News of the week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1158, 7 February 1874, Page 17

News of the week.

Steps are being taken to establish a Foresters' Court at Invercargill. The number of Oddfellows in the Auckland District is officially stated to be nearly 1000. Six young children were arrested at Auckland on charges of larceny, in a single week lately. It is proposed to form a company at Naseby to invest in station property in the Mount Ida district. The members of the Auckland Cricket Club now number over 100, but only half of them are playing members. Sharks of great size and boldness are reported to have been very numerous in Wellington harbour lately. According to the Rev. Alexander Reid, the Wesleyan Church in New Zealand now has nearly 3000 European members. The local paper states that grasshoppers and caterpillars are committing havoc in the Tuapeka district at the present time. Pheasants, starlings, and skylarks are reported to be becoming pretty numerous near Wallacetown, in the Southland district. Some of the Chinese who arrived by the Mikado, are reported to be about to take employmentasrailwaynavviesne'irHampden. A child, three years old, whose parents live near the Shotover Ferry, has been drowned in a tub of water. The name of the parents is M"Grath. An entertainment in aid of the Surat Relief Fund took plaoe at Oamaru on the evening of the 27th ult. The net proceeds amounted to £37 Os 3d. The first apricots of the season were brought to town on Saturday. They were grown by Mr J. D. Feraud, of the Dunstan, and were ripe and "well grown. Bepotts regarding the state of mining matters in the Cardrona district are very favotirable. One company has declared a dividend of £8 per week. The Queenstown paper reports that trout have been seen several times lately in the Town Creek, near the camp. They are of considerable size — over 15 inches long, and very plump. According to advices just received by His Honour the Superintendent, the ship Scimitar has left London for Port Chalmers with 430 immigrants on board. She sailed in December last. The Lawrence paper states that the new line of telegraph from the Mataura, via Tapanui and Switzers. is nearly completed, and it is expected the line will be at work in a month's time. The annual meeting of the shareholders in the Dunedin Waterworks Company was held on Tues iay afternoon. The report which was submitted shows t^e affairs of the Company to be in a satisfactory condition. At the annual meeting of the members ©f the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, held on the 28th ult., it was stated that one property-owner alone in that Province had sustained a loss of £1000 through caterpillars eating grass. ■ All the farmers in the district between Cromwell and Lake Wanaka have gathered in their crops, or are busy bringing them in. We (Cromwell Argus) believe that in nearly every case an abundant harvest is the result of their labours. We are in receipt of the February number of the Illustrated Temperance Advocate. Its frontispiece consists of a view of Mount Cook, from a painting by Mr John Gully. The contents of the number will no doubt interest total abstainers. The Provincial Treasurer notifies that the annual lease of the tolls in the Province will be sold by auction on the 20th March. During the year 1873 it seems that the tolls brought in to the Provincial Government a revenue of £13,473 8s lid. The Queenstown paper states that the number of tourists visiting the Lake scenery this year has been greater than in any preceding one. The ensuing two months are generally the most enjoyable of the year in this district, and favourable therefore to tourists. During the week ending 31st January, 20 patients were admitted into the Hospital, and 23 discharged therefrom. One male patient, William Carr, died from disease of the bowels. The number of inmates at present in the institution is 130, of whom 21 are females. The Southern Cross states its belief that the land on the West Coast of the Middle Island is sinking, and that on the East Coast it is rising. In support of the former supposition it states that at Westport the sea has encroached about half a mile upon < the land in the course of three years. We understand it i 8 the intention of Mr G. L. Asher, who has for some weeks past been exhibiting Captain Welch's beautiful model ship "Samuel Plimsoll " in Dunedin, l to make a tour through the up-country districts of this Province for the purpose of ex- | hibiting it, and that he will appear in a few nights at Tokomairiro. Samples of salt-glazed socket pipes, manufactured by Mr W. M. White, of the Milton Steam Pottery Works, are now to be seen in various shops in Dunedin. The pipes are from three to eighteen inches in diameter, and the prices range from sixpence to ten shillings per foot — bends and junctions being reckoned double measurement. Other kinds o* earthenware, such as chimney-pots, are made at the Milton Works, and the articles turned out appear to bo of good quality,

During 1873 the number Of patients admitted into the Dunedin Hospital was 771, 539 of whom were males and 232 females. 681 were discharged, viz., 477 men and 204 women. 69 died, 50 of -whom were men and 19 women. Nearly 2600 out-patients received gratuitous advice. In compliance with a requisition signed by 17 members of the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute, the Hon. Secretary of that institution calls a special general meeting of the members, to be held on Wednesday, the 11th mat, to consider the question of the opening of the Athenaeum on Sundays. An earthquake shock was distinctly felt by many persons in Dunedin on Sunday evening, about twenty minutes to seven. Two shocks were felt; on the Peninsula between six and seven ; and Monday's Meteorological Iteport states that there was a shock at Queenstown ou Sunday evening, at twenty minutes past seven. The Western Star states that " harvesting operations will commence in the Western District in about three weeks. The crops in the majority of instances will be exceedingly light in consequence of the weather that has for some time prevailed. Where the labour to gather in the harvest is to come from is at present a profound mystery." The certificate of incorporation of the Standard Insurance Co. was granted on the 27 fh ult. The Company is now registered under the Joint Stock Companies Act. Branch agents have been appointed in the various Provinces for some time, and sub- agents are now being appointed for the towc6 and districts of the different Provinces. Scarcity of labour from all quarters (aays the Tuapeka Times) is the cry, and anxious enquiries are being made as to how the harvest is to be garnered. Tuapeka is not better off than other places in this respect, although strange to say, miny persons have left this district for other parts — some even for Oamaru — the wages offered there for harvest wort being very high. The Tuapeka Times says that the land excitement is very strong in Tapaaui. The large quantity applied for, in comparison with what is available, will cause some inconveuience. The residents intend applying to the Government for the establishment of a local land office. Strangers looking for land complain greatly of having to go "such long distances ior information, Some comment has been caused at Napier by the decisions given by the District Judge there in two cases recently tried by him. In , the one case a man was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment for savagely kicking another on the temple and fracfoiring his jaw by a kick. In the other case a man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment ! for breaking the windows of a hotel. An extraordinary yield of oats is reported by the Lyttelton Times tn have been obtained by a farmer at Woodend, Canterbury. 36 aeras of first-class o its when threshed out yielded a total of 3216 bushels, or rather over an average of S9 bushels per acre. Nearly the whole of the parcel, it is added, has been sold and delivertd for shipment at a good paying price. With regard to the supply of harvest labour in the Wakatip district, the Mail says :—": — " We have made enquiries about the labour difficulty, and find hands are pretty numerous. One farmer informed us that he had not for some years seen so many men knocking about. This is no doubt owing to many miners desiring to replenish funds. The rate of wages rule at 50s per week and found." The Secretary of the Snrat Relief Committee has received from the Mayor of Oamaru the sum of £33, being the net proceeds of an entertainment recently given, in that town. The Mayor of Waikouaiti has also forwarded subscriptions amounting to £4 153 6d. Messrs Guthrie and Larnach have subscribed £10 10s to the fund. The total amount received up to the present is £765 14s. The contract for the erection of the Immigration Barracks at Oamaru, designed by Mr D. Ross, has been let. The contractor is Mr F. Steinau, who has already proceeded to Oamaru to commence the works. Tbebuilding is to be finished in six weeks, so as to be ready to receive the first shipment of immigrants. The site is a commanding and convenient one, on the reserve overlooking the landing-place. A tender for the erection of the centre portion and one wing of the Port Chalmers I Grammar School, designed by Mr D. Ross, ' and lately described by us, has been accepted. : The contractor is Mr Clayton, and the i amount is about £2500. As soon as the 1 Government clear the site, the works will ! be finished in five months from the date of commencement. The portion to be erected j will accommodate 400 pupils. Last Sunday, we learn from the local paper, one of the heaviest thunder and rain ] storms experienced at Oamaru this season ] passed over the town. The rain fell in tor \ rents, accompanied by occasional smart i showers of hail. During the storm, a gum- ( tree growing in a garden near the Shamrock \ Hotel was hurled to the ground, and an t apple-tree rent in pieces, by a stooko of light- a ning. v The Tuapeka Times states that the Anglo- t Swiss claim, Upper Waikaia, is yielding \ splendid returns. 170ozs. of gold were ob- p tamed from the last paddock stripped, v Several other claims on the river are also on v good gold The season promises to bo a ii very profitable one on the Wakaia. The a heavy floods in the sprint; of the year re- o tarded work, buVall hands are now busily fi employed. o

That Dunedin is now within a week of London, when steamers suit, was shown on Wednesday, 28th ult., when a firm in Dunedin received a telegram despatched from London on the 21st. Of course if the telegram had been opened at the Bluff, and retelegraphed there, the time occupied in its receipt, brief as it was, would have been a day less. The North Otago Times expects peopietobeueve the following: — " We are credibly intormed that a fashionably-dressed lady, whilst walking past a building in course of erection in Princes street, Dunedin, a few days ago, received on her head a hodf ul of bricks. She merely cast aloft one withering glance, muttered, ' Awkward fellow,' adjusted her towering cranial upholstery, and sailed grandly away, as if nothing had happened." Otago farmers will do well to note the fol. lowing, which we take from the last report of Messrs Burrows and Perks, the wellknown London com merchants : — ",The late arrivals [of wheat] from New Zealand have been of decidedly inferior condition and quality, many parcels being much sprouted and very damp, and the sales made have, in consequence, varied from 58s to 61s per 49Glbs., landed." The decision of MrMaitland, R.M., re the criminal information against Captain Johnson for neglecting to signal the steamer Wanganni when the snip Surafc, of which he was master, was in danger, was delivered in Court yesterday. The judgment of the Court was that defendant be imprisoned for two calendar months. The Crown Prosecutor withdrew the counter charge of having no proper charts on board. The permanent way for the railway line from the south side of Jetty street to the t goods shed at the railway station is now in course of construction by Messrs Prooter and Whitaker. The Clubha engine is daily eraployed conveying earth from the Chain Hills, for reclaiming a portion of the bay, to a wicUh of seven or eight chains. The contract is let for £6600, to be completed about May, and embraces feacing, metalling, and extending the culvert. Messrs Easton and M'Gregor, of Port Chalmers, are about completing what promises to be a faithfully performed contract for constructing a set of pumping gear for the Green Island coal pits. The gear consists of seven-inch lifts with working barrel, clackpiece, cranks, pump rods, &c. Thos? parts which are finished are excellent specimens of engineering akill, The whole of the gear is expected to be completed by Saturday next. Over 120 feet of lifts are to be provided. The Free Church Presbyf ery of Tasmania have a missionary who preaches in a number of places in a wide district, his addresses being in English or in Gaelic, according to the nationality of his hearers. A report laid before the Presbytery during its sitting, held at Hobart Town on the 13th inst., states that this missionary, whose'name is M'Lean, "is much esteemed by the people to whom he ministers for his faithful preaching, both among the English and Gaelic-speaking population." At a meeting of the Committee of tb« Otago Museum which was held on Monday it was mentioned by Captain Hutton that a package containingjentomological pins, nets, and other apparatus for collecting and preserving insects, had been sent ou» from home for the Museum. The package had gone to Wellington, but might be expected in Dun« edin iv a few days. No doubt, if amateur insect collectors apply at the Museum, they will obtain any nets and pins that can be ' spared. ' The annual meetings of the subscribers to the Oatnaru and luvercargill Hospitals have been held during the last few days. Both '. institutions appear to be in a nourishing '■ financial condition, the former having a balance to its credit of £783 Is 3d, and the latter a credit balance of £422 9s 3d. These results are the more satisfactory, seeing that the number of patients treated at both hospitals showed an increase during the year. The "Hospital Sunday" observed at Oamaru added £50 10s 7d to the funds of the local hospital. We take the following items of district news from the Tuapeka Times: — "Mr W. D. Morrison is the successful tenderer for the Waipori Sludge Channel at £9000.— Captain Hutton, the Provincial Geologist, will visit Lawrence early next week specially to examine the natural features of the Blue Spur and its surroundings. — Mr Geo. Morrison we are informed is the successful tenderer for the Waipori School at £239.— 123,000 feet of sawn timber were sent from the Victoria Saw Mill, Tapanui, in the month of December." We must be allowed to express surprise that a sum of money has been voted by the Canterbury Provincial Council for the purpose of adopting "cow-catchers" upon the railways. The Government, surely, could have bad acctss to no very positive information upon the subject. Had they done so, they would have ascertained that the cowcatchers weigh, as a rule, about ten hundred weight ; that they are intended to be fixtures, and that the use of them, in the present phase of our railway system, would be worse than an absurdity. We have stated that they are intended to be fixtures, whereas, m the absence of turn-tables, they must of necessity be movable. Otherwise, imagine the engine travelling reverse-wise, with the cow-catcher inside ! But the shifting of the cow-catcher would necessitate the accompaniment to the train of one or two operatives, and the work of fixing and anfixing would occupy from two to three hoora each journey, Very pleasant I

. *If -the construction of the new wharf at the Port is not making very rapid advances, it is progressing all the time, and we can report that a section of it between 600 and 700 feet long is |partly completed, the piles being driven and braced, the deck beams laid, and also a small section of the deck. The present scarcity of labour stands much in the way of operations j but as the market eases, we expect to see the work progress with undoubted speed.

It is well for some folks that there are such persons as constables to look after them, or else, we venture to assert, there would be many a heavy loss incurred that is now prevented by the intervention of the police. The latest case of the kind we have heard of occurred the other morning, when Constable Erridge, of the Port Chalmers force, arrested a drunken and incapable man in George street, and conveyed him to the lock-up. On searching the man, between £39 and £40, in notes, gold, and silver, was found upon him. The man only arrived by the Lady Bird in the morning.

The Moonlight correspondent of the Wakatip Mail states that a claim, situated in the Upper Moonlight, and owned by Messrs Calder, Brigden, Gardiner, and Duncan, has been paying good dividends and pieces of gold have been obtained weighing from half an ounce to upwards of six ounces. The gold in this claim is all coarse, and is much honeycombed. The claim is situated a little below the junction of the right and left hand branches of the Moonlight, and is intersected by two quartz , reefs. There are also three other claims doing well at present —the "Red, White, and Blue," "Nil Desperandum," and " Royal Arch."

A number o? extensive orders have been entrusted to Messrs Wilson for execution at their foundry, Cumberland street, and their early completion necessitates the workmen being engaged night and day. An iron surfboat for the Timaru Landing Service, 40ft. long and 10ft. beam, intended to carry from 16 to 20 tons, is also in course of construction, combining several improvements. A tubular boiler, 4ft. Gin. in diameter, and 13ft. long, is being made for Mr Hudson's new biscuit factory ; and a quantity of fluming, consisting of 850 pipes, each 11 in. in diameter, are being manufactured for sluicing purposes, to the order of Messrs Grayson and Co., Naseby.

The first meeting of the newly-elected Athenaeum Committee was held on Tuesday. The main topic of discussion was, whether the Committee should proceed to act upon the resolution carried at the general meeting of the members on Friday week by opening the Athenaeum on Sunday, or whether this step should be deferred in view of a special general meeting of the members having been called for the 11th inst. to consider the subject. After a warm and prolonged discussion, the question was put to the vote, when the proposal to open the Institution on Sunday next was negatived by 7 votes to 3. Matters will consequently remain unaltered until the members have again an opportunity of expressing their opinion on the point.

A very happy settlement was come to, at the suggestion of Mr Strode, in a case heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court the other day. The litigants were property owners and neighbours, both tolerably well off, and good friends, until some cattle trespasses occurred, which caused an action at law, and judgment against one of them for £9 and costs. A cross-action was instituted, with a claim of £20, and the Magistrate, in his characteristic manner, strongly recommended the parties to settle the matter between them, and become friends. The solicitors consulted, and the former plaintiff agreed that the judgment given in his case should be quashed, and both parties gave £5 to the Benevolent Institution.

The Good Templars in Dunedin have at length made an open effort to have the Licensing Ordinance of 1862 declared a nullity, and repealed by the Licensing Act of 1873. To test the matter, they proceeded against a publican who had obtained a transfer under the Ordinance since the Act was in force, and the decision given in the case by the presiding Justices seems to sustains their objection — viz., that no liquor traffic can take place until licenses have been granted under the new Act. It was argued that the Ordinance was intended to be incorporated in the Act, and that therefore the transfer was valid. The Court inflicted a nominal penalty of Is and costs, counsel for defendant giving notice of appeal.

An awfully sudden death occurred at Port Chalmers on the night of the 28th ult., being that of a seaman named James Walker, who some ten days ago was discharged from the barque Elizabeth Graham. He was in a state of ill-health then, and did not improve under a severe course of drinking he took to and maintained up to the day of his death. On the evening of that day he was seen in a state of delirium tremens, and was arrested by the police and lodged in the lock-up. In less than two hours afterwards the constable in charge found the poor fellow stretched dead upcn the floor of the lock-up. Full evidence in connection with the sad event will be found in another column, where we have reported the inquest that was held upon the body the following afternoon.

A charge against Robert Kirk, of Rothesay, for Belling liquor without a license, was heard at the Port Chalmers Police Court on Saturday, and resulted in the defendant beiug fined £20 and costs. It arose out of thecaseof Peter Gonoghan, who, a fortnight or so since, as we then reported, was yery nearly run over by the train whilst

lying drunk on the railway. When interrogated by the Police, and during his examination in Court on the following day, when he was simply charged with being drunk and incapable, he said that he had obtained liquor at Kirk's place, and upon that information the Police took action, and brought Mr Kirk to book for a breach of the Licensing Ordinance. A second charge of a similar character against him was withdrawn by consent of the Bench.

A serious accident happened on Wednesday to a shipwright named Robert Miller, who was employed at the building of the new schooner atPort Chalmers. It appeared he was standing on a stage, and engaged in moulding the cutwater, when his foot slipped, and he fell on to one of the blocks of the vessel, a distance of some 12 feet. His mates immediately picked him up, and aB he complained of great pain about the chest and shoulder, and appeared to be much hurt, Dr Drysdale was called in, and after examining the poor fellow, pronounced that there were no bones broken, but at the same time recommended that he should be taken home and put to bed. When placed there, the sufferer still complained of great pain, and it is therefore possible he may have sustained internal injury. He is of course under medical supervision.

The Government have made public their willingness to receive offers for the constuction of a bridge over the Clutha river at Alexandra by private enterprise. The bridge is be erected under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the Provincial Engineer, and when the Engineer has certified that the bridge is satisfactorily completed, a lease of the site with ground on each side sufficient for the erection of the necessary buildings, and accommodation for the proper working of the bridge, will be granted to the proprietors at a nominal rental for fourteen years, with power to collect tolls at rates not exceeding 50 per cent, above those levied at the Government tolls. The Government is to have power to take over the bridge at any time "on payment of a sum to be fixed by arbitration. The promoters on expiry of the lease are to be entitled to a renewal on the same terms. Foot passengers are to go free of toll.

The Lakes correspondent of the Dunstan Times writes :—": — " The work of gathering in the harvest is becoming very general, and labour is plentiful at ten shillings a day and found. So far as the yield promises, the crops never looked better ; but I am afraid prices will be the reverse of remunerative. WLeat will not be worth more than from 3s to 3s 6d per bushel. Barley will fetch a fair price, aa also will oats ; but wheat is the chief staple of our agricultural produce, and has been very largely grown. It appears that there is already in the district quite as much flour as will supply the home and outBide trade for the next twelve months to come, -while the quantity of wheat grown this year exceeds that of any previous season. Farming prospects are therefore gloomy, and to endeavour to meet the difficulty a meeting of farmers is to be held this evening at the Shotover."

Our Auckland correspondent writes :—: — " Mr Moriarty's decision as to the dock has given great and wide-spread dissatisfaction. The impression is that he has been entirely misled, and is playing unconsciously into the hands of a party in the Board bent upon having the dock on the west side of the jetty. The feeling is very warm, and a strong memorial to the Governor not to allow the decision of the Harbour Board is being got up. I doubt if Mr Moriarty will find his decision on the water supply received with more favour, whatever the decision may be. The interests are more conflicting than even in the dock case, aud the fight is likely to be proportionally strong. In the dock business, the road to it will certainly open up the district to t" c westward of Queen street, but how the dock itself can add to the value of property generally is not easily een. Parties, however, are very eager about it, and the fight is close and strong."

From our Christchurch telegrams it will be seen that Cameron, a Canterbury Volunteer, has made 99 out of a possible 112 in the competition for the choice of representatives at the Colonial Prize Firing contest. The conditions of the competition were seven shots at 200, 400, 500, and 600 yards. To make 99 would require an average nearly of 25 at each range. Should the telegram prove to be correct, we doubt if any shooting with the Eufield rifle equal to this score has ever been seen in the Australasian Colonies. Some years ago, Captain Macfarland, of the Dunedin Artillery, made 72 at 200, 500, and 600 yards, or 400, 500, and 600, we forget which, in the competition for representatives ; and his score, we believe, has never been excelled in the Colonies up to the present time. Cameron's average, however, would make him 74 for the three ranges. If the telegram be correct, we doubt if even the records of Wimbledon can show a score at the four ranges we have mentioned which will equal it.

The last mail from America brought the interesting information that the ship Splendid had left New Bedford iv the month of November for Port Chalmers, where she will take up her headquarters as a whaler. The Splendid is a ship-rigged vessel of 360 tons burden, and is owned by some miners at the Blue Spur, Tuapeka, and some parties at Port Chalmers. On the arrival of the Splendid at this port she will no doubt set at once to work, with the view of securing for her owners the bonus of £500 which is offered by the Government for the first cargo of whale- oil. It is to be hoped that the Splendid will prove to be the

pioneer of a large fleet of Port Chalmers whalers. This iB almost certain to be the case, as from all accounts whaling in those seas will prove to be a very profitable indiistry without the aid of Government bonuses.

The Upper Taieri correspondent of the Waikouaiti Herald writes: — "The wool season is now almost closed, and I presume a few words of comment may not be out of place here. The clip on the whole has not been so good as the previous year. There is a heavy deficiency in some of the stations, which is attributed to various causes. The best clip that I have witnessed was shorn from the flocks of F. G. Pogson, Esq., of Barewood Station, in the pouthern part of the district. That magnificent sheep station, situated in a sheltered valley, has long been noted for its wool-growing capabilities. For many years this station was held by Messrs Sutton Bros., who disposed of it to Mr Pogson. 15,000 merino sheep were shorn this season ; and it must have been gratifying to the new firm to witness such a heavy clip for their first season — over 250 bales having been pressed. When we take into consideration the fact that each bale weighed upon an average 3601b5, we can arrive at the conclusion that it is one of the heaviest clips ever witnessed in the district."

A case of a most sickening nature was heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday —the accused, a woman of ill-fame, being charged with abducting a weak little girl from her father and mother for evil purposes. It was shown that the woman had decoyed the child to run away from home and stop at her brothel, where, for two days, she was a witness of the most disgusting conduct. One afternoon, she was conducted through the back streets of the town to the Railway Station, and, with 2s to pay her fare, directed to go to a woman living at Port Chalmers. On arriving there in the evening alone she heard tbat this woman — a notorious character — was in gaol, and she was taken in by the occupant of the house. After that she wandered about until picked up by her father, who had been informed as to her whereabouts. The evidence was most conclusive, no defence being offered, and yet, to the surprise of those present, the charge was dismissed, with a caution to the accused. The Justices not being able to deal summarily with the woman, were reluctant to commit her for trial !

A meeting of the Roslyn Road Board was held on Wednesday, 28fch ult., in Linden Schoolhouse, Mr A. H. Ross in the chair. The whole of the members were present. A letter was received from the Clerk to the Kaikorai Board requesting the Board to appoint a deputation to meet with some members of the Kaikorai Board, and arrange in regard to the apportioning of the proceeds of the Kaikorai toll-bar, in order to bring thiß long-standing and much-vexed question to a final settlement. A communication was also received from the Town Clerk of Dunedin, requesting to be furnished with a statement of the annual rateable value of the Roslyn district. No reason was stated why the information was wanted, and the Board having apparently a wholesome fear of future excessive taxation before them, declined to comply with the request. One waggish member suggested that they should ask the Town Clerk and City Council for the annual rateable value of Dunedin, with a view of incorporating the same within the Roslyn district. The sly insinuation was well received.

The want of an Episcopalian Church at Anderson's Bay has for a long time past been much felt by the members of the Anglican body resident there. At present the only place where service can be held is the schoolhouse, which is not at all adapted for the purpose. A movement has accordingly been originated to raise funds sufficient to erect a plain wooden church, similar to that at Warrington, Blueskin, and a considerable sum has already been subscribed towards this object. With the view of supplementing the funds thus obtained, it has been decided by the promoters to hold an amateur concert in the Masonic Hall, Dunedin, on Monday, the 16th inst. We are in a position to state tliat arrangements have been made that place the success of the concert, from a musical point of view, beyond doubt. In addition to the best professional talent in Dunedin, a large number of the favourite amateur singers and instrumentalists of the city have kindly promised their services, while several amateurs who have not yet appeared in publio will make their ddlnUs on this occasion. We believe that they include among them some charming vocalists. With so many attractions as these, to say nothing of the praiseworthy purpose for which it ib to be given, we are confident that the concert will receive a very large measure of public patronage. In fact, we shall be surprised if a single seat is vacant when it takes place.

The half-yearly examination of teachers and candidates for employment as such, and the annual examination of pupil teachers, under the Otago School system, was held in the University on Friday week. The examiners were Inspectors Hislop and Petrie and Mr Maokay, of the Port Chalmers Grammar School, the last mentioned gentleman being an examiner by virtue of his office as President of the Otago Schoolmasters' Association!. 15 males and 38 females, being 53 in all, presented themselves for examination. The papers given on Friday were in geography and arithmetic. The examination was resumed on the following day. 15 were malea, three of whom were examined as pupil teachers, and the remainder were candidates for certificates as teachers. female^; with the exception of four candidates fojr

employment* a 8 Bc hool • mktreaae«, were examined a 8n Up ii teachers. The pupil teachers were UrnU m Middle, North, and South Dunedin School, p or £ Chalmers, Caversham. Blneskin, ' awl . e nce, Wakari, Saddle Hill, Kaikorai, -\Vaihola, and Oamaru. There were seven candidates for the highest class of ct.j;ifi ca te The programme of examinatio, f or certificates of competency in this class insisted of reading and repetition from men.- ir y j writing and composition, arithmetic, grammar, geography, British history, scho| management, vocal music, linear drawing, \lg e bra, as far as quadratic equations, industry but omittine surds, geometry (the fiit book of Euclid), Latin (the grammar), laegar (De Bello Gallico), and military drill. I n the subjects enumerated between voca". musio and military drill, inclusive, candidate! must pass in at least two.

It is our painful task to have to record a case of drowning at the Ocean Beach, 230 yards south of Lawyer's Head, about eight o'clock on Friday, the 30th ult. Deceased--Charles Peter Begg, a son of Mr Adam Begg, of Anderson's Bay, and a surveyor in the employ of Messrs Connell aud Moodie— went for a bathe, being accompanied by his brothers, John and Matthew, and Charles Creighton and Dundas Samuel. They had frequently gone into the water before, though not in the same place, but being powerful swimmers they did not entertain any fears, and accordingly deceased and his brother John went a considerable way out. The latter, observing a large breaker, called out, " Come, let us swim ashore," thinking that Charles was behind, but on gaining the oeach he saw his brother being carried out to tea. The latter did not utter a sound or do anything to attract the attention of his companions ; but they, knowing he was in danger, were so afraid that they tied pieces of seaweed together, thinking therewith to save him. It was not until he was lost from view that they abandoned their efforts, and then the matter was reported to Constable M'Laughlin, stationed in the district, who, with some residents and another police constable despatched from Dunedin, remained searching for the body all night ; but it was not until half- past eight on Saturday morning that the body was picked up by Mr William Begg, on some rocks half a mile from where the young men had bathed. It was slightly cut an^. bruised by the rocks. An inquest was held upon it at the reaidenae of deceased's father in the evening. The evidence pointed to the spot as being very dangerous, through two contending currents, and by one of these deceased was supposed to have been carried out. It was stated that his brother Matthew had a narrow escape from also being carried to sea, and that he was utterly exhausted when taken out of the water.

Another trial of the submarine boat took place on Wednesday last, and it affords us much pleasure to state that the result was an unqualified succesß. It will be remembered that in recording the last experiment made, we stated that several minor alterations required to be effected, and then doubtless the future trials of the Platypus would be successful. Those details having been attended to, the result, as we anticipated, was on Wednesday all that could be dej sired. The trial took place off the end of the Pelichet Bay jetty. Ac three minuteß past five, Messrs Villaine, senior and junior, Mr Harvey, two men to work the pumps, and Mr R. D. Ritchie, a gentleman who was particularly anxious to witness the experiment, and who was unavoidably absent last Saturday — entered the Platypus. The boat was exactly forty-six minutes in sinking and grounding, and then, after a few minutes delay, the bottom was lifted, and without any difficulty whatever the water was kept down, and those below were able to collect specimens of shells, and any quantity of mud. Mr Ritchie succeeded in securing a fishing-line and several shells, which he brought up to the surface with him as mementos of his submarine trip. Two messages were sent up (fastened to small pieces of wood), and were kindly handed to our representative, who considers that !it will not be a breach of faith to publish them. They ran as follows: — "All well below ; wish kind love to Mary. — C. S. Harvey. " The other message was not quite so loving in its tone. It was :— " R. Deans Ritchie. — All well. — February 4th, 1874. p.S, — Villaine's compliments to Mary." It will, perhaps, be only fair to the senders of these billets doux, to state that Mary is a facetious young lady who wrote in large chalk letters on the Platypus before she was submerged, "Mr Harvey, prepare for the worst. —Mary." It will thus be seen how anxious Mr Harvey was to assure Mary that the worst had not yet arrived. But to return to the trial. It was exactly 5.43 when these messages came to the surface, and at 5.50 the bottom doors were closed, and preparations made to raise the boat. Owing to the alterations made under the superintendence of Mr Douglas, this was a matter of very little difficulty. The time occupied in ex. polling sufficient water to raise the boat from the. bottom was 14 minutes, and then the moment she left the ground she popped up like a cork, and at four minutes past six o'clock the occupants were once more on terra Jlrma. Provision had been made, in case the air was' foul below, to purify it by the use of a quantity of lime water. Mr Douglas did not go down below this trial trip, because it was considered more desirable by the Directors that he should remain super mare to discover if possible any leaks in the air chambers, but in this we are ghd to Bay he was unsuccessful. So far as the Platypm is concerned, everything is a suooeu.