News of The Week

Otago Witness, Issue 1031, 2 September 1871, Page 14

News of The Week

More skylarks have been sent to Wellington from Nelson.

Mr Vogel has left bis family in San Francisco on account of ill health.

A cavalry corps is in course of formation at Xe\r Plymouth.

A female ward is to be added to the Grey ltiver Hospital.

The ( Jrey mouth Garriek Club is roported to be in a flourishing condition.

A show of entires is to be held at Invercargill early in October.

A new rowing club has been started at Auckland.

A Presbyterian Church Extension Association has been formed at Chriatchurch.

A public gymnasium has been opened at Greymouth.

Building operations are going on actively at Naseby.

A large number of tho dams and races at the Wangapeka (Nelson) Gtildfield, have been burst by tho latu floods

The Bible used to swear the members of the House of Representatives is described as A ''rather bhabby" one.

Flax-dressing has declined so greatly in Auckland that the local manufacture of machines fur the purpose has ceased.

Dysentery is very prevalent in Auckland just now. The drinking of impure water is the alleged, cause,

According to the Herald, the drama of " Formosa is meeting with "extraordinary Huoeess" in Auckland. A c.is company, wiih limited liability, has been formed at the Thames. The capital is £25,000, in shares of £2 10s each,

Mr George Frederic Rowlatt was last Week admitted and enrolled a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

The Buller coalfields have been ascertained to cover a very large area, and the quality of the coal is described as " unsiu passed. '"

A large grass fire, extending over a considerable tract of country, has taken place in Canterbury, to the south of the Rakaia.

The Wellington correspondent of the Press states that " Mr Stafford is no longer the faliiiaat of last session."

Mr Thomas "William Hislop was admitted find enrolled a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand on Tuesday.

The "garrison" at Whakatane, before it received its recent reinforcement of live men, consisted of six men only.

An impression prevails at the Thames that specimen-stealing is freely indulged in there, but it is found very difficult to bring home a charge of this sort.

An Irish correspondent of a northern paper suggests that his countrymen should make preparations for the centenary of the birth of Thomas Moore. It is eight years oif yet.

An attempt is being made at Auckland to re-organise the Prince Alfred Light Horse Troop, of which the Duke of Edinburgh is an honoraiv member.

An enterprising resident of Hobart Town recently advertised for ten millions of rabbit skins, to be delivered before the Ist ."September.

The Mount Ida Chronicle declares that Dunedin is "nothing more nor less than a large whited sepulchre — beautiful without, but within full of rottenness and decay."

Mr J. B. Borton, E.M., Roxburgh, has been appointed Returning Officer for Roxburgh, the principal polling place for the District of Waikan.

The body of a runaway German sailor was found a few days ago on a run in the Aniuri district, the unfortunate man having died from exposure.

The Luna has been employed lately by the Government for the purpose of inspecting the buoys on the coast, and conveying stores to the lighthouses.

One wing of the Colonial Mihcuni at "Wellington ib being prepared for the tlax exhibition, which, according to the Post, will be held about the middle of the present session of the General Assembly.

The Dunstan Times contradicts the report that Mr Yince it Pyke has resigned his Wardenship of the Dunstan. district, and says that he does not meditate taking any such step.

The Christchurch Artillery made some good practice the other day, nearly every one of the shots from the Armstrong guns striking the target full, so that it was eoinpletely battered. The range was 1200 yards.

A man named Ford was frost-bitten in the Wai rau (Jorge the other day, and was obliged to have one foot and part of the other amputated. The operations were successfully performed in the Nelson Hospital.

The Nelson Examiner states that the cost of the railway to the Brunnor coal mine will, according to the report of Dr Hector and Mr Blackett, C.E., be considerably in excess of the estimate.

A correspondent writing to the Wangaiiui Herald, says — " 1 hear that the legal profession of Wanganui have divided the town into blocks (eight) so as Lo equalise the taking of the population through the Bankruptcy Court. "

The electors of Roslyn will have no reason to complain of a want of candidates, as in addition to the gentlemen who have already announced themselves, we hear that Lieut. Col. Cargill, in compliance with the request of a number of the electors, is likely to contest the seat.

A teamster informs the Wakatip Mail ' ' that the new Chinese immigrants are extremely cunning, and to be dreaded ; that they appear to have been tutored before leaving China, as they .seem prepared for every emergency.

Mr James Smith obtained an order in the Supreme Court on Monday to have the case of Regina r. Reicholt tried by a special jury. The Criminal Sessions commence on Monday next ; and the above-mentioned case is to be taken first.

The Advertiser states that Mr Vogol's first question on landing at "Wellington was, '' How is the session going on?" The same paper says "the poor gentleman was evidently very ill, and suffering severely— in fact, was quite a cripple."

English Churchmen in Otago will be ro ioiceuto learn that the Jenner controversy hag at last terminated, Dr Jennor having relinquished all claim to the lights and privileged pertaining to the Bishopric of Dunedin,

The election of a member to represent the Waikavi district in the Provincial Council took place at thu Kaikorai Drill Shed on Tuesday, and resulted in the return of Mr Macassey. The figures were as follows :—: — Maeasaey, 52 ; Hepburn, 31 ; majority for Macassey, 21.

The City Council, in accordance with a resolution come to at its last meeting, will in future meet in the evening, The sittings of the Council will no doubt be more largely attended by the ratepayers, now that a more generally convenient hour has been fixed fur the meetings.

John Snow, a well known character, who was sentenced, on the 2Gth ult., by Mr Murdoch, R.M., to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour, for stealing, at Hawksbury, on the 23rd ult., a pair of boots, the property of Mr Axley, storekeeper, was received into the Gaol on Monday evening, escorted by Constable Walsh.

Whalers are not treated so liberally at Auckland as they are at this port. The Secretary of the newly formed Whalirg Company at Auckland applied to the Haibour Board there to remit half the ordinary dues in the case of their vessel, the Albion, but the request was refused on the ground that it would form a bad precedent.

A contemporary states that the Government of Victoria are taking every means in their power to bring the colony under the notice not only of the English public, but also of the peasantry of the Continent of Europe. The Land Act has been translated into German, and sold at such a price as to secure its extensive circulation in Germany.

The colliers at the Kyeburn appear to resemble Leech's Lancashire operative, who tells bis comrade to " 'cave 'arf a brick" at a jjasser-by, because he is a stranger. According to the correspondent of the Mount Ida Chronicle, ' ' these dusky representatives of humanity" keep their muscles " in working order by throwing clods at occasional passersby."

The Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanic " Institute has received all the Parliamentary .uapers as yet issued by the General Government. We are informed that the Secretary has received a letter from Mr Reynolds stating that he has made arrangements whereby these papers will be sent regularly to the Institute, and that as only a fewcopies are given to members he hopes his constituents will peruse them in the Institute.

The notice of motion tabled by Mr Macandrew, in the General Assembly, to move a series of resolutions having for their object the abolishment of tho existing Provincial system, and erecting the Middle Island into one province, with a Lieutenant-Governor, is likely, the Oamaru Times says, to meet with general support. We hear, says that journal, that petitions in favour of the proposal are being got up in this and the neighbouring provinces ; also that one is in eouise of preparation by gentlemen in this district.

We regret to learn from the Waikouaiti Herald that Captain Baldwin, "well known as the Deputy Sub-Commissioner, Government Life Assurance Department, also iccently, we believe, appointed Travelling SubComniissioner for the Colony, and while engaged in the duties of this orfiee in Canterbury, has, we regiet to hear, suddenly been obliged to return home seriously ill, having over-taxed both brain and body in his zeal for tho work in hand. He is now being attended by Dr Harding, and we trust after a short residence here he will soon be enabled to resume his duties."

The Inspector of Government Schools, in Nelson, in his annual report, says that " the use of foul language is still, 1 regret to say, more common than it ought to be. " Ought it to be "common" at all? The Mail, referring to this passage, says :— " We have frequently befoie referred to this hideous evil, but we regret to say that there is yec no improvement perceptible. Well clothed, well kept, and otherwise well-behaved children, over whose heads but some nine or ten summers only have passed, aie to be heard making use of the mo-.t blasphemous oaths, and the coarsest and filthiest of lan-

A meeting of the Directors of the C.iledonian Society was held on Tuesday evening, at Wain's Hotel, the President in the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter, written from London, by Mr E. Fox, well known in Dunedin, w.is read. It was accompanied by a foe slm'tlr of Burns's poems of ' ' Tarn o' Shantei " and

"Mary, Queen of Scots." It was resolved that the Secretary be instructed to thank Mr Fox for tho compliment. Some eases of distre.-^ c.une before the meeting, and were dealt with with the Society's usual liberality. A vote of thanks to the President concluded the proceedings. The annual meeting of the congregation of ihe First Church was held in that church on the 24th ult. A topic which evoked considerable discussion was a proposition to increase tlie stipend of the pastor, the Rev. G. Sutherland, An amendment, hinting that Mr Sutherland should resign, ai as proposed, but that gentleman, in his capacity as chairman, ruled 'that it could not be ]>ut. Ultimately, it was resolved that the stipend should be retained at the former amount — -C4OO. A full report of the proceedings appears in our present issue.

Notwithstanding our frequent warning that anonymous letters unaccompanied by tho real names and addresses of the writers will not be published, we continue to receive such letters almost daily. We have received one on the Chinese question, apparently written by some one who requires looking after. We give one sentence of his letter as a sample:—"l am demanded hy casuistry and equity to condemn that unethical and bigoted malpiaetice of dedeoorating our Celestial brethren by universally casting perpetual opprobrium upon their misjudged ethical and physical character,"

The ninth anniversary of the Pioneer Lodge. A.1.0.0.F., was celebrated by a supper, held at Bro. Thompson's Red Lion Hotel, on Tuesday evening. About 40 brethren «*nd visitors sat down to a well spread table. N. G. Bro. Walls occupied the chair. After ample justice had been done to the good things, the usual loyal and other toasts were proposed, and suitably responded to. The Secretary read a report of the progress of the Lodge during the last twelve months, it showed the total receipts to be £21>2 lGs 9d ; the disbursements to sick and distressed members, and payment for medical attendance, &c, £221 2s '.id; the average number of financial members, 70 ; and the total funds, £408 ISs.

The Town Council of Cromwell has adopted a memorial to the Postmaster-General, praying that Cromwell may be made the terminus for the north-western mails instead of Clyde. This, the memorialists say, is due to Cromwell, both from its natural position and from its increasing importance as a mining and commercial centre. They state also "that by the mail coach leaving Dunedin a little earlier in the morning, it could easily reach Naseby the same evening, and then, as easily, Cromwell on the following one."' The Town Council of Cromwell have also requested the co-operation of the Councils of ( t )ueeustowu and of Alexandra, and of the Improvement Committee of Naseby, in the matter.

We understand that in consequence of statements made by the Wakatip Mail, and re-printed in our local columns to the effect that disturbances between the European miners and the Chinese were likely to take place in the Wakatip district, the authorities made enquiry into the matter, and found the statements in question to be altogether without foundation. A strong feeling against the influx of < ,'hhiese certainly exists in the district, as elsewhere, but the idea of using force to expel or ' ' punish "' the Chinese has never been entertained. We may aLo direct Attention here to a telegram in another column, by -n Inch it will be ->een that the Chinese question has been referred to a committee of the House of Representatives to report upon.

The annual meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Otago ami Southland, E. C, was held at the Masonic Hall on Monday, the R.W.D.G.M. Bro. J. Hyde Harris presiding. After receptions of the usual annual reports of committees and of balance sheets, the following brethren were invested :— Bro. A. Myers, P.M. as D.G.S.W. ; Bro. Geoige Wilson, P.M. as D.G.J.W. ; Bro. E. W. U'Ren, as D.G. Chaplain; Bro. G. Smith, P.M., as Treasurer; Bio. R. Stout, a-., D.G. Registrar ; Bro. J. O. Eva, P.M., as D.G. Secretary; Bro. J. A. Webb, W.M., as D.G.J.D. ; Bro. George Greenfield, as D.G.D.C. ; Bro. Keam, as D.G.S.B. ; Bro. Fordyce, as D.G. P. ; and Bro. Jopp, as D.O.T. Bros. Hay man, Slesinger, Wc&ton, Asher, and Clayton, were invested Stewards.

The erection of an extensive stone build ing intended as a residence for the Anglican Bishop of Dunedin has just been commenced. The site is situate in the Kaikorai district, and on the side of the road opposite to the township of Nevada. Thu edifice is designed in the Tudor style of architecture as prevailing about the reign of litany Vll., a style in keeping with buildings of this class. The walls are to be of Milestone, quarried on the ground, with quoins, dressings, and chimneys of Kakanui stone. The building is to contain 22 rooms. The length of the main front to the building, facing the north-east, is to be 100 ft., of the south-west front 110 ft., and of the north-west front (>S. The buildin',' will be completed in about a year from this date. The contractor is Mr David Huntor, and the architects Messrs Mason, and Wales.

The Southland News of a late date says: — "Mr Howard, curator to th c Acclimatisation SoeLty, called upou us the other evening with a br.nvn ti.mt (t-tilniu fnr'nt) he hail taken during the day from the breeding pond at the Makerewa. it was a male, and as males were too numerous, ft was selected as a specimen to be prepared ' according to the rules of the art,' by Air Morton, taxidermist, in order hereafter to figure, we believe, in

the museum at Wellington. The fish was of a very respectable size for a trout of its kind and age — two years and ten months. In the home country it would be considered above the average, being ISin. in length, lOin, in giith, and weighing 21b. 7ozs. it was one of the few fry that were retained in captivity at the time a leak in one of the ponds allowed the greater number to escape into the neighbouring Makerewa River. "' The regular meeting of the Port ChalmersTown Council was held in the Town Hall oa Monday evening. The Mayor presided, and there were present — Messrs Bolton, Morgan, Innes, Neale, tM'Kinnon, Gordon, and Easton. The minutes of last meeting were read and eoim'rmed. A tender from Edward Perry to lease section 293, at £3 10a per year, was referred to the Reserves Committee, A report from the Water Committeewas read and adopted, as* also a report from the Lighting Committee. The Finance Committee 7\jcommemled for payment accounts amounting to £20 lGs, and they were passed, In answer to Mr Innea, the Mayor said he thought a good job was being done in Ajax road. On tho motion of Mr Gordon, seconded by Mr M'Kinnon, it was carried — " That the Public Works Committee go over Ajax road next day, and see if things are right." The meeting then adjourned.

An Auckland paper states that Thatcher, the "Inimitable," is likely to return to New Zealand in the course of a few months. M. Thatcher, it appears, had settled down in London in business ; had reached Paris during the war, and had got into one or other of those numerous difficulties which befel so many of our countrymen at the time, Now we learn that Mr Thatcher will shortly visit us with a magnificent panorama, representing life in New Zealand and Victoria, painted from a series of fine photographs which Mr Tkatoher caused to be taken during his tour through the colonies, with the view of giving a panoramic exhibition in London and the provinces, and ftftec wards exhibiting in the colonies. Mr Thatcher's intention for the future is to forsake his former occupation of composing and singing local songs, which too frequently gave very serious offence and occasionally got him into trouble. Very few will doubt the prudence of Mr Thatcher's resolution.

Our East Taieri correspondent writes :— "The fourth of the course of readings took place in the Athenteum Hall, Riccartou, on Tuesday, 22nd ult. The Rev. W. Will was. in the chair. The pieces as a whole were well chosen, and the choir, who were in excellent voice, did good service, while some of the duets were a decided success. Mr Joseph Allan presided at the piano. Ihe u&uai votes of thanks closed the proceedings. — There is a movement on foot, I believe, to get up a petition in favour of the Permissive Bill about to be introduced into the Assembly by Mr Fox, and 1 have no doubt it will be numerously signed. .Similar petitions, 1 believe, are about to bo got up in the Tokomairiro and other districts. Perhaps you could tell us what the League lately formed from the delegates of the various temperance societies is doing, and why it is not moving in the same direction. It ought at least to join in the movement, if there is any good in it."'

The Thames Advertiser gives the following account of tiie trapeze accident there, lately reported by telegraph : — "Mr Beda, whose performances on the flying trapeze at the circus have excited so much surprise, met with a very severe accident last night, while going through the very difficult and dangerous feat of the 'leap for life.' In this feat two men hang suspended to the high trapeze, and Mr Beda sprang from the flying trapeze, attaching himself to the lowest of the two. By some means probably on account of the jerk) the middle man lost his hold and fell with Mr Beda into the circle from a very great height. Beda fell head foremost, and it was feared at first that he was killed. He was, however, at once lifted, and it was then saen that he was bleeding from a wouud in the head, and that one of his wrists was injured. He was taken to the Golden Fleece Hotel, and Dr Trousseau was sent for. After examining the patient, he announced that the injuries were not dangerous, and that no bones wore broker. The shock, however, was very severe. The other man escaped almost uninjured."

A writer in the Southland News, who has recently made a journey through the province, compares the agricultural operations carried on in Otago proper and Southland as follows: — " Otaj,.) farming, as represented by the Taieri and Tokomairiro Plains, bears no comparison with that of Southland. The work is signally inferior in point of finish, the ploughing especially, and the fences are most miserable affairs — possibly owing in some measure to the scarcity of timber — far too slight, and generally out of repair, in many cases in a state of decay, and tumbling down ; the ditches and banks are untidy, and the gorse hedges have been allowed to spread in a scraggy matting, particularly unsightly. Altogether, the contrast with the trim sod walls, massive posts and rails, or light-looking but immensely strong wire fences one is accustomed to see in Soutldand, is very marked, and our Otago neighbours might le.irn a lesson from us with advantage. Of course there are exceptions on both sides, but taking the average good farmers of both provinces, the pabn for excellence of workmanship must unhesitatingly be awarded to Southland. "

Our Lawrence correspondent writes :—: — " The changeable nature of the weather has caused a diminution in the active operations in mining matters here, and there has been little new to relate, — The District Court has

been in session, and the action for damages caused by the overflowing of part of O'Leary's residence area in Gabriel's Gully by the water kept up by tho deposic of tailing? there, has been disposed of by an agreement between the miners'. The complainant aske 1 for Cl 00 damages, but it has been arranged that £40 damages and costs be paid. — Tin new liume of Kirby and Cai.ipbell has been completed, and the minors in these chums are now hard at work, although they complain of the loss caused to th.-m by detention. The climate seems to be now more moderate, and no doubt niatteis "will mh>h assume a nio-e lively aspect. Scarcity of money is the prevailing complaint. A great many Chinese arc busy at work in the various mines, and although ' John ' is not generally communicative as to the state of his affairs, still, from their active and constant employment, one is led to the conviction that the Chinamen are at least moderately successful iv their enterprises.

At the Scott Centenary dinner at Christchurch, we learn from a local paper, His Honour the Superintendent of Canterbury asked Mr Pugald M'Farlanc to favour the meeting with his personal recollections of Sir Walter Scott. Mr M'Farkno, on rising, was received with loud chceis. He said — "Gentlemen, after the kindness of our good Superintendent, I cannot resist saying a few r words regarding my intimacy with Sir Walter Scott, for I was intimate with him. "When. I came home from tho Continent, he lived in North Castle street, Edinburgh, and I frequently was with him, and dined at his table until difficulties overcame him. After that, he went into a little house, No. 6, North St. David street, Edinburgh, aud then I knew more of him. In writing the History of Napoleon, he took a great interest in inc. He had gone over the ground, and I pointed out t.> him all the various positions. I found him a very kind and social friend. I jwas often alone with him in St. David street, where he retired ami worked out his difficulties, and he did that like a good honest man." Mr M'Farlane was visibly affected during his speech.

In an article commenting on the Governor's speech, the Southland Times refers to the coastal portion of the San Fivnciseo service as follows: — "The arrangement by which the service-steamers are compelled to navigate the New Zealand coast as far south as Port Chalmers, is based not on utility, but on jealousy. The great bane in New Zealand is that no province can lie induced to accept a positive boon so long as the remotest probability exists of one province securing even a nominal advantage in which the other will not participate. The monthly visit of the mail steamers to Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers is purely a concession made to that prejudice. The only real difference is this. One vessel of two or three thousand tons makes a flying visit per month, instead of two or perhaps three visits from smaller crafts, so much better adapted for the coastal -work, that all the ports along the line are included in the trip, instead of a very few favoured ones. • . . We believe the feeling generally entertained is that if the service from Auckland were comple bed 1 >y 1 >ranch steamers as previously, two-thirds of the threatened opposition would disappear. "'

A writer in the Nelson Mail says :—: — "Frequent mention has been made of the ravages committed by the rabbits in the Kaikoura district in consuming the grass which should have been devoted to the maintenance of sheep. Now, however, it appears that the said rabbita may be turned to account. The Messrs Keene, who own a run in that part of the country, sent home last year a parcel of 0000 skins, which have realised in the London market the excellent price of 9s a dozen —an intimation being made that more careful preparation in drying them would ensure a still higher price. At present, there are several men, over twenty I am told, engaged in catching these animals for the sake of their skins, and it is said that they are making good wages at it. Fortunately, the rabbits originally turned out were of the silver-grey species, the skins of which only are of any value at home, and it i.s now a question whether they will not prove quite as remunerative as the sheep whose grass they are appropriating. In order to show how numerous they are in the neighbourhood of the Kaikouras, I may state^on the authority of a gentleman who has recently arrived from there, that three sportsmen, a short time since, succeeded in shooting 720 in three days. Rabbit skins may yet form a respectable item in the exports from New Zealand."

We learn from the Southland Times that early on the morning of the 23rd ult. a destructive fire broke out at Springvale, Myross Bush, the property of Mr Thomas Ferguson, whereby a six-stalled stable, containing six valuable horses, as also a barn, containing 000 bushels of corn, together with a quantity of saddlery, fanning implements, a ncAV cart, &0., were completely destroyed. In addition to six valuable horses burnt to death in the premises, they contained twelve cows and a colt, which were rescued in safety from the burning pile. The buildings destroyed were erected of sawn timber, with a shingle roof. The loss, which is estimated at £r>(>o, is wholly uninsured, and much sympathy is felt for Mr Ferguson, who is one of the pioneer settlers of the district. — Later accounts to hand state that there is not the slightest reason to believe that the fire was the work of incendiarism. When the flames were discovered at 4 a.m., they had complete mastery of the stable, and almost as soon as the spot waa

reached, tho roof fell in. The charred remains of the animals destroyed, throe of which were brood mares iv foal, were all found lying in ciicular form, with their heads together. In additis nto the buildini:--mentioned above, a cow house was duotioyed. A good deal ot sheet lightning had been Hying about during the night, and it is suppos«.d that the lire was* communicated by one of these flashes."'

We subjoin an unpublished letter of th' late Dukj of Wellington to Sir William Congreve, who wa-. then making experiment, v, ich some new projectiles invented, by him. The letter is interesting from the fact that at that distant period unjn'oveinent 1 ; in projectiles occupied the mind of that talented but unfortunate gentleman, Sir William

Congrcve. The lcttei was given by Congrevo'ss private .secretary to an old settler in this province, who wished tohave in his possession an autograph letter of the Great Duke :

— " London, January 27th, 1524. My dear Sir William- — I have to apologise for having left unanswered so long your letter of the ]sth inst. ; but I nri-Jaid it, and I found it only this morning. "Wo have no mode, as you know, of dealing with inventions, excepting through the medium of the Committee of Artillery affairs, or through that of a joint committee H officers of the navy and of the artillery in cases in which the invention within-stated is for the service of the navy, and 1 am much concerned you have reason to complain of them. Upon the liibt view of what you now propose, I should decide against it. I am, however, an ignorant practical man, and 1 should be glad to know the result of an experiment upon the subject. 1 beg you, therefore, to make .such trials in the repository as you may think necessary. The first question of all for the land service is — Will the light guns bear a suilicient charge of powder to throw the shot so fir, and in as good a direction us the heavy ? There are other questions as affecting the sea service ; but the difficulties which these may bring out may be overcome ■with tackles. — Believe me ever, your most faithful "Wklli.vctoN". "'

The Cologne ( lazette (as quoted in the Pall Mall Gazette of June 23) protests "against the desire for the po^e^sioii of Heligoland, e>.pressed by a few German paper*. '' The Yolks Zcitung of Berlin, the organ cf the Prussian Radicals, is quoted in the same issue of the Pall Mall ( lazette as follows :—: — "We observe with grief and deep indignation how already the first days of the restoration of peace are being poisoned l>3 r the easily excited propensity to get ixp new conflicts as the seeds of future wars. Scarcely lias the German Fatherland been amalgamated into a loosely formed unity without any real organisation, when busy hands scatter ruinous plans for bringing about the downfall of Austria by her disruption, thus excluding her German territories from the great task of transplanting German culture on Slavonic soil. We hardly know yet how the reconquered part of Germany is to be organised in order that Elsass and Lothringon [Alsace and Lonvine] may not be a thorn in our si les like a piece of conquered Poland or Vcnetia, and already over-zealous hands cast their nets in the direction of Heligoland in order to add England to the enemies whom we have made during the last ten years — England, who has never disturbed our peace, and has for generations been our master in culture and industry as well as in the legal establishment of the political rights of the people. Our mission should be labour, not the sword ; our happiness the fruits of industry, not military contributions. For the war, happily as it has ended, has given us wounds in a single year which hardly ten years will suffice to cure. ''

The new Cattle Market at the head of Maclaggan street is now all but completed, and a short description of it may not prove uninteresting. The construction of these yards, which are situated on the Market .Reserve, was contracted for by Messrs Bateman and Start, and they were executed at a cost of £.723. They arc constructed of blue gum brought specially from Tasmania, and are apparently well and stoutly built. Being situated on a --lope they are certain to have good drainage. The sheep yards an 140 feet square, and embrace twenty pens, four drafting yards, and two recen ing j ards, furnished with two drafting alleys. The pens arc 30 feet by 12 feet ; the receiving yards, 70 feet by 10. The fencing is three feet six inches high, with a stout eapp ng all round. 'Die cattle yards are 143 feet long by 102 wide. They contain two receiving 3'ards and two drafting yards, each o2 feet by 40 feet. There are tw enty pens, each 20 feet by 12 feet. In these yards the gates are so constructed that when they give access to a pen, they close the drafting alley. The fencing is six feet six inches high, with a capping round, as in the sheep-yards. In each of the drafting and receiving yards a stout trough is fixed. The outer fence enclosing the yard is furnished with a large gate opening into Maclaggan street, over which a sign-hoard is iixed bearing the words " Dunedin Cattle Market." The new road being constructed by the prisoners from Russell street, through the Town Belt,

will bo a great advantage to this market, as it can be reached from the Halfway Bush district, without it being necessary to pas--through the town. The adoption ot this site for so busy a place as a cattle market, may perhaps infuse some additional vigour into the town of Mornington.

A public meeting was held in the Masonic Hall, Tort Chalmers, on Monday evening for the purpose of inaugurating a Mutual Ini» provement Society. The Mayor (Mr Etench

presided. He spoke of the benefits arising from such societies, and expressed a wish to have that proposed to be formed connected with the Mechanics' Institute. Mr Mansford concurred in the remarks of the chairman, and suggested that all young men -joining the society should be allowed the benefits of the Institute at half price. Messrs Asher and f older spoke at sonic length on the advantages to bo gained by yeli a society. Too former however, objected to having anything to do with flic Mechanic.^' In^tituty, on the ground that the Institute prohibited debates. Here the chiiiimau read ; poiogies for the nonattendance <>f the IJo\ . J. S. Smailey and Mr (•'ilbert. The following resolution w;>s tln-n moved by Mr J. B. Taylor, seconded by Mr G. L. Asher, and carried, "That a Mutual Improvement Society be established in Port Chalmers." Mr J. Menelau.s moved, and Mr .1. B. Taylor seconded, "That a committee be formed to drawn]) rules to be .submitted to a future meeting.'' After discussion, in the course of which Mr J. P. ('alder proposed that those present Mulling to join should at once put down their names, the motion was carried. A Committee was appointed, consisting of the following gentlemen :— Messrs J. C. T.'yler, J. Kilgoiir, T. A. Mansford, J. ('loss, W." Pedlom, J. Morris, J. ('aider, (4. Noale, T. M'Kcn/ie, J. Middlediteh, and J. Mackley. It was resolved that the ( 'ommittcc should draw up rules aud submit the same to ,i meeting to be held ou Monday next. Mr Pedlom was appointed secretary />rn ft' hi. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

A very .serious stat kyard fire took place early ou Monday week, on the farm of Mr James Adam, Bun Accord Lodge, Tokomairiro, when three stacks of oats, containing 3.">00 bushels, and valued at -£3"M). were consumed. An inquest into the cau.se of the fire was held on Tuesday, before Mr J. E. Brown, .T. P., and a jury, when Mr Adam stated in evidence that footprints leading in the direction of the stacks had been discovered, and traced for a distance of five chains. Mr Adam further stated that he had received an anonymous letter at the end of last May, warning him against a stout Irishman, whom he believed to be a man named James Russell, a discharged servant of his, and now in the employ of Mr Grant of South Tokomairiro. After several other witnesses had been examined, Russell was examined also, at his own request. He stated that he slept in a lof fc at Mr fi rant's house on Sunday night, a hawker named "Archie." also sleeping there. He (Russell) left his boots, which were the same as those lie was now wearing, iv the kitchen all night. He was quite willing that the jury should examine them. The boots wore then compared with the footprints, and found to correspond very exactly. The jury then retired for consultation, when it was agreed to adjourn the enquiry until the following Monday, to admit of the boots bcinji examined by an expert, and to secure further evidence. The adjo irned inquest was resumed on Monday, at 1 p.m. , and prosecuted till o o'clock next morning, when the jury returned a verdict of arson against James Russell, farm servant to Mr James Grant, South Tokomairiro. The case will therefore probably be tried at the ensuing Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court.

The circumstances attending the reported murder of a Maori woman at Ohinemuri, referred to in our Auckland telegram to-day, are thus related by the Ohinemuri correspondent of the New Zealand Herald : — ' ' About a month since, a report became currrent here that a native woman, the wife of Te One, had died at the Kumata gumdiggings. After the report reached us of the woman's death, a vague rumour got abroad that she had committed suicide — through jealousy, some said — owing to an access of the insanity from ■which she was alleged to have been suffering, said others. Tn any case, the woman was acknowledged to have had three wounds, apparently made by a gum spear, which, as most of your readers are aware, is a large sharp^ointed iron rod. One wound penetrated the thorax ; one was on the right, and the other on the left side, near the jugular vein. These facts have only gradually oozed out, but it has been apparent that there was great dissatisfaction amongst the Maoris themselves about the matter. On making some enquiries as to the facts, so far as it is possible to ascertain anything in connection with the matter, I find that Mrs Te One had been ill, and was left in camp while the others went away digging. On the return of the party, she was found to be suffering, not alone from the wounds 1 have stated above, but from cuts under the right eye and at the back of the head, evidently inflicted by a tomahawk. ■ The woman was, however, sensible. She lived for two days after, and made a statement as to the person who inflicted the wounds. It is alleged that an attempt was made to steal some of the gum left in the whare where Mrs Te One was ; that she resisted, and that the would-be thief inflicted the wounds. These are the statements alleged to have been made by the woman while alive to her husband and other Maoris, who had a talk about the matter while she was still alive. For all this no medical assistance was called in; no enquiry Mas made; no inquest was held ; the woman died, and she was buried where she lay. "

A late Quconstown telegram stated tliat a collisiou between the Europeans ami Chinese was threatening in the Lake district, The Wakatip Mail writes on the subject as follows: — "It is useless to deny that thort ie afloat amongst the European

miners a very determined opinion as to the Chinese. At present it i& finding vent in speeches at public meetings, in signing strongly worded petition*-, in muttering curses at the Celestials' whenever met with., and occasional fight* at chims. The ( 'hinesc with increased numbers are assuming a defiant air, and the European is becoming more dogged and determined. ..." We hear that petitioning i.s no good ; we must have another Lambing Flat affair, home add it is the only th in j; that will do t,ood, and that the Government have no soldiers now to defend them. Tc is =-ti,ted, by one who ought to know, that the Chinese, in anticipation of ;'ii outbreak some time or another, have been quicOy arming themselves. We do not. however, give much credence to this particular information. What we do know is that an Anf'-< 'hinese Association has been mooted, and that the public are soon to see it in active organisation. Funds have been promised, and we are told that a paid agent will shortly be despatched to visit all parts of the districts to enrol members. Our informant declined to give furthcrparticulars. The movement is not a Queenstown one but essentially a miner's one. We trust, however, that no departure from moral force efforts will be made. A collision between a compact body of Europeans and a marauding body of Chinese in quest of claims might bo, however, the spark that would fire the mine. We trust, however, that this will not happen, hut if 'that heathen < 'hinee ' resorts to some of his Australian tricks, summary justice will assuredly be meted out to him. In other respects their presence in large numbers is exciting an uneasy feeling. Tho old feeling of security is passing away. People no longer like to leave their houses shut up or open without being in them. A continual fear of pilfering is becoming prevalent. Sluice boxes have to be watched, gold bought narrowly scrutinised. All this was absent before. Then people are beginning to bother themselves as to the effect these people are producing upon the value of real estate, and agricultural operations. The solutions are not re-assuring. We believe that a tax as large as -£10 per ton upon rice would be a wise remedial measure. Except the garden produce he grows, ' John ' consumes but little other of our indigenous products, j and he has taken lately vigorously to pig and poultry breeding, and is not so extensive a buyer as formerly from the farmer. . . The difficulty is becoming so great that something must be done." An interesting lecture on the Chinese system and Religion was delivered by Mr R. A. Lawson in the hall below the First Church on a few evenings ago. The Rev. Mr Sutherland presided. The lecturer pointed out that the name of China is not that by which their land is known to themselves, but that it is known by names meaning Central Kingdom, Flowery Dynasty, and Heavenly Flowery Kingdom, which fast gave rise to the term "Celestial" so frequently applied to the Chinese, After giving much" valuable information in reference to the si?e, number of towns, the population, and the walls round thevariouseities, thelecturer proceeded to treat of the Confucian system. He gave a short sketch of Confucius, and then proceeded to treat of his doctrines. The chief works of Confucius are styled the "Five Classics," the " Five Books," and a work entitled " Spring and Autumn." The books used in the schools treat of ethics, history, political economy, biography, and the teachings of Mentius. who lived 200 years after Confucius. The immortality of the soul was not believed in. They hold that man can attain to no higher state of moral perfection than to feel that his conduct is approved of by his own conscience. They endeavour to think as little of death as possible. In theae points the disciples of Confucius resemble the Chinese of the present day. The aim of tlio devotion of Confucius was to render each individual a good citizen. At the same time he sanctioned idolatry, and was even an advocate for the exercise of the revengeful passions. On the whole, however, his doctrines of philosophy and morality were the purest that had ever been framed by man. The religion of China might be divided into three sects — Confucianism, 13huddisin, and Tan ism. Bhuddism was introduced into China about the year CO before the Christian era. The chief points in their religion were "the belief in one Supreme JBeing and several smaller deities;" "the transmigration of souls ;" and belief in the " efficacy of good works." After describing the various temples and forms of worship, the lecturer proceeded to point out the resemblance between Bhuddi&m and Romanism, and mentioned that these two religions are embraced by four-hfths of the human race. He then proceeded to explain the doctrines of Tanism. This religion was founded by a Chinese philosopher who existed 604 n.c. It takes its name from the first character I 'Tan' — 'truth,' in his chief work, which I treats of Truth and Virtue. The chief doctrines in this religion are Materialism, Theory of the Universe, Alchemy, and Astrology. It would be impossible to relate the various forms of religion — all of which are sanctioned by the (.'hinese Government. The general religion comprises worship of ancestors, aud wori ship of the hea\ ens and earth at the beginning of the year. The chief god of the people is staled the "Kitchen God." The Emperor and court officials have a special religion of their own, described in a book styled the Book of Eights. A vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer and to the chairman.

A Companion or the Bath.-— A sponge,