News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1156, 24 January 1874, Page 19

News of the Week.

Seventy 'armed navvies have been sent to the front in the Waikato. The Provincial Council of Canterbury has voted £20,000 for educational purposes.

The census of the Colony is to be taken for the night of Sunday, the Ist March.

Lady Fergusson and suite took their departure for Wellington last week in the Luna.

The National Insurance Company has contributed £10 10a towards the Surat Relief Fund.

Advices from the Haast state that the majority of the miners there are engaged in prospecting.

Westport is advancing in civilisation. The local paper records the appearance of the first buggy introduced there.

The annual vacation of the Supreme Court will commence on the 25th inst., and will expire en the 10th March next.

We hear that the Vestry of St. Paul's have decided upon starting a day school in connection with St. Paul's Church.

Letters of naturalisation have been issued in favour of Carl Bb'lke, cabinetmaker, Dunedin, and Charles Jacobson, mariner, Port Chalmers. Mr Henry Hirst, Orepuki, had one of his hands shattered the other day by the bursting of his gun, with which he was attempting to shoot a wild bull. We are requested to inform subscribers to Mrßuller's "Birds of New Zealand," that they can now obtain their copies of the work from Mr Purdie, at the Museum. Steps are being taken for metalling the paths of the South Dunedin recreation ground, and it is to be hoped the work will be completed before the wet weather sets in.

The Sydney Morning Herald publishes the following interesting telegram from New Zealand, via Melbourne: — "Dec. 20th. The Native feud at Otago is still unsettled."

The City Council is about to confer with the University Council with a view to the purchase of the University building, which the Corporation propose to convert into a Town|Hall.

It is satisfactory to find, from the telegrams published in another column, that the delay in the arrival of the inward Suez mail was not caused by any accident, but only by heavy adverse weather.

The sum of £415 was distributed to those of the passengers with families by the wrecked ship Surat, at the Immigration Barracks on Thursday week. The Committee have still a sum of about £300 in hand.

A waggoner named Andrew Bain was charged by Constable Anderson at tho Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday with being drunk and incapable whilst in charge of a waggon and eight horsea on the Main South Road. The presiding justices, Messrs Black and Brown, ordered acouaed to forfeit bia bail — 408.

Nominations for 188 souls, equal to 158 statute adults, were transmitted to Great Britain by the Dunedin Labour Office, per mail yesterday. They include the applications made since the 24th December last.

An Invercargill paper states that among the decorations at Winton on the occasion ot the Governor's arrival, the most noticeable was a large Scotch thistle, tied to the top of a manuka pole in front of a hotel.

We understand that the University Committee of the Presbyterian Synod have decided to recommend that body to proceed at once with the establishment of a Theological Hall, to be under the direction of a professor aud two theological tutors.

Under the heading of " Joy in the Noble Houses of Guelph and Campbell," the New York Herald publishes a telegram dated London, August 30th, to the effect that Her Eoyal Highness the Princess Louiße, wife of tho Marquis of Lome, is enceinte."

Writing of the recent floods in the Molyneux, the Tuapeka Mouth correspondent of the Lawrence paper says the continuous high state of the river must have been injurious up country, as the carcases of horses, boxe3, and other ddbris have been floating past.

A row took place on board the ship Christian M'Ausland at Port Chalmers last evening, between one of the officers and one of the crew. The latter fell and dislocated his shoulder, which was afterwards reduced by Dr Drysdale. It is possible more may be heard of the case.

In the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr Macassey intimated that, on an early day, a special case would be submitted for His Honour's opinion, involving the question of the right of the passengers by the Surat to their luggage, which was sold to the purchasers 01 the wreck.

News received from the wreck of the Surat states that a considerable quantity of the passengers' elfects, principally clothing, has been recovered from the ship. The articles thus obtaiued have been spread out to dry, and every care is being taken of them. This will be good news to their owners.

The voting in the Synod on Wednesday was in favour of the establishment of a Theological Hall. The Synod agreed to the several recommendations contained in the University report, and appointed a Committee to report as to appointing tutors, and on the carrying out of other matters referred to in the University Committee's report.

During the week ending 17th January, 17 patieute were admitted into the Hospital, 15 were discharged, and 4 died. George Wiggins and Mary Mo-es died of disease of the brain, Joho H. Maclean of consumption, and Elizibeth Baxter of peritonitis. The number of patients at present in the Hospital is 141, of whom 23 are females.

The person who calk himßelf Manager (save the mark !) of the Anglo-Australian i'ress Telegraphic Agency, recently telegraphed to us that; a cottage and skittle-alley had been burned at Nelson. Will no opportune fever or aooidtut rid the New Zealand Press ot this blockhead, who can't even abstain from telegraphing wheu he has no news worth sending?

The Provincial G ivernment are now calling for tenders for the completion of an additional portion of the Mount Ida head race The length of the work for which tenders are called is to be about nine and a half mites. With the exception of a large cutting which will have to be made, the country the ruoe will pass through will be of an easy nature.

The Melbourne papeTs publish the following items of Hawaiian news, received vid Sydney :—": — " Hawaii papers state that Colonel Steinberger, the American political agent, has called there, returning from Navigators Group, and reported that the chiefs wer<* unanimously in favour of an American protectorate. — The Arctic whaling fleet had the worst season for years."

In a speech made by him on the occasion of the turning of the first sod the branch of the Waikato Railway from Mercer to Ngaruawahia, the Hon, Dr. Pollen, referring to Mr Vogel, said :—": — " He has, lam advised, some projects which, with the concurrence of the Superintendent, he proposes to carry out for the settlement of Hawue's Bay lands, and lands in the Tauranga district, and lands in other places." At a picnic held near Clyde a few days ago an amusing affair took place. The Dunstun correspondent of the Cromwell Argus states that "a small balance being left in the hands of the Mayor [of Clyde], who was treasurer for the day, a lady challenged him to run a fifty yards' race for the amount. The Mayor could not resist t c lady's challenge, but came only off second best in the struggle, and so had to hand over the stakes." I

It is the intention of the Ladies' Committee of the Dunedin Female Refuge to request the ministers of the various denominations throughout the Province, to preach a sermoa in aid of the funds of the Refuge. The date is not absolutely fixed, but it -is probable it will be the last Sunday in Mar«h. It is to be hoped that the collection made will be of a substantial character, as the institution is deserving of every support.

The Building Committee of Knox Church have decided to proceed with the work ot erecting the proposed new church. The plans and specifications to be followed will be those of Mr R. A. Lawson. The only point now to be agreed upon is, whether the Committee or contractor is to provide the building materials. Everything else has been definitely decided upon, and it is expected that in the course of a few days active steps, with a view to beginning building operations, will be taken.

The folly of permitting young children to play with knives was illustrated in the cate nf a boy* named William Wale, aged 24 years, whose parents reside in Cainbray Place, the other afternoon, when he met with an accident which narrowly escaped being fatal. Whilst playing with a pocketknife, he fell upon it, causing the blade to run into his stomach. He was taken to the Hospital, where the wound was examined and dressed by Dr Yates.

A foolish fellow, whose name wo have not learned, nearly lo3t his life on the Port Chalmers Railway last week. As the six o'clock train wa-j running along, a man was observed lying on the rails on the Port Chalmers siae of Burkes Brewery. He just managed to stagger off the line in time to escape the train, which was stopped, and the delinquent was taken into custody by Mr Rolfe, the General Manager, and the guard, who took him to the Port, where he was locked up for the night.

The Rev. Mr Gow, whose pulpit was filled for him at St. Andrew's Church on Sunday morning, availed himself of the opportunity to visit the Immigration Barracks, 'Javersham, and hold a special service there for the benefit of the immigrants newly landed. The meeting was a very interest, ing one, and the rev, gentleman, after the service was over, had a good deal of conversation with the iinrnigranta by way of encouraging them in the beginning of their career in the laud of the'r adoption.

A new Athenreum is to be built at Invercargill by the Athemeum Committee there. The building is to be situate at the corner of Esk and Dee streets. It will be two storeys high, the upper portion being devoted to the purposes of reading room, ladies' reading room, library, and committee room. The main reading room is to be a commodious apartment, 65f fc. by 29ft. The lower portion of the building will be subdivided into shops. The building will, if finished according to plan, have a very handsome appearance.

The Tuopeka railway works in the neighbourhood of Manuka Creek are proceeding rapidly. A large number of Chinese labourers are employed in that locality. A canvas town of * considerable dimensions has been built within the last few weekb close to the fluming, conjointly occupied by Europeans and Chinamen. We (Tuapeka Times) have nob heard of any conflict between the two races, but, on the contrary, they appear to werk amicably together. The New Zealand navvy must be more civilised than the Cluues inmer.

314 chains of deep draining are to be con* struefc^d in the Southern Ce.metery, Tho dr.iins are to be du# teven feet below the surface of the footpath, and will be eighteen inches wide at the bottom. An earthenware pipe, four inches in diameter, is to be laid the whole length of the trenches. The joints of the pipes are to be about a quarter of an inch apart, and care will be taken to keep them cK-ar. The pipes are to be laid in a bed of broken uietal two tent deep. On the top of the metal is to be placed a layer of scrub, and over this earth which is to be well rammed down. No more than one chain of work is to be open at a time.

A Napier contemporary learns that there are about fifty men employed on the railway works between Napier and Paki Paki j this number gives about three to the mile, so no surprise need be felt at the delay in the completion of the line. There is a ntory told of a traveller who, riding across the Karanu some months ago, and noticing one man using a spade in the middle of the plain, asked him what he was doing. The man replit d, " Oh! this is the railway ; I have got a contract." The traveller naturally remarked that it would be some time before the railway would be finished, when the man, in tones of in* jured innocence, informed him that there was another fellow working about two xailes off.

From the New Zealand Gazette w« learn that notices have been sent in to the General Government by a number of persons or tirins of their intention to claim the bonuses offered by the Government for iron and sugar as Colonial industries. The intending claim* ants of the former bonus are : — Manager, Collingwood Coal Co. , Nelson ; Magnus Manson, Motupipi, Nelson ; J. C. Stovin, Awitu, Auckland ; Para Para Coal and Iron Co., Collingwood, Nelson ; Richard Chilman, agent for H. J. Walduck and Co., New Plymouth. The intending claimants of the Sugar bonus are : — E. Woolfield, Onehunga ; VV. J. Cawkwell, Auckland ; John Davis {John Davie ?), Dunedin ; Samuel Begg, Napier ; and R. R. Hunt, Newcastle, Waikato. The annual meeting of the Dunedin Canary and Poultry Association was held at the Bull and Mouth Hotel on Wednesday. There was* very fair attendance of members present, Mr W. Woods occupying the chair. The report and balance sheet were read an«l adopted, which showed a balance to the credit of the Association of £18 12s 6d. The election of office- bearers for the ensuing yrar resulted as follows :— Patrons : His Houour the Superintendent, His Worship the Mayor, Mr Henry I river, M.P.C.. Mr VV. J. M. Larnach; president, Mr Jules Lanaeigne ; vice-presi-dents, Mr C. Burke and Mr C. Flexman ; hon. treasurer, Mr W. Woods ; hon. oec, Mr William Harris. Afttr a lengthy and I stormy dieoussion, the following committee were elected : — Messrs Jacobs, Peako, Park, Part, Curie, Bayley, and Purie. After the business of the meeting was over, the Chairman presented a very handsome cup to Mr William Sly, the retiring secretary, "for valuable services rendered in promoting tku interests of the Association." Mr Sly, in a few well-chosen words, thanked the Associa.<

tion for the present. The proceedings then tsrminated,

A meeting of the Committee of the Horti cultural S'C ; etv was held on. Wednesday evening. Mr George Matthews was in the chair, and a fair number of the Commit! cc were present. The accounts for the late show were all passed, the funds in hand being amnly sufficient to meet the same. It was resolved, ou account of the great want of competition in the various classes of exhibits, and the extra expense the Society had incurred in the purchase of a marquee, that no prize money, with the exception .of the special prizes, be awarded for the exhibits at the previous flower show. A discussion took place as to the advisability of holding the March. Show for two days. Consideration of this motion was adjourned till next meeting. The Rev. Mr Tanner, a Church of England clergyman, at the recent annual meeting of the lnvercargill School Committee, moved a resolution to the effect that there should be no mingling of boys and girls, except in the infant department, in the same school. In support of his motion, Mr Tanner is reported to have argued that " the mingling of boys and girls tended to roughen the manners of the. girls, and engender in the boys a spirit opposite to that of manliness. He did not think it fair to keep boys confined to the same intellectual exercises as girls." Mr Tanner's views met with the support of the meeting, and another motion proposed by him, viz., V That every effort should be made for the establishment of a separate! boys' school," was carried by 22 votes to 8.

The drawings for the summit section of the Northern line through the ranges to Blueekin are now ready, and it is expected that tenders for the execution of the work will be called for next week. The tunnel will be 1400 yards long, and the place through which it is to be cut has been defiuitely selected. The material is supposed to be similar to Port Chalmers stone. There are facilities for putting down a shaft at some distance from the north end, and with these facilities it is probable that th^ work will be done in two years, and perhaps sooner, if improved drilling machinery and diamond drills are used. There are two considerable streams, one at each end of the tunnel, which are supposed to be suf&cientto drive machinery for drilling.

A mpeting of shareholders in the Energetic Quartz Mining Company, Rough Rid/c, was held at the Company's office last Monday. The meeting was called principally for the purpose of uonsideiing the advisability of continuing the working of the claim. Two of the directors recently visited the minf, and the result of their visit was that it would nob answer the purposes of the Company t<> go on with the work. Ultimately, however, a resolution was carrud. that it was advisvble to wind up the concern. There was a pretty good nmsfcwr of shareholders yesfiit. and ths resolution was carried without a dissentknt voice. It is a pity thi-s concern should b« allowed to fall through, but in the face of the reuort from the directors, no other alternative could have been arrived at.

A meeting "f the parents of children attending the All Nails' Church school, and of the f "lends ot edu.;auon, to mark the opening of five first Church of England ienommv tion *1 school in the Province, was held in the All Saints' Church school-room last week. His Honour Mr Justice Chapman in the chiir. Spe-ches were d<live;ecl by the Chairman, the Rev. Mr Staii'or.l, Mr A. Baih^ite. and l>v Mr James Kirby (the B'linoinus^er). H:s Honour spoke to Ih>i e/Fjot fiat v\hilt,hn thought denominational sch'»'ls g ">d, h-' did not tlunk they s ould be sup .01 1 -d by ih<- State. He also sh nve 1 how much a pare' t could d• in making a child aoii-nl t> the teaching he reciived at school, au.l ponied '>ut liow largely p.m nts could eiioourige truthfulness, sincerity, and otii.ii- \irtue*/inlhar children.

The quu te>-ly meet ng of Court Pride of Dublin, N" 3780, -VO.F., wtsb'ldiu the South Australian Hall, Piinces street, on Tuesday evening week. The balance .-hect and auditors' report were read. They 4i<>wod the Court to ba in a very prosperous condition, b >t'i numerically atid fiuaucially ; the number of members at present on tbe roll being 205— an increase of nine during the qtiiine.r. During the same period £121 2s 4.1 had been added to the reserve fund which now amounts to £2000 15s 51. The flection of officers for the ensuing six m mt is resulted as f -Hows :— O. R , Bro. Win. Fink ; S.C. X... BO A. (Jhisholin ; Treasurer, Bro F Tofi Id • Secretary, Bro J. Wils<m ; Assistant Sooietarv, Bro.~J.is. Nimou ; S.W., Bro. A. Watson ; J W , Bro. J. Trottfr ; X. 8., Bro. TiHM. Dougl is ; J. 8., Bro. i. Diok. The annual meeting for the purpose of elouHnf a now School Coroniittte for the North East Valley district, was held m the School-honse on last Monday week. Mr Isaac Green took the chair. The report and statement of accounts of retiring Committee were read and adopted It appeared from these documents that the School was in a satisfactory condition, financially and otherwise. It was resolved to appoint seven members to serve on the Committae for thu ensuing year. The election waa conduced by ballot, and resulted m the return of the following persons :—: — Messrs Andrew W«its'«n, William Hutton, Is.-uc Gie.-n, James F<irquh:irs<>n, George Cal ler, David Anderson, and John Longworth. Tho following officers for the ensuing year were then elected by the new Committee :— Chairman, Mr Isaac Green ; Treasurer, Mr Andrew Watson ; Secretary, Mr James Farquharson,

On Saturday afternoon a presentation was made to Mr Thomas Hill, Collector of Customs (who left for Auckland on Tuesday), by the Customs Officers of Dunedin, Port Chalmers, and Oamaru, together with the Light-house Officials at tbe Heads and the Nuggets. The articles were got from Mr Yoiing, Princes street, and consisted of a silver biscuit box and teapot, and a fieldglass. JMr Monson, chief officer at Port (Jha'mers, being the oldest officer in the service, in very appropriate terms referred to the kind consideration Mr Hill had always shown for tho&e under his official charge. In reply, Mr Hill expressed his wgret at leaving, and said that wherever he might be in future, he would have warm feelings towards Dunedin, and the pleasantest memories of his connection with the staff at this port.

The London correspondent of the Argus, writing on November 14th, says :—": — " It i& probable that the return of Mr Arch from America will be followed by an exodus of agricultural labours to that country. He has made the tour of Canada, where the Government received him with a hospitality he has never known from English officials. He warns his brethren that they may have to work harder, and endure as great privation for a while in Canada as here ; but he points them forward to independence as the end of their labour. If the State Governments of the Union will do as well for settlers as Canada, Mr Arch says that within 19 months there will be 100,000 English emigrants making homes in America 1 ' Probably, to every 1000 persons who settle in the Dominion, 5000 will go to the United States."'

Mr Robert Miller, of Catlin's River, writes to us under date 16th January, stating that he was strolling along the sea beach near False Inlet, about a mile distant from the wreck of the Surat, when he found }> embedded in the sand, a package containing upwards of 200 letters enclosed in envelopes and neatly tied up. The name "Alonzo Brooks " appears on the envelopes, and Mr Mi Jer presumes that the said letters were the property of some one of that name who was a passenger by the Surat. None of the letters have been, or will be opened, while in Mr Miller's possession, and he merely opened the packet to ascertain the owner's name. He says that, judging from the ap pearance of the envelopes, the letters are little, if any, the worse for their immersion. If the said Alonzo Brooks will communicate with Mr Miller, the letters will be forwarded to his address.

We would direct the attention of our rpadera to the dates on which the Kennedy Family will give their " Twa Hours at Flame" in the principal country towns of the Province. These dates will be found in our advertising columns. Duiing their stay in Dun dia Mr Kennedy and his family have nightly charmed numerous audiences with their excellent singing. Mr Ke-nne.lyis unrivalled as an exponent of the beauties of Scottish songs, and he is equally tkilful in bringing out the subtleties of Scottish humour. We do not know a greater treat for a Scotsman than to spend "twa hours ab one of these eutertainmcnts. Indeed we are confident tint no Scotsman will do so without wishing that the "twa hours" had bee a a good deal longer. At most of the plaws the company will visit they will give one performance only, so that those who intend patronising them will do well not to m ike any mistake as to the dates.

The Rev. John Paton, of the New Hebrides Mission, preached a sermon on Mission Work in the New Hebndes, in Knox l/hnrch on Sun lay morning, to a large congregition. IHmug the course of the sermon he frated that just previous to leaving for New Zealand he had atiu-ndfd a coinmuuion service in Aneiteum. at which between 400 and SUO communicated. He also stated that wiihin the last sev.n years at his own station, Auiwa, the natives have renounced idolatry, and are all under instruction, and that a considerable number are members of the Church. Mr Paton, in the afternoon, addressed the children attending the Sunday Schools of Knox Church, Pv-hohet Bay, and North Dunedin Ohurch, on the subject of Missions. About 600 children were present, as also were a large number of parents and friends. The Rev. Mr Waters, of Warepa, preached in the evening at Knox Ohurch, to a large congregation.

The Coroner held an inquest at the Hospital on Friday week on the body of William j Kennedy, a labourer, who was killed by some earth falling upon ijim at Caversham on the previous day. A man named H gh Macgregor, who was working with deceisid, said they were filling a tiuck behind the English Church, Caversham, when some one [ calfed " Look out," when the earth slipped, covering witness's legs, and completely burying deceased who, when got out, began t> spit blood, and died before he reached town. William Buchanan, another labourer, said that the face had been almost under, mined, and sufficient care was not exercised. One of the contractors said he was in the habit of inspecting the work before the men set to, and if he had noticed anything unsafe ■ he would not have allowed the nun to go ' there. It being necessary that one of the j witnesses, who had left, should be recalled, the- >nquest was adjournod. It was resumed again on Saturday. The ganger hiving given additional evidence, the Coroner directed the Jury to return an open verdict, as the evidence did not justify them m attributing the accident to carelessness. The Jury agreed as tho Coroner directed, and added a rider to the effect that greater pre- | caution Bhould in future bo exercised.

A sudden death .under peculiar circumstances occurred a few days ago. A driver of one of the Caversham buses, named Henry Fleury, was hailed at the stand in Princes street by a Mrs Hair, who requested him to drive her to Messrs Herbert, Haynes, and Co.'s, but when about half way, they were stopped by that firm's messenger with a parcel, and the 'bus was accordingly driven back to the stand. On arriving there, a boy called out that the woman had fallen off her seat, and the driver, who wAs a boy, tried to raise her, but failed Thinking she was drunk, he allowed her to remain on the floor of the vehicle, and drove towards Caversham, taking in a passenger, and making enquiries on the road of people whether they knew where deceased lived. On reaching Caversham, her house was pointed out to him, and in lifting her out, he discovered her to be dead. Deceased had been under medical attendance for a considerable time past for disease of the heart, which is attributed as the cause of her death.

The members of the Dunedin Volunteer Artillery on Monday invited Colonel Cargill to meet them at Wain's Hotel to enable them to wish him hon voyage previous to his de parture for England by the mail boat. The affair was q'lite impromptu, and there were present Captain Jack, Litutenant Muir, and about 20 of the members. Captain Jack in a few well chosen words expre-sedhis regret at the Colonel's departure, and said that the want of time had prevented a more suitable recognition of his kindness at various times towards them ; and, on behalf of the Corps, wished him bon voyage and a safe return, those present giving three cheers. The Colonel, in reply, stated that he was greatly pleased with their expression of goodwill, which he hoped would subsist between them for many years to come. He was about to resign the command, and hoped they would be able to find a better man to take his place. He also stated that on his return to the Colony, which he thought might be at no distant date, he should become a member of Ihe Company.

At the usual meeting of the Pioneer Lodge I. O. O. F. , No. 1, held on Tuesday, the Auditors brought up their report for half-year ending December 1873. The report showed the receipts to the Sick and Funeral Fund to be £47 17s, to the Incidental Fund, £80. The expenditure for sick claims amounted to £33 ; from the Incidental Fund, surgeon and chemist, to £31 17s lid ; for working expences and goods to £50. The total amount of funds to the credit of the Lodge to date, was as follows : — Sick and Incidental Funds, £431 6s 2d ; Widow and Orphans Fund, £60; total, £491 6s 2d. Eight new members have been admitted during the term, and several propositions for membership are on the books. The Lodge now numbers 70 full members good on the books, with one widow and five honorary members. The Committee congratulated the members upon the prosperous condition of the Lodge, as the funds represent over £6 per membsr. This amount has no liabilities for funeral claims, as that f vmrl is in charge of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. The report was received and adopted, together with the detailed balance sheet.

The first annual meeting of the members of the Caversham Public Library was held in the School-house on Monday evening. The attendance was very small. Mr Rutherford presided. From the report of the retiring Committee, it appeared that the number of annual subscribers for the past year was 20, of quarterly subscribers 19— a very small number of both, considering the population of the district ; that the number of volumes in the Library now amounted to about 330, inclusive of 33 volumes of the works of the R-v. C. H. Spurgeon, presented by Mr W. Ings ; that an order for nearly a hundeed additional volumes had lately been forwarded to the Education Office ; and that a small supply of periodicals, the first monthly packet of which maybe expected by the next mail, had been ordered from home. The statement of accounts shew* d— receipts f r.»m donations, £45 18s 6d ; subscriptions, £l 4 2s6d; Government subsidy, £48 10s; other sources, £3 7s 4d ; total, £111 18s 4d. The expenditure amounted to £78 8s 2a, leaving an available balance of £33 10s 2d. The members of Committee for the ensuing year were then, in accordance with the rules, elected by ballot, and the following gentlemen were found to have the highest number of votes :— Messrs Rutherford, Laing, Read, Anderson, Ings, Milne, and Boyes. The meeting terminated with the usual vote ot thanks"to the chair.

Mr Vogel, speaking at the dinner given to him at Oamaru on Saturday evening, is reported to have made the following interesting remarks :— "They would learn with satis- 1 faction that he had that day received a teleram stating that among the immigrants per Mongol were a large number of agricultural labourers, and that by the same vessel there was coming out to the Colony Mr Joseph Holloway, who is described as the right-band man of Mr Arch, whose name was so well known in connection with the movement which had sprung up in Great Britain for the amelioration of the condition of the agricultural labourers. Mr Arch was now m Canada, where he was receiving great attention from the Governor of the Dominion ; the object of his visit being to ascertain the inducements presented by that country as afield for immigration He believed that Mr Arch had not found it so suitable as he expected, and it was very satisfactory to learn that Mr Holloway was now on his way to this Colony with a view of seeing for himself the inducements it i offered as & home for the class he represented

the very class ®f which the Colony stood ia. need. The Colony would have, after all, to Btand or fall as a field for immigration on its own capabilities — and it possessed enormous capabilities. As compared with Canada, it possessed an immense advantage in respect of climate, as human labour could be carried on here all the year round, while in Canada the same labour must be suspended for months. Again, as compared with the Australian Colonies, *New Zealand offered many advantages in respect of its climate, its nonliability to periodical disasters, and its immense sea-board ; advantages the possession of which were destined to place her in theforemost position of the Australasian group." 1

Sermons were preached on Sunday at St. Paul's Church on behalf of the Melanesian. Mission Fund. The Rev. E. G. Penney officiated in the morning, and chose his text from the last verse of the 87th Psalm : " All my fresh springs shall be in thee." He referred to Melanesia as a special part of the Church's work in the Southern Seas— a work which was initiated by Bishop Selwyn, who, had been rightly called the Apostle of this land. More teachers were required for that group of islands, and he called upon the con* gregation to be liberal in their contributions,, quoting the promise— "He that watereth shall be watered also himself." Reference waa also made to Francis Xavier, M'Kenzif, the late martyrs, Bishop Patteson, and other le»dingmissionaries. TheVen. ArchdeaconEdwardsofficiatedattheeveningservice,andgav& an excellent disrourse from ihe 42nd chapter of Isaiah and 12bh verse :— " Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare Irs, praise in the island«." He stated that th& original intention was to have the Melaupsiaa Church presided over by Native Bishops, and that the English and Native teachera were always regarded as equal by the members of that Church. The Archdeacon read several interesting extracts from the Bishop of Auckland's notes on his recent visit to Norfolk Island, the headquarters of the iVlelanesian Mission, for the purpose of ordaining three young Natives, who were candidates for Deacon's orders. The doors of the church there, he stated, are never locked, and tbe building is generally used as a place for private prayer by the residents before retiring to their evening rest. The singing of the Melanesian converts was also highly spoken of in the Bishop's report. The discourse was concluded with the words, "Freely ye have received, freely give." The collections realised £21 4s 7d, being slightly in advance of the sum gathered last year.

The passengers by the Dunfillan, arrived last week, were brought to the Rattray street jetty in the Geelong, together with their luggage. On reaching the jetty they disembarked, and went into the railway carriages which were in waiting for them. None of them were allowed to run about after their luggage ; it was taken from the steamer into expresses, by which it was carried to the railway line, where it was placed in the trucks. The immigrants, with their luggage, were promptly sent by train to the Immigration Barracks, where everything waa ready for them. During the interval the train was delayed while the luggage was being got into trucks, the femalepassengers gave vent to their feelings of joyfulness at being once more on firm earth by siuging. To say that the crowd of loungers around the carriages enjoyed the singing immensely is not to exaggerate. The arrangements for the conveyance of the passengers, were wonderfully complete as compared with those at the time when they landed amidst a large crowd at the old jetty, got nearly run over by trucks at one end, and had cabmen and. expressmen struggling for themselves and their effects at th« other end. The passengers numbered 158 pt-rsoni, equal to 138 .statute adults— namely, male adults, 61 ; females, 65; male children, 9; female children, 15 ; infants, 8. The occupations given of those whose occupations are described, are as follows :— Painters, 2 ; carpenters, 4 ; tailors, 2 ; blacksmith, 1 ; farm labourers, 16 ; spinner, 1 ; ironmonger, 1 ; salesman, 1; navvy, 1; shoemakers, 5; labourers, 10; signalman, 1; platelayer, 1 ; 1 "overlooker" (from Lancashire) ; harnessmakers, 2 ; shopkeeper, 1 : groom, 1 ', waiter, 1; joiner, 1; striker, 1 ; "mechanic, 1; fireman, 1 ; shepherds, 2 ; dairyman, 1. The following are the occupations of the ! single women :— Housemaid?, 6 ; nurses, 3 ; general servants, 18 ; weavers, 4 ; teacher, 1 ; cooks, 3 ; sempstresses, 2 ; dressmaker, 1 ; housekeeper, 1 ; factory workers, 2 ; parlourmaid, 1. Mrs Kate Garden is the matron. The nationality of the immigrants is as follows :— England, 96 ;• Ireland 35 ; Scotland, 16 ; Channel Islands, 8 ; Shetland, 1 ; France, 1 ; South America, 1. Of the single women, 8 are from Limerick, and 5 from Galway.

A Nottingham paper of a recent date apologises to its readers for any mistakes, owing to the fact that at midnight all the I gaslights in the town went out, and after an interval they were left in darkness a second ' time. , Dr Fryer, formerly Missionary Bishop ot Zanzibar, has written a remonstrance against the Dean of Canterbury participating in the communion service in the Presbyterian Church. He will bring the matter under the notice of the Archbishop of Canterbury. i The magistrates at the Surrey sessions discussed a report from the gaol committee recommending that prisoners should be allowed to join in singing on Sundays in the chapel. This was opposed on the ground that it might renew communications between the prisoners, but on a division the report waa k carried by 22 votes to 19.