News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1157, 31 January 1874, Page 19

News of the Week.

The crops in the Lake district are reported to be looking splendid. The Switzers race meeting will be held on the sth and 6th March. Hawksbury suffers from prowling dogs, and Cromwell from foraging pigs. A Weßleyan Lay Preacheis' Association has been formed in Christchurch. In consequence of the fine weather, many of the Canterbury farmers are threshing their grain from the stook. At Auckland, the master of a schooner has been fined £50 and costs for smuggling a email quantity of tobacco. The Secretary to the Surat Relief Fund has received a donation of £10 10s, from the Victoria Insurance Company. On the 22nd inst. the thermometer at Christchurch registered 115 degrees iv the sun, and 94 degrees in the shade. The Warrnambool Examiner reports a wedding in which the united ages of the couple were more than 165 years. We learn from the Tuapeka Times tbat a J parcel of new oats was lately sold at the j Teviot at the rate of 2s 6d per bushel on the ground. The Southern Cross, speaking of Auckland, where it is published, says that "the vast amount of juvenile depravity in the city cannot be hid." Home papers state that Sir Henry Hoiland's personal estate has been sworn under £140,000, and that of Sir Edwin Landseer under £160,000. Two Christchurch tradesmen have been fined for not having the New Zealand stamp on their yard measures, though the English stamp was on them. A death notice published in the Press occupies fifteen lines, aad concludes thus :— ♦'The coffin, which was covered with black cloth, richly nailed, was supplied by," &c. A little girl, the daughter of Jameß Keith, Otakia, fell, while running down a hill on the 22nd inst., and dislocated her neck. When picked up she was quite dead. The Maoris on the Upper Wanganui are reported to be rebuilding their flour-mills. Atone place a " very costly mill and ironframed water-wheel," of Glasgow make, are to be erected. Th« Observer states that the Arrow United Company have sunk their shaft about 25 feet, and are down to the water, so that little more can be done until the machinery ia erected. The crops hi Canterbury, according to the PreßS, are turning out remarkably well, especially the oats, and our contemporary will not be surprised if the yield is almost double that of ,last year. At Invercargill, on Thursday week, Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co. sold by auction 4000 acres of the Winton Estate for £19,000. Other properties were sold by the firm at the i came time for £8000. , Another notice of intention to claim the bonus offered by the General Government for the manufacture of sugar from beetroot has been sent in. The intending claimant is Mr William Moody, Kakanui. Another private expedition to New Guinea is being talked of at Sydney. H.M.b. Baeilisk is now re-fitting at Sydney preparatory to proceeding again to New Guinea to continue the coastal survey of that island. The Tuapeka Times of last week says :— •• A report was current yesterday evening that in opening out the stone in Gabriels reef in the lower level, the lode has rapidly increased in Bize, and shows payable prospejts." . . The first summoned case for an infringement of the "Protection to Animals Act, 1873," was heard at East Taien, on .the 22nd inst A settler named John Handy was fined £2, for shooting wild ducks contrary to the Act. The demand for school teachers in tho Province at present appears to be considerable. In Wednesday's Provincial Government Gazette, four male teachers and one schoolmistress, for as many country sohoola, are Advertised for,

More than £100 has been subscribed to assist Captain Johnson in his present troubles connected with the wreck of the ship Surat.

The .Taranaki papers record the death of Mr T. K. Skinner, for 33 years a settler in the Province. The News states tbat his connections comprise probably a tenth of the population of the Province, including persons of all classes. The Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church requests us to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of donations of £5 each from Mr D. Kennedy, and Mr D. G. Poison, towards the fund for the purchase of the new mission vessel Dayspring. The Christchurch City Council have passed a resolution asking the Superintendent of Canterbury to cause £10,000 to be placed on the supplementary estimates as a grant in aid to the Council for the purpose of erecting a Oity Hall. Most of the miners on the banks of the Molyneux, owing to there being too much •water in the river, and too little available for sluicing, are reported to have left their I claims and gone to labour on the public works or at harvesting. Forty tons of flour, from the Green Island mills, were sent to Port Chalmers by the last train on Wednesday. The flour is for exportation to London by the barque Elizabeth Graham. We hope to see a steady increase in the exportation of this staple. The detailed reports published by the Lyttelton Times regarding harvest prospects in Canterbury show that cater pillers are very numerous in some of the districts. In one place it is stated that these pests " might have been taken up in bucketsful." An awkward auctioneer ab Hokitika the other day, -when "knocking down" a lot, struck a byeßtander a severe blow on the head with the whip he used as a hammer. The report does not say whether the byestander was knocked down with the lot. j A railway navvy named Patrick King was killed by a fall of earth near Goul hum, New South Wales, on the 10th inst. The Goulburn Herald states that he is supposed to have a brother and sister in New Zealand, but in what part of this Colony it does not state. Among the items of expenditure authorised by the Provincial Council of Canterbury, is .£IB,OOO for the conversion of the railway from Rakaia to Addington from the broad to the narrow gauge, and laying a narrow gauge line from Addington to Lyttelton. The following farming items are from the Wakatip Mail: — "New potatoes, of first class quality, are now selling by farmers at 2dper 1b. — The wheat crop is fast maturing but reaping all over the district at one time will not be so general or pressing this season as last year." The Bay of Plenty promises to deserve its name this year. The Tauranga paper states that the Maoris in that district have resumed the growing of wheat, of which in byegone years they sent large quantities to Aucklaud, and the yield this harvest is expected to be larger than that of any previous one. The dangerous corner at Look-out-Point was the cause of another vehicle rolling down the bank on Sunday evening. The persons seated in the buggy were Mr Carver, coachbuilder, and his daughter, both of whom escaped with a few bruises, although the dash-board and one of the shafts of the buggy were broken. On Tuesday evening, at the Presbyterian Church, Port Chalmers, the Rev. Mr Paton delivered a very interesting lecture on the scene of his labours at the New Hebrides Mission There was a very fair attendance, and the audience displayed wrapt attention to the rev. lecturer's discourse, which was sustained for fully two hours. The Herald state? that the complaint _ of the want of sufficient house accommodation in Auckland still continues, and although buildings are being run up in all the outaide portions of the city and suburbs, the cry is still for more, as no sooner is the roof on a new tenement, and the windows and doors fixed, than it finds a ready occupant. The Athenaeum, numerous aa is its collection of books, does not possess a copy of the Holy Scriptures. Recently a little girl gave a message to the librarian asking for " a big Bible." There was no Bible, large or small, to be given her, and further it appeared there was no Bible in the Athenaeum collection, which, however, possesses a copy of the Koran. The charcoal blast furnace in course of erection for the Titanic Iron and SleeJ Company near New Plymouth, is to be finished, according to the contract, by the 2nd of April next. It will be the first furnace of the kind in these colonies. The firestones, bricks, and machinery are expected to arrive from England in about three 1 months. We are informed by a person who lately arrived from the scene of the wreck that the Surat was, unfortunately, grounded upon a rock, which, in all probability, will break her back. At one time, during a high tide, she was afloat, and could, with the aid of a steamer, have been run upon the beach ; but no such aid was at hand, and there is now no hope of Baying her. The Rev. Mr Backhouse, the Australasian Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, arrived on Wednesday by the Omeo. Mr Backhouse intends to visit the leading centres of population in Otago in the interest of the Society he represents, and he will also probably address several of the congregations in "Dunedin, as he did when he last visited the city about two yeaia ago.

! The Taranaki Herald says :— " We have heard of a subscriber stopping the paper because the editor would insist upon putting the births before the marriages, in his domestic column ; but it is something novel to find that a subscriber to the Wanganui Herald has given notice t» ' atop his paper, because the Waitotara Road Board will not give him a road to his property." The Timaru Herald is glad to learn that a good number of men have come into the district during the last few days, and that the anticipated scarcity of harvest hands is likely to be considerably relieved. The new arrivals are from the Wesb Coast and other non-agricultural parts of the Colony, and are probably attracted by the high rates of wages at present ruling in this locality. The children of the Mauku (Auckland) school were entertained at a pic-nic the other day, and in the course of the afternoon they enjoyed the felicity of being addressed by a ! centenarian. This was a lady, aged 104, and known by the familiar designation of " Old Mother Shipton." The report states that this old lady, " greatly to the wonder and amusement of the children, related her experience." During the week ending January 24th, sixteen patients were admitted into the Hospital, and fifteen were discharged therefrom. Five deaths occurred— Charlotte Levy, died of consumption ; William Murray, disease of the brain ; Mary Macmahon, bronchitis ; Robert Hawkins, disease of the kidneys ; and John Wasser, disease of the heart. The number of patients at present in the Hospital is 133, of whom 21 are females. Captain Casey, a member of the Auckland | Harbour Board, recently moved, "that it be an instruction of the harbour-master to captains of steamers plying on Sundays not to use their whistles." He spoke in support of the motion, and said that on Sunday while the clmrch bells were tolling solemnly " Come along sinners," the North Shore steamers were blowing " Come to the North Shore and wet your whistles." The motion was agreed to. At a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society, held on the 16th inst., Dr Hector stated that he had just received a letter from Professor Owen, in which the writer pronounced the recent discoveries of saurian remains in the Middle Island to be among the most important of modern times, geologically considered, supplying some missing links in the connection between the fossil remains found in various parts of the world. Among the business done at the meeting of the Education Board last week was the carrying of a resolution not to remove the Boys' High School from its present quarters, till the Provincial Council met. _ A discussion also took place as to how notice should be given to parents of the rule in regard to Bible reading in srhool.*, so that they might, if they wished, withdraw their children from the Bible class, but no resolution thereon wai come to. The following encouraging paragraph appears in the circular of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited, dated London, November 28th: — "We understand from competent authorities that an increasing desire is now being exhibited amongst the operative classes in this oountry towards emigration to New Zealand, and in this they are now supported rather than opposed by the representatives of the Agricultural Labourers' Union." A seaman, named Ebenezer Henry Nelson, belonging to the ship May Queen, met with a fatal accident on board that vessel, at the Bluff, on the 25th inst. Owing to his own mismanagement in taking a bale of wool on board, it struck him on the back, luicekir.g him with great force against the winch, the spindle of which Btruck him on the left breast. Death seems to have been instantaneous. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." The following appointments are notified in the New Zealand Gazette of the 21st inst. :— James Farrell and Michael O'Keefe, to be Inspectors of Weights and Measures, under " The Weights and Measures Act, 18G8," for the districts of Lawrence and Waikouaiti respectively ; Mr George Clark, to be DeputyRegistrar of Births, &c, for the district of Oam aru ; and Mr Joseph Cox to be Registrar of Births, &c, as well as Vaccination In■pector, for the district of Waipori. The action for libel brought by Captain Orkney, Deputy Harbour Master atDunedin, against Mr George Bell, proprietor and editor of the Evening Star, was tried at the Supreme Court last week. The action was brought for the recovery of £1000 damages, on account of a letter published in the Star in October last, containing some comments j upon Captain Orkney's conduct as Deputy Harbour Master. The Jury— a special onebrought in a verdict of £50 damages. A meeting of the Committee appointed at the meeting of shipmasters held on Thursday week, at Port Chalmers to consider the case of Captain Johnson, of the Surat, was held next evening, on board the ship Warrior Queen. The meeting was called to consider the draft of the petition to be sent to the Board of Trade, praying for a mitigation of the sentence passed on Johnson by the late Board of Enquiry. The draft was agreed to, and the Hoih Secretary was instructed to get the petition engrossed. The Commissioner of Police intimates in another column that the Provincial Government will pay a reward of £50 to any person who will give such information as will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons by whose act a two-roomed weatherboard house, at Maheno, near Ofcepopo, the ' property of John Dodda, was burned ou the

| night of the Bth inflt. The prospect of a ire* pardon is also offered to an accomplice not being the actual author of the fire, who will give the information desired. The Southland Newß of the 27th inst. saye : — " A telegram from His Honour the Superintendent was received last evening by the Chairman (Mr J. W. Mitchell) of the Immigration Committee, stating that the AgentGeneral reported that a vessel would be despatched for the Bluff direct about the 29 th December, and that every effort would be made to send a large number of immtgrautg by her. At the date named it is more than probable a large number of the nomination papers from this district would have arrived, and thus facilitate Dr Featherstou's endea* yours to send a full ship." With respect to mining matters in tht Wakatip district, the Mail says :— " Ther« is very little news of any importance from the gold-fields since the commencement of the year. The miners have generally reaumed work, and several parties, encouraged by the hopes of a dry autumn season, have set in to their river claims. The worth and value of the claims, except at such places as Arthur's Point and the Big Beach, where heavy and costly protective works have been carried out, depend purely upon the state of the river. The Chinese are still migrating from the district." In accordance with a resolution of the City Council, nine drinking fountains are to b« erected in different parts of the city. They will be of cast iron, will be 4ft 9in high, and will be fixed on the edge of the footpath. Each fountain will be provided with two ladles and a self-acting tap. The Water Company has conseuted to supply the water free of charge. The fountains will be fixed in Jetty street, High street, Manse street, Maclaggan street, George street, and Great King street, and the crystal fluid they will dispense will no doubt be gratefully appreciated by thirsty folk. With respect to harvesting operations in the Tuapeka district, the local paper says : — " Reaping is steadily advancing in this district, although not as yet in full swing. The grain crops generally are not remarkably heavy, nevertheless there are exceptions. We refer to a magnificent crop of wheat we observed on Tuapeka Flat this week, which, we arts informed, is considered to be the best in the district. The energetic farmer who owns this crop assures us that he is confident he will have a yield of over 40 bushels to the acre of really first- class grain. The straw in some places is 6ft. in height." There was a sitting in Bankruptcy in the Supreme Court on Monday, before His Honour Mr Justice Chapman. The business transacted was of an unimportant character. The case of Robert Boon Mason — adjourned final examination— was further adjourned till the 11th March; and the applications of P. M. Grant and Hugh Lyons— for declaration of complete execution of deeds— were also ad< journed till after the vacation. Aaimilarapplication by James Whitelawwas adjourned till February 2nd, Michael Fleming and W. Williams were adjudged bankrupts, the first; meeting of creditors being fixed for February 3rd. By the arrival of the Chanticleer, brig, from Hobarb Town, we are in possession of one day's later English news. We clip the following from the Hobart Town Mercury:— London, January 15fch.— The Papal Bull aa to the election of a Pope has been declared to be purely apocryphal. — Kenealy'a defence of the Tichborne claimaut has been concluded. — Cushing's nomination as Chief Jußtice of the United States has been withdrawn, because of his past connection with the Confederates.—The Ultramontanes have gained thirty_ seats during the recent general eleotion in Germany. — Discount has been reduced to 3i per cent. A decision of great importance to persons who intend to take up land under the daerred payments system, was com© to at last week's meeting of the Waste Lands Board. Three applications made to take up land at Waipahee had been rejected by the salesman of the Land Office on the ground that they did not comply with the Act of 1872— the particular ground of rejection being that under section 49 personal application waa necessary — application by agent not being allowed. The Board were of the same opinion, and while they did not think th» course laid down was in accordance with sense, they of course had to administer th« Act as they found it. The City Council was considerably in tb» darkj on Wednesday night when it discussed the proposition that a portion of the North Dunedin Recreation Ground bo given aa ft site for a Post and Telegraph Office ; and also whether a site on the reserve on which the Police Station is situate, or on the Town Belt, near the North Dunedin Drill Shed, bo given. It finally referred the matter to tha Reserves Committee. We learn that the Government had even then agreed to purchase the lease of the two corner shopa of the block of brick buildings on the east side of Great King street, at its intersection with Albany street, intending to use the Bhops for the purposes of Branch Post and Telegraph offices for North Dunedin. Chinamen in Westland appear to bt looked upon by Europeans in much the tame light as negroes are in some parts of tha United States. It seoms that at Paroa, during the Christmas holidays, the tramway coach was full cf Caucasian passengers, and about to start for Greymouth, when five Chinamen arrived and wished to take their seats. The Caucasians objected to the Mongolian invasion, and finding tha driver aup«

pork the latter, they demanded their fares back and got out of the coach, which had to proceed on its journey with live Chinamen instead of fourteen Europeans. The reason assigned by the objectors for their conduct was that the day was too hot for the presence of the Chinamen in a crowded coach to be pleasant.

A meeting of the Committee appointed by the shipmasters who sympathise with Captain Johnson, of the Surat, was held on board the ship Dunfillan at the Port on. Wednesday. The Chairman read the following telegram from Mr W. Colenso, of Napier (of unfinished Maori Dictionary celebrity) : — "Permit landsman to congratulate movement re captain of Surat. Do so as old settler and public man Ion" standing. He is harshly treated ; change of venue -wanted. Heartily subscribe five pounds. Use this as you please." The Chairman stated that a Post Office order for the amount mentioned by Mr Colenso had been telegraphed to him that day. A vote of thanks to Mr Colenso for his donation was passed by the meeting.

An English telegram we publish to-day announces the discovery of a valuable gold diggings in Natal. The following paragraph, which we take from the City article of the Times of November 20th, probably relates to the same gold-field :—": — " The advices from the Cape of Good Hope state that the gold discoveries reported by the previous mail are at a locality about 500 or 600 miles north of the diamond fields, whence they can be reached in about seven or eight days. At present there seems to be no information sufficient to attract many exElorers, but the fact of two nuggets having een found, one weighing 16£ ounces, and the other nearly 23 ounces, has led to the inference that the district may be very rich." Referring to the Scandinavians recently imported, a Wairarapa correspondent of the Independent says :— " I am sorry to say these people are revelling in dirt, and suffering from its dire effects - disease — while some of them have already paid the penalty of death. No one can pass their dwellings without being struck with the squalor and dirt They love, dirt, and no advice, no effort short of jvbsnlute force will lfad them t'» make any am-ndm^nt. Me-Hcal attendance they have but what avails this when hia or.l-rs nre unheeded ; and no remonstiauO', it s-.;enn. cm bring official interference lobeu upon tnis plague spot. Butter burn the whole ser,il<-rnt;i)t and recompense them for their loss, th.in that the seeds of typhoid (I believe that is the type), Bhould be chsseiuiuatcd in the district." A special meeting of the members of the Dunedin Volunteer Artillery, to consider the present and future prospects of the corp^ was held at the Criterion Hotel last week. There w«>re pre^nt— Captain Jack (in the chair), Lieutenaut' Muir, and al>out 25 members. Cons A'rahU discussion, of an animated rescription, n^ued upon the apathy of S"ine of the members, and the Volunteer question generally was th roughly discussed. Much interest in the Company's affairs, and an earnest denre for its thorough re-organisa-tion, were evinced. Various remedial measures were proposed and discussed by those present, and it was finally agreed to adjourn the meeting for a fortnight, when the names of all who were desirous of joining should be submitted. The following fuller telegram, dated Madrid, January 12th, regarding the cap- ; ture of Cartagena, is published by the Melbourne papers: — "The troops besieging Cartagena captured an important part of the citadel, and the insurgents, whilst on the poiut of collision, proposed to consider terms of surrender. The beseigers replied, demanding an unconditional surrender, and giving until noon of that day. A pardon was offered to all that surrendered immediately except the leaders. Subsequently Cartagena surrendered, and the ironclad vessel Numancia left, with an insurgent crew and convicts, and is now fighting the Spanish squadron." The surrender of the Numancia to the French authorities in an Algerian port, has already been mentioned in our columns. We regret to record the death, on Friday week, at Milt m, of Mr Adam Johnston, Retiident'Engineer there of the Clutha Railway. Mr Johnston had quite lately gone to live at Tokomairiro, and he was making preparations to take up his residence there, with his family, in the house formerly occupied by the Rev. Mr Stanford. He had been negotiating about the purchase of a horse, and had two on t'ial, the oue being in a paddock adjoining his new house, and the other on a neighbouring farm. He went to fetch the latter horse, to pub it into the paddock beside tho other one. On going over a crei-khe jumped on the horse's bare bac*, and ia supposed to have ridden in (his manner for a few hundred yards. Ie is believed that his horae then shied ami thr.w him. He fell upon his forehead, and received concussion of the brain. According to a resolution passed by the Anglican Synod during its recent session, the Bishop of Dunedin has prepared a general Bcheme for th« classification of teaching in Sunday schools. The plan is based upon the system almost nniv.rs.illy adopted iv the hO'iu) <'i>nn'rv. -md will be carried nut in (he Cnur hof En;.'ltnil Sunday schools tt l»rl »r «uijli the Province It pr.>vi<W s W ihree divi-ions in each sdionl. ami a special ontir.su of instruction is prepared for Lwh diviaioo. v meeting of the teichura attendine St. Paul's Sunday school was hold yesterday afternoon, when it was decided to adopt the proposed I system aa soon as arrangements can be effected, An examination will take, place

yearly. More teaching power ia required, and it waß resolvsd that an effort should be made to procure the services of additional teachers. With respect to agricultural and pastoral matters in the northern districts of the Province, the Oanaaru paper has the following : — " In the districts around All-day Bay, Otepopo, and Hampden, the crops generally are reported as looking well. There is this year a large amount of hay— larger than in any previous year — and the quantity of grass seed saved, in splendid condition, ia enormous. The oats throughout look exceedingly well, but the wheat in some cases will give but a poor yield. — Mr Logic, Chief Inspector of Sheep for the Province, has, j during the past week, visited the district, and inspected the flocks recently reported as diseased. We are happy to say he reports it entirely stamped out. Messrs. Lees and Moore have been relieved from their bond, and the district is now absolutely clean, there not being a single scabby sheep in it." A thief was captured in a prompt and clever manner on the 12th inst. Sub-In-spector Moore, stationed at Clyde, received 8 telegram at 10 a.m. on that day from Mr Daggs, publican, Cromwell, warning him to look ovit for a Swede, whom he described, and who had committed a robbery. A constable started in pursuit, crossing the Molyneux, and instituting enquiries which led him to apprehend his man between Alexandra and Butcher's Gully. The prisoner, Joseph Sundman, was searched, and the stolen property, consisting of £36 in notes, and a gold watch and chain worth £41, found on his person. He was charged before the Resident Magistrate on the same afternoon, when, from the evidence adduced, it appeared that he had been sleeping in the same room as a miner named Forrester, at Dag^s's Hotel, and had eased the latter of the valuables mentioned. He was committed to take his trial at the ensuing Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. One of the firemen of the s.s. Gothenburg named Alexander Hamilton, experienced a narrow escape from death or severe maiming the other day. He was standing on the edge of the Graving Dock at Port Chalmers, talking t,o the chief engineer of the steamer, when through some unexplained cause he lost his footing, and fell from the top of the dock to the bottom. Tf the side of the clock had b^en perpendicular instead of graduating in steps, the man must have been killed, and as it was he received severe excoriations and abrasions of the cuticle by bumping from step to step until he reached the bottom. He is also seriously bruised about the right hip and the head, but has no boues broken— at least such is the opinion of Dr Drysdale, who was called in to attend the case as soon as the accident occurred. He visited the man again in the afternoon and found him in considerable piin. and as it is possible that he may be injured internally Dr Drysdale recommended his removal to the Dunedin Hospital, and to the Hospital he was accord ingly sent by the four o'clock train. By advices by the mail of last week, we learn that the Rev. J. XT. Davis and family left on the 26th November last, by the Trevelyan, one of Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co.'s vessels, for Dunedin, and may soon be expected here. Previous to his departure, a very interesting farewell meeting was held ia the church at Brompton. Among other friends present were Mr Davis, sen., and Mr and Mrs Parsons (formerly of the Hanover street Baptist Church here, previous to the late lamented Mr Williams). The meeting was a delightful one, proving in a high degree the love and affection that subsisted between pastor and people. Mr Davis was presented by his people with a purse containing 60 guineas, and the Sabbath school children gave him a gold watch. Another pleasing feature in the proceedings was the gift to Mr Davis by the members of the neighbouring churches, of Dr Lange's Bible Commentary in 15 vols. ; while tho Bible class for girls presented Mrs Davis with a gold brooch and other tokens of esteem. Mr Davis will be warmly welcomed here by the Baptist community, and by the other evangelical Churches of the Province of Otago. The annual pic-nic in connection with the Purakanui School came off on Friday week, when about 120 of tbose connected with the district — including the children — assembled in Mr Casement's paddock, where a number of races for various prizes were well contested by the youngsters. Afterwards the party sat down to a substantial tea. This being concluded, the young folks had the usual games — dancing on the green, kisß in the ring, &c. — but, unfortunately, they were put a stop to by the rain. The party, however, were determined to enjoy themselves, so they adjourned to the School-room, where dancing was recommenced — Mr Jas Sutherland, with his usual good nature, acting as musician The fun was well kept up until 1 1 o'clock, when the evening was wound up by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne," "God Save, the Queen," etc. To the schoolmaster — Mr G. Simpson — to whom the getting-up of these pleasant gatherings is almost entirely due, and who has done a large amount of work in connection therewith, a cordial ' vote of thanks was given, accompanied by three hearty cheers. Mr Sutherland's k'ndnc s was also recognised by a liberal allowmce of cheering, after which tho party broke up, well satisfied with their day's pleasure. Wi'h re»ard to the crops in the Waikouaiti | listrict, the. Herald reports :— " The present has been one of the most favourable hay seasons we have experienced for many years, and on the whole we should say the hay crop will exceed the usual average. The magnificent weather we have had during the past

few weeks has also brought on the cereal cropß, and forced them to maturity almost too rapidly, and harvest may be Baid to be upon us before the farmers have secured all their hay. In several instances, indeed, the settlers are busy with the reapingmachine, and others will soon have to commence operations. In some localities the crops generally do not look so well as in the early part of the season they promised ; while in others, judging from present appearances, they will exceed the yield of the past year, and well repay the farmer for his labour and outlay, if grain maintains anything near its present price. We regret to learn, however, that these prospects are likely to be somewhat injured by the obnoxious smut and rust, which has made its appearance in many instances. In the neighbourhood of Tumai the crops are anything but encouraging, and on some farms, we are informed, will be hardly worth reaping." The almost primitive condition of the North-East Harbour road, which is quite unsuitable for the traffic of the increased number of settlers in the district, was brought before His Honour the Superintendent the other day, Messrs Stewart, Matheson, and Hooper having been deputed for that purpose. The latter gentleman explained that the road in question was in a very unfit state, and that £4000 would bo required to have it widened and made to a permanent level. To raise this, the Executive were reSuested to place £1000 on the Estimates for ac current year, and to sanction the establishment of an additional toll-bar at Vauxhall, which, with the annual income of £116 from rates, would enable the Road Board to complete and maintain the road. The traffic in this quarter had been much greater of late, the weekly produce amounting to little short of £300. His Honour considered that the Government ought to have made the road a substantial one long before this. Many of the members of the Provincial Council appeared to entertain a "down" upon the road, although he could not divine their reasons for it. It was very improper that people should have spent their lifetime in the district without a road, and he would submit the matter to the Executive, and strive to get something done. The Field Naturalist Club made the first excursion since the holidays on Saturday afternoon. The scene selected was the Tomahawk district ; but on reaching the top of the hill beyond East Lodge, the party diverted to the leit along the hill-side, instead of proceeding down towards the I beach. The land has been partially cleared, ! and little of the heavy bush that once | covered all the ground thereabout now remains, except in the gullies, so that very few plants of any merit were gathered. Pressing on, the party worked their way down to the edge of the lagoon, and then to the creek which comes down from the hills and run-* into the lagoon at its head. The sound of running water was very pleasant, for notwithstanding the rain of the previous day, all the gullies were dry, and as the afternoon was very warm, the thirst was general. After resting a little, the party began botanising, and some fine ferns were found growing on the sides of the creek, the sorts comprising some good specimens of Asplenium, Lomaria, Nephrodium, Hypolepis, &c. From the creek bed a course was taken up a long spur, and through some scrubby bush, much interlaced with supplejacks, to the main Portobello road, and so back to Anderson's Bay, which was reached in time to catch the five o'clock 'bus, and so to town. The next trip is fixed for Satur- \ day, the 7th February, the locality Black , Jack's Point and through the bush to the top of the hill. The Rev. J. G. Paton, missionary from the New Hebrides, preached in First Church |on Sunday forenoon. The discourse was founded on Romans i. 16: "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth ; to the Jew first and also to the Greek." At the close of his sermon Mr Paton made an earnest appeal to the congregation for help for the mission, and gave a number of interesting details relative to the missionaries, their work, and the difficulties they had to contend with, not only from the debasing super titions of the Natives, and the multiplicity of the languages, but from the constant inroads of the labour vessels in search of slaves, by which much mischief was done. He also spoke cf the great loss sustained by the Missien owing to the wreck of the Dayspring. A collection was then made in aid of the mission. The Rev. J. H. M'Naughfr ton, of Anderson's Bay, who is Moderator of the Kirk Session during the vacancy ia First Church, then proceeded to ordain seven members of the congregation who had been nominated as elders and deacons some weeks previously. These were : as Elders — Messrs J. Gillies, R. S. Nicholson ; as Deacons — Messrs Crawford, M'Leod, Mollison, Paterson, and Young. In the afternoon Mr Paton addressed the Sabbathschool children ou the subject of Missions, &c. The Rev. Dr Cameron preached in the evening. The fifth anniversary of the opening of the Otago Industrial School was celebrated last week, in a most enjoyable manner, by all the children attending that institution. On several similar occasions it has been tbo practice to spend the day at the resi clence of His Honour the Superintsndent, but as only the bigger boys and girls could participate in this pleasure the practice of going to a distance haa been discontinued, and the day is now passed at home, where everyone can chare in the en joyment. Although numerous treats a,r d

provided in the course of the year, there ia always an effort made to render the anniversary worthy of pre-eminence ; it is therefore gratifying to say that Tuesday's celebration was crowned with most genuine success. The Volunteers of Caversham kindly lent their commodious marquee, which, besides giving a holiday aspect to the grounds, formed a cool retreat from the fierce rays of the eun. Towards mid-day the children — to the number of a hundred, and all neatly dressed and tho picture of cleanliness and health — were arranged in groups on the grass, and regaled with sandwiches, fruit, milk, &c, to their hearts' content. This part of the proceedings was followed by a miscellaneous distribution ef toys and lollies A few hours were then devoted to various sports, such as racing, football, skipping, &c, after which the children again had something to eat, in the shape of fruit. They seemed to enjoy themselves heartily throughout the day, as their happy faces and merry laughter testified, while their conduct waa exemplary, and spoke highly for the training they had received from the master, Mr Britton, and the teacher, Mr G. S. Neish. A number of brothers and sisters belonging to the Pioneer Lodge of Good Templar*, along with the officers of the newly-consti-tuted Provisional Grand Worthy Lodge, proceeded to Mosgiel on Friday week, bent on the propagation of the principles of total abstinence and the spread of their Order. A public meeting was held in the Drill Shed, at which about 200 people were present. Bro. J. W. Jago, P.G.W.C.T., delivered an address explaining the fundamental principles of the 1.0. G.T. The large gathering listened very attentively, and appeared to be favourably impressed with the views expounded by the able speaker. At the conclusion of his speech he was loudly applauded. The Rev. W. Will then addressed a number of questions to Bro. Jago, mainly relating to the religious character of the Order, These being answered to the satisfaction of the audience, and all other information necessary being given, the Grand Worthy Secretary took the names of those willing to join a Lodge of the Order, after initiating which the officers of the Grand Lodge proceeded to instal the officers elect as follows : — W.C.T., Bro. Jas. RossjW.V.T., Bro. John Drennan ; W.S., Bro. James Barton ; W.F.S, Bro. John Smaill ; W.T., Sister Jane Stevenson; W.C., Bro. John Donaldson; W.M., Bro. James Smeaton ; W.J.G., Bro. John Brown; W. 0.5., Bro. Charles White ; R.H.S., Sister J. Marshall ; L.H.S., Bro. James M'Taggart ; W. A.S., Bro. Samuel Young; W.D.M., Sister E. Hislop. 21 members were initiated, including 5 sisters, and 1 brother joined by presenting his clearance card. The Lodge is in the hands of those well known in the district for their zeal in the cause which they have at heart, and has every prospect of doing much good in the community amongst which it is located. The W.C.T. elect returned thanks to the Lodge for placing him in the chair, and hoped that they would support him in the arduous duties pertaining to his office. Votes of thanks were passed to the officers of the Grand Lodge, and the other visitors from Dunedin present at the meeting, who left the township on their return shortly before 11 o'clock. A deputation from Green . Island, consisting of Messrs D. Andrew, Wm. Todd, and J. Runciman, waited upon flia Honour the Superintendent on Tuesday afternoon. Mr J. Roberts, M.P.C., introduced the deputation, and explained that its object was to ask that a branch line might be constructed from the Main South Trunk line of Railway on the north side, to the extent of between a mile and a mile and a-balf, in order to reach the coal pits in the vicinity. It was pointed out by the members of the deputation that to the north of the Main South Trunk Line, and in the direction in which it was sought to have the branch line taken, there is a large coal-field now being worked, the deposit of coal in that locality being much larger than on the south side of the line. There were two mines at work there now, and formerly there was a third. Mr Blair, the engineer, had stated that the branch line could be oarried down the line of the main road the whole way. If the branch were carried out for a mile and a half — the full extent to which it waß required— the cost would only be from £4000 to £5000. Even a temporary tramway, sufficient to carry the trucks, would do. In answer to the Superintendent, Mr Todd explained that from the mine with which he waa connected from 70 to 100 tons of coal could be raised per day, the seam being 18ft. in thickness, while they would be able to sell it for about 11s per ton at the mouth of the pit. At the present time, the cartage to Dunedin brought tho price of the coal up to 24s per ton delivered here, whereas, if the branch line referred to was constructed, the coal could be delivered in Dunedin at from 13s to 14s per ton. After some further conversation, the Superintendent said that there was plenty of time to look into the matter, as nothing could be done until the Provincial Council met. He would make a memorandum of what had been stated, and have it enquired into. Personally, ho felt very well disposed towards the proposition that had boon made, and he thought the branch line was one that must be constructed. He believed that the Council would give its sanction to the matter, as there was power to take the line along by the road, without the consent of the Road Board. The deputation then withdrew.

The new asphaltum wftlka laid in Boston are. killing the elms.