News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 11 March 1882, Page 9

News of the Week.

■ » There seems to be a probability of d company being floated to carry out a waterworks scheme for the supply of the various suburban boroughs, and on Thurs-j day night a circular was forwarded fron] Messrs Barr and Oliver, the engineers, asking concessions from the Mornington Borough Council in the carrying out of the scheme in the event of a company being formed, and aug T gesfcing that the Council should appoint a com-! mittee to confer, with them, and receive an explanation of their views and terms' of the undertaking. The Council appointed a com* mittee to confer with the other borough councils before taking action in the matter. At the Morningfcon Council Hall on Thursday i ft number" of visitors attending the meeting of • the Council persisted in applauding the remarks of some of the councillors, even after they had several times been called to order by the' Mayor. CouncillorDennistonfinallysaidthat Unless order were maintained he should move that the Council resolve itself into committee. The noise was repeated with hisses, and Councillor Denniston proposed the motion, and • immediately received the unanimous support 'of the Council. For a time no notice was taken of the resolution, but eventually the hall was cleared and quietness restored. According to latest advices, the condition of Ireland may be said to be still one of disturbance, tempered by suspense. The Land Commissioners are continuing their work, but the number of appeals is large, and there is great difficulty in carrying things forward to a practical settlement. Meanwhile outrages continue. One of the newest forms is the institution of Land League hunts, for the avowed purpose of killing game for the use of the imprisoned suspects. The Dublin Gazette give a return of agrarian outrages reported during December. They were 547, as against 420 in November, and 419 in October. The largest number is again from Munster. A sample from one day's news will best show the kind of mischief with which the Government bos •to contend :— " The Emergency Comjnittae despatched a man by the mail train

from Dublin with a bag filled with writs, whioh he was appointed to post up at the different police-stations in the counties of Westmeath, Galway, Roscommon, and Mayo. _ The man was attacked in the railway carriage by 'a number of men near Mullingar, who seized the bag of writs, and. after destroying them, throw him out of the window as the train was tra veiling along at a rapid rate. Throe men have been arrested."

The local Volunteers have arranged that ,a general parade shall be held when the Otago representatives arrive from Nelson, and thit Corporal Hutchinson should, ou arrival, lie escorted from the railway-station by the various companies with baud to 1 the Garrison Hall, where he would receive, on behalf of the North Dunedin Rifles and other Otago Volunteers, the congratulations of the ofiicor commanding; after which the North Dunedfn Company will accompany him to a hotaj, where a spread will be prepared, and the wdlcome substantially' ended. An alleged case of plagiarism is causing' sonie sensation in Melbourne. In August last there appeared in the Argus an essay by Mr James Smith, entitled "Shakespeare, not Bacom" The Age has procured a work written by Ij>r Steams, in New York, in 1871, on the same subject, and it quotes copiously to show that Mr Smith must have plagiarised considerably. Unfortunately, on the very day of the publication of the charge Mr Smith left Melbourne for Europe by the Liguria to act as commissioner at the Bordeaux Exhibition, so that he cannot be heard in defence.

A man named Samuel Smith was received into the Hospital on Thursday, suffering from a fracture of the left shoulder. Smith, it appears, at Waimate got into the wrong^ train, and did not discover his mistake until it had attained some speed. In jumping off he fell, and met with the injury mentioned.

At Kincaid and M'Queen's foundry, on Thursday, a test crushing was made, by means of a three-head battery belonging to the firm, of a sample of quartz from a claim adjoining Hoffmann's, Long Valley, Serpentine. A considerable quantity of the stone was recently brought down by Mr Arnold Sturm for testing purposes ; but as only a small portion of it has yet been crushed, the result is not yet accurately known. So far, however, the' stone promises a good yield, and as a sample it will probably give from l|oz to lfoz to the ton. I

The Wallace election petition has been decided in favour of Mr Daniel, who thus retains his seat as member for the district.

There is now in course of erection on the reclaimed land at the corner of Vogel, Cumberland, and Jetty streets, a very, large wool and grain store for the firm of Messrs Donald Reid and Co. The building will be of brick, on foundation of Port Chalmers stone, and will have frontages of 238 feet to Cumberland and V"ogel streets, and of 82 feet to Jetty, street. It will consist of three floors, and will be connected with the railway by a siding. There will be .seven entrances— three from vogel street, three from Cumberland street, and one .from Jetty street.' Messrs Mason and Wales are the architects, and Messrs Kermode and Murray the contractors. The following important notice of motion was given at the meeting of the Cavershan Council on Thursday by Mr Barron : — " (I) That this Council views with alarm the evejincreasing danger' to the public health caused by the defective drainage of Dunedin and thb surrounding municipalities. (2) That as defective drainage in one municipality vitiates the atmosphere and produces disease in the adjoining municipalities, it ie futile to expect any effective remedy for the' existing evil without tho co-operation of ail the boroughs interested,. (3) That to secure such co-operation it is desirable that a drainage board, represented by al) the municipalities' interested, be instituted, having, the necessary statutory powers for carrying out a permanent and effective systom of drainage." ■

Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen have now completed the three-ton travelling crane, to the order of the Government, for use on thp Westport railway. It has been tested to thfi required power, and found to work admirably;, and the official test will be made in the course ofa few days. • ' ' I

A meeting of the St. Kilda Council was held on Tnursday to consider the question of a watersupply for the borough. From the discussion and the 'resolutions 'passed, it appears that the South Dunedin Council has withdrawn the terms upon which it first offered tne use of its mains to convey water to the neighbouring' borough. Some uncomplimentary 1 opinions were expressed by the councillors of St. Kilda concerning the South Dunedin Council, and it was decided to terminate the negotiations, ana to apply to the borough of Caversham for ! assistance in obtaining the , desired water j supply: '" '• \ There appears to be some doubt whether th& ' ship .Woodville, mentioned in the cablegrams on Thursday as having .gone ashore off Holyjhead, was really, asstated, bound for Port ChaL mers. We have inquired of , several of the shipping agents here, and can^ gain no intelligence about her. The ship is a well-known visitant to this '?iod however, having made two trips here some five or six years ago. '

L . A witness in the Wallace election petition case gave it as his belief .that Orepuki was a] township, because "there was a policeman and . a public-house there."

Professor Ulrich is at present on a visit to Stewart's Island to inspect the spot where goldis said to have been recently discovered at Port Pegasus. He will also visit Paterson Inlet to see the copper-lode discovered ' there by Mr Thomson.

An episode amusing and altogether unprecedented occurred in the City Police Court on Friday. In an assault case between two females the only evidence forthcoming, besides that of the two principals in the affair, was that of a diminutive youth of six summers, whose utterances proved oracular and wholly unsatisfactory to both parties— the Bench and the onlookers. The stature of this witness did not admit of his being placed in the box, seeing that his head would in that case have been shrouded from their Worships' view by at least six inches of timber. Under these circumstances a singular course was adopted. The youth in question _ was lifted on to a chair noar the solicitors' table, and there posed himself firmly, thumb in mouth, prepared to resist any amount of soarching cross-examination. The answers elicited weie curious, and, it may be oven hinted, contradictory. "Was Mrs Edwards' face bruised before she entered the house?" Witness, after much hesitation : "Yes." This rejoinder proving entirely unsatisfactory to the examining counsel, the query was repeated with mildness and much verbal caressing, and a most satisfactory " No" was the next reply. The same result followed various questions subsequently put, and the witness was eventually lifted from his pedestal in a state of complete bewilderment, but conscious of having discharged, faithfully his duty to his> Quean and country, ' <

Mr ,) Gubert arrived per s.s. Albion on Thursda/ o veiling, bringing with him all British, foreign, :md Australian entries for the Nrw Zealand International Exhibition up to the date of his leaving Melbourne. Tho increased Ueinnud for space will need extra buildings, which will be commenced as .soon as Mr Joubcrt.irrivesin Ohmtehvueh. Tho collection of i-.-unting-s, statuary, and works of art is of the choiccbt and best description. Iho machinery and implement court* will be well filled. Tii viow of the increased demand for space tho promoters have decided upon adher ing firmly to the date advertised for closing— viz., tha 15th iiist.

Tho now licensing committeca have already got to work in the Ohitha district. In Balclutha South Mr It. Hogg has been elected chairman, and in Balclutha North Mr P. Mason. Both committees met to grant transfers. At Kaitangata 'an 'application by William Pine for a transfer from John Walkor, for the Jetty Hotel, was refused, on tho ground that the applicant had been convicted of selling liquor without a license within the lafet three years.

The members of the Mosgiel Philharmonic Society met in the church on Thursday evening for their usual weekly practice. Afterwards they retired to the vestry, where Mr .Drydeii, on behalf of the Society, presented their conductor, Mr Hunter, with a handsome ' easychair and six double volumes of the' Tonic Solfa Reporter, in appreciation of his capabilities as a teacher of music, and of the trouble he has taken in advancing the study and practice of music in Mosgiel. Mr Hunter made a suitable acknowledgment of the gift. After the presentation tea was provided, and some singing brought the meeting to a close. A special meeting of the Dunedin Bowling Club took place in their pavilion on Friday. Thirty-three members were present. The President (Mr J. H. Morrison ) congratulated members on their first meeting in their new and commodious pavilion. Ho then called upon the secretary to read the requisition calling the meeting, and asked the requisitionists to state what busine-s they wished to bring before the meeting. Mr T. Oallender stated he had been given to understand the Committee were proposing to curtail the green in the interests of lawn tennis. The President and Secretary then stated that Mr Callender was labouring under a misapprehension of wh£,t the Committee had agreed upon doing. After considerable discussion a motion of Mr Joh|n M'Neil's, extending what the Committee had, proposed doing, was carried unanimously, pri- 1 viding ample accommodation for both tne games of lawn tennis and bowls. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair-

The Government are making preparations for opening up a portion of the Strath-Taieri for settlement,, and at Friday's meeting of the Taieri 'County Council a communication tp this effect was received from Mr W. Arthur (chief surveyor), together with a plan Bhowine tracings of proposed road-lines through that part known as the Cottesbrpok Station. Mr Arthur requested that- 'the county engineeY (Mr R. Hay) should be instructed to visit the ground and make an examination of the lines, so that they might afterwards 1 confer as to the most efficient means of expending the money before a final report should be submitted to the Government. This is undoubtedly a sfceb in the right direction. " " ' F Towards, the, erection of anew^resbyterian churcji at Port phalmers sqven Ipeal residents have promised a subscription ol £50 each. Ap additional £JSO was' promised at a preliminary meeting, so that , £500 has already been subscribed. ThV'totalcostof the church is expected to be about '£3ooo. *

In answer to the circular of the Christchurch Industrial Association re the forthcoming Ex* hibition, Messrs A. and T. Burt write :— -"Much to our regret, we are unable to be exhibitors oh this occasion. The exhibits with which we took the medals, &C 1 . at Sydney, Melbourne, and Dunedin have all been -sold, and the short period which has intervened, coupled with a more than ordinary press of work, prevents up from' doing justice to ourselves in the way of producing an exhibit such as the importance ojf the event demands ; and as %ye do not care to be otherwise than adequately represented, wp are reluctantly compelled to deny ourselves the privilege of' being exhibitors." 'The election for the vacant seat for Kensington Ward in the Caversham Borough Council took place on Friday, and occasioned a good deal of excitement. Out of a total number of 76 >on. the roll, 56 ratepayers recorded their votes, representing 94 votes. Amongst the candidates was Mr E. W. U'Reri, the late member, but there was a feeling of strong opposition to him, and he was returned lowest on the poll. At about half-past 6Mx Martin- Pearce, returning-officer, declared the result as follows :— S. H. Trevena, 48 ; John Ogg, 25 ; E. W. U'Ren, 20. There was one informal vote.

At Invercargill Mr M'Qulloch, R.M., has ruled that card-playing in a hotel is not an l" unlawful game." His Worship noticed tha,t in none of the three Acts now in force was what were unlawful games defined. In these circumstances they had to fall back on the old statutes, dating as far back as the time of ■Henry VIII., and two leading statutes passed in the reign, of George IV., but none of these said that' cards or playing with them was an unlawful game.' They made certain game's with cards, which were enumerated, unlawful, but, card-playing in itself was not unlawful. Inspector Buckley suggested that in these circumstances the present Colonial Act required amendment.

The Hon. E. Richardson has definitely announced himself as a candidate for Stamnore.'

J t will be remembered that our telegrams on Saturday morning (remarks a Nelson paper) conveyed the information that Lieutenant Adam, of Otago, had missed his passage in Wellington, but that officer succeeded nevertheless in reaching Nelson before the prize firing was commenced. The difficulties which beset Lieutenant Adam were certainly not easily to be overcome, but so persistently did he set to work that he arrived in town in time for tea on Sunday. On finding that the Wanaka had left him behind he at once madej . inquiries whether any other vessel was about to proceed to this port, and on finding that there was none, he must have begun to feel that he was in a dilemma. Shortly, however, he appears to have discovered that the steamer Napier was leaving Wellington on Friday night for Picton, and he < at once secured' his passage by her. On the trip across, and while the steamer was in the Sounds, hoy machinery broke down, and once more Liontenant Adam must have felt despondent, but the vessel ultimately arrived at Picton on Saturday. At Picton the lieutenant heard that a ship's boat belonging to the Star of the Sea, which vessel came to grief, was about to leave for Havelock, and the men who were taking the boat thenoe made room for him, and our representative safely reached Havelook,but still he was 35 miles from Nelson. But evidently being resolute, he set out to cover the distance on foot, and this he succeeded, in accomplishing, ' ?

We understand that the whole of the first year's ''entals for the Otago runs arc no>v paid up.

One or two cases of sticking up occurred in the .so^th end of the city last week. In one case an individual had his watch and £2 in money stolen He was in company with another at the ti.ne, and the two were tackled by some four 0/ five men.

The nomination of candidates to form a Town Board for Outram, under the Town Districts Act, took place on Thursday, when the following gentlemen were nominated :— Messrs Donald Borne, William Snow, Alexander Chisholm, Michael Tynan, and Dr James M'Brearty. As these comprise the number required to form a board, the above gentlemen will constitute the first Outram Town Boar^. Very littlo interest was taken in the proceedings. '.

A prayer-meeting for rain was held at Bathurst on February 22nd, and was large jy attended. The Anglican bishop presided. lA. number of Protestant clergyman took part. (

A feeling of horror, rather than of interest, has been created by a strange story which has come to light in Staffordshire. Two years ago two farmers, named Henry Johnson and Samuel Clowes, living at Rushton, near Leek, were comieted of mutilated a neighbouring farmer, one Isaac Brooks. The evidence seemed precise, and the two were sentenced to 10 years' penal servitude. Brooks is described as a "sort of rustic Don Juan," and the motive for the attack on him was supposed to bo revenge for one of his victims. Some months later ho was found with another wound, and again declared that he had been assailed. He lived a strange and moody life, and began to waste away, as some said under the influence of a guilty conscience. At last he died, but before his death confessed that he had inflicted the woundß himself, and falsely charged his neighbours. It is a strange case. The Home Secretary has ordered a full inquiry. The Lancet inclines, on medical evidence, to the belief that Brooks mutilated himself in a fit of insanity.

According to a paragraph in a Home paper the transit of Venus that takes place this year has not raised the same interest as in 1874. The photographic records secured on that occasion having proved of little value, there is no likelihood of the camera again being brought into requisition. In fact the expeditions, undertaken to observe the phenomenon will be on a much more limited scale. Germany wDI spend but £10,000, instead of £30,000 as formerly; and it is questionable whether tlje British Government will contribute anything at all. ' ' Eighteen-hundred-and-eighty-one has been a " hard " year in the Home country. The Edinburgh Courantsays of it: — "The year which is to come may be more eventful, but it can scarcely be more uniformly gloomy, or offer, as it draws to ah end, a more drear and cheer: less retrospect. The very weather, accustomed as we are in these islands to more of rain and fog than of blue sky and sunshine, has been of a nature to tell adversely upon the most cheerful temperament, and to provide, as it were, a sort of appropriate background to the scenes of disaster and distress of which, in many cases, it has been directly the cause. Of the petty evils of life which the average Briton grumbles about freely even when he bears its greater evils stoically, we haye > had far more than a common share. A year without a summer, a year spent in goloshes and under umbrellas, a year of heavy winds and steady downpours, of black skies and muddy streets, is bound to have produced more than enough of small disappointments and discomforts to make us— if no stronger reason bids us hold by the past or look forward doubtingly to the future — part with it without regret. Twelvemonth by twelvemonth we hope, and hope in vain, that the cycle of rainy seasons and bad seasons is at an end, and that the time is at last at hand when we may look forward to a spring which is worth singing about, and a summer which is something more than a long November day."

It is the intention of the Otago teachers to procure a memorial portrait of Mr J. Hislop, the secretary to the Board of Education, which it is intended to place in the University library. At 'the meeting of the Educational Institute on' Saturday Mr Montgomery stated that a committee had been formed to carry out the project, subscription lists for which had been already drawn out.

Dunedin was treated to something phenomenal in the way of thunder showers on Saturday afternoon, a perfect torrent of half rain half hail falling for the space of half an hour or so. Many of the street channels were turned into miniature rivers ; but no damage of any consequence was done. Traffic on the Roslyn tramway had to be suspended for a time on account of the tunnel at the Maclaggan street terminus becoming blocked up. The out- let at the Rattray street corner proved insufficient to carry away the large body of water coming down the channelling, and the water consequently rushed across the roadway into the tunnel, carrying with it a quantity of rubbish which prevented the working of the rope-pulley. A number of surface-men immediately set to work, and traffic was resumed before 8 o'clock.

The sweepstake yacht race which was to have taken place on Saturday afternoon between the Anonyma, Clementina, and Spray, did not come oil' owing to some misunderstanding as to the course.

Several reports have been _ received from Southland lately of salmon having been caught in the Oreti River and other streams. These reports are, however, wholly unfounded, for on the fish having been forwarded to the proper quarter for identification they turned out to be ordinary trout— though of fairly large sizeslightly varied in appearance by the nature of the streams in which they were found.

The petition against the return of Captain Sutter for Gladstone came before Mr Justice Johnston and Mr Justice Williams at the Supreme Court on Saturday upon an application under the Act for its withdrawal. After the position of the case had been explained the petition was withdrawn by leave of the Court, costs being allowed to the respondent.

The Assessment Court for the municipality of Port Chalmers was held on Saturday before Mr E. H. Carew, R.M. There were only three cases to be decided, and the valuations of W. Murray's property were reduced from £23 to £20 ; those of T. Cunningham from £15 to £10 10s ; while the rating of section No. 339 was transferred from the ownor, J. Dryadala, to tho occupant, T. H. Dodson.

The Browns (Tuapuka) Lioensing Committee met on Saturday. Mr M. Fraer was unanimously elected chairman. A transfer was granted to D. M'Donald, Tuapeka Hotel, and some formal business having been done the meeting closed.

I In Melbourne a six days' go-as-you-please contest has beon concluded between Swan and Miss Phillips,' the latter receiving a start ©£ l< IB miles'. < The finish was very qjose,- &yrro > & distance 'beingf 'B2l miles 6 laps, Mw* PhJUipi' ,§2l mile?. 1 -' ■ ' * j

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. are about to have erected large wool and grain stores iii conjunction with their present premises in High .street. The stores will be Luilt on a vacant piece of ground in the yaid, and fronting the right-of-way between High and Maclaggan streots. The building will bu 100 ft in length by 48ft in width, and will be of Port Chalmers stone throughout, with slate roof. The walls of the stores are to be 18ft 6inin height, the elevation to the rid^e being 35ft, while the walls are built so as to allow of a second storey

being added when required. Light will be provided by means of a row of roof -lights, running over nearly the entire length of the building. There will be three entrances to the stores from the right-of-way. Messrs Oakden and Begg are the architects, and the work will probably commenced in the course of fortnight.

The Mosgiel Presbyterian congregation held its annual social meoting on Friday evening. The drillshed, in which tea was served, was completely filled by people who had come from all parts of the district. Afterwards those present adjourned to the church, where speeches were delivered by the Revs. 0. S. Ross, R. R. M. Sutherland, M. Watt, Messrs R. Gillies, A. J. Burns, J. C. Hodges, and James Fulton, M.H.R. The choir, under the able leadership of Mr Hunter, rendered assistance by singing several pieces of sacred music. During the evening Mr Robert Findlay, on behalf of the Mosgiel and North Taieri congregations, presented the Rev. J. M. Sutherland with a purse of sovereigns, which had been collected throughout the two districts ; and Mr A. J. Burns, on behalf of the ladies of the Mosgiel congregation, in a very appropriate speech, presented him with a handsome pulpit gown and timepiece, the latter having a suitable inscription on it. The rev. gentleman replied, thanking the donors very heartily for the valuable presents. Mr P. Dey proposed votes of thanks to the ladies who presided at the tables, the speakers, the choir, and the chairman (the liev. J, M. Sutherland), which were carried amidst great applause.

The Government line of railway to Wairio, with the further extension belonging to the Nightcaps Coal Company, was formally opened on Friday by the running of a special train from Invercargill. The Coal Company took advantage of the occasion to celebrate the complc tion of their means of putting coaf in the market, by inviting the Mayor and Council, and membera of other public bodies, to visit the coalfield and par* tak : of luncheon there. A large party took advantage of the opportunity of visiting tha mines and the locality, which have hitherto been almost shut out from ylsitatioh owing to the want of travelling 1 facilities. The Company is now in a position to put out coal in regular and increasing quantity. The line opened on Friday consists of 10£ miles of public and 2J of private railway.

IntheSupremeCourtonSaturday Mr Solomon mentioned the case of the National Bank v. Ward, the argument of which in Banco is to be taken before j;he two Judges at Christchurch on a day to be fixed. It was mentioned that Mr Stout, counsel in the case, had gone North, but would be in Christchurch about the end of next week. On consulting with his brother Williams, Mr Justice Johnston found that the suggested date for the hearing would not suit him. There was a heavy Banco roll at D.unedin',' which would take a week probably to dispose of, and then his Honor had to go on circuit to Lawrence. Mr Justice Williams having observed that there ,was only one case sefc 'down for trial, but the journey occupied three days of his time, Mr Justice Johnson remarked "We shall one of these days be having a sitting of the Supreme Court at that ultima Thule from which we have just come," alluding to their Honors' visit to Riverton. Mr Justice Johnston stated that he would be sitting in Banco at Christchurch on March 14th, and most probably would suggest that the case Should be sent up to the < Court of Appeal. There was a question of considerable importance raised, and this with the position of one of the parties made it important that the case should go to the highest tribunal at once.

The City Police Court was occupied on Saturday by the preliminary investigation of a, charge of perjury against George Wybar, arising out of the actionof Wybar's trustees v. D. and J. R. Reid, which was heard some time ago in the Supreme Court. 'Messra J. Logan and J. Brown, J.P.s, presided, and as Messrs Sievwright and Stout were concerned in the laying of the information, Mr MacDermott, defendant's counsel, asked the firstmentioned justice to retire from the Bench, presumably because Mr Logan happens to ba Mr Stout's father-in-law. _ Mr Logan, however, refused to take any notice of such an absurd request. Later on during the hearing of the case, when the usher of the Supreme Court was giving evidence as to administering- the usual oath to the accused, Mr MacDermotfc asked the witness to state whether it was not the "Holy Gospel" Wybar was sworn on, and added, "If we had that beast Bradlaugh here, I suppose he would not certify to that." Mr Logan remarked that he did not think it was right of Mr MacDermott to make such an. observation. Mr MacDermott then said : " I would not hesitate to designate him at all times and at all places a filthy beast." Mr Logan contented himself with rejoining 1 that perhaps Mr Bradlaugh was just as good as. Mr MaoDermott.

The Tuapeka Times learns that upwards of 20 men are now employed at the Waipbri Company's antimony mine. In the course of another month it is expected that the Company will be in a position to give employment to an additional 30 hands. The mine is now being opened out in a thoroughly systematic manner. The anniversary soiree of the Wesleyan. Churoh at Broad Bay, Peninsula, was held on Thursday evening, when a goodly number partook of the excellent tea provided by the IsraTes of the congregation. After tea a pablic meeting was held, when addresses were delivered by the Revs. W. Tinsley, Maxwell, and Mr J. H. Wilson. These were interspersed by some choice selections rendered by the choir, Mr W. H. Greig, from Sandymount, presiding at the harmonium. The usual vote of thanlcs being given to the ladies, tha speakers, and tne choir, the meeting broke up, after spending (d very happy evening. The Rev. W. Tinsley, in the course of a few weeks, will be leaving this station for Christchurch, and will be succeeded by the Rev. Mr Thomas, from Auckland,

At a public meeting at Lawrence on Tuesday the following resolution, which explains itself, was carried unanimously: — "That in the opinion of this meeting the conduct of Mr Andrew Ferguson as a public journalist during 1 the past 14 years in the Tuapeka district, and his labours in promoting its settlement and the development 6i its numerous resources, is deserving of spsae substantial recognition at the hands of th<e residents and settkrs generally j and it is hereby resolved that a subscriptionUat toe opened inviting eontributioas with a view of procuring' 'and forwarding to Scotland to Mr Ferguson a suitable aouvshw as a ra'arkof the regard and eateem m which -be if d& servedlyMd;"* ' ' ' • '

One of tho English society papers states that a novel society has been established at Exeter, under the patronage of tho Bishop, its object being the promotion of good manners, the members giving the following undertaking ;— "I promise, by God's help, to avoid cursing and Bwearing, and all evil-speaking, to bear no grudges, and to discountenance the &ame in others, to obey all lawful authority, to honour the Queen, to study to do good to all men, and to show kindness to animals." A better picture of the character of a " gentleman " could not be drawn.

During tho Hon. Mr Bryce's visit to Waikato the curiosity of the Natives was raisod to see the person who captured Te Whiti, Tohu, and Titokowaru, and who was so conspicuous in the settlement of tho West Coast difficulty. Mr Bryce's action on the West Coast has eyidontly increased his mam amongst the Maoris. At Hamilton tho Nativos came in from the adjacent settlements, and crowded about the hotel at which Mr Bryce was stopping to get a look at him. Before the coach left the hotel at Hamilton to take passengers to the railway-station, all the Natives in the town squatted on the footpath opposite the hotel to see the Native<Minister take his departure. Men, women, and children seemed equally anxious to look at the man pf whom they had heard so much. The Natives who had not seen Mr Bryce scrutinised any stranger in case he should turn out to be the Native Minister, and the said stranger, if he knew Maori, might have heard the Natives inquiring of each other and of the interpreters, " Who is that Pakeha— is that Mr Bryce ?"

The Hawke's Bay Herald states thatMrW. L. Rees is now lying seriously ill at Gisborne from congestion of the lungs. He is reported to be in a critical condition.

During the examination of one of the witnesses in the Wallace election case, he was asked by Mr Stout to explain what he meant by not having a "personal knowledge" of a man whose name cropped up in evidence. The witness replied that the day before he had known there was such a person as Mr Stout, but he had never had "personal knowledge" of him till coming into Court. His Honor Judge Johnston : •'Such is fame, Mr Stout."

The American papers explain the reason why Guiteau was permitted such latitude during the trial to be that "the Court had no option between putting up with Guiteau'a wildest extravagances or forbidding him, as an insane man, to conduct his own case. TKe latter alternative was out of the question!" There were some grotesque incidents during the trial. Among the witnesses called to speait as to the sanity or insanity of Guiteau tho^e was a Dr Spitzka, who held that Guiteau must have been insane, as one side of his head was larger than the other. Another doctor, preuumed to be an Irish one, explained his ideas upon a badly -formed skull by saying that "if you divide it into two equal halves, one is larger than the other." At a London hospital, last week (says the writer of "Town Talk" in the Melbourne Argus), one of the governors of the establishment—an ancient admiral— moved by tlie amenities of the season, or the mildness of the weather, made a tour among the inmates. He made himself so very agreeable to one old seaman, to whom he spoke, I suppose in nautical Btyle, that he won the patient's heart, who never doubted that he was one of his own class as well as kidney. "You are one of the rifjht sort, mate, you are," he said, " and though it's dead against the rules of this here ship, I don't mind telling you that I've got a bottle of gin under my pillow, and you're very welcome to have a pull at it." Tableau and curtain. ; A young man named Thomas Kay gave himself up to the Lyttelton police the other day, stating that he had arrived from Wellington by the Penguin, and had previously • been in Dunedin, in both of which places he had given cheques which were of no value. The police are making inquiries into the matter.

The Bishop of Melbourne, having been recently asked to issue a prayer for rain, intimated in reply that it is in the power of all clergyman to use the "prayer for rain" in the Book of Common Prayer when they please; but that he hesitated to comply with the request. He went on to say that he had warned the people that God indicated by His providential arrangements that it was His will that we should conserve the water sent to us in the winter ; but that nobody heeded, and that it seemed to the Bishop absolutely impious to cry to God and to neglect His own providential indications of His will. The Bishop added that if he did issue a prayer it would be as follows : " Forgive us, O Lord, that we have so indolently and irreligiously broken Thy natural laws, and despised the indications of Thy will in the time past ; and give us grace, we beseech Thee, so to lay to heart Thy present grievous and most just chastisement, that we may bestir ourselves to conserve and employ Thy precious gift of water to the fertilising of our fields, the relief of our necessity, the replenishing of our land with prosperous and happy people, and the glorifying of Thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord." If anybody likes to use this prayer he has the Bishop's full leave, and he believes that then his prayer will not be a mockery of God, and may do good to himself and those that join in it.

A concert and ball was held at Kelso laßt week in aid of the school funds. There were nearly 250 persons present, and the funds will be augmented to the extent of from £20 to £25. Warden Stratford, formerly of the Arrow, appears to be highly unpopular on the West Coast. News from Kumara states that a large number of miners assembled at Dillmann's Town on Friday evening, and held an indignation meeting to protest against the vexatious delays occurring by the present conduct of the business of the War den's Court ; also to take into considera tion the advisability of forming a board for Kumara. The following resolutions^ were passed almost unanimously : — " That in 'the opinion of this meeting the indifferent mode of administering mining law and the conduct of mining business by Warden H. A. Stratford at Kumara Warden's Court are very unsatisfactory, and that the vexatious delays retard the general progress of the district." " That a petition be sent round for signature praying the Government to relieve Warden Stratford of his duties as warden of the Kumara mining district." "That the chairman of the meeting forward a copy of the foregoing resolutions to the Minister of Justice, and to ask him to change the warden with as little delay as uosBible?

A concert in aid of the Anderson's Bay Cricket Club took place at the Bay on Friday evening, and was a great success. Mr J. White (president) took the chair. Amongst the items on tho programme^ Messrs Holgate Bros, gave & splendid rendering of the duet "Larboard watch," and Mr Barmby did full justice to the "Four jolly smiths/ Mr Hawkins accompanied, and gave an artistic rendering of w Napoleon's grand march," Mr Donovan, in is humorous style, gave several recitations, •bicli evoked roars <of laughter and were warmly fttoored. The remainder of the programme

consisted of selections by Walter Brothers' Coloured Troupe. Mr G. Walters was warmly applauded for his concertina solo, and for his rendering of " Alice." A bones solo and song in character were exceedingly well given by another membt° of the troupe. A dance was held in a ne>h' ouring barn, and was spirit edly kept up till o a.m.

At the Port Chalmers R.M. Court on Saturday Alexander M'Pherson was charged with travelling from Lyttelton to Port Chalmers in the steamer Penguin without paying the fare. —The defendant was orderedto pay a fine of £5, or in default to be imprisoned for seven days.

His Excellency the Govornor has sent a message to the Queen, in the name of tho people of the Colony, congratulating her Majesty upon hor escape.

Several charges under "Tho Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881," against tho gentlemen who took part in getting up sweepstakes at the recent race meeting will be heard at the City Police Court on Saturday The charge of perjury against George Wybar was further heard at the City Police Court on Monday, when the evidence of the last witness for the prosecution was taken, and the case adjourned for one week at the request of the prisoner's counsel. Before proceedings commenced, Mr MacDermott alluded_ to his application on Saturday that one of their Worships would leave the Bench, and stated that in so doing he was merely expressing the wish of his client. Mr Logan said that the request was a very extraordinary one, which Mr MacDermott denied, and his Worship then defied him to cite any instance in which such a demand had been complied with. His Worship added that he was not aware whether or no Messrs Sievwright and Stout had anything to do with the case, but if they had it would not make the least difference.

A short sitting of the Supreme Court in Bankruptcy was held on Monday, when several debtors obtained their final discharge. One of the debtors, Mr James Grant, stood in a very unusual position for a debtor applying for his discharge. His estate had realised more than sufficient to meet his liabilities, his creditors had received 20s in the pound, and a balance of £100 had been handed to the debtor by the creditors' trustee.

At Christchurch O'Brien, the Australian pedestrian, won the mile handicap in 4 mm. 23 sec. A mile race for £50 a side was run between Fagan and Woolerton, two local peds., the former winning easily in 4 mm. 47 3-sth sec.

Of 300 summonses recently issued in Melbourne against parents for non-compliance with orders made against them for the supperfc of their children in the industrial schools, only 15 could be served. The remaining 285 parents had left the Colony.

At the annual meeting of the Waitaki branch of the Educational Institute of Otago, held at Oamaru on Saturday, the following officebearers were elected for the ensuing year : — President, Mr Wallace (Pukeuri); secretary and treasurer, Mr Peattie (re-elected) ; librarian, Mr Darley ; representative on general committee of management, Mr A. Stewart r (Union street School, Dunedin). Mr Lindsay was appointed to read a paper at the annual meeting of the Institute in Dunedin. Considerable improvements have recently been effected by Mr Bridgman to the Caversham Tannery, and on the south side of the former buildings a large three-storey currying and drying shed, 150 feet in length by 40 feet in width, has been erected. A quantity of new machinery has also been added, including one of the best rolling-machines for compressing sole-leather, a scouring-machine, and a split ting-machine.

Mr Peter Miller was elected chairman of the Lawrence Central Licensing Committee at its first {meeting, held on Monday. -

Certain works of art in the terra cotta statuary line which were yesterday exhibited in the window of a leading bookseller's shop in Princes street have, it appears, offended the delicacy of some of our local authorities. The works in questionhavemuchto recommend them to a connoisseur from an artistic point of view, but their exhibition was nevertheless prohibited by the police at the instance, we believe, of the Resident Magistrate. There will apparently always exist difference of opinion as to the exaot line of demarcation to be observed in such matters, but it will be generally admitted that much depends upon the manner in which such subjects in art are treated. In Englishspeaking countries it has always been the boast that these subjects are treated with dignity, and that much that is objectionable in Continental art has been thoroughly avoided.

The petition of Messrs Jeffery and Walker against the return of Messrs Harrop and Docherty for the licensing district of Lawrence Central was heard before tho R.M. at Lawrence on Monday, Thepetition askß that Messrs Harrop and Docherty be declared not elected in favour of the two next highest on the poll (viz., Messrs Jeffery and Walker), the ground of objection to the validity of the election being that Francis Nicoll, who nominated the respondents, had no right so to do, not being a ratepayer within the Lawrence Central district. Mr Hunter, for the respondents, took objection to the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate, on the ground that being returningofneer for the district, and having in that capacity declared the respondents elected, he could not now review his own decision and declare them not elected ; also, that as Messrs Harrop and Docherty had now resigned their seats, an extraordinary vacanoy had occurred, and as the Licensing Act provided that the Governor should fill extraordinary vacancies, therefore the R.M. had no jurisdiction; ana consequently that there was nothing for him to decide. The Bench reserved its judgment.

Mrs Mary Catherine Knight Bruce has evidently been attempting to imitate Hook's Great Berners street joke. It appears (says a writer in Truth) that that lady recently inserted advertisements, in which Mr George Hamilton Barrable, an artist, was represented as requiring a secretary, a governess, a ladyhousekeeper, and so on, in consequence of which he was visited by relays of importunate applicants. Not content with this, the ingenious Mary warned him that 100 sandwich-men had been hired to parade the street with bills to the effect that his studio would be opened free from 10 to 4. It is ten to one that the gentleman in question would have borne this annoyance, rather than court publicity, if it had ended here; but the worst was yet to come. He was warned that an advertisement would be put in the daily papers for 200 pretty girls for a pantomime. It was too much. He turned and fled— to a magistrate ; and there he got little comfort, for he could not swear that he went in "bodily fear" of his perse cutrix, although I can believe that he could truthfully have asserverated that he did go in daily ana hourly dread of the 200 pretty girls. The whole affair is merely a very vulgar praotical joke, but it seems to me that the wouldbe secretaries, governesses, lady-housekeepers, &n4 pretty girls have most cause to complain,

The Australian Eleven who are about going Home have won their match with Shaw's Eleven in Sydney by six wickets. The same teams play a return match in Melbourne, beginning at the end of this week, and the Australians leave on their Home trip directly afterwards.

The work of fitting up the new steam dredger appears to be steadily approaching completion, the buckets and machinery in connection there with being now fixed in position. It should not bo long before everything is ready for the dredger to commence operations.

A correspondent who has himself visited the Hollyford Valley and Martin's Bay informs us that, while greatly admiring the graphic description given in our columns of last week of a trip to Martin's Bay, that paragraph which refers to Mr Raworth having paintod Mount Titoko on the spot is incorrect, Mr Raworth never having been to Martin's Bay. The name has no doubt been inadvertently substituted for that of some other artist.

An examination is at present being conducted at the Normal School for the admission of teachers as Normal School students. There are 31 male and 7 female candidates engaged, this being the largest number ever competing. Last year the number was only about onefourth of this.

Our Lawrence correspondent has been informed by a gentleman in a good position to know, that the yield of wheat in the Tuapeka West district this season will be at least 60,000 bushels, and further, that the quality is as good as any in New Zealand. Nearly half the crop is now cut.

In connection with the United Ancient Order of Druids, Bro. M. Moss has received the reappointment of D.P. of Otago and Southland districts. He will open two new lodges as soon as the dispensations arrive from the Grand Lodge of Victoria, to be called the Waikiwi and Pride of the Forest, both in Southland district.

The annual meeting of the Kaikorai Church Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association was held on Tuesday, when there was a very good attendance, the chair being occupied by the president (Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland). The annual report showed a very satisfactory state of affairs, the average attendance for the year having been 18, while the number of members was 41. The credit balance was £5 2s Bd. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year : — President, Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland ; vice-presidents, Messrs Morrice and Taylor; secretary, Mr S. S. Harlock; treasurer, Mr David Sutherland; editor of journal, Mr Peter Barr ; members of committee, Messrs Moir and Strachan. Eight new members signified their intention of joining the Association, and the suggestion that a certain number of the meetings should be open to the public was well received.

We were shown on Tuesday, at Mr Fermor Willson's shop, George street, a new luminous paint, known as Balmain's, which has recently been introduced. The paint is of a yellowish colour, and has the effect of rendering quite visible in the dark objects coated with it. The discovery is one which has taken a great deal of time and trouble to bring it to its present state of perfection— a perfection which is illustrated by the fact of its now being used in painting the insides of the carriages used on the South-Eastern, London, and North-Western Companies' railways, for the purpose of lighting up their interior, especially when in tunnels, thus dispensing with lighting by ordinary methods. The paint is very durable, and no amount of ordinary wear and tear seems capable of removing it from the objects covered with it. A very peculiar feature in connection with it is its capacity for absorbing and retaining for a considerable time the rays of light. It seems specially adapted for the painting of names, posting-pillars, obstructions on roads and footpaths, and a valuable application of it is to paint beacons, life-buoys, &c. Mr Willson is also the maker of oblong-shaped lifebuoys, provided with air-tight compartments to render them light and easily handled, while at the same time they are each capable of supporting three men. Attached to the shop is a darkened room, in which statuettes, printed cards, star-shaped figures, and large paper placards covered with the paint render the various objects quite visible, the whole presenting a very strange and novel appearance.

Our Portobello correspondent reports that tho tramway promoters are engaged just now in making some alterations in the projected tramway, notably at Dunoon. The line is to be taken along the harbour side of the township, thus doing away with the heavy cutting that would have had to be made if it followed the route of the road.

The Timaru Harbour Board officials had the Priestman dredge at work for the first time on Monday, as a dredge, and a trial was made on a sandbank reported to have been deposited alongside the wharf. The " bucket,'' which was tried first, although a very powerful contrivance, could not cope with it, the sand being almost as stiff as clay, and only a few shovelsful were brought up each time. The engineer afterwards had the "grab" put in order, and a trial was made with it preparatory to a good day's work on Tuesday. The difference between the "bucket" and the "grab" is that the former is of boiler-plate, and it Bcoops up earth and sand just as one would with the two hands, the fingere being closed. The "grab," however, is a series of strong, flat, curved teeth, set pretty close together, and in operation acts as the hand would with the fingers a little apart, the tips being made to enter first.

Close upon the arrival of a Chinese merchant vessel in the Thames, comes news that an electric telegraph-line has been stretched be tween Shanghai and Tientsin. In a few weeks this first wire of the Flowery Land will be carried on to Pekin. A message can then be sent direct from London to the Chinese capital. This is an immense innovation for the pig-tailed people, although for the present it is only a Government enterprise forced upon the Vermilion Pencil by the anxiety felt during the late quarrel of the China Court with Russia, when their coasts might have been invaded and cities captured while couriers were slowly bringing news. Railways will some day follow the electric wire, the difficulty being that departed bodies of Chinese must not be disturbed by the sacrilegious shovel of a navvy, and that the custom has always been to bury dead Chinese " all over the place." It is next to impossible, therefore, to make a mile of railway without making a scandal to match. But the Celestials are growing so practical that hey will soon find something in Confucius to get them over the pious obstacle.

The half-yearly meeting of the Standard In surance Company was held on Monday, when the report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the retiring directors and auditor re-elected. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the officers of the Society for their successful efforts during the past six months. At Sandridge a youth of 16 years of age has been finsd for habitual drunkennisji

A fire occurred at Blue Spur on Monday evening, by which a house_ belonging to a Mr Abernethy, who resides Avith his family at Caversham, was destroyed. The owner had decided to remove it to Caversham to make improvements in his building there. It was being taken down for that purpose, biit only a few sheets of iron had been taken off. A light was observed inside, and shortly aiGer the place burst out in flames. It is reported that the building was insured for £60. A pamphlet has been published at Washington, entitled "The Irish Avenger : or, Dynamite Evangelist." Its 16 pages are filled with wild incendiary appeals to tho Irish to destroy London. There are many Scriptural quotations designed to show that God approves such work, and there is a hymn beginning " Hail dynamite, glorious dynamite." At the close the writer says : " Blessed bo the hand that causes the first outbreak of the forked red flame that wraps London in a blaze. Blessed be they who fan that flame into a towering conflagration which no human power can arrest, till the den of the British tyrants shall become a heap of ruins." The author is an Irishman named P. M. M'Gill, who states that the pamphlet is the first of a series of four. The next number will give instructions how to use dynamite most safely and effectively. At a meeting of publicans in Bathurst the following resolution came near being carried : —"That this meeting is of opinion that any society or individual antagonistic to our interests, and opposed to our equitable demands, and those who are in favour of the Licensing Act in its present form, shall be unanimously rejected by the Society, and that all licensed victuallers shall use their utmost endeavours and pledge themselves to prevent anyone dealing directly or indirectly, or otherwise giving their support to any merchant, storekeeper, tradesman, mechanic, or labourer belonging to any society which shall be opposed to our just rights." If this Boycotting resolution had been carried, and there had been a Ministerial visit < to Bathurst, the Sydney Morning Herald points out that no hotelkeeper could have taken the Premier in, nor could he have taken in any one of the large majority of the Assembly who voted for the bill, nor any member of the Legislative Council which passed the bill unanimously. The Home correspondent of the Age writes : — " Ireland herself — at least the disturbed districts in Cork and Limerick— is assuming more and more the condition of a state of siege. Military magistrates, assisted by military patrols, have usurped the power of the civil authorities; sentinels question passers-by as they would at a time of war, and generally the proclaimed districts are being treated as if they had just been conquered by an invading foe, which had occupied and was holding the country by reason of its military superiority alone. What will come of it nobody cares to think. Day by day discoveries of fresh outrages or of fresh attempts at outrage are reported, until Ireland of to-day comes to assume the aspect of a Poland of thirty years ago. The landlords whose rents have been reduced say that they are ruined in consequence ; and so far the relief which has been afforded to the tenants has had little effect in suppressing the barbaric zeal of those whom the agitators have aroused to what they are pleased to term ' vengeance;' It is very unlikely that the Government will propose and carry any very big measure for Ireland this session ; but the feeling that time will assuage her troubles and restore peace is gradually disappearing even among the ad^ vanced Liberals, who have justly sympathised in no small degree with those smarting under a sense of wrong. Mr Gladstone's Government has, of course, to bear the brunt of all this, and in it one finds a new exemplification, of the old metamorphosed adage, 'The whirlwind, the Tories sow the Liberals have to reap.' " | Carrots treated with arsenic, in the proporj tion of lib. of arsenic to 101b. of carrots^ are (reports the Geelong Advertiser) working great slaughter among the rabbits on Mr R t Chirnside's Mount Rothwell Estate, Little River. This compound, too, is cheaper than the phosphorised grain preparation, and, all though perhaps more dangerous for stock, it appears to be the only certain specific. Phos^ phorised grain, prepared by_ one of the phos 7 phorising machines, was fairly successful for the first few weeks, but after a time the rabbits refused to take the bait, when the use of carrots had to be resorted to. A letter from Port Elizabeth, of November 30th, says :— " For the last few months upcountry settlers and agriculturists have been complaining of the injury done to the country by ostrich-farming, and many experienced and influential men declared it would be the ruin of the country. However, they will have nothing to fear now, as ostrich-farming will soon be a thing of the past. The banks have called in all the scrip, and several private companies are in liquidation. The liabilities of one extensive farmer amounted to upwards of £300,000, and failures of small farmers are of every-day occurrence. At one time, when everybody was going in for ostrich-farming and shares, a pair of old birds used to fetch £250, and chicks from £6 to £9 each. A pair of birds can now be bought from £11 to £14, and chicks three weeks old from 3s 6d to 5s each." Mr Bright, speaking at Birmingham recently, made the following remarks concerning the Houbb of Lords : — "The real reason why the House of Lords has so little to do and does so little is because, unfortunately, it is not on a line with opinion in the House of Commons or with opinion in the country. ... Ido not blame individual members of the House of Lords— they are what they are ; brought up as it were in the purple, often in great riches and with especial nonours and consideration, and I dare say that their position is on the whole so satisfactory, so admirable, that they don't feel the necessity of changes which humbler men think necessary for the country. Nobody denies that they are very patriotic and honourable and honest, and perhaps wishful that the country should be well governed, but it should be well governed according to a pattern of their own, and not according to a pattern of the great mass of intelligent people. Well, when the House of Lords has brought itself to be more on a line with the House of Commons, and on a line with the constituencies — which means on a line with the country— then they will be in a position to have more work offered them to do, and to do more work in a satisfactory manner." A new carillon of musical bells has been erected in the Cross Steeple, Glasgow, by the Corporation, and was inaugurated on December 26th. The former carillon, of 32 bells, being worn out, the new one, of 16 larger bells, has been made instead, at a cost of £1100. The bells vary from 20 to 40 inches in diameter, and weigh 4| tons in the aggregate. Upon them have been cast the city arms and the coins of the realm from a crown to a farthing. The bells are played with ease by means of a keyboard in a chamber below them. The steeple itself has been repaired, and is now open to visitors two days a week. At a meeting of Scottish peers, held at Holyrood Palace yesterday, Lord Polwarth was | elected a representative peer for Scotland in tho worn of the late Earl of Airlic j