News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1159, 14 February 1874, Page 16

News of the Week.

A Taranaki paper says that the local flax industry has collapsed. The telegraph line between Reefton and Lyell is nearly completed. Blackbirds and larks have been pleasingly proclaiming their presence at Merton. The Good Templar movement has extended to Fiji, a lodge having been opened at Levuka.

A contributor to the Wairarapa Standard represents the letters "V.R." as standing for "Vogel Rex." The crops in some districts of the Nelson province are reported to be a good deal affected by rust this season.

The golden goose has been killed at Charleston, Nelson. It had half a pennyweight of scaly gold in its gizzard.

A flock of about thirty starlings were ob« served yesterday afternoon, flying across the Leith Valley in the direction of Maori Hill.

The green linnet, a useful insectivorous bird, is now very common near Wanganui, large flocks of these birds being frequently seen there. -

Tho Wanganui Sheep Inspector has reported that the disease of " lice on sheep_ " is spreading very much among the flocks in that district.

Fevers and other kinds of sickness have been very prevalent at Wellington of late. Want of proper drainage is believed to be th& cause of them.

Mr C. O. Davis, a well-known Auckland settler, has published in the Maori language a collection of temperance songs, &c, written by himself.

We learn from the Wanganui papers that the rations issued by the General Government to the Maoris at one time confined in Dunedin Gaol, have now been stopped.

A swordfish 13 feet long was captured in Auckland harbour the other day, having run aground while chasing a shark. His "sword" was five feet in length.

A large eel has been caught in a stream near the Union Mills, Taranaki, which weighed fourteen pounds, and measured four feet six inches in length.

At the North Dunedin Co. 's competition the other day, Sergeant Pollock made eight bull's eyes in succession, being seven at 200 yards, and one at the 400 yards range.

We are informed that a four-oared rowing match will take place on the 28th of this month between the employes of the Victoria Brewery and Burkes Brewery, for £10 a side. The name of the Good Templar yacht lately launched at Auckland is the "Sober Beauty." From this it is to be inferred that some of the beauties of Auckland are not sober.

His Honour the Superintendent, accompanied by Mr Colin Allan, lately visited Invercargill, to make arrangements for receiving shipments of immigrants to South* land.

A Waikato correspondent of the Southern Cross states that the thermometer at the place from which he writes has for a month been as high as 110 degrees in the shade every day. The Timaru Herald reports to at on the evening of the 2ad inst., at about nine miles from the Makikihi, a man named Binstoad committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. Mr M'Kay, of the Geological Survey Department, has beon fossil hunting in the Buller gorge, and his exertions have been re« warded by the obtaining of several hundred

By a letter we have seen, we learn that Mr Oat, with his hairless horse " Caoutchouc," arrived at Kandavu in the s.s. Governor Blackall, and after staying six days, proceeded to San Francisco. A young man, employed at the Supreme Court offices, named John Blair, absconded on Friday with about £90, and was on Monday apprehended at the North East Harbour, by mounted Constable Henderson. ~Weobseryethatl6aadayisofferedtomasons for work within a few miles of Dunedin. At the Taieri harvest hands are getting £2 a week and found, with a prospect of even this high rate of wages being increased. The amount of Customs revenue received here on Monday amounted to £5497 14s Bd. This is perhaps the largest amount ever received here in one clay, the principal item on which duty was paid being drapery. A notice of the Report and Transactions of the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria for 1873 is given in Land and Waier under the head of " Progress of Acclimatisation in Victoria, New South Wales ! At Otaki, Wellington, a plaoe notorious for its drunken brawls, a powerful half-caste of local celebrity as a wrestler has been appointed policeman and bailiff. He is looked upon as the right man in the right place. Mrs Leslie, of the Temperance Hotel, Milton, met with a painful accident on Wednesday week. Her dress caught fire from a candle, and before the flames could be extinguished she was burned about the arms. We hear that the brown trout which were liberated in the Lee Stream about five years ago have increased wonderfully, and that the fish have lately been seen in large numbers and of respectable dimensions, not far from Outram. At an inquest held on the body of Alex. Affleck, at the Royal Hotel on Saturday, a verdict of "died from concussion of the brain, the effects of a fall " was returned. Deceased was 40 years of age, and a native of Scotland. An emergency meeting of the Dunedin School Committee was held the other evening in the Secretary's office. The Secretary was instructed to advertise for applications for the post of assistant male teacher at the North Dunedin School. The Invercar^ill and Mataura Line, between Invercargill and Woodlands, was to be opened for public traffic yesterday (Friday). This is be an important event in the history of railway communication in the United Province. We are given to understand that Mr Thos. H. B*tes, Evangelist for the Christian Ciapel, will not leave Dtuiedin at the expiration of his present engagement. He has consented to remain as pastor to the Chapel for at least another year. By the Margaret Galbraith, now in Port, the Education Department has received a further supply of books for the public libraries. The list includes some of the most recent works in the various branches of literature, science, and art. We notice that an association is being formed for establishing a piggery on a large scale. It is proposed to rent or purchase a piece of land in the suburbs, and carry on the business of a curing establishment, for which the climate is well adapted. The revenue derived from Crown Lands n Otago, exclusive of Southland, during the financial year ending 31 st December, 1873, was — Land sales, .£154,724 18s 2d ; assesments on stock, -£59,892 2s lid ; micelianeous, £8,917 10s lOd ; total, £223,534 11s lid. We learn that the iron bridge on tho railway line over the Taieri, near the Reliance Hotel ; and the iron bridge over the Waihola, will not, in erection, be behind hand of the other work on the railway. Work on the bridge, near the Reliance Hotel, is now in full swing. Last week, a few friends of Mr James M'Jntosh, the well-known driver of Messrs Chaplin and Co.'s southern line of coaches, waited upon him, and presented him with a handsome silver service and cake basket, as a mark of appreciation of his civil and obliging manner on the road. The man Kirk, who was prosecuted the other day at the Port Chalmers Police Court, for a breach of the Licensing Ordinance, and fined £20, was arrested in Dunedin, in default . of payment, on Saturday, by Constable Nicoll, and lodged in gaol to undergo two months' imprisonment. The Dunedin Jockey Club are wisely taking steps to improve the Grand Stand and the approaches to it at the Forbury Course. A sub-committee visited the course the other day, and thoroughly inspected the Grand Stand, Paddock, and the very dangerous road through the Park from the gates. The Rev. William Henderson, a well known Victorian clergyman, of St. Andrew's Kirk, Ballarat, and Captain of the Ballarat Volunteer Rangers, was a passenger by the B.s. Alhambra, and is at present on a visit to Dunedin. He preached in First Church on Sunday morning and evening. The rising townships of Forbury and South Dunedin boast of a useful public institution in the shape of a post office. The postmaster is the local storekeeper, Mr N. Moloney, and the post office, which faces the main road from Hillside to the Ocean Beach, is very centrally situated for the inhabitants. The eldest son of Mr Muir, farmer, at Palraerston, met with a severe accident on Friday last, by a horse with a loaded dray bolting with him. The news caused deep regret round the district. Fortunately as Dr Brown was passing, he was called in, And rendered every assistance ia his power.

We have received the second number of the Educational Gazette, published at Wellington. It contains much that will interest those concerned in educating the young. The last annual examination of the Dunedin Girls High School receives especial prominence in this number. Amongst the passengers brought up from the Bluff by the steamer Wanganui, on SaI turday, was an unfortunate young man, named Smith, bereft of reason. His mania appears to have been caused by turf transactions, about which he constantly raves. He was taken in bonds to the Lunatic Asylum. The Customs duties collected at Dunedin on Thursday week, amounted to no less than £2528 2s 3d. The bulk of this sudden increase of revenuewas received asduty on drapery, the amount of duty paid on this item alone being £1146 19s 6d. Some of the other items of revenue are also pretty large, alcoholic liquors as usual leading the way. The number of inmates at the Otago Benevolent Institution on the 31st January last was 82 — comprising 19 men, 3 women, 32 boys, and 28 girls. The number of cases of out- door relief during the month of January, 1874, was 287 — comprising 18 men, 67 women, and 202 children. This relief was afforded at a weekly cost of £16 17s. Between 30 and 40 bags of very flue green ginger were brought over from Mauritius (says the Geelong Tines) by the last sugar ship whioh arrived in the Bay. The roots are in fine condition for growing, some having shoots an inch and a half long. They have been again shipped for New Zealand, where their growing powers will be tested. Twelve and a half millions of money 1 A goodly sum indeed, but Otago has exported more than that amount in gold since 1857. Last year alone her export of gold was not far short of three-quarters of a million, and was a long way ahead of the gold export of any other Province in the Colony. Further figures will be found in another column. The delay in the carrying out of the very heavy works in Stuart street, York Place, and vicinity, is most unfortunate, so much fine weather being lost. Since the day on which the contractor, Mr Wilson, died — the 4th of last month — no arrangement has been made for carrying on the work, and the time at which it may be resumed is still indefinite. Speaking of the Militia Navvies recently enlisted for the purpose of making the Waikato railway, an Auckland paper says :—: — • These men, finding that ' work, and not play,' waa required, and unable or unwilling to do a fair day's work for a fair day's wages, they were packed off to find better ' loafing' quarters, and have consequently returned to the city." The Provincial Government of Auckland have resolved not to issue any licenses for cutting timber during the current year on lands belonging to the Province. The Government announce their intention of prosecuting any person cutting timber on such lands, the object of the course taken being to put "a stop to all further damage to the j public estate." A sudden death occurred in Walker street the other evening, a man named Alexander Affleck, lately employed in a wood-yard, falling down dead opposite the Royal Hotel. He had been ailing for some time past, and Dr Deck, who made a post mortem examination, expressed it as his opinion that the man died from heart disease. Deceased was about 38 or 40 years of age. On Saturday morning a few of the Port Navals met to fire for the representatives at the approaching Colonial contest at Napier. The ranges were 200, 400, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots at each, the result being that Sub-lieutenant Wilson qualified with a soore of 88 points ; Volunteer Lane qualified with a score of 83 points, whilst Captain Goldie acored 77 points. We take the following from the Argus : - " We understand that the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand have opened an establishment for business in this city, under the management of Mr Jas, A. Francis, who for many years had the management, under Messrs James Henty and Co., of the Derwent and Tamar Assurance Company business here. " The following telegram, which is dated London, Jauuavy 28th, is the latest which is to hand respecting the death of Dr Livingstone: — "The Government has received a telegram which confirmß the death of Dr Livingstone. The event took place at Lobisa, and Consul Cameron awaits the arrival of the body, and brings it to Zanzibar, where it is expected in February." During the week ending 7th February 18 patients were admitted into the Hospital, and 11 discharged therefrom. Three patients died, viz., David Watson, from mortification caused by extravasation of urine ; Maria Bowes, from disease of the heart ; and James Killean, from disease of the bowels. The number of patieuts at present in the Hospital is 134, of whom 19 are females. Mr Henry Yeend, the coach proprietor on the Southern Road, ha 3 taken into partnership Mr Thomas Pope, a long and wellknown driver between Lawrence and Tokomairiro. The firm solicit the further support of their friends ; and we doubt not that the courtesy and kind attention of both gentlemen to their passengers will secure them the patronage they so deservedly merit. A married woman, named Cooper, one of the persons who have been in the habit of removing flowers from the graves in the Dunedin Cemetery, was brought before Mr Strode on Tuesday. The case was fully proved, and a fine of £3 and costs inflicted. We hope this will be «, sufficient naming to

the mean and heartless grave-yard pilferers, whose depredations have given so much annoyance lately. An offender against the law, in the shape of a tearful and terrified little boy of about seven years of age, was brought before Mr Strode the other day, charged with stonethrowing. It appeared from the statement of the police that the amiable youth had thrown stones at some little girls, and then endeavoured to console them by smearing their faces with mud. The prosecutor did not appear, and the small boy was liberated. The want of female immigration is stated by the G-rey River Argus to be felt with excessive severity on the West Coast, where our contemporary says "the scarcity of servants leads to an amount of laziness, impertinence, and independence that is quite intolerable." The Grey River Argus demands ' • that at; least four or five hundred single women should be sent out to the West Coast during the next twelve months." A match was played on Saturday afternoon between the Tokomairiro and Taieri Cricket Clubs, and resulted as follows :—: — Taieri— first innings, 59 j second do, 55. Tokomairiro— first innings, 110 ; one wicket down in the second innings for 6 — only 4 to win. The ground had only recently been mown ; consequently it was very bad, and the bowling uncertain and lively. The highest scorer was Wickali, who made 19 for the Tokomairiro side. A farewell addrpss, specially intended for | the young was delivered by the Rev. A. W. Webb, from Sydney, in the Hanover street B iptist Church ott Thursday week, Therewas a large number present, aud the subject of the rev. gentleman's discourse, which was from pirr of the 17th verse of the 10th chapter of Mark — " Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ?" was treated in a very interesting manner. During the even* ing two young ladies were baptised, and prayers were offered by Church members. A meeting of the Surat Relief Committee was held in the office of His Worship the Mayor, at the City Council Chambers, on Friday week. There were present, the Mayor (in the chair), and Messrs Burt, Wain, Isaac, Reeves, and Martin, and the Secretary, Mr Paul. The Secretary reported that there wa9 a balance in haud of £300. It was resolved that the Treasurer be authorised to distribute £200 as a final distribution among the families by that vessel. It was resolved to publish the names of the subscribers to the fund alphabetically. We learn that at the Chain Hills railway works, carried on by Messrs Brogden and Son, men are now coming forward more plentifully. At the Taieri end of the tunnel the approaches have been cut, and the work of cutting the tunnel has been entered on. Mr J. Henderson, Messrs Brogden's representative, has instructed the local agent to use every exertion to have the work pushed forward as speedily as possible. The work is to be carried on in shifts, and fresh arrangements have been made by which no expense will be spared to have the work pushed ahead. We are informed that the wages given are good. The Wallacetown Lodge of Good Templars celebrated their first anniversary the other day. The following is an extract from the report presente ' on the occasion, as published by the Southland Times: — "We have inducements to offer for the year 1874, which we would not have offered six months ago ; such as an equitable share in the civilising influence aud attractive power of seven sisters. Three of the fair sisters are elected to office for the ensuing quarter, the special duty of one being, on direction of the worthy chief, to give new members the Good Templar grip, a process apt to produce palpitation of the heart." The cultivation of barley in Ofcago is becoming a staple article of produce, and gradually edging such importations from Europe out of the market. Many of the local breweries have malt-houses attached to them, exclusively for Provincial-grown barley. Several of the country breweries are following suit, and a malt-house of good dimensions is about to be added to Messrs Bastings and Kofoed's Black House Brewery, Lawrence. The distillery and breweries thus proving such a fair source of consumption, the farmers are induced from the ready i market to devote their attention to the growth of barley. Mr Devine, the well-known driver, was proceeded against in the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, on a summons charging him with having driven his sixhorse coach round the corner of High and Princes streets at a trot. The defendant did not appear, but Mr Chaplin was in Court, and caused some amusement by telling the Bench that he would rather submit to a weekly fine than be compelled to have the horses pulled into a walk at the street corners. The Magistrate agreed that it would be impossible to stop a six-horse coach at that particular place and start it again, and he decided not to inflict any fine. There were about 500 members of the Athenaeum present at the meeting held in the Drill Shed on Wednesday to discuss the question of keeping the Institute open for a few hours on Sunday. Towards the end the meeting became very rowdy. The motion that the Institution should not be kept open on Sundays was lost, only 242 voting for it, while 252 voted for an amendment to the effect that the reading-room should be opened for four hours each Sunday as an experiment, the Committee having power to abandon the experiment in the event of a very small attendance, or injury to tho Institution. The amendment also

provided that none of the employ&n of th« Institution Bhould be forced or induced to attend on Sunday, and that the reading-room should be kept open during those hours that would least interfere with Divine service. The first contract on the Northern line (Dunedin and Moeraki Railway), is advertised as open to be tendered for. The contract consists chiefly of a tunnel through the Mihiwaka Range, together with the openings at each end, and two small stream bridges. The length of the tunnel has been finally decided, and is to be 1400 yards. The time given for the completion of the contract will be 30 months from the date of signing, and there is to be a bonus of £200 per week for the completion of the work before the expiration of the contract time. The contracts for the portions of the line leading up to the tunnel on each aide ■will be out shortly. In our account of- the New Zealand Clothing Factory, which appears in another column, it is stated that this industry was commenced some time ago by one Dunedin firm, but was soon discontinued. This is, no doubt, strictly speaking, correct j but it is but right to say that a 9imilar business has been carried on upon an extensive scale by Messrs Brown, Ewing and Co. for some months past Not long ago we gave an account of the factory, and we understand that it is now in a flourishing state. The business has considerably increased since it was commenced. Some thirty or forty hands are now constantly employed in the factory. Mr Hutchins, chemist, Balclutha, had a very narrow escape from having hia shop burned down on Thursday evening last. Mr Hutchins was putting out his lamps, when by some means one of the brackets broke, upsetting a kerosene lamp on the floor. The kersoene immediately blazed up in a flame about three teat high, and within eighteen inches of a stack of paper. Mr Carncrosa, a gentleman who was in the shop at the time, managed to keep the flame down by smothering it with the carpet, until Mr Hutchins j>rocured some water, when the blaze was easily subdued. Luckily the damage done was very slight, as Mr Hutchins is only partly insured. The Rev. Mr Backhouse, representative of the British and Foreign Bible Society, de« livered a very instructive lecture on "Tha Progress of the Bible in India," at the Congregational Church, Port Chalmers, on Thursday week. The rev. lecturer commanded a numerous audience, and great interest was manifested, the lecture being in* terlarded with anecdotes and illustrated pictures. The Rev. Mr Maxwell occupied the chair. A hearty vote of thanks, moved by the Rev. Mr Johnston, was accorded to fthe lecturer, and at the close of the proceedings a collection was taken on behalf of the funds of the British and Foreign Bible Sooiety, and realised £4 3s sd. During the morning service at S*. Paula Church on Sunday, the Yen. Archdeacon Edwards announced that he would oonduob a Bible class each Sunday afternoon, at two o'clock, in the vestry, and invited the attendance of members of the congregation. Further assistance as teachers in the Sundayschool, was also requested. A goodly number were present at the first meeting of the Bible-class, which was opened and closed with prayer. The first chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke was the portion of the Scripture selected for consideration. It is anticipated that a large number will avail themselves of the privilege thus afforded them of so profitably spending a portion of the Sunday afternoon. A meeting of the Committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club was held at the Empire Hotel on Monday, Mr John Stephenson. in the Chair. The Sub-Committees for seleotingthe Steeple Chase course, also the addition aud improvements to the Stand and Saddling Paddock, brought up their reports, which, after considerable discussiou, were adopted and ordered to be carried out. The contemplated addition to the Grand Stand will be thirty feet in length ; the Saddling Paddock fence will be removed thirty feet in an easterly direction ; and the weighing yards, &c, considerably enlarged. Steps will also be taken to improve the road from the main entrance to the Grand Stand. It is intended that a general meeting of the Stewards and Committee shall be held on an early day. At the Christian Chapel, Great King otreet, a social gathering was held on Tuesday evening, which was numerously attended. A bountiful repast, provided by Mr Kroon, having been done justice to, the Rev. Thos. H. Bates, Evangelist, from America, took the chair, and delivered a fitting and interesting address, which was followed by some brief and sensible remarks from the Rev. Mr Elbourne and Messrs Haig and Butters, deacons. The choir sang some pleasing pieces of sacred music from the " Union Harmonist" and "American Songstar " with a degree of efficiency only attainable by attentive practice. It will be a subject of regret when the present pastor (Mr Bates), whose tune to fill the pulpit is nearlyclosed, leaves, as under him the members of the Church have worked together con amove with good results, and have had their number greatly increased. The usual monthly meeting of the Otago Schoolmasters' Association was held in the Government Buildings on Saturday. Mr M'Kay, the President, occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. A copy of the Education Gazette, published by Mr Bowden, Wellington, waa laid on the table by the Secretary. It was resolved that a copy be ordered for the

library, and a feeling was expressed that each member ought to become a subscriber to this the first Educational Magazine published in New Zealand. Messrs Park and Milne were appointed to draw up a report on the financial state of the Association. The annual dinner was fixed for Friday, March 6th, and a Committee appointed to make the necessary arrangements. Mr Montgomery undertook to read, at next monthly meeting, a paper on " Hints on the Science of Education." The meeting then adjourned for a month.

With respect to the treatment of children suffering from tutu poisoning, a Northern paper says :- "If a child presents the appearance of being poisoned with tutu, the best th n % to do is to obtain medical advice, and, while assistance is coining, to give an emetic of mustard in warm water ; when this has acted, ammonia should be administered in quantities suitable to the age of the child, or if this 13 not obtainable, spirits should be given in small quantities until the effect of the poison appears to be gone. With a free evacuation of the contents of stomach, little danger need be apprehended ; but it will be much the safest plan for parents to point out to children the danger they run into by picking and eating anything in the bush of the nature of which they are ignoi % ant.

The question of Sabbath observance is not Confined to Dunedin. His Honour the Superintendent, whilst at Invercargill, made a speech at the luncheon given to His Excellency the Governor, and in his speech alluded to the vast forests of Southland. He said the forests were worth "five hundred millions of money," and that he made the calculation yesterday — that is, on the "Sabbath." For so calculating, a writer in the Southland News tikes Mr Macandrew to taak, and says : — "That he made his calculations ' only yesterday ' — that was Sunday -—■was publicly disrespectful to the observance of that day, as regarded by British Christian communities." What will the writer of the letter say whon he learns that Mr Macandrow thinks it right to calculate the timber supply of Southland on the first day of the week, but wrong in the members of the Athenaeum to re;id his Sunday calculations. Mr Macandrew's precepts may be good, and the example of Sunday observance j he sets is disrespectful to some people in Southland.

The Rev. B. Backhouse, of Victoria, delivered a lecture ou "Japan, Past and Present,'' at tht! Congregational Church, Moray Place, on Tuesday M-b.i\ The chair was occupied by the B. -v. Dr Roseby, and the proceedings wet c opened with devotional exercises. After tin-, Dr Roseby introduced the lecturer, aud iv the course of a short bpeech alluded to the w.-uit of missionary spin*-, in the Churuh. The >cv. lecturi r, who talked to bis audi> nee in a very pleasant way, also made an aliusion to the neces-ity for inciv;isei) missionary ef?>rt-i, nml then proceeded to sppak of tho condition of In li.i, China Tnibet andotlur pl.ic s, and of the work that had already b. en done towards Wring ing their inhabitants to a knowledge if Christ. He give a most interesting account of Japmese manners and customs, and of the eHorts of the missionaries there, whiie he dwelt particularly upon the great strides Japan had been lately making iv the direction of civilisation and prosperity. The lecture wis listened to throughout with great interest.

In another column we publish the translation < f a Maori l"tt"r, wlr'ch h is b> en bent v* for publication by S -lomon Patu, whosr natve name is Puku«heti, a native chief from Jacob's River. The letter relates to ■what passed at the Lite native meeting at Otago Meads on tho occasion of the opening of the now house, •ihi-'h w» learn has been named " M ihi'.imanki " (children's play). The btmle'i of the letter is that the natives hvre been unfairly treated in re/tnlto th* money olrai^ed for th<j Princes street Reserve. The writer, h >wevor, we underhand, is not just fi.'tl in making such a complaint His charge against our Courts of favouring the European cause is one which is jiofc un frequently made by natives who fail to understand the system under which their la ids have becu, anl are being, transferred to Europe m hands. Under the circum stances, it is not unnatural that such charges should bo occasionally made, and no doulit, in the present instance, Solomon Patu believes that he has a real grievance. We refer him to the Native Office, as we are inclined to think that, cv.'ii if there is anything in his complamt. but few of our readers will be able to aasist him in his trouble.

A pretty little girl, barely ten years of a«e, wan charged in tho Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday wi'h having obtained goods by means or r.ilse piet"nc r 's. It appeircd that she hid induced Mr Reubou Hirt, fancy goods dealer, of George street, to give her a quantity of jewellery mado of a metal called "'gold of tho poriod," on tho pretence that Mrs Murphy, of the Shamrock Hotel, was her aunt;, and wished to choose a pair of earrings. The goods were afterwards sent back, by the girl, who probably became frightened th it sho would get into trouble. Mr Hart discovered that Mrs Murphy had not been in the Colony for the last ten months, and he conscqu"iitly g ive information upon which the girl wns arrested The mother, who is a hardworking, nspec f a'»le woman, appeared in Court, and seemed to be very much affocted. Sho said that she had beaten the child until sho was as black as the Court cushions, and had on a previous occasion pail for goods sho had ordered in a similar manner from tradesmen. She attributed the child's^ conduct to the effects of ovil compaionßhip. The child did not shed a tear, but

behaved with the utmost coolness. She was sentenced to 48 hours' imprisonment in the matron's quarters at the G-aol.

A lad, between 16 and 17 years of age, lo3t his life by drowning in the Taieri on Wednesday. His name was Henry Rixon, and he was in the employ of Mr Bell, farmer, of Meadow Bank, East Taieri. On the morning of the 4th iust. he left Mr Bell's farm during the manager's absence with one of the farm horses and one belonging to himself, and in order to get to the place where he intended to take them, he had to cross the Taieri. A man and woman directed him to a safe crossing place called Shand's ford. The deceased must have mistaken the direction, for he appears to have attempted to get over the river half-a-raile before he got to the proper ford, at a place where some cattle tracks run down to the water. These tracks probably misled him. Some hours after the deceased must have attempted to cross the river, the two horses were found wandering at large, and those who found them at once presumed that the man who had been in charge of them had been drowned. The matter was reported to Constable Strain, of West Taieri, and on Thursday the river was dragged in the vicinity of the spot where the deceased was supposed to have tried to cross. The body was not found, however. On Sunday morning a man? in the employ of Mr Milne saw ths body in the river, and with the assistance of the police it was removed to the West Taieri Hotel, to await an inquest. Dr Bruce examined the corpse, which presented a horrible sight. The head was cut and bruised terribly, as though the horses must have kicked the deceased, and the huids were firmly clasped over the breast. The body appeared to have been disfigured by the fish. The deceased came to the Colony by the Allahabad, in September last, and ran away from the vessel. He was a native of London. At the place where the deceased tried to cross the river the stream is full of snags, and the bank where he probably attempted to land is very steep.