News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1101, 4 January 1873, Page 14

News of the Week.

The p.s. Dakota, with the inward English mails via San Francisco on board, arrived at Auckland on Wednesday, and was to leave for the South last (Friday) night. The news brought by her contains nothing of importance. Her mail date from London is to November 14th. The p. a. Luna sailed on. Monday, on a surveying and prospecting cruise/ for the south, of Otago. Dr Hector accompanied her. The Oamaru paper states that the late dry weather has been most injurious to the crops throughout the districts surrounding that town. Miss Nichols, of the Tokomairiro Gram- ! mar School, has been elected schoolmistress of the South Dunedin School, in 'place, of Miss Oalcutt, resigned. At a meeting of No. 2 Company, Dunedin Scottish, held on Saturday evening, Volunteer A. E. Spalding was elected to the sub--ieutenancy left vacant by a late promotion. We understand that Mr Calcutt has received instructions from the General Government to proceed with the purchase of the land for the railway from .Moeraki to Waitaki. , The depression which for some time past prevailed at the Thames, has had the effect of reducing the number of telegraphic messages received at Auckland to the extent of from 350 to 40,0 a week. ' " - . The Interprovincial Match Committee met at the Cricket ground yesterday afternoon, and appointed Mr Reafle and Mr Tait to act as practice captainsWtil the departure of the Otago team for Christchufch. At the Mayor's Court last week, Evelyn 1 Charles Warren, charged with stealing two cheques of the total value of £1050 at Sydney, was remanded for a monthl We learn that the police have ■ recovered £871 '8s 1 of the amount of the cheques. , ' ' The Press states that in the Northern dis-j tricts of Canterbury, owing to , the hot weather; the grain in many instances is prematurely • ripening. On the whole there is reason to believe that the wheat crop has not suffered. Oats in patches have gone off, and the barley props have in a few places sickened. ' '

A large number of gentlemen interested in the forthcoming Citizens' Ball to His Excellency, the Governor and Lady Bowen, met in the City Council Chambers on Monday tafernoon. A Committee was formed, and the ball was fixed to take place on Monday next, the 6th January, in the Volunteer Drill Shed, Octagon. Messrs W. Watson and Sons, wholesale drapers, High street, distributed 30 children's hats the other day among the bareheaded youngsters who came out in the Palmerston. The children could not express their thanks in English, but showed their gratitude by hugging and clinging to the representative of the firm. We find the following in the Lyttelton Times of Saturday: — "Private advices inform us that there is likely to be an improved demand for Australian and New Zealand wools in the American markets, and that in the English markets cross-bred wool will probably experience a slight decline in price," Many of our readers will read with regret the following clipping from the European Mail : — v Dr Finlayson, of Edinburgh, the well-known United Presbyterian clergyman, was found dead in his bed on October 17th at Campbeltown, where he had apoken at an induction service on the previous day. His congregation presented him with £3000 tea days ago." The Tuapeka Times says :—": — " We are in* formed that five members of the Roman Catholic order of Christian Brothers will shortly arrive in Otago from Canada. They will be located in Dunedin, and their duties will principally be the training of teachers for the various Roman Catholic schools now in existence, and those which it is proposed to establish." It having been announced that the Rev. Mr Stanley would officiate at St. Barnabas Church, Blueskin, on Christmas Day, a large number of residents in the district, as well |as visitors from Dunedin, attended Divine Service on that occasion. The Church was beautifully decorated with ferns and flowers, and appropriate texts. Mr E. Towsey presided at the harmonium. We learn that the five Maori political prisoners at present confined in Dunedin Gaol, under sentence of imprisonment for life, will shortly be liberated, under the general amnesty which is to be declared. One Maori who is under a similar sentence . for the murder of a European at the Bay of Islands, of course will not be included in the amnesty, as his crime was not a political one. Just about 3000 persons were carried each way by rail to and from Dunedin and the ground on which the Oddfellow's fete was held on Boxing, day. About 350 were taken from the Port to the ground and back. The arrangements were good, and the fact of so many persons being comfortably oarried along the line goes far to show what the railway can accomplish in the conveyance of passengers. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by His Honour Mr Justice Chapman and His Honour the Superintendent, visited the Gaol at 3 o'clock on Friday, the 27th ult. After going through the establishment and inspecting the arrangements, His Excellency expressed himself as being much pleased with the state of the Gool, in respect of the cleanliness, order, and discipline maintained, On Saturday, at the University Buildings, twenty-five children, boys and. girls, competed, in arithmetic, history, geography, grammar, and recitation, for the Caledonian Society's prizes. Professor Shand and Mr John Hislop, Inspector of Schools, superintended the proceedings. The history and grammar papers were prepared by Professor Macgregor, and. the arithmetic papers by Professor Shand. A case of drowning occurred at Oamaru on Friday. A man, whose name we believe was Macdonald, was bathing in the lagoon, and was seen to dive into' the water, but no particular notice was taken of his movements. In a few minutes, however, it was noticed that he was not to be seen, and on search being .made, his. body, was found floating in the water. Dr Waite was summoned, but his services were useless, as he found that life was extinct. The following is the calendar of prisoners for "trial at the Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court, to be held at Dunedin on Monday ""next, the 6th inst., before Hia Honour Mr Justice Chapman : — '< Robert/ Littlecott ; embezzlement at Oamaru. Peter M 'Donald ; arson at Palmerston. . John Peter Beck ; cutting and wounding 1 at' Coal Creek. • John Higgins (on bail) ; indecent assault ■ at Blacks. During last week His Excellency, in company with His Honour the Superintendent, visited the" Gaol, ITmveraityy Museum, new First. Church, Provincial Buildings, and Botanic Gardens.,-. On Monday, he drove to Mosgiel -with the Superintendent, ■ and inspected Messrs A. J. Burns and Co.'s cloth factory ; on Tuesday afternoon; 1 he'fonnally opened the Port Chalmers Railway ; on Wed. nesday, he was present for some time at the Caledonian Games; and, on Friday, he honoured the' Choral Society with' his present i ' their concert. ' The following appears in, the Glasgow Weekly Mail of October 12th s— "While ■William Guyan, one of, the pilots at Aberdeen, was going hifl rounds early on Wednesday morning, he observed the body of a man floating 'in the sea at the back of the North Pier. It was identified as that" of Joseph Marshall, about 39 years of age, a native of Chatham, and formerly a^ergeaut in the 69ti»

Regiment, being at one time a telegraphic operator in the service of the New Zealand Government. Deceased went amissing the previous evening." t

Funeral sermons on the late Rev. John Williams were preached at the Hanover Areet Baptist Church on Sunday. The Rev. Mr Gow, of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, preached in the morning, speaking highly of the deceased gentleman from what he knew of him since his (the preacher's) residence here. The Rev. Mr Reid, of the Wesleyan Church, who preached in the evening, referred very feelingly to the Rev. Mr Williams. The church was crowded on both occasion, and the sermons were listened to with great attention.

A telegram we publish in another calumn announces the death of the Viscountess Beaconsfield, wife of Mr Disraeli. In the Peerage, the late Viscountess is thus referred to :t- " Beaconsfield, Viscountess (United Kingdom), created 18G8. — Mary Anne Disraeli, only daughter of the late John Evans, Esq., of Branceford Park, Devon. Married, first, Wyndham Lewis, Esq., M.P., of Pantgwnlais Castle, Glamorganshire ; secondly, 1839, the Right Hon. Benjamin Disraeli, in acknowledgement of whose official services this viscounty was conferred in 1868."

A family at Greytown, Wairarapa, have had a narrow escape from poisoning from eating preserved rhubarb. Severe symptoms .for a time existed, but ultimately they recovered, under the care of Dr Welch. It is remarkable, the Wellington Independent ob. serves, how people will persist in eating imported .preserves of any kind, when, by a trifling expenditure of money and labour, they can produce a much superior article. Extreme care should always be taken that the part next the tin be not eaten. The acid of preserves dissolves the tin, producing in some cases a deadly poison.

The Masonic Ball on Friday week proved as great a success as was anticipated. His Excellency the Governor arrived at half -past 9, and was received at the door by the Knights Templars. He then passed on to the Royal Arch Chapter Arch, and was conducted to his seat. The ball was opened ■with a double set, at the head of which were the Governor and Mdme. Lanseigne, and the Mayor and Mayoress ; their vis-a-vis being the R W.M. of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge —Mr Lanseigne, with Lady Bowen as partner, and the R.W.M. Celtic Lodge, S.C., H. S. Smith, and Miss M'Gavm. There were about 130 present.

In noticing the flax-dressing machines shown in the Interprovincial Exhibition at Christchurch, the Press says :—": — " The exhibit of Kincaid and M'Queen, Vulcan foundry, Otago, is worthy of attention, from the superior design employed in its manufacture. One most essential point is that the working parts being securely guarded and covered thus ensure almost perfect safety and immunity .from accident to .those employed about it. Another noticeable feature in this machine is the length of the bearings, which reach close up to the drum, thus giving an amount of strength and steadiness which it is almost impossible to obtain with the ordinary machine."

We have recorded the occurrence of several bush fires on the 24th and 25th instant, and have now to add another to the. list. On the evening of the 24th inst. a fire broke out in Mr Crawford Anderson's bush, Inchclutha. It extended over seventy acres of rather thick bush, and also burnt down Mr Anderson's stockyard, and a house of his in the occupation of a man named Lawson. The fire is supposed to have been caused by one that had been lighted on an adjoining section some two or three days before ior the purpose of burning down some scrub, and which extended under the influence of the strong wind prevailing on the 24»h ult. Mr Anderson estimates his loss at £400, some of which is covered by insurance.

The Commercial Travellers' Dinner took place at the Imperial Hotel on Monday. About 40 gentlemen sat down to dinner, which Mr Haydon served up in capital style. Matters relative to the formation of a proposed Commercial Travellers' Association were discussed, and it was resolved to send circulars to the several commercial travellers asking them whether they would joiu the Association. The subject was referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs Engel, Coote, Davis, Lockley, Morrison, Crocombe, and Austian, with power to add to their number. During the evening various toasts were proposed and responded to, songs were rendered by Messrs Lachman, Angell, Matheson, and other gentlemen. Mr Moss presided at the pianoforte, and a most har. monious evening was passed.

Our East Taieri correspondent, writing on on the 30th December, aays :— " The harvest was begun on Saturday on the farm of Mr John Gow, in a field of oata on the hill. It is a fair crop, but has come away very fast. The cutting of the crop was also commenced on Mr Alexander Calender's farm to-day. The main, body of the crops, however, is quite green, and it will be three weeks yet before harvest becomes general. If, however, this drought and these heavy winds continue, the crops will get bleached, but not properly filled in the ear, and will be a little sooner ready for cutting. The grass is being fast dried up by the heat and scorching winds, and in places the ground is getting red. The hay crop is getting well cut down, but is still out. Potatoes and all other root crops are suffering from'wanf; of rain. Turnips are set, and getting red where brairded. ' The want o*f water for stock, also, is beginning to be felt, and a. good many persons are carting water for cuttle, 40 weft ap for dotneptio use,"

Constable Townsend, of Oamaru, at halfpast eight o'clock in the evening of the 23rd ult., found a man lying across the footpath of that town close to the shop of Mr Harding, watchmaker, apparently drunk. He took him by the arms to raise him on his feet, but finding that he had not the use of his legs, the constable called a civilian to assist him to raise him up. The constable; seeing that the man's foot swung round, laid him down, and on examining his leg found it to be broken a little above the ankle. He called an express, and had him taken to the hospital, where he was attended by Dr Waite, who found that he had received a compound fracture of the leg. Two persons informed the constable that they saw the man fall, and that one of his legs was bent under the other when falling, but they took no further notice, seeing he was drunk at the time..

Mining in Auckland is, we are happy to say, showing signs of revival. The number of mines "on gold" in greater or lesser degree is evidently on the increase, and we hear a good deal of solid work is being done. Experience is apparently making Auckland less of a speculative and more of a mining community. People are discovering that they cannot take a piece of densely bushed mountain and turn it into a profitable mine in six months. The preliminary prospecting takes time, and when the reef is discovered new works are necessary to open it up. It is noteworthy that the papers contain very few advertisements of shares to be forfeited for non-payment of calls. These advertisements at one time filled the local journals, and their absence in the present dull state of the share market may, we presume, be taken as evidence that calls are being better paid and the mines more fairly worked than heretofore.

The weather in Auckland has been unpredentedly dry and hot. The fruit season is magnificent, and the root crops have not been bad ; but the hay harvest — the largest source of agricultural employment about Auckland — is likely to be affected by the drought. In spite of the close damp heat there is not any special sickness prevailing, attributable probably to the coolness of the evenings. We observed, on glancing at the readings of the thermometer at the different telegraph stations of the Colony, that, on a recent occasion, Auckland stood at 72 ; Port Chalmers, at the same time, at 51, and Dunedin at 57— differences as great as might be supposed to exist between the temperature of Auckland and Borneo. But it is the character rather than the degree of heat which is chiefly to be considered, and Southerners visiting Auckland at this season find the dampness and heaviness of the air very trying.

Mrs Harvey, the wife of Mr Hugh Harvey, miner, living on "the southern bauk of the Kawarau river, not far from Deep Creek, was drowned in that river at 7 o'clock on the evening of the 19th ult. It appears that before Mr Harvey returned from work, his wife, with Mrs Holden, Mrs Schieb, and a miner named Richard Voller, crossed the river on a friendly visit to the house of Mr Henry Cook. The party had with them a bottle of old torn gin, four glasses of which Mrs Harvey drank — namely, two when starting, and two at Cook's. They all re-crossed safely on a chair. The bank on the southern side is about 300 feet high, and is steep. When about 50 feet from the chair, Mrs Holden, who was behind the others, got in. front of Mrs Harvey. After walking a few paces she heard a noise, and saw Mrs Harvey in the water, who soon disappeared. Sergt. Hunt had eight men dragging the river for the body the greater part of the following day.

The Palmerston Road Board held a meeting on the 18th ult., at the North-western Hotel. The members present were — Messrs W. A. Young (chairman), Ross, Swallow, Stenhouse, Oliver, Millar, Geddes, M'Laren, Steel, Hunter, Amyes, and G. Sutherland. The minutes of the last meeting were read, and, previous to their being confirmed, Mr Amyes took objection to the arrangements with the Bank. After a very long discussion, the minutes were confirmed. A number of letters were read, after which the following tenders were opened : — Henderson, £190 12s 6cl ; Donald Monro, £216 3s 6d ; W. Kennard, £155 Os 6d ; Thos. Templeton, £132. It was resolved that. Mr Templeton's tender be accepted. Mr M'Laren stated that he had desired the Clerk to lodge an objection against Mr Calcutt's application to the Superintendent to stop a road in the Goodwood subdivision, passing through sections 33, 31, and 28, as it was the only legal road at present leading to 500 acres of oush reserves. A number of resolutions of no public interest were passed, and the meeting then terminated. Mr George Young, watchmaker. Princes street, has lately had a fireproof room constructed on his premises. The room is 9^ feet by 6 feet; is built of bricks set in cement, with arched roof aud iron door, and floored with Caithness paving stone. The room contains two of Milner's and one of Perry's safes. Mr Young has also had his shop extended back, making it double as deep as formerly, and is thus better enabled ' to display his stock. Amongst the newest " ideas " which he has in his goods is a sort °^ J u g> oi which there are various sizes. The cover is so balanced that on the jug being held as if to pour out its contents, it lifts up of itself, and allows whatever is in the jug to" escape." But so long as the vessel is in anything like a level position it is effectual as a cover. The inventor of this deserves the thanks of all who live where flies abound and drown themselves in milk. < Another article, not long introduced, is an \ electro-plated, fruit box, nearly round, and. I

which stands on a frame. The box cover works on a sort of axle, and when moved off the upper hemisphere of the box, it covers the lower, leaving the aperture of the vessel open.

Christmas Day was . observed throughout the city_ as a close holiday. At an early hour picnic parties might be seen taking their departure in various directions, and the excursion steamers to the Port, the Kaik, and Portobello were fairly patronised. In town, the high wind and dense clouds of dust rendered promenading anything but enjoyable, and the streets presented a dreary deserted appearance throughout the afternoon. A few welcome showers in the evening, however, made matters more pleasant, and large numbers were tempted out of doors to enjoy the cool, fresh air. Christmas services were held at St. Paul's and All Saints' Churches in the morning. The service in the former at eleven o'clock was a choral one, and a sermon was preached by Bishop Nevill. The offertory, amounting to over £20, was given to the Benevolent Institution. At St. Joseph's Catholic Church services were commenced at an early hour in the morning, and continued throughout the day. Bishop Moran celebrated High Mass at 11 o'clock, and preached morning and evening. The choir and organist (Mr C. Sykes) rendered in a very effective manner the grand music chosen for the festival.

A fire occurred on the farm of Mr Peter Grant, Granton, near Outram, West Taieri, at about 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 24th inst. It appears that Mr Grant's men were employed cutting chaff with a steam engine during the morning, but the wind becoming high work was discontinued about 10 a. m. Mr Grant, who was away from home for a short time during the day, returned about 4 p.m., and had not been long in the house when Mrs Grant gave the alarm of fire. On going out, lie saw the straw near the engine to be on fire. The flames rapidly spread to the buildings, and destroyed the stable, and barn, the chaff-house, stockyard and cattle shed, the implement shed, a quantity of harness and farm machinery, 500 empty bags, 400 bushels of oats, about three tons of flour, and two stacks of straw. Property was destroyed to the extent of £1200, a portion of the loss being covered by insurance. The man in charge of the engine states that when the chaffcutting work was suspended he extinguished the fire with water, and made everything safe, remaining by the engine for three-quarters of an hour afterwards, but it is thought that a spark must have been lurking somewhere, and that it fell on the straw, which then became ignited by the high wind-

The annual picnic at Green Island was held in Mr David Andrew's paddock on Christmas Day, and was, in point of numbers and the spirit with which it was kept up, an even greater success than usual. The provisions were brought on the ground by Mr James- Runciman's four-horse waggon", the owner of which was kept busy during" the day in supplying the wants of the pleasureseekers. The children, of whom there were a large number, marched to the ground headed by the principal members of the Green Island Brass Band, who discoursed excellent music during the day. Dancing was kept up with great spirit, and several well contested foot races took place. A cricket match, which had been on the tapis for some time, and which excited a great deal of interest, was played between eleven single and' eleven married players. The bachelors suffered an ignominious defeat, only making half the score of the Benedicts. Mr Shand was captain of the single, and Mr John Blair of the married team. We congratulate the committee on the excellence of their arrangements, and the settlers generally on the hearty manner in which they came forward with presents' and subscriptions, so as to render the picnic an unqualified success.

Two accidents to vehicles occurred last week. The first happened at Caversham [ to an express containing Mr Praser, of the ' Caledonian -Hotel, Walker street, and his family. The horse was frightened by some children, and started off, in some way or other getting a leg over one of the shafts. In its career it smashed a perambulator containing a child, and which bad been deserted by some elder children. The child was carried away by a woman, and we could not ascertain the extent of the injury it received. The express; was finally upset in a ditch almost opposite the Benevolent Institution. Mrs Fraser was severely cut and bruised on the forehead and face, and her husband was cut slightly on the head, on which he alighted. The other accident occurred near Anderson's Bay. The horse refused to take a hill on the sands, and the vehicle tumbled backwards, pitching out the occupants, Mrs Roberts and party, and falling on the top of them. Mrs Roberts was bruised about the face, and her son — a boy about nine or ten years of age — had his left thigh-bone broken, besides being much bruised about the body and right thigh. He was taken home in an omnibus. In both accidents the sufferers were attended by Dr Borrows as promptly as possible.

A few weeks since, we drew the attention of breeders of merino sheep for stud purposes to the desirability of showing sheep in greater numbers than the classes usually adopted at our shows, and we offered to assist in getting funds as a prize for such exhibits ; but, for some reason or other, neither the Show Committee nor individual breeders responded to our suggestion. It seems, however, that this want of assistance did not deter Mr George L. Sise from sending in a draft of 30 ram hoggets from his stud flock at Puk,etapn, These sheep were exhibited. aa

extra stock at the show held at tho Forbury Park, on Thursday week, and were much admired for the length, quantity, and quality of staple, and for uniformity in the general character of the sheep. We are informed that these rams have since been sold, and realised over £7 each, and that the buyer (the Hon. Robert Campbell) has had I them shorn on the show ground, and each I fleece weighed. The whole 30 averaged the extraordinary weight of 141bs each, some of the fleeces weighing as much as 181bs each. ! These sheep were bred from stock imported by Mr Sise, from America, and they travelled !70 miles to the show. Buyers of rams cannot fail to see that these are most profitable sheep to breed from, and it is to be hoped that next year Mr Sise may have some opponents.

Three young men, while out rabbit-shoot-ing at the back of Mount Cargill a few days ago, came across a portion of a decayed hu[man skeleton, consisting of the skull, part of !' the trunk bones, and some of the leg and arm bones, which were very much charred by recent bush fires. Sub-Inspector Mallard went to the spot next clay, and brought the remains to town. The young men had thought there were marks of an instrument on the skull, but they bad mistaken the ear openings for fractures caused by violence. The bones were brought to the Hospital. Enquiries were made in the vicinity, but no one was known to be missing in the district, I and from the appearance of the bones, which were believed to be those of a man, it is i thought they have been there for some years. The place where they were found is almost inaccessible to travellers, is about three miles from any dwelling-house, and situate in the thickest part of the bush. It is about three miles from Mr Schlotel's house, in a diagonal line towards Blueskin. The rats must have been gnawing at the skeleton, as some of the smaller bones were found scattered about. The only things found with the skeleton were two shirt-buttoas. Had it not been for recent bush fires, the discovery would probably not have been made, as the bones seemed to have been covered over by undergrowth, which the fire consumed.

On the afternoon of the .24th inst., a fire occurred in the Akatore Bush, and being fanned by a gale of hot wind, raged several miles through the bush. The fire, in its course, destroyed the saw milling establishment of Mr Thomas Lewis, hotelkeeper, Tokomairiro, namely, the mill, house, and dressing 3hed, two two-roomed houses occupied by the workmen, a bullock waggon loaded with timber, and a stack of sawn timber. Mr Lewis is uninsured, and estimates his loss at from £200 to £300. Sergt. Smyth, who visited the scene of the fire on the morning of the 25th, was informed by Thomas Edwards, bullock driver, that about three p.m. on the day before, he saw, while standing at his house on the edge of the bush, a volume of smoke rise from the bush about a mile from him, and half a mile from the mill. Seeing from the direction of the wind that the mill was in danger, he ran there and gave the alarm to the workmen, who got the most valuable part of the moveable plant secured, and in half an hour the mill, houses, waggon, and sawn timber were burning. The steam engine, a portable one, is not much injured, except the •wood-work, which is all burned. Mr Lewis has no suspicion whatever of the bush having been fired intentionally, but considers his misfortune to be the result of carelessness on the part of some one using fire.

The annual picnic in connection with the First Church Sunday School took place last week, in Mr Anderson's paddock, near the Water of Leith. The children met in the schoolroom at 10 o'clock, to hear the results of the opening of the missionary boxes. The Bible class, conducted by Mr Morris, also met at that time, for the purpose of opening their box ; and also of making a presentation to Mr Morris. Mr James Mollison, junr., in the name of the past and present pupils, presented Mr Morris with a very handsome illustrated family Bible, containing Scott and Henry's commentaries, as a token of their respect and esteem. Mr Morris, in acknowledging the gift, said that what little he had done, he had done not expecting any earthly reward. He would remember this testimonial as long as he lived, and expressed the hope that he might be able "to glean instruction from it, for himself and his pupils. After again thanking them heartily, he concluded with prayer. For the past year the number on the roll of this class was about 17, and the average attendance 13* or 14. The result of the past six months', collection for the New Hebrides Mission was £3 13s sd, which, added to that of the Sunday School, amounted to £9 14s 2d. The number on the roll of the Sunday School is over 200, and the average attendance is 160. Afterwards the children repaired to the place set apart for their picnic, and with the amusements and the good cheer provided for them, managed, to all appearances, to enjoy themselves thoroughly. Mr Hudson supplied the eatables in his usual creditable style. Before leaving the ground, the children gave three cheers for the owner of the ground, which had been so kindly lent them on the occasion.

On the 7th November last, a communication was addressed to the Provincial-Engineer by Mr James Sandison, offering to make a bridle track from Lake Wakatip to Martin's Bay. The route proposed to be taken is de- - scribed in Mr Sandison's letter as follows :—: — " Start from Lake Wakatip, near mouth of Greenstone river, either on north or south side ; run along a sideling parallel with the river until near Lake M'Kellar. Pass the lake on south side ; proceed to lowest part; of crown of dividing range. Thence keep lead.ing epur dovyn to junction of Pass Creek with

Hollyford River. Proceed on north side of Hollyford, keeping as near river as possible, until you reach the ford near Cole's Creek. Cross the Hollyford there, and thence on to Lake M'Kerrow." Mr Baudi&on suggests the advisability of putting up three shelter sheds on the route at a cost of about £16 each, and also that a wire and chair be erected across the Hollyford. The late Executive, we believe, viewed Mr Sandison's proposals with favour, and, apart from them, were very anxious to lose no time in getting a track made as speedily as possible by somebody. Their .successors in office have not displayed the same spirit, and Mr Sandison has met with nothing but delays and putting off at their hands. It seems very probable that the s?ason during which the work can be done will pass away without the track being cut, and then another famine may be looked for at Martin's Bay next winter. Whether Mr Sandison's proposals, or those of anyone else that will effect the same object, are accepted, we hope that no more dilatoriness will be displayed by the Government in this matter, which is one of great moment to a number of hard-working and long-suffering people — the settlers at Martin's Bay.