerance and blind bigotry of a pack of zealots." '„

Ir ' 1 . . - ' During the month, of January there were 84 births registered in Dunedin.. The number of deaths registered dulling the same period was 13, the excess of births over deaths thus being 71, or'at the rate of 546 15 per cent. ' 20 marriages were also registered during the month. The figures for the corresponding month' of 1870 were as follows : —Births, 110 ; deaths, 24 ; marriages, 25. Mr T. S.~ Pratt, » candidate for the Mount Tda district, addressed a large meeting of the electors of Hyde, at 'the Royal Mail Hotel, on Thursday evening, and was very well received. At the close, of his address the following , resolu ion was carried unanimously : — "That Mr Pratt ib a fit and proper person to represent this' district in the House of Representatives, and the Provincial CounoiL" - Beferring to the report that the Bank of New Zealand had stopped its advances to the Treasury, the Lyttehon Times says, "We are happy to be able to say that the report is entirely false." The Wellington Independent says :—": — " We beg authoritatively to contradict this absurd and malicious rumour. The Government of the country know nothing of such, a ' serious and embarrassing business,' or of any difficulty to be 'got over.' "

Another malicious act — the second within a short period— has been committed at Green Island. Between Friday evening and Monday morning some person or persons entered the schoolhouse by the window, destroyed pens and copy-books, spattered ink about, and displaced the school clock., As one of them left behind him a not very elegant specimen of his handwriting, it, is possible he may be found.' The police have been communicated with.

Judge Chapman sat in bankruptcy on Monday. The final examinations ot Charleß Cornelius, William Hunt, and Robert Jl.J 1 . Fuioher were adjourned till tha 6th February. Michael Augustus Collins was adjudicated bankrupt, and a - meeting of his creditors appointed to be held in the Resident Magistrates Court, Naseby, on the 10th February. John and Duff Ellis were also adjudged bankrupts ; meetings of their creditors to be held on the 7th inat<

The nuisance occasioned by the proximity of the ' Resident Magistrate's Court House to a street much used for goods traffic has frequently been commented upon, both by the magistrates, the legal profession, and the newspapers. On Wednesday the rumbling of wheels was incessant, and the proceedings of the Court had repeatedly to be stopped because of the noise. "It would seem that nothing can be done to mitigate the evil, and that the only remedy is to provide some other room for the magistrates to hold their sittings in.

Mr Gow, the newly-appointed writing and commercial master to the High School, and Mr Patersen, who h&8 been selected to fill Mr Abram's place during his leave of absence, the forjner from and the latter from Hokitika, ,'eritered upon their, duties at the school on Monday morning. We have seen specimens of Mr Gow's handwriting, and think we may safely say that if he succeeds in making his new pupils write half as well as himself; the parents will have little cause to complain.

An accident which might have been attended with more serious results occurred on Friday, on the Anderson's Bay road. It appears that as Mr Garside's 'bus was proceeding to Portobello he succeeded in overhauling another 'bus, which, it is stated, was on the .wrong side of the road, and in endeavouring to pass it the 'bus was upset, and its ocoupants thrown into a ditch. One of the passengers, Mrs Popham, received a severe shook, and remained in an unoonsoious state until Saturday morning ; but she is now progressing favourably.

The house, stables, stockyard, and effeots of Mr Thomas Lynoh, farmer, at Rocky Valley, about 10 miles from Tokomairiro, were burnt down on Monday morning, the 23rd ult., through the chimney of the house taking fire, the fire spreading to the thatoh roof, and thence to the stable and stookyard. The house and buildings were insured. The police, we understand, after' having made fall enquiries, are satisfied that the origin of the fire was accidental. The coroner for the diatriot is of the same opinion, and, deemed an enquiry unnecessary. . , , There appears to be every likelihood of a j close contest .is Oamaru int. the election forj , ttw Awem%, the two candidates nooinafced lofe akps*jr->!r Ws^msct wot Hit W. J.

Steward — commanding, about an equal measure of support. The latter being a local candidate, and also in favour of moderate protection, while the former is a freetrader, it is not unlikely that Mr Macasaey may again be defeated; but every eflort will be made by his supporters to secure his return. Mr, Steward is editor und proprietor of the Oamaru Times, and commands the Oamaru Company of Volunteers.

On Saturday evening last a number of 'gentlemen met in the lower room of the Athenaeum, for the purpose of considering' matters precursory to the opening of a division of the Order of the Sons of Temperance in Dunedin. This order has for its object total abstinence from intoxicants, and mutual aid in times of affliction. It is making rapid strides throughout the Australian colonies, while in Britain and America it can 'also boast of large numbers of members. Considerable spirit and earnestness were evinced during the meeting, -and the intention of assembling for initiation early, next week was announced.

A Maketu correspondent of the Auckland Herald sends that journal the following extract from a letter received "from a gentleman engaged on works near Taupo," and; who is "no mean authority on the subject" :\ — "I also expect that before many months we shall have a regular row with the King ' party. It is nUeady brewing pretty stiffly ; and, without being an alarmist, I*ehall not be the least surprised to have a few bullets flying about me some of these days. But the old proverb of ' fore-warned iB forearmed' I hope will stand to me. If there is> a war, I think it will be a very severe one, and many natives that we think friendly will turn against us."

The following prisoners were received into H.M. Gaol. Dunedin, on Saturday night; :—: — Norman M 'Donald, labourer, sentenced at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Oamaru, by Mr .Parker, R.M., on the 2 1st instant, to seven days' and one calendar month's hard labour, cumulative, for resisting and assaulting the p 'lice in the execution of, their duty at Oamaru ; Henry Rich, an old .offender, sentenced at the same place, on the 23rd instant, by Mr Parker, to four months' imprisonment, with hard labour, for stealing a silver watch from the person of Mr Ritchie Young, at Oamaru. There are at present six Chinese prisoners confined in Dunedin Gaol for various offences.

Mr J. M'Kenzie, who is a candidate for the representation of the Waihemo ' district in the Provincial Council, addressed the electors at Palmerston on Saturday, and received a vote of confidence from them. In reply to a question, Mr M'Kenzie is reported to have said. that "in advocating the introduction of female immigrants, he did not wish to see other than useful domestic servants brought oat, and had no intention of having that olass termed ' riff raff ' sent here. He spoke from practical knowledge whoa he asserted that domestic servants were wanted. He had advertised for 14 days for one in the daily paper, and could not obtain one. They were unobtainable at L4O per annum."

A meeting of Directors of the Caledonian Sooiety was held at W ain's Hotel on Thursday. The President, Mr Tnomas Birch, in the chair. The Secret >ry read a letter from Mr Thomas Bracken, of Melbourne, the successful competitor for the prize poem at the recent competition, requesting the Society, in his name, to present the prize, Lo to a charitable institution in Dunedin. It was resolved that a vote of thanks to Mr Bracken be recorded in the books of the Sooiety, for his liberal gift, and that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to him to Melbourne. This is the second occasion on which Mr Bracken has taken the Society's prize. TheDirectors voted a sum of L 2 for the temporary relief of a family in destitute circumstances.

An enqniiy was held at Mr W. Dyer's farm, Tokomairiro Plain, on the 24th ult., into the origin of a fire which occurred there on the 21st ult., and by which a barn, coachhouse, and other outbuildings, together with the implements and crops stored in the barn, were destroyed. The jury returned the verdict "Origin of the fire unknown," with the rider, "That in all probability the fire was caused by a spark from the pipe of one of the men who' had been working in the barn, cutting chaff, some four hours previous to the discovery of the fire.'*' The crops stored ins the barn, and which were destroyed were valued at L2OO, and were, we believe, insured. The buildings were valued at L6OO. It is not known if they were insured.

We regret to state that another case of scarlet fever has occurred in Dunedin, besides two on the Quarantine Tsland. In the former case the sufferer is a ohild belonging to the same family as that in which another child was' lately mentioned as having been attacked by this disease. It has been removed to the Hospital, where both children are now doing well. On the Quarantine Island the disease attacked two of the children of Mr Dugald, the keeper of the island. One of them, a boy five years of age, died on Monday morning ; the other ia repotted to be recovering. Such being the case, it would be advisable that the island should be kept strictly in quarantine, and that no visitors should be allowed to land on it.

The Presbytery of Dunedin met in St. Andrew's Chdrch bat evening, for th* indootioa of the Rev. Robert Scrimgeonr m pastor of the ; congregation ot St. Andrew*. s There was a large attendance of ftke mem' bersof the oongttogatum. The Be*. A. B. Toddj who prowled, frotehod from 8a&

Corinthians, 3 chap, xviii verse. He then inducted Mr Scnrugeour into the charge of the congregation of St. Andrew's, the members of Presbytery, on the inunction being concluded, giving him the right hand of fellowship. The Rev. Mr Todd having given a short narrative of the case of the rev. gentleman, from the time of bis resignation to the present, feelingly addressed him. The Rev. Mr Ryley then addressed the congregation on the subject of their duties to their pastor. Mr Scrimgeour was, on retiring at the end of the service, warmly we corned back by the office bearers and other members of the congregation.

Sir David Monro, in an address to the electors of the Motueka district, stated '.' most distinctly'" that he had "no intention of occupying the Speaker's chair again." At another meeting Sir David is reported in the Examiner to have referred to the Volunteers in the following terms :— He thought that the Volunteer force was not as efficient as it might be macle ; but at the same time there were special difficulties in the way in a country like this, where people were widely scattered, and fully occupied in making homes for themselves. He thought that in these warlike times it was of great importance ' that the young men should learn at least how to load and discharge a rifle, and to hit the bolls-e ye if possible. He trusted that if ever they were brought into action, they would not practise the right-about-face manoeuvre too much, and show tb,eir baoks to the enemy.— (Great laughter.)

The honour of representing the Dunstan district in the Provincial Council seems, says the local journal, to be more coveted than thst of a seat in the General Assembly. In addition to the candidates previously named, Mr Wallace, a gentleman comparatively unknown to the electors, has signified his intention of becoming a candidate. ■ There are now in. the field Messrs Worth, Niven, and Wallace ; and in all probability Mr Hughes and Mr Mervyn may also corue forward.— The same journal has the following :— We understand that a requisition, largely and influentially signed, will be presented to Mr Charles Colclough, in the course of the week, .requesting him to become a candidate for the representation of the Cromwell district in the Provincial Council. Mr Colclough. has a large interest in the diatriot, and possessing, as he does, an intimate knowledge of its requirements, will, if returned, make a good representative.

A little boy named Pitsford narrowly escaped drowning in the Water of Leith on Thursday week. He went to bathe in the hole in the river bed about fifty yards above Messrs Wilson and Birch's brewery, having, he siys, no idea of the depth of water in the deep parts of the hole. Missing his footing, he got into deep water and dank,' until he was lifted, apparently dead, from the river bottom, by Mr Green, who is employed at the brewery mentioned. He was lil-ecl on to the bank, and Boon affer carried to the house of Mr Menziea, where he was attended to, being then stiff and cold. A doctor was at once sent for, but in the meantime the little fellow was rubbed with flannel without cessation, and had some brandy and w*ter poured down his throat. In about 20 minutes or half an hour after he had been lifted out, warmth and consciousness were restored. The doctor arrived in a little mere than an hour, when bis recovery was already certain.

Part of Bond street, north of Jetty street, has lately been formed and metalled by a gang of prisoners, and the footpaths formed along each side. Footpaths have also been formed along the rest of that end of the street, and from Bond street, through Manor street, into Princes street. These back streets having been cleared- of timber, and at least partly formed, traffic can now pass uninterruptedly through them.' Princes street south, from Manor place to the Recreation Ground, has also been widened, and a footpath formed on the east side of it. The other footpaths have also* been repaired and drains cleared- as far as the Cemetery. That part of Water street between Bond street and Crawford street is being formed and metal ed by prisoners. Another gang is being employed m remoringthe fall of the Sigh street cutting, which is 27 feet in height, and projects 17 feet on the street line. The material obtained from High street is used in the reclamation of tha land near the Rattray street jetty.

A man named Robert Turner, a hawker and general dealer, living in Albany-street, died rather suddenly on Monday. He had for some time past been suffering from pains in the chest. In the morning he complained of them to his wife, and said he was very un* well/but nevertheless started for Blueskin, for a load of firewood. At about two miles on the other side of Brown's Junction Hotel, a man named Jonathan Barker came upon him, sitting in his e»rt and oomplaining of being very ill. Barker took the reins and drove him to Brown's Hotel. He went in and asked for brandy and water for Turner * but Mrs Brown, looking at him, saw that he was dead, or nearly so, and would not take upon herself the responsibility of giving' hint any. He was at once driven to the Hospital, where Dr Yates pronounced him. to ba dead. Turner had his two little children, the elder being about three years and a half old, in the cart with him at th» time, but they did not notice him dying.

A meeting in connection with the Total Abstinence Sooiety was held at th» Athenaeum on the 23th alt., to receive thr reportoi ft Committee appointed at a pnbKo matting on the 9-Jruut.. to prepare a pledge and form of oowtttution. Mr Alexander Btatfepirididt Tlie report of the Com*

mittee was read by Mr Jago. It was "agreed to hold over clause 9 for future consideration, but the other clauses were adopted with amendments. Clatiee 4 provides "That the society shall consist of euch persona of both sexes above 14 years of age as may sign and adhere to the* following pledge :— I promise by Divine assistance to abstain from all intoxicating beverages, and to the utmost of my ability to discountenance such use by others." By clause 7it is provided " That those members only who subscribe 2s 6d every six months to the funds of the union shall be qualified to vote at meetings of or hold office therein." Mr Rennie was appointed interim treasurer, and Mr J. W. Jago interim secretary. Twenty-three members were enrolled, and the meeting adjourned until Monday next.

A Timaru paper has the following : — On the last trip of the Beautiful Star from Aiaroa to Tfmaru, Mr J. G. Hughea, of the former place, took down a quantity of groper or hapoia fisb, for the purpose of testing their fitness for preserving by the tinning process. The fish were duly cooked and tinned at the New Zealand Meat Preserving Company's Works, Washdyke, Timaru, and the following are the reports upon them :— "New Zealand Meat Preserving Company, Timaru, Jan. 24, 1871, I do hereby certify that I have preserved New Zealand groper fish for Mr J. G. Hnghes, of Akaroa. I can speak from many years' experience in the preserving trade, and have no hesitation in stating that it is equal to any English fish when properly treated — Richard Buist, Preserver, N.Z.M.P. Co." "New Zealand Meat Preserving Company, Timaru, Jan. 24, 1871. — I have this day tasted groper fish preserved for Mr J. G. Hughes, of Akaroa. From what I see of it I consider it very suitable for preserving, and a great boon to the country. Akaroa owes Mr Hughes a great deal for the interest he (Mr H.) has taken in this matter. — Johit Macintosh, Waahdyke, Timaru, New Zealand."

The effect of the stimulus given by the war in Europe to the trade in Australian preserved meats appears to have passed off. We learn from the Times that a public dinner was lately given at the Norton -Folgate agency for colonial produce to a number of medical gentlemen, officers of health for different parts of London, and among whom were Drs Lankeater, Hardwioke, and Letheby. The meats were cooked in the same manner as those supplied to the public by Mr Tallerman in his " penny dinners." The Times goes on to say : — "The dinners »s served were pronounced to be excellent, and the large company voted Mr Tallerman thanks for his efforts, carried out at considerable trouble, to overcome the prejudices of the people against the good and wholesome meats now exported from Australia. Mr Tallerman, in reply, stated that it was his purpose to persevere in this labour, and he informed his audience that » vast quantity of meats had been imported, and were lying at the docks in tons, there being no market for it, and this at a time, too, when meat was very dear in this country. 3 '

Mr Reid addressed a meeting of the electors in the Maungatna district on Monday evening in the Sohoolhouse there. Mr James Sim occupied the chair, and there were about 50 electors present. Mr Reid was listened to with attention, and a motion that he is a fit and proper person to be Superintendent of Otago wSs moved by Mr John Nimmo, Beconded by Mr James Reid, and carried unanimously. Later in the evening, Mr Reid addressed a large assemblage of electors in the Drill Shed, Outram. Mr James Allan was in the chair. Mr Reid spoke for about two hours, after which he answered a number of questions to the satisfaction of most of the electors present. Mr Alexander Chisholm then proposed, and Mr Richard Kempshell seconded, a motion to the effect that Mr Reid is a fit and proper person to be Superintendent of the province of Otago. Mr D. Smyth moved, and Mr James Cuthbertson seconded, on amendment, that Mr James Macandrew is the most fit and proper person to fill the office of Superintendent. Oa the amendment and motion being put to the meeting, only 5 hands were held up for the former, while upwards of 100 were held up for the latter, which was accordingly declared carried. Mr James Sim then proposed, and Mr George Thompson seconded, a motion that Mr Reid is the most tit and proper person to represent the Taieri in the General Assembly. The motion was carried unanimously. < The proceedings were then terminated with a vote of thanka to the Chairman.

Last Tuesday evening, Mr Donald Reid* as a candidate for the office of Superintendent, addressed the largest meeting of the kind ever held in Waikouaiti. After being introduced to the meeting by the chairman, Mr Pratt, Mr Reid, in an excellent speech, expressed his opinion on the chief political subjects of the day, referring chiefly to the recently-enacted land laws, and the visionary Financial Scheme of last session of the Assembly, introduced by the Colonial Treasurer, Mr field explained to the entire satisfaction of his audience the notion the Reid Goverment thought fit to take in the matter. He «lso referred to the scandalous reports that have been industriously circulated by his opponent and others, that the Reid Government, and even the provincial Council, had fettered, the hands of the present Superin- ' %M^Bnt as to frustrate his -designs in. oarry • ■frig out the liberal promuts be made to the people four years ago ; and

being made by the General Government to oppose Mr Reid and to secure the re-eleo-tion of the present Superintendent. At the close of bis address a number of questions were put and answered satisfactorily by Mr Reid, after whioh a motion proposing him as a fit and proper person for the office of Superintendent of this province was so unanimously carried that the Chairman did not think it necesßary to put a contrary motion to the meeting. Mr Reid had also an enthusiastic reception at Hampden on Wednesday evening. He spoke for an hour and ten minutes. A vote of confidence in him was carried by a large majority, in the face of a counter resolution which reoeived the support of only the mover and seconder.

A general meeting of the Degree of Rebekah, A.1.0.0.F., took place on Friday evening, at the Old Masonic Hall, for the purpose of conferring this degree on candidates. The opportunity was taken advantage of by several wives of members of the Order. At 8 p. m, a fair sprinkling of ladies who have already received this degree, as well as several officers of the Grand Lodge, and a very large concourse of the officers and brethren of the various lodges, were present. The R.W.G. Sec. Bro. James Miohie, assisted by R.W.G. Warden Bro. London, P.G. Master Bro. M'Gaw, Past Grands Bros. Brown, Soares, Neale, and Minifie, and J.P.G. Bro. Braithwaite, proceeded to open the degree. Bro. Bishop kindly presided aa organist in an able and effective manner. The opening ceremony beiDg concluded, the M.W.G. Master Bro. B. C. Haggitt, was then announced, and received with the usual honours : after which he proceeded, in a very impressive manner, to confer the Degree of Rebekah on the ladies assembled for the purpose. All the necessary business being finished, the Degree was closed with the usual prayer by W."G. Chaplain Bro. James M Gaw. The members and their wives were then invited to a social re-union for the purpose of cultivating the usual interchange of civilities, an invitation which was unanimously responded to. A first class band was provided, and dancing was kept up most spiritedly. The evening's amusement was enlivened by one of the ladies obliging with one or two songs, which were rendered in a very sweet and expressive manner, her example being afterwards followed by several -of the brethren. J. P. G. Bro. Braithwaite kindly undertook the onerous duties of M.C. The evening's entertainment wound up at an early hour in the morning.

The seventh anniversary of Court Enterprise, A.0.F., was celebrated by a supper at the Royal George Hotel on Wednesday. Over 60 brethren, including visitors from other Courts, sat down to an excellent supper, provided by Bro. Woodland. P.C.R. Bro. John Hughes occupied the chair, and Bro. Henry Spears, Sub-Chief Ranger of the Court, the vice chair. A number of toasts having been drunk, the treasurer, Bro J. T. Goodman, stated that there were 92 members on the books of the Court. The funds had increased from L 356 on the 31st Deoember, 1869, to L4OO at the present time, in addition to which they had property to the value of LBO. For sick benefits they paid in 1869 L 27, in 1870 L4B 3s 4d. Besides the benefits received by the exemption from payment of doctors' bills and medicines, the money, he said, is invested as closely as possib'e, and adds to itself in interest about L2O per year. At the present time there was not an unfinanoial mem)sr on the books, but many had carelessly withdrawn. In one instance which occurred last week, a man who died suddenly had, through discontinuing payments, deprived his family of L2O, which otherwise it would have been entitled to. At thiß stage of the proceedings Bro. Woodland, on behalf of the Court, presented Bro. Hughes with the ribbon of a past chief ranger, whose value, he said, would be well understood by every Forester. He hoped he would long live to wear it in this Court, or, if he left the place, in other Courts. With the ribbon was also a neatly engrossed testimonial from the members of the Court. Bro. Hughes replied in fitting term-?. Other toasts followed, and the good fellowship of the evening was 'enhanced by a number of songs and recitations. The company separated at an early hour, having passed a very pleasant evening.

The fuller telegrams of English news published in the Australian papers contain some interesting items. We extract the following as the chicf :— The Spectator and the Pall Mali Gazette advooated on the same date a war for the relief of France ; 50,000 men to be sent to Cherbourg, and a fleet to the Euxine. — Russia neither desires nor is prepared for war, but great enthusiasm exists at St. Petersburg and in the country. There are rumours of a fleet of ironolads being purchased from America. 100,000 tons of coal are stored at Odessa, and enormous orders for shot and ballets have been given. A decree is ißßued extending military compulsory service to all classes. — There are four Frenoh armies n the field, swollen by levies en masse. Oatoosts of Count Keratry's Breton army, of 7000 (70,000?) strong, occupied Evreux, and great alarm was created at Versailles. — Lyons is preparing for a siege. The defences are completed, and the city is provisioned. — Gambetta has deoreed a conscription of all able-bodied men from 20 to 40. — Generals Bourbaki and Keratry have been superseded. General Miohel is superseded by Polisaene, in consequence of dissensions with Garibaldi —General Troohu has 500,000 men in arms. The citizens are divided in opinion. The Reds clamour {or ppxfcj* Sfao tf itwa»l Guard rpfawi to

make sallies. All are looking for external relief. The people and press are in favour of peace, being tired of useless defence. The shipment of arms continues from America, to Havre In enormous quantities. Six million dollars worth have been Bent already No remonstrance is made by the Germans, while England is bitterly attacVed. — A Bavarian soHier who attempted to assassinate King William of Prussia has been arrested and shot. — The German war expenses to November lath amount to 121,000,000 fchalers.— George Francis Train is in the Lyons Bastille. — The restoration of the Bonaparte dynasty is not improbable. — Several balloon passengers from Paris have been captured and sent to Prussian fortresses. — Tours is not occupied by the Germans, notwithstanding the demand of the mayor for a Prussian garrison ; but, in accordance with instructions, the Germans retired into cantonments after destroying the railway. — German despatches announce the defeat on Deoember 24 of General Friedeaherbe's French army of 60,000 strong by the Germans under General ManteufieL The pursuit of the French was only interrupted by nightfall.

A Nelson paper states that one of the banks at Charleston, during the Christmas holidays, issued, in one day, solely to miners, L4OOO in paper currency, and as the three banks are equally popular among the miners, and do nearly the same amount of business, it was inferred that the circulation of bank notes on this particular day most have reached the round Bum of L 12,000.