News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1189, 12 September 1874, Page 14

News of the Week.

It is notified in the New Zealand Gazette that Mr James Arkle, Mayor of Palinerston, has been appointed a Justice of tho Peace. A telegram from Sydney published in the Argus of the 29 th inst. states that the New Zealand mare Calumny has arrived, and that Lurline may start for the Metropolitan. We are informed by Mr Alfred Anderson, of the firm of Begg and Anderson, that Madame Arabella Goddard will probably arrive here about the end of the month. Tenders are being called for the whole of the stonework of the new Knox Church ; the first contract having been completed, and the second one will be commenced forthwith. We hear that letters have been received from Mr H. Moody, late of Dunedin, and brother of the great revival preacher, announcing his safe arrival at Greenfield, Massachusetts. The only business transacted in tho Bank* runtcy Court on Monday was the adjudging O. A. Martin a bankrupt, and the granting of final orders of discharge to A. FT Campbell and 0, A. Martin. The following telegram from Wanganui appears in a late number of the New Zea> land Times: "Millar, F.S.A., Borough Engineer, has been suspended for remaining away three weeka without leave." A number of engagements were effected at the Immigration Barracks on Wednesday, twenty-eight single girls by the Parsee and Tweed being employed an domestic servants, cooks, nurse-girls, &0,, at from £20 to £40. Arrangements were made for pending fojtfy

The last number of the Temperance Advocate contains a quantity of matter that will prove interesting to those who profess total abstinence. An abridged report of Mr Fox's speech on the Licensing Bill ia given.

The following paragraph appears in the Nelson Colonist of Saturday :—": — " We learn, from a leliable authority, that Mr Creighton, M.H.R., is about to leave Dunedin for Englaud, where he will act as an Emigration Ag^nt."

The Southland Times says :— " We understand that E. F. Gilles, Es>q , who haa been for some time pa°t visiting officer for the Bank of New Zealand, hi\s been appointed Manager of the branch of the Bank ia Invercargill."

A man named Robert Edmunds, who had his leg broken in a scuffle on Wednesday week, died in the Hospital on Tuesday arternoon. lie was suffering from delirium tremens and consequently the limb could not be nursed. In the Government Gazette, Hi* Fxcellency the Governor has appointed sitings of the District Court, to be i.eld at Naseby on October 14th, Clyd' 1 on October 19th, Queenstown on October 2Cth, and Lawrence on the 10th of November.

Instead of the unsightly block which comprises the Fire Brigade Station being removed, another unwelcome addition in the shape of an office' for Inspector Cairns has been made. This block is undoubtedly a disgrace to the city, and should be demolished as soon as possible.

The public of Southland (says the Times) will be pleased ts learn that the services of John Dalgleish, Esq., have been secured by the Directors of the Colonial Bank. As soon as the necessary arrangements can be completed, Mr Dalgleish will open a branch of the Bank in Invercargill.

The Rev. Archdeacon Edwards on Sunday announced that a children's service would be held in St. Paul's Church next Sunday, when a collection in aid of the Melanesian Mission will be made. He al«tc requested volunteers from the congregation to assist in the work of teaching in the Sunday School.

A letter which appeared a short time since in the columns of the Daily Times respecting the advantages of Patagonia as a pastoral country, caused much discussion in Bquatting circles, and we are informfd that towards the Straits of Magellan and New Mexico considerable attention i 8 now being directed.

The Thames Star learns that Mr Andrew Reveridge has received a commission from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, appointing him R.W.P.G. Master for the North Island, and that the Provincial Grand Lodge will be constituted as soon as Mr Beveridge's health will permit him to assume the duties of his high office.

The sudden death of Harland, the boatman, at the Port on Monday has given occasion for another expression of liberality on the part of the charitably disposed. He leaves a wife and four children entirely unprovided for, except the pittance they are entitled to from the benefit society of which he was a member.

The half-yearly eenernl meeting of the shareholders of the Standard Insurance Company was held on Monday. The balancesheet showed for the first half-year the sum of £3591 to the credit of the profit. and loss account, and the report that the sum of (- 17,550 hnd been invested at interest ranging from 6 to 8 per cent.

A deputation from the Port CbalnWs Town Council on Tuesday waited upon "His Honour the Superintendent, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the Government intended to fill up the portion of the railway line near the Port which had not been attended to. The Superintendent promised tohave the work done by prison labour.

The trout ova experiment has not been successful as yet at Queenstown (says the Arrow Observer). Up to the pro-ent all have died during tho process of hatching. A large amount of sediment in the water is supposed to be the cause. Mr Worthington, who has charge of the ova, has made some improvements which promise better success,

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphed the othernight, as follows : "It is nuders6< ol that Mr Prendergast will accept the position of Chief Justice, and that Mr Travers is to be appointed Attorney General. The Chief Justice and two Judg°s will probably residfl at Wellington permanently. Mr Vogel will go home after visiting Sydney."

We notice from a communication from the Foreign Office, published in the New Zealand Gazette, that the French Government have granted permission to Captain Jacquemart, of the Vire, to accept the service of plate presented to him by the Provincial Government of Otago, in recognition of hi services in connection with the wreck of the . Surat.

The annual meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held on Monday afterno ">n. Office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected ; a very full report of the past year's transactions and of the present position of the Society was read, and several other matters of interest were discussed by the meeting. A report of the proceedings will be found elsewhere.

From our Temuka correspondent (says the South Canterbury Times) we learn that oa Thursday last, Jonathan, a native, residing at the Maori Pah, who had been unwell' for some time past, whilst entering his whare, dropped down suddenly and died almost instantaneously. He is supposed to bs the oldest Maori in South Canterbury, being nearly 100 years old.

The announcement of the resignation of Sir James Fergusson (says the South Canterbury Times) and the appointment of the Marquis of Normanby to succeed him in the Governorship of New Zealand, will take cur readers by surprise. Sir James does not appear to have succeeded in securing the attachment of the Colonists, and probably his withdrawal from the Governorship will not be much regretted. With the motives that have led to this step, we are not acquainted; most probably they are purely of a private character, for, so for as his publio career is couoerned, we consider it has not only been 1 unetfcflptionable, bus tempered with sagacity

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A woman in the prime of life named Susan Jackson was charged before the Mayor and Mr Mercer, J.P., the other day with attempting to commit suicide. She was found by two women struggling in Abbot's Creek, Green Island, on the 31st Inst., aud with difficulty resoued. The woman was very strange in her demeanour, but the evidence not being sufficient to commit her, she was discharged. Much satisfaction is expressed at the astonishing rapidity with which the harbour reclamation works are being pushed forward. Following the system previously adopted, a large bay about GO x7O is being formed opposite the Supreme Court, and this of course will eventually be filled up with the useful material of whioh the remains of Bell Hill are composed. Several ladies, as a deputation from the Committee of the Dunedin Female Refuge, waited upon the Superintendent on Wednesday. They urged the desirability of establishing an Orphanage in connection with the institution, and requested that additional accommodation should be provided for the purpose. His Honour promised to bring the matter before the Executive, and the laditg, after thanking him, withdrew. A Wellington correspondent telegraphs that the 20.000 acre block in the Orona district, which has been purchased by Msssrs J. Douglas and R. Campbell, of Otago. for 12s 6d pet acre, would, if put up to auction, fetch 30a an acre. He adds, that Mr Fitzherbert and Mr Bunny say that t'^ey will sell every acre they can in the Province while they are in power, at the best price that can be got. During the week ending vSoptember sth 21 patients were admitted into the Dunedin Hospital, and 23 were discharged therefrom. Charles Dorrington was admitted with a n^feture of the right leg, and Robert Edmund with a compound fraoture of the leg. One death occurred, viz., Winyard Atkins, from dis-ase of the kidneys. The number of patients at present in the Hospital is 115, of whom 43 are women. With reference to the acclimatisation of hares, at the last meeting of the Southland Acclirnaiisation Society, "the Secretary reported that two hares received from Victoria during the month had been turned out at Half-way Bii'-h, and it was incidentally stated, on credible authority, that the neighbourhood of Morton Mains was becoming stocked, as mmy as a dozen hares being frequently seen at once." We understand that a grand concert will be given, at an early date, in aid of the*f unds of the Dunedin Cricket Club. The idea was mooted a few days since, and has been warmly taken up by some ladies, who intend lending valuable vocal assistance. From rumours that have reached us as to names of some of the intending performers, we have not the slightest doubt the affair will be a brilliant success. ' A telegram from the working manager of the Shotover Terrace Gold Mining Company announces that the yield from the Company s olaira for last week, was 20oz. sdwt. 13gr. Fifteen men are at work, and the mine is looking bettor. The returns for the previous four weeks have been comparatively light, owing to the intense frost, and the consequent scarcity of water. They amounted to 41bs. 3dwt. 22gr. A week or two ago it was rumoured that a mutiny had occurred on board the ship Oathovrt, boned from London to' Lyttelton. From a recent number of the Tiraaru Herald we learn that a disturbance, amount ing almost to mutiny, did occur on board the Cathcart, and that the captain fired and wounded three of the ringleaders. An aooount of the affair will be found in our shipping columns. Starlings (says the Olutha Leader) are now exceedingly numerous in the Tokomairiro district, and may occasionally be Beeu flying as in clouds throughout the plain. The larks * liberated there some time ago seem also to increased very rapidly, and may now be heard every morning enlivening both earth and sky with their incomparable song. No doubt both of these classes of songsters will speedily extend their circuit to the Olutha district. The old-established storerooms in Bond street, recently occupied by Mr Henry Miller, are about to be transformed into a printing establishment. A great many improvements will therefore be necessary, and we understand that the proprietor intends to erect an imposing facade. In the early days a considerable amount of business was transacted in the store, which was then recognised as one of the principal establishments in the City. A fine covey of fourteen partridges (says the limaru Herald) were flushed a few days since on the Seadowh estate, near the Maori pah, by one of the tenants ; a Bmaller covey of eight havge lately been seen on the island part of the same estate. The original birds (16) were received by the Acclimatisation Society, Christchnrch, about two years ag<. We also leara that a large flock of English linnets were lately seen at the back of the town of Timaru. The handsome two-storey building erected at the corner of Frederick and George streets will shortly be occupied by the proprietor, Mr Bremner, tinsmith. The lower portion is set apart for a commodious shop-room, and the rest of the structure comprises rooms for household purposes, and a workshop. The building will not present a finished appearance until the adjoining vacant sections in Frederick street are sup. plied with similar ornaments. We were glad to notice a commendable muster of the Port Chalmers Naval Brigade on Friday week, on the occasion of an inspection by Major Atkinson. There were present Captain Goldie, Lieutenants Wilson and Taylor, four petty officers, and 22 privates. The inspecting officer having been received in the usual manner, the arms were laid on one side, and the Company was divided into squads and put through squad and set-up drill. A long hour was devoted to the exercise. Nearly all present wore the handsome new uniform of the corps— Navy blue, trimmed with white. The Port Chalmers Navals appear to have determined to make up for lost time, and to steadily aim at acquiring thorough efficiency. Several new members are likely to join the corps.

The Surat passengers have gained a victory, and learned by their final effort that "the la9t straw breaks the camel's back." An action for trover was brought by one Outred to recover £40, the value of a sewing-maohine which was declared by him to be luggage, and as suoh he was entitled to it. Mr Balhgate also looks upon it as luggage,, and gave judgment for plaintiff. Notice of appeal was given, and the lawyers may yet reap another harvest before the matter is entirely settled. A deed of burglary at the north end of the city was perpetrated by some rascal on Monday night. The grocery store of Mr A. Allan at the corner of Great King and St. David streets, was entered by means of a window being wrenched open with a crowbar, and the tili, containing 30s, taken away, and five bags of flour removed a short distance from the building. The empty till was found in an adjoining garden, having no doubt been thrown over by the thief, who has not yet been apprehended. A summoned meeting of the Loyal Pioneer Lodge, No, 1, Protestant Alliance Friendly Society, was held in Milton Il»ll, Stuart street, on Monday evening ; at which there was a good attendance of members, it having been called for receiving auditors' report and transaction of other general business. Mr C. De L. Graham was elected Secretary, vice George Boucher, resigned, and some matters of importance having been discussed, it was resolved to adjourn , until the 21st inst., on account oi the audit not being complete, From the La^es district we learn that the miners have all set to work, and there is plenty of water for ground sluicing Farming operations can also be resumed. The wheat crop will this season be a small one ; owing to the difficulty of finding a market for that cereal but little has been sown. It is generally supposed that the losses amongst the sheep farmers, owing to the unprtoedontedly late fall of snow, will be severe, but some time must elapse before the extent of damage can be known. The return to fine weather will have a most beneficial effect upon trade. The Golfers were lucky in having a fine afternoon on Saturday for their Monthly Club Handicap. There were a good many entries, and the handicap was eventually j won by Mr P. Adair, who was playing in fine form. He and Mr D. Hood tied with 55 each in their first round, but in the short round that was played off Mr. Adair came in first by two strokes, The St. Andrew's Cross has again been taken by Professor Shand. In his match with Mr A. HoJmes on Saturday there was a tie at the end of the first round, but he came away in the second, and won by four holes. Thebalance of thesingle women immigran' a per Tweed were landed the other day and sent to Dunedin. As they reached the shore some time before the train was ready to start they received permission to take a stroll through the Port, and gladly availed themselves of it. Many were the laudatory expressions elicited by their appearance, bearing, aud behaviour. Certainly handsomer, better-conducted, or healthier-looking girls [ have not reached these shores for many a day. If they do not prove an acquisition to the Province we shall be very much surprised. At a meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, held on the 28th of August, the Secretary reported that the trout, having commenced to spawn, there were indications of a successful season, and that the process of stripping the fish recommended by the Curator had been tried with good results. He mentioned «Iro that an application had been made by the Nelson Society for ova, and that the Curator was of opinion that a large quantity would be available during the season for disp 'BaL The Curator's report stated that a trout had been taken out of the pouds weighing 81b. Speaking of little Rosa Towers, the actress, the l^ew Zealand Times says :— " Miss Rosa goes to Melbourne to pursue her profession on the stage of that city. In doing so, she enters upon a great undertaking, but one whioh, from the talent she has already dis played, she may fairly be pronounced equal to. The Melbourne public, whilst being a critical one, and difficult to please, is one which readily recognises and appreciates talent. Under such circumstances, this little lady's advent may be looked forward to with confidence, as one which will prove highly satisfactory and successful." Mining news from the Shotover (says the Lake Wakatip Mail) continues favourable, and operations are everywhere being resumed with vigour. Mr Grace speak 3 very favourably oS the Shotover Terrace Company's claim. He is engaged in timbering and cutting a low level, and says that the prospects are most favourable, and that he will be able to prove the mine a rich one before very long. We have also good reports from other private companies, and of the discovery of ne .v ground at and above Stony Creek, beyond the Sandhills. At Moke Creek work is also resumed. The Bruce Herald is of opinion that the gentltUff^sex are sometimes capable of performing heroic acts when under the influence of great excitement, and especially when their children are in danger. The Herald then gives the following story :—: — " Mrs Fletcher was on a visit to Mrs Aitchison, who lives close to Tokomairiro river, and her little boy, about three years of age, was playing outside the door. She missed him, ran down to the 'riverside, and there found him, struggling in the water. Witiout hesitation she plunged in, and succeeded in rescuing the little fellow, who was just at his last gasp." The unsettled weather in the early part of the week somewhat interfered with the newly initiated works in the vicinity of Port Chalmers. On Tuesday, however, the immi grant labourers made a fair beginning. One hundred and two of them were employed along the line, commencing at Mussel Bay and extending downwards. As accommodation equivalent for such a number has not yet been provided at the Port, the great ma* jority come from Dunedin in the morning and return at night, free passage being accorded them per train. Between thirty and forty of them are berthed in the Prison Hulk.

An adjourned meeting of the City Council took place ou Wednesday, at which some business of general interest was disposed of. Mr Reeves's motion for leasing portions of the Belt was rejected. A rather curious disclosure was made during the consideration of a memorial from residents of London street It appeared work which was characterised as a waste of money waß oarried on in that Btreet by Corporation hands againßt the express wish of the Council and Public Works Committee. Councillors wanted to know who gave the orders. Nobody knew j and the Mayor said he would endeavour to find out. It is with regret that we announce to our readers news of the death of Mr Henry Porson Morse. From a telegram with which we have been obliged by Mr A. 0. Strode we learn than Mr Morse died on the 15th August on the voyage home, off Dungeness. Mr Morse had lett Melbourne in the Lady Jocelyn, which, after a, we believe, rather lengthy passage, arrived on the 24 th August. Mr Morse, who was well known and respected here, was for some time Clerk to the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin. He was a deacon of the Hanover stiee-t Baptist Church for many years, and had held the i ffice of hon sec. to the Otago Bible Society. Auckland papers report that many stores in course of erection at Kandavu have been abandoned in consequence of tho intelligence having come to hand of the withdrawal of the mail service. Much dissatisfaction was expressed when this intelligence was received, and it is stated that serious inconvenience and loss will be sustained thereby by residents at Kandavu, not only by storekeepers and others in bus>ine-s, but also by those indirectly interested in the continuance of the mail line. The disappointment, says the New Zealand Times, Avill no doubt be intensified when it is learned that for a time Fiji will not be visited by the mail steamers. Another salmon trout has been caught in the Harbour, this time the fish, which proved to be a female, weighing Sib., and full of roe, was taken in a set net the other I morning at Pelichet Bay. This makes the third or fourth fish of this sorb that has been netted in Otago Harbour within a few months. Bearing in mind the email number of salmon trout which the Acclimatisation Society succeeded in turning out, it ia to be hoped that some steps will soon be taken to prevent netting near the mouths of creeks in the Harbour, at least during the breeding season of those fish, A story has reached us, says the Napier Telegraph, of which we cmnot altogether vouch, though we have if; from pretty good authority, that one day last week, as the Native chief Manama was riding towards I Olive, he was stopped on the road by three men. One of these seized the he id of Mauaina's horse, while the other two attempted to pull the chief to the ground. Manama stunned one with a blow from tlie handle of his hunting whip, rode over the other man, got off his horse and levelled the third to the ground. When the three meu were lying horn de combat, Manama coolly proceeded to kill them, and was only prevented by the timely arrival of a settler at the scene of action. To the surprise of everybody (says tha South Canterbury Timea, of the 3rd inst.), | Mr Elliott, the engineer appointed to report on the practicability or otherwise of harbour improvemeats in the Timaru roadstead, arrived in town on Tuesday night last, from England. It had not been previously intimated that he had arrived in the Colony, ! and at last all parties concerned will have the matter put to the most scientific te^t as to whether a breakwater or other harbour improvements oan be effected or not. Wo learn that he most successfully carried out the superintendence of the breakwater at Alexandria, as its engineer, and that he is also a professional gentleman of considerable experience. A meeting of the Education Board was held on Monday, when Messrs A. H. Ross and A. C. Begg appeared as a deputation from the Kaikorai School Committee, for the purpose of urging the necessity of erecting a schoolmaster's residence in the district. This application, with several others, was referred to the Executive. The new regulations drawn up by the Inspectors were ordered to be printed for submission to the Board. A letter from the Rev. Mr Stobo-^ requesting that another school might be erected at Stewart's Island for the use of Maories and half-castea — was considered, when the Board decided that the application should have been made to the Native School Department. No reference was made to the Middle District School. At the annual general meeting of the Dunedin Jewish Congregation, held in the vestry rooms on Sunday, for the receiving of reports, annual balance-s'aeefc, and election of Presideut and four Committee-men, the balancesheet as read was adopted. It showed the affairs of the Congregation to be in a flourishing financial position. Mr Barnard Isaac was elected President, Mr Maurice Joel Treasurer, and the following gentlemen were elected Committee m«n : — Messrs M. Moss, Mr Hyams, R. M. Marks, ami G. Harris. A. vote of thanks to Mr E. Nathan, the retiring President, for the valuable services he had rendered during his three years' service to the Congregation, was unanimously carried. It was resolved the same should be recorded on the minutes. The meeting then terminated. With reference to Major Gordon's report on the Volunteers, the following telegram was transmitted by Major Atkinson on Wednesday week :— " Dunedin, 2nd September, 1874. Colonel Moule, Defence, Wellington — Have seen telegrams re Major Gordon's report. As regards the North Dunedin Rifles he is in error. What does the Government intend doing with my Company ? Present at last Government monthly inspection, 40 members. Company's drill stied cost £500, and arrange- ! meuts have been made for 50 new uniforms. Company meet to-night. I should like an answer by then. — Jame^s Copeland, Captain." The reply to the above w<ts :—"Government Buildings, Wellington, September 3rd, 1874. Major Atkinson— Please inform Captain Copeland that North Dunedin Rifles will not be disbanded. — W. Moule, LieutColonel."

The Supreme Court was occupied during the greater portion of its sitting in Bane© the other day, with hearing argument on an aplication from Mr Macassoy, that a rule nisi, in the case of Dodson v. Maoandrew, ordering the production of certain telegrams, be made absolute. From what was stated during the proceedings, it would appear, however, that an Act passed at the last session of the Assembly had the effect of preventing such an application being granted, through prohibiting the production by the department of 1 elegrams. This being so, the argument was with the object of showing what side would, if that Act had not been passed, have been successful, ia order that His Honour might decide as to who should bear costs. His Honour reserved judgment till he had seen a copy of the Act. The case against the men James Furlong, Christian Funk, William Rourke, and Georue Brown (says the LytteUon Times or' the otfi inst. ), charged with endeavouring to make a revolt and with combining to disobey lawful orders at sea, in the ship Catheart, on June 24th last, was concluded in the Lyttelton Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, and resulted in the conviction of the prisoners on the second charge, and their sentence to 12 weeks' imprisonment, computed from June 24th. On the conclusion of this case, another agaiust the master of the ship, Caotam Crawford, charged with unlawfully wounding Daniel Maudonald on Juue 24th, was g.uie into. After hearing the evidence the Bench committed the accused to take his tri.il at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, bail being accepted, himself in £200, and another in £200. A meeting of the Committee of the Working Men's Club was held on Friday wee*. Mr Keith Ramsay, the Mayor, in the chair. The following gentlemen were present — Messrs Robin, Burt, Lees, Johnson, Miller, Powers, Muir, Wishart W. Mercer, D. R. Hay, Sligo, and J. B, Thomson. After a discussion, it was resolved that Messrs Sligo, Thomson, and Ramsay, should be appointed a Sub-committee to draw up a statement of what had been done in the matt-r of the Club, such statement to embody the general principles upon which such institutions are founded. It was also decided that the vari ous trades, workshops, &0., should be asked to send delegat s to a Committee meeting to be held at an early date. The Committee were of opinion that the Institution should simply be oallad a Working Man's Club. Regarding the suddenly announced resignation of the Governor, the Hnkitika Register rema'ks :-— (( The abrupt resignation of the present Governor of New Zealand will no doubt; occasion some little suiprise throughout the Colony, although we are unable to see that he was under any obligati<m to apprise his Ministry of his intentions. Our last +wo Governors have formed a remarkable contrast to one another — the one hunting for popularity with might and main, and dearly loving the adulation of Colonial flunkeys ; the other repelling brusquely tha reasonable, exhibitions of l"ya!ty made to Her Majesty through himself by the colonists. The former of these is still pursuing his career of cajolery in Victoria ; the latter goes home, and will probably retiro into private life. Let us hope that the coming man will manage to hit the happy mean between the two." Wo are pleased to hear that the efforts of the ladies who are engiged in collecting goods for a fanoy bazaar, to be held at Christmas, in aid of the Building Fund of All Saints' Church, are likely to bu crowned with success. Immediately after the announcement was published that this buziar was to be held at the above date, those interested in the new church at the southern end of the town intimated their intention of holding a bazaar in aid of its funds at Easter. The result has, we understand, been a somewhat active competition. While we think it a pity in the interest of both churches that the congregation of St. Thomas's did not wait a little before commencing their efforts, we trust that neither bazaar will suffer in consequence. We are informed that, not content with levying contributions in Dunedin, the ladies of All Saints' Church are gathering in articles of every description from England and Viotoria. The ownei's of land in the neighbourhood of the Tokomairiro coalfield (writes the Bruce Herald) will be glad to learn that a second expert has confirmed Captain Hutton's favourable report on one of our great resources. At the request of Mr J. Maokay, Mr David Hutcheson, so well known in connection with the Shag Point coal mine, and a practical miner of very great experience, visited and closely inspected the "Real Maukay" mine last week. His report is thoroughly favourable, ,not only to the coal seam but to the facilities for working which this mine possesses, and which he says are such that three hundred miners could find employment at a week's notice at any time, and would average an output of from twelve to eighteen tons each per diem. He also comments on the new road now being made to the pit, which, from its almost uniformly level character, when completed, will, he thinks, effect a great saving in the carnage of coal. A Paris correspondent (writes the Berwickshire News) says a proposal to prohibit work on Sundays was brought before the Chamber on Saturday, and thrown out, the Government voting with the majority. Thereupon the Rappell accused the clerical party of wishing to introduce the English Sunday into France, and for the edification of its readers it draws the following sketch of Sunday in London: — "All is closed. The bakers don't bake, and the eating houses are sealed. It is difficult for a foreigner to avoid dying of hunger. A glass of wine would cost the publican three guineas ; for piety is stuffed with a fine, and God is protected by the Police. The inhabitants the.raselves do not fare much better. You would look in vain for smoke from the chimneys. The cook does not dare to light her fire. The family dinners are composed of the remains of the preceding day, and stale, hard bread. They leave home merely to go to church — grave and lugubrious in their Sunday clothes, without turning their heads or speaking to one another. They return and sing hymns the rest of the day. The streets are then empty, and the town is like a cemetery— dead and mournful."

The doings of the young man who hna been passing himself off us a military Captain in Dunedin, and an account of wli'ihQ proceedings we give in another column, haa tormed one of the chief topics of conversation lately, and numbers of stories aie told of the easy manner in which he managed to obtain money and credit from his victims. It is Baid that when he left the hotel he iirsfc honoured with his presence, he went to another in the northern part of the town, but before deciding to stop there, made particular enquiries as to the respectability of those who were residing in the same house, and especially with refertm c to those who occupied the apartments next his bi droom. He spoke freely of his wealth, and explained to the landlord that he was in the habit of living a very retired sort of life. Whatever truth there was in this, there is little doubfc that his mode of living will be decidedly retired in the future). The lessee of the Auckland Inlands (Dr Monckton), sajs thu SuuthLuid News, nothing deterred by the difficulties that beset the previous cruise of the Mibel Jane, has lost no time in laying the tight little schooner on again, this time with a cargo of sheep, which experience has shown will be much easier to handle at first than cat le. She takes also several thousaucl fe.et of timber and other materi.ila required for the construction of buildings, &c\ Mr K. M'lvor goes in charge of the expedition, aud is accompanied by a married couple and two or three single men, whom it is purposed to leave on the island to commence carrying out the works required to bo performed in terms of the lease, together with the construction of the stock yaid-s and houses that will b6 necessary for the management of the horned stook which it ia intended to take down. We may add that the sohoonur is now fully manned and equipped, and will sail from Riverfcon with the thsb slant of wind. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs the following information : "Major Atkinson has joined the Ministry, and will hold Mr O'Rorke'a portfolios. The members of the Legislative Council are very indignant at the reference to them in tho Governor's speech aasuming their approval or the abolition of the North Island Province*, aud one or two meetings have bean held ; and it wai proposed to sign a remonstrance to the Governor, but ultimately it was decided to leave the matter over till next session, and then bring it up. They say the question was never submitted to the Council, and the Government had no right from incidental speeches to assume their ass-nt. Messrs Douglas, Robert Campbell, Davidson, aud othora, have concluded to pure ase 20,000 acres of swamp 1 mcl at Oraina, in this Province, at 12s 6d per acre, they undertaking to sj'oncl £10,000 in drainage and improvements, and to establish a special settlement; of 70 families with 100 acres each, Tho necessary Order in Council authorising the transaction has been signed," Sir James Fergusson's reason for resigning the Governorship of New Zetland, says the Southland News, strikes us a* something refreshingly original. "Not enough work to do for tho money. C mnob stund so much loafing about." This is delightfully plain language, and should be pleasant to those who have sometimes murmured at the cost of keeping up an institution of doubtful utility. Of course we do not wish ifc to be inferred thab Sir James actually said finything so horribly slangy as the words we have placed between inverted commas. Certainly nob. His mode of expression was strictly diplomatic — "A desire to lead at home a more active life than that of responsible Governor of a Constitutional CoJouy." It is a little singular th it, while Sir Jamos haa been suffering for want of occupation — %( pining away in inglorious ease," his paymasters, tho public, have been entertaining the absurd idea that he rather shirked the duties of his office. Or, to put the matter in the curtest of Saxon, if Sir James imagined he had not work enough to do, the people believed he did not do enough work. Wa are pleased to observe that Mr O. D. Barraud, of Wellington, whoao pictures of New Zealand scenery are so well and favourably known, proposes to reproduce in chroinolibhographic colours a number of his mosb interesting views. Mr Barraud some time since made an extended tour of Otago, and has lately returned from the Hot Like 3in the NortL Island. We have had an opportunity of inspecting a number of the sketches made by him on these trips, and shall gladly welcome their publication. Those desirous of subscribing to the work may see in the windows of Messrs Reith and Wilkie, Wise, aud Livingston, a few of the original pictures, which have been kindly lent for the purpose by their owner, Mr Justice Chapman We understand the letterpress, which will be interspersed with numerous woodcuts, is to be undertaken by Mr Travers, of Wellington, a gentleman fully qualified to do justice to so large and important a work ; and that in order to ensure its publication in a style worthy of the Colony, Mr Barraud intends to have the views printed in Eagland under his own superintendence. A memorial, says the Adelaide Observer is in course of signature by persons interested in Colonial productions, supporting the Bill now before the House of Assembly to provide for free trade between South Australia and the other provinces of Australasia and New Zealand. The petition says— "That your memorialists understand that an opposition to this measure is being attempted by a few of our local manufacturers, who fear that the competition of similar manufacturers in the neighbouring Colonies may reduce their profits. That in the opinion of your memorialists the producers of wine, wheat, fruit, and other articles of natural production in this Colony will far outnumber the manufacturers alluded to, and that the benefits to bo derived from such free trade will very far outweigh the disadvantages, if any. that may arise from it, the more especially as in case of reduction in the price of manufactured articles the consumers will reip a corresponding advantage." The petition then refers to the fact that if the admission of any particular article would entail special hardship on any class it would be omitted, that being a matter of arrangement botween the respective Governments.

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Says theWellirgton Post:— "Our semiofficial contemporary, the Times, has been ' authorised to say that the statements which have appeared as to what took, place or tiampired in the conversation between Mr Stifford and Mr Vogel are altogether incorrect.' We do nob attach the slightest importance to this contradiction. Mr Vogel lvvvY hesitates to contradict anything the publication of wliich does not suit him. An exoe'lent example of this is on record iv r. si.ecfc of the great South Sea scheme. When a whisper of this gob abroad through the medium of the Ofcago Times, it was antlior tatively contradicted in peculiarly would teruis. Ytt the result proved that the information was substantially correct I)i like manner our statements regarding the lucent negotiations between Mr Vogel and Mr S aff-rd are, we have reason to know, subs', ami illy accurate, the authorised contradiction of their perfect accuracy notwithstanding." Mauy of those who have been residents of Dune I in, Greymouth, or Charleston (says the New Zealand Times), will remember Mr James Juhnsrone, the proprietor of hotels in these places, each known by the name <-f the Melbourne, and will regret to lesirn that the old host is dead. Mr Johnston \v is one of the first to supplement the then meigre h' tel accommodation of Dunedin at the time of the rush in 1861, by building an extensive hotel in Maclaggan street, which building was subsequently burnt down. He was also a caterer for the public by organising memorable steamboat excursions, and by lending the. refreshment rooms at the Dunedin Exhibition. In Greymouth he built one of the principal hotels in the place, which was rebuilt after the large lire by which he wav a second time a sufferer. In Westport and Charleston he was also a hotelkeeper, and his name is known far and. wide aa a somewhat eccentric but genial host. Latterly fortune did not favour him, and he betook himself to Southland, to renew, in a sm;dl< r way, his old occupation, but he has not long survived his removal thither, having died a few days ago at the Buff. The following is from the Melbourne Telegraph :—": — " We have been shown a design for an improved sea-going steamer, the inventor be us; Mr Wilcox, of this city. Mr Wilcox proposes to utilise the displacement of water (caused by the immersion of the vessel) as a propelling power, and further provides for the least possible friction. The construction of his vessel is of such a kind that it is next to impossible that she could ship a sea ; and the oscillation, which forms so disagreeablt! a feature of the modern clipper steamahip, is reduced to a minimum. The propelling power is of a very powerful nature, an 1 the inventor has also, by a new method of steering the ve9«el, remedied the impediment to speed which at present attaches to the action of the rudder in modern steamships. It would obviously be unjust to the inventor to disclose the principles of his theory ; but we can honestly Bay that, so far as we can judge of the matter, it points to a new and important improvement in ocean travelling. Those who may be desirous of inspecting the design and hearing the inventors explanation of his theory, can see Mr Wilcox at 39 Little Collins street west." The first report of the Hawaiian Immigration Society shows that the Society was established about a year ago for the purpose of inducing immigration to that kingdom. From the report we learn that the cultivation and manufacture of sugar gives employment to about 3786 hands, and that 12,225 acres are occupied in the growth of sugar cave. The yield of the crop for 1874 is estimated to be equal to 30,000 0001b. The average yield is about two tons per acre, but as high as seven tons of sugar have been obtained from some of the finest upltnds. About 150.000 acres are considered well adapted for the growth of the ausjar cane, which, with plenty of labour, will be capable of yielding at least 200,000 tons of sugar per annum. Large blocks of land are suitable for other kind of cultivation, and it is believed that the Sandwich Islands could absorb a good many industrious labouring men, as in most of the settled districts there ia a constant demand for labour. There is a great disproportion of the sexes, for, according to the census of 1872, there were 6403 males in excess of females, in a population of 56,897 souls. The Southland News learns that Mr Lv msden, M. P. C. , was on Saturday week the viciim of a rather smart trick practised by a couple of Chinamen. On the forenoon of tlia r . diy the Celestials entered his shop, and "with aspect bland" represented that they wished something done to an old gla^s-faced watc i, which one of them carried. Neither of the pair c.aild or would speak plain English, aud it was only after showing them a new hunting watch, that Mr Lumsden understood they wanted a similar case put on thciis. They were in a hurry too, and would have it done at once. After a deal of chaffering, one of the Chinamen suddenly left, and the other remained *br a short time, when he also departed, taking with him the article which was to be altered. N. 'thing more was thought of the matter till Monday, when Mr Lumsden missed from its case the watch he had been showing to the coolies; and suspecting they knew something about it, he applied to the Police, who used such expedition, that by the following morning the innocent-looking Celestial was apprehended on the road to Dunedin with the watch in his possession. The Hawke's Bay Herald reports "an inte esting case " of supposed witchcraft as occurring at one of the native settlements in the Poverty Bay district. The victim is a young Maori girl, who, being attacked with some ordinary disorder, took it into her head that she had been maketued by a tohunga, or wizard, who lives a few miles distant, feimply because a girl with whom she had quarrelled had gone to reside in the settlement whore this tohunga wa3 living, and tlio sick girl therefore set it down as a foregone conclusion t' at her enemy had induced tho tohunga to bewitch her. She is fairly out of her mind, partakes of but little nourishment, aud remains from day to day in a sort of stupor, varied at intervals with a species of frenzy, when she rushes about, climbing poles and on to the roofs of whares, with other similar feats of agility. It is a pity to see a young girl in so distressing a state ; but the majority of the natives are

firm in their belief as to the witchcraft, and have made up their minds that she mu3t die, unless another tohunga of a more powerful calibre arrives on the scene, and counteracts the spells of his contemporary in the black art. A new pass between the West and East Coasts 18 supposed to have been discovered by Mr James Evans, of Hokitika. This gentleman, it seems, was out cattle hunting up the valley of a river called the Waitahi, and passed over to another watershed, which is thus described by the West Coast Times : — "Between 40 aud 50 miles inland, as the crow" llies, the river, or some othei* that joins it, divides into three streams. One of these flows down to the West Coast, another goes off diagonally, but a third flows to the eastward through, an — as yet— uuexplored canon or gorge. As it must be very evident water cannot run up-hill, there seems every reasonaide ground for believing that either the stream in question finds some lake into which to empty itself, or that it affords a clue to a route through the rift into the M'Kenzie country, or some other parb of the low lauds of Canterbury. The country en route _is described as magnificent. Timber flats with splendid trees of the most valuable kinds of wood, long reaches of beautiful pasture, and everything, in short, to tempt settlement of the most substantial kind." Mr Evans, it is further statod, has gone with a party properly provisioned on an exploring expedition. It will be remembered (says the Press) that some time since the German lesidents of Christchurch, through Mr J. G. Ruddenklau, who was then in Europe, made application to Prince Bismarck for a peal of three bells — or rather for sufficient metal to cast them — the Germans here undertaking the cost of founding them. They are now in the Province, and steps are being taken to add to and complete the peal, and erect it in a bell tower to be built in connection with the German Church in Worcester street. With a view to make the peal a public one, and thus solve the very difficult problem of a peal of bells for Chnstchiu'ch, the committee of the ohurch have decided to hand over the three bells now in Curistchurch to a committee to be appointed by the citizens, they only reserving the right to be represented thereon. With this view, and with the intention of making the p<-al complete, and also to def ray the cwst of the erection of the belfry tower and hanging, subscription lists have been issued. A very fair amount has already been subscribed, and it is anticipated that sufficient will be forthcoming to carry out the project as contemplated. The cost of the erection of the tower and hanging is estimated at about £300. For some weeks past the Wellington police (says the Post) have been troubled by a l-.ind of Will o' the Wisp, in the shape of a man named John Albert Halbitter, alias Hans Nisen, alias Kohn, &c. He was severally heard of at Palmeraton, Foxton, Masterton, and all the other up-country townships, and everywhere he went he victimised some one, either by means of valueless cheques or by stealing horses. No sooner were the police informed of his doings in any one place than he disappeared there, to re- appear somewhere else 1 under a fre9h alias. A few days ago he victimised several hotel-keeperß m the city by means of forged cheques, professing to be drawn by Mr Monrad of the Manawatu. One police officer is said to have ridden over 100 miles in pursuit of this individual, and no fewer than four warrants — two for horse stealing and two for forgery — have been out for him for some time, and today Sergeant Price succeeded in effecting a clever capture. Mr Halbitter was just on the eve of accompanying two lady friends to the Hutt in a private carriage hired by himself, when his career was out short by being arrested, and his fair friends had to return disconsolate to their homes. He came out as aervant to Mr Fergusson, A.D.C , in the Jubilee. The usual monthly meeting of the Portobello Road Board waa held on Saturday at the Board Room. Mr M'Cartney presided. i After reading the minutes, letters were re- | ceived and read from Messrs Wishart and ! North about the Arthur's Seat Road, the latter offering on certain conditions to keep a drain of the said road in order, and to exj tend it to his main drain, which offer was 1 accepted. Letters were also read from Mr Stewart, surveyor, requesting payment of an account, which was passed accordingly ; and from Messrs Waipers, soliciting the Board to agree to terms about that portion of Sandy Mount Road which passes over their land. Messrs Aitcheson and Boyles were appointed to confer with them on the matter. A statement was made to the Board that a road in fae same district had been obstructed by a fence erected by Mr Bryce. The clerk was instructed to write to that gentleman on the matter. The Portobello Subcommittee were authorised to proceed with the cutting of the hill on Papanui Road as soon as the weather permits, the necessary money to be obtained from the I general funds of the subdivision, and to be j refunded at the earliest possible opportunity by its being made a first charge on the income of the ward. After voting the auditors' fee the meeting adjourned to Wednesday, the 15t.*t inst. How deceptive are appearances, says the Intelligent Vagrant in th« Bruce Herald. A few nights ago there came to a hotel in the township of Comus, Otago, a traveller. The hotel is called the Cosmos, and I am particular in giving its name and the town in which it is situated, because such will avoid an amount of nasty conjecture that invariably follows indistinctness in this respect. Well, the traveller came to the hotel and made particular enquiries as to whether they could accommodate with stabling 13 horses that were then on the road, and would soon arrive. The enterprising proprietor of the hotel would have accommodated 13 giraffes under the circumstances, so the stables were cleared out of their wonted occupants, who were put to shelter in a paddock to Jeeward of a wire fence, and all waa got ready for the 13 horses. The traveller was hungry, and he ate ; he was thirsty, and he drank j and finally he was weary, and he went to bed. But a groom sat up with a lantern and a bottle of brandy (which latter the traveller provided), waiting for the horses. And in the morning, when the proprietor of the hotel awoke, lo ! the

brandy bottle was a dead man, and the groom waa asleep, and no horses had come, and the traveller had disappeared without asking for his bill. And there was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. After a number of unforeseen difficulties and delays, Mr Genever succeeded on Tv« > lay in raising the new gasometer to its proper height. As this was merely a trial "lift" the holder was raised by air forced in by a powerful centrifugal fan, driven by a portable steam-engine at a high rate of speed. The gasometer is what is technically described aa a telescopic one, that is, it works in an iuvorted cup. The advantage of this principle is that a gasometer can be constructed with much larger holding capabilities and occupying less ground than one built on the ordinary system. The holder is capable of storing 160,000 ft. of gas. The full length of the lift is 40ft., and the diameter of the holder 80ft. Yesterday about four hours were occupied in filling the holder, and it required about one hour to empty it. Judging from the speed at which the fan was revolving in a reverse direction as the air escaped -something over 3000 revolutions a minute — we should imagine that tha pressure of gas from this holder will be sufficient to satisfy the most whimsi cal of town councillors. After a few trifling leaks have been stopped, we believe it is Mr . Genever's intention to fill the gasometer for use in about a fortnight. We have to thank Mr Genever for the ready manner in which he supplied our representative with all particulars necessary. A return published in a recent issue of the New Zealand Gazette gives the number, amount, &c, of Money Order and Savings Bank trausactious in the several postal districts of the Colony of New Zealand during the quarter ending 30th June, 1874. The total number of Money Order and Saviugs Bank Olfices open i 3 98, of which 24 are in Otago. For the corresponding quarter of 1873 the number was 95. The number of money orders issued was 15,741 ; the amount £67,189 0s Id ; the number paid 10.575, and the amount £46,355 7s Bd. For Dunedin the number of money ordeis issued was 3821, and the amount j816,813 17s lid ; the number paid 2558, and the amount £11,420 19s lOcl. This shows a large increase in the business of the corresponding quarter of the previous year, Dunedin standing first on the list. The number of accounts opened at Savings Banks for the quarter was 2567, and the number closed 1356 ; the number of de- j posits was 13,100, and the withdrawals 6896. The amount of the deposits was £171,745 10s, and the withdrawals £160,836 5s 2d. In Dunedin, where by far the largest business is transacted, 693 accounts were opened, and 320 closed, the deposits amounting to £47,823 7s lid, and the withdrawals to £42,354 17s 7d, the excess of deposits over withdrawals being £4968 10s 4d. The Savings Bank business for the quarter ending June 30th, 1874, comnares very favourably with that of the corresponding quarter of 1873. The time of the Port Chalmers Police Court — Dr O'Donoghue and Capt. Thomson, J.P.s, presiding— was occupied the other day in dealing with the case of Mary Anne Lloyd, an incorrigible person several times convicted of larceny and drunkenness. On this occasion she was arraigned on the charge of having wilfully and maliciously broken six panes of glass of a window in the residence of Mr and Mrs Beadle. Sergeant Neil pro- , secuted, and was several times impudently interrupted by the prisoner, until at last he had to appeal to the Bench for protection, i Daniel Beadle, the complainant, deposed that at about 1 I o'clock on Wednesday night his j wife and himself were aroused by the smashing of the window and a great rattling upon j the front door. Witness rushed out. and found the prisoner doing a sort of war dance in front of the house and screaming She challenged Mrs Beadle to come out and she would "smash her." The woman had not received any provocation from either witness or his wife. The prisoner, hay- j ing no defence to offer, was fined 9s, the value of the broken windows, with 6s 6d costs. Mrs Beadle then charged the defendant with having put her in bodily fear, and applied to the Court to bind her over to keep the peace. Her application was acceded to, ] the defendant being bound over for three months ; herself in £20, and two sureties in £10 each. As the sureties were not forth- j coming, Mrs Lloyd was handed over to the | care of the Police, and will probably spend three months under their surveillance. She will be no loss to society meantime. A thorough appreciation of the advantages of comfortable board and lodging provided by the Government, is not solely confined to new arrivals. A "heathen Chinee," one day lately at Arrowtown, made himself conspicuous by refusing to leave the interior of Her Majesty's Gaol in that Mvinicipality f when informed by the gaoler that the term of his month's imprisonment had been shortened by fourteen days, and that he might depart a free roan. For some act of petty larceny, John Chinaman had been sentenced by the Bench to one month's imprisonment, withhardlabour,butin "tricks that are dark" this "heathen Chinee" was deeply skilled, and he proved almost a match for his custodians. He certainly would take his wheelbarrow, pick, and spade out with him every morning and afternoon, but he professed a total ignorance of their uses, while his course of instruction by his guardian policeman necessitated so much labour on the part of that functionary that the honest, goodintentioned preserver of the peace found that the sentence of hard work had really fallen upon him, and his dilemma was the cause of much merriment. The upshot was, that as this " heathen Chinee " was the only prisoner under sentence, and his offence a not very venial one, it was decided to extend to him the usual clemency of the law in regard to prisoners undergoing sentence. The wily Celestial, however, thought differently, and notwithstanding that his quarters were considered by Europeans more death-dealing than agreeable, could not be persuaded to "savee" this commutation of his sentence. An action of ejectment to remove a prisoner objecting to leave a gaol was not to be thought about by the police, al though such a course was resorted to by the Provincial Government, desirous of dislodg- ( ing some obstinate immigrants from the old barracks. Summary proceedings were at

once resorted to, and the gaol doors were duly locked, barred, and bolted against this eager candidate for prison fare and lodging. Rejected by Mr Stafford (says the Wellington Post), Mr Vogel has sought sympathy and consolation in the tender arms of Major Atkinson. He certainly might have done very much worse. Major Atkinson is a sensible, practical, and we believe, as things go politically, honest man. He is not without official experience, having held the office of Defence Minister very creditably in very troublous times, and personally he is decidedly popular. Ever since he entered Parliament on the last occasion, after defeating Mr Moorhouse for Egmont, he has been looked on as a probable Minister, although it was for some time doubtful with which side he would throw in his lot. Major Atkinson has always been a strong centralist, and in the late debate he unequivocally suppnrtfd the Government resolutions, being the first private member who spoke in support of them. Of all the members in the House at all likely to listen to the Premier's overtures, Major Atkinson is probably the best, and as we must atill for a period submit to the rule of the Vogel Ministry, we are bj. no means sony that Major Atkinson is a member of it. He will probably prove a less tractable member than most of Mr Vogel's other colleagues. His accession to the Ministry, however, is not likely to be viewed very favourably in the South, for Major Atkinson has ever been a determined opponent of the principle of the Compact of 1856, and an earnest advocate for restoring the Land Fund to its original position aa Colonial revenue. His views on this subject are so pronounced that Mr Vogel's acceptance of him aa a colleague is highly significant. The Tweed, which arrived on the 4th inst., brought 374 souls, equal to 259 statute adultß. Among them were 168 gentral and farm labourers, 6 gardeners, 9 navvies, 7 ploughm n, 8 carpenters, 9 blacksmiths, 3 platelayers, 2 brickmakers, 4 bricklayers, 2 plasterer, 9 bootmakers, 4 painters, 7 shepherds, 1 printer, 2 masons, 2 miners, 4 cooks, 60 general servants, 7 housemaids, 2 housekeepers, 2 laundresses, 2 barmaids. Thrt ship Parsee, from Glasgow, brought 382 soula, equal to 312 statute adults. Her passengers included— Farm and general labourers, 39 ; ploughmen, 13 ; miners, 12 ; joiners and cabinetmakers, 6 ; blacksmiths, 8 ; engine- i rivers, 2 ; masons, 7 ; shepherds, 3 ; bootmakers, 5 ; domestic servants, 49 ; machinist, 1. Their nationalities were —English, 6 ; Scotch, 344 ; Irish, 32. The next vessel due is the Christian M'Ausland, from London, which left Grayesend on June 27th. The following is a list giving a classified sumsummary of the immigrants : — Male adults, 126 ; female adults. 102 ; male children, 46 ; female children, 58 ; infants, 17— total, 349 souls, equal to 280 statute adults. Snmmary of trades and occupations of the men :—: — Farm labourers, 32 ; general labourers, 43 ; miner, 1 ; navvies, 2 ; ploughmen, 3 ; quarryman, 1 ; gardeners, 2 ; roadmaker, 1 ; carpenters, 5 ; joiner, 1 ; millwrights, 2 ; case maker, 1 ; sawyer, 1 ; railway carriage builderß, 2 ; boiler maker, 1 ; machinist, 1 ; blacksmith, 1 ; tailors, 2 ; breaksman, 1 ; boot makers, 5 ; shepherds, 3 ; housepainter, 1 ; bricklayers, 2 ; groom, 1 : paintet, 1 ; carman, 1. Single women : — General servants, 32 ; nursemaid, 1 j housemaid, 1. Nationalities. — English, 244 ; Irish, 60 j Scotch, 39 ; French, 6. Speaking of the resignation of his Excellency the Governor, the Adelaide Observer has the following : — "Sir James Fergusson, it appears, has grown weary of the burden of Viceroyalty, and has tendered his resignation to Earl Carnarvon. From the first he has displayed an inaptitude for accommodating himself to the unsensational routine of a Colonial Governor's duties. His individuality is too strong to allow of his filling with satisfaction to himself or to those over whom he may be set, the strictly neutral position of representative of the Crown in Colonies possessing responsible Government. This was made painfully apparent in South Australia, and his period of administration in New Zealand has not been one whit smoother. No indication is given in the teleg~am announcing hiß resignation of the reasons for his withdrawal from the career in which he has spent between six and seven years. It is evident that his determination to relinquish a viceregal life ia not a thing of yesterday, for the Secretary of State has had time formally to assent to his retirement and to appoint his successor. It is conceivable that the altered aspect of mat ters political at home has had something to do with his resolution. He left England for South Australia on the eve of the downfall of the Disraeli Administration, of which he had been a member, and it is possible that a place will be found for him in the Conservative Government now in office. In appointing as his successor the Marquis of Normanby, the present Governor of Queensland, the Disraeli Cabinet have returned the compliment paid by Mr Gladstone to Sir James Fergusson. The latter, a staunch Conservative, and originally an appointee of Mr Disraeli, waß transferred to New Zealand, and the Marquis of Normanby, a Liberal peer aad originally an appointee of Mr Gladstone, has been promoted to the same place. It is not stated who is to succeed the Marquis of Normanby at Brisbane, but possibly Mr Ducane, late Governor of Tasmania, will receive the vacant appoint ment." One of those very rare occurrences, an accident to a waterman's boat, happened at the Port on Thursday week, and was all but attended by fatal results. The two watermen, Barton and Fail, who manned the boat, were placed in the greatest peril, for unmindful of their own safety in their anxiety for that of those they had in charge, they were drifted away from the ship, and were some distance down the harbour before picked up. The accident was brought about by the stupidity of several passengers who were in the boat. The latter it appears left the jetty with eight of them on boari), and proceeded to the Otago, where, in spite of the entreaties and warnings of the watermen a general rush was made for the ship's ladder. Three of the passengers got out all right, and then the weight of the remaining five being on one side, the boat careened over and swamped. Luckily the five men had hold of the ladder and the gear about it,

whilst the unfortunate watermen went astern with the boat, on© of them (Barton) being under her. He, however, managed to clear himself, and climbed upon the boat's bottom. Fail, who had a heavy coat on, was some distance from the boat, but fortunately succeeded making a life-buoy that had been thrown from the Otago. The two men drifted down to abreast of the Caroline, and were then picked up by a boat despatched from the Otago. The passengers were also rescued, and, excepting the ducking, were none the worse for the mishap. They were immigrants by the ship. We know it is a very common practice on the part of the inexperienced to rise up in a boat as soon as she reaches her destination, and it is a practice fraught with peril. Passengers should sit quietly in a boat, and leave her one by one, orderly and without hurry, and at the same time pay the most implicit obedience to the directions of the watermen. We have every reason to place the greatest confidence in the skill and reliability of the Port watermen, and feel very sure that but for the headstrong ignorance displayed by those that Messrs Barton and Fail had in charge, the accident would not have happened. Mr Rolf, who officiated on the Bench at the Port Chalmers Police Court on Monday, very truly designated as disgraceful the scene that was enacted at the Port on Sunday afternoon. So much rowdyism and drunkenness had not been seen at that usually quiet locality for many a day, and although some slight latitude i 3 to be accorded to newly- arrived immigrants, and trifling peccadillos on their part winked at, yet the line of common decency must be drawn somewhere, and it grieves us to hear of that line being so woefully overstepped on Sunday by people who, having but recently left the very centre of the world's civilisation, and who we were given to understand had been carefully selected for colonising purposes, would naturally be expected i*o set an example of good behaviour to thwe whom they had come amongst. It was" indeed a very degrading exhibition, that gave the police a vast amount of trouble, and indeed, but for the very great forbearance exercised by them many more of the new-comers would have found quarters for the night in the lock-up. One crowd of drunken fellows absolutely took charge of a waterman's boat and proceeded to put off to their ahip in her. Here the watchful attention of Captain M'Callum, the Pier Master, prevented what to a certainty would have resulted in a fatal accident, for observing the condition the men were in, and also that they were fighting amongst themselves, he sent another boat to bring the one back,, the waterman who was on board her being absolutely powerless to control the movements of his own property. To say the Port was thronged by new arrivals would be no exaggeration, and it appeared to us that the great majority of them were bent on procuring drink. Several of the women evidently took more than was good for them, and one of the unfortunate creatures, with a child in her arms, narrowly escaped a night in the watch-house. We declaimed on a former occasion against the practice of bringing immigrant ships to the Pier before the passengers were landed, and placed in safe keeping, and we have now to suggest the advisability of not permitting even nominated immigrants to leave the ship when she is at an anchor in the stream until they leave for good and all. It may seem a hardship to confine people on board after a long voyage, but far better that than indiscriminate passing between the ship and the shore, which in seven cases out of ten will only be productive of such scenes as were enacted at the Port on Saturday and Sunday A correspondent at West Taieri sends us the following :—" On Friday last, between 50 and 60 gentlemen met at the Assembly Rooms, West Taieri, to celebrate, -with a first-class public dinner and ball, the presentation of a handsome gold watch and chain to Thomas Ker, Esq., for a number of years the able and well-respected manager of the Taieri branch of the National Bank of New Zealand. The watch and chain werei purchased at Mr Hislop's, at a cost of seventy guineas, and a suitably engraved inscription denoted that the present was given to Mr Ker as a small token of esteem by his numerous friends and well-wishers. The dinner, which was provided and served in capital style by our enterprising townsman, Mr George Shand, junior, consisted of all the delicacies of the season. Mr James Shand, M.P.C., was President, and Mr Charteria Vice-President. The usual toasts, with the exception of the Press, were duly proposed-, and drunk with customary honours. The song, "The March of the Cameron Men»" was sung by Mr Pram, with a capital voice and splendid intonation. Messrs King, Muir, and Turnbull also sang well. A good many speeches, both complimentary and humorous, were made. Our member, the Chairman, especially surpassed himself for fluency and delicate allusions as to the matrimonial intentions of himself and hia fdted guest. It is to be hoped that in the Provincial Council, too, he will divest himself of his natural bashfulness, and speak boldly his views aa he did that night. Mr W. Snow, in presenting the watch and chain, said that when, about six years ago, he proposed the opening of a branch bank at the Taieri to the Bank of New South Wales, the proposal was received only lukewarm, and he waa told that consent had to be got from New South Wales ; when Mr Larnach, the then Manager of the Bank of Otago, took the matter in hand ; and as far as he was aware, both branches here and in Mosgiel were in a flourishing state — to which Mr Bartleman, the Head Manager of the Dunedin Bank, in a short speech, assented. Mr Ker, in accepting the very handsome j> re sent, expressed himself gratified in a suitable speech, and added that his absence in Europe would not be for very long, and that he would be glad to retui-n to a district where he had been always treated with courtesy. Messrs M'Dowell (the new Manager), Blair, David Grant, Charteris, and King also followed in a similar strain. The company then adjourned to the Drill-shed, which was tastefully decorated, there to join the ladies, and to open the ball, to the strains of a vigorous orchestra under the able leadership of Mr Lack, from Dunedin. About 100 couples enjoyed the dancing until a late hour in the morning."

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