News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1584, 1 April 1882, Page 9

News of the Week.

Our Lawrence correspondent, writing on the 22nd, says :•— " We have had quite a field-day here to-day, in the shape of a rush of applicants for land on Run 100. The Land Officer was kept busy from 10 a.m. till pnat 4 p.m., and as usual a few came too late. There were 110 applications put in, the area amounting in the aggregate to nearly 30,000 acres, and the amount deposited was £2095. As Run 10(i contains only about 6000 acres, it will be soen that at this Land Office alone the amount of land open on the deferred-payment system has been applied for five time's over. Two of tho favourite sections<have something like 20 applicants each. It is expected that a good many applications will be put in at the Dunedin and other Land Offices besides."

Messrs Watt and Co. havo just completed for the Oamaru Harbour Board a self-registering tide-gauge similar to that supplied to the Otago JB«ard. It is made on the principle adopted by Captain Russell, and is a handsome piece of workmanship.

At a conference of Volunteer officers from Queenstown, Arrow, and Cromwell (some of whom had travelled 50 miles to be present), Captain Brown brought forward the question uf the establishment of a -District Icille Association. After some romarks in favour of the proposal, it was agreed— "That an association be formed by tho three adult companies of the district, to be called ' The Lakes District Rilie Association,' and that it be a recommendation by officers to their companies that a vote «f £10 from each company bo contributed to tho funds of such association. " A ballot was taken for tho rotation of places of meeting, and resulted—Arrow, first ; Queenstown, second ; Cromwell, third.

Mrs Ryan, the mother of tho unfortunate youths who were drowned a fortnight ago an the Oreti, has been brought into Invercaryill in ;i state of violent lunacy. Mra Liyuu'd raving utterances are all in connection with tho lujs ul her sons.

Tho Victorian Government, it is stated, contemplate tho introduction of penny postage.

Aacording to the Cromwell Argun it is reckoned that from 80 to 100 men will attend tho Easter review from Quecnstown, Arrow, and Cromwell.

Mr A. Bott, who had been organist of Holy Trinity Church, Port Chalmers, from its opening until tho commoncement of the present year, whon he resigned oflicc, was tho recipient of a testimonial from * few of his friends (members of the congregation) on Wednesday ovening. Mr J. R. Monson, who was called upon to make the presentation, remarked' that the credit of getting it up was due to Mesdamcs Peterson and M'Kinnon, assisted by Mr Peterson, and he assured Mr Bott that Iris past services, bath as organist of the church and conductor of the many concerts organised for the augmentation of the church funds, would never be forgotten by his friends, who now begged his acceptance of a watch and appendages as a slight token of their esteem. The watch, a handsome silver hunter, to which was attached a gold albert chain and locket, bore the following incription :— "Presented to Mr A. Bott by a few friends, for services rendered to Holy Trinity Church. Port Chalmers, 1882." Mr Bott, in returning thanks, expressed the gratification he felt in receiving so valuable a mark of esteem from those ladies and gentlomen who had contributed to its purchase, and assured them, through Mr Monson, he should ever prize their useful and valuable gift, which would ever remind him of his past connection with them as organist of the church of which they were members.

A banquet in celebration of the twentieth annual session of the 1.0.0.F Grand Lodge was held in the Odd-Fellows' Hall, Rattray street, on the 23rd. and was attended by # about 170 gentlemen, including the representatives of lodges throughout the Colony. The chair was occupied by Bro. John Beyd, R.W.G.M.

The bill for the exclusion of the Chinese in America, which has now passed both Houses, is an extremely stringent one. It entirely prohibits the entry of Chinese for a period of 20 years, excepting in the case of students, officials, merchants, and travellers.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the Benevolent Institution was held on Friday, when the old Committee of Management was re-elected, with the exception of throe members, whose places were filled by Messrs T. S. Graham, G. Blyth, and T. W. Hnngerford. The action of Mr Hitchcock in forwarding several letters to members of Committee, as well as to the secretary of the Institution, containing grave charges against them, was referred to, and it was intimated that Mr Quin had instituted proceedings against him for libel.

At a meeting of the ratepayers of West Harbour, held onFridayeveningin Jaokman's Hall, number of resolutions favourable to the borrowing scheme were carried without much opposition, and it was intimated that a poll would take place on the 14th April.

Tho annual meeting of the Peninsula County Council was held on Friday, when Mr Nichol was re-elected chairman for the ensuing 12 months, and it was decided .to allocate the county subsidy amongst the local bodies on the same plan as adopted last year. A telegram from the Colonial Treasurer to the Chairman of the Portobello Road Board was read. It stated that the Council had not complied with section 31 of the Act, and commissioners would have to be appointed to apportion last year's subsidy. It seems that there must be a misunderstanding somewhere, for the Chairman positively affirmed that the clatse referred to had been complied with. Some discussion ensued on the subject, and it wa's ultimately decided to telegraph to the Colonial Treasurer stating that the section of the Act had been complied with, and asking that the subsidy be granted in the usual way.

A branch line of railway is to ba constructed from Abbotsford to the Fernhill Colliery, and the Public Works Department have called for tenders for the formation contract. The line is to be built for and at the expense of tho Fernhill Colliery Company, but the work will 1)0 conducted under the Public Works Department, provision having been made for this in the Railways Authorisation Act of 13S1. The line will be one mile (30 chains in length, and its steepest gradient lin 30. The formation is to be completed within five months of tho letting of the contract.

Mr J. W. Hamilton, a well-known settler at Jacob's River, is about to make a visit to the Old Country. A large number of friends mot him the other day in Jnvercargill, and in a Very enthusiastic meeting wished him boii voyage.

Tho induction of tho Rev. Dr Macgregor to the .South Oamaru Presbyterian Church took place on Thursday afternoon. The Lvov. Mr Cameron presided aud conducted the service. There woro 'also present — tho Re^a. A. B. TiiJd, iStuveu, and .Christie, and Mr Jackson (Oamaru Presbytery), and tho Roys, Dr Stuart, Will, and Bannerman,

Regarding the Hbkitika nwh, a telegrariTih tho Lyttolton Times of the 24th says :— " The news to-day from the rush is better than yesterday's. Four claims have now bottomed, and all are on payable gold. Cormick's claim has washed out 40 buckets and obtained 15dwt from them. Several claims which havG not bottomed are showing gold — in some cases said to be payable several feet from the bottomThere is great excitement here."

The now steamor for the Clutha River came out by the ship Otago, and is to bo fitted up by Messrs Kincaid, Mfyueen, and Co. It is expected that the steamer will be ready for tho river in about three months.

The Public Works Department have acoopted a tender for the arection of shoep-dip and cattlequarantine buildings at Mussel Bay, Port Chalmers. The successful tenderer is Mr Robert Edgar, the amount being £304 4s 6d.— The tender of Mr John M'Combe for filling in portion of the lagoon at Oamaru has been accepted. The amount of the tender is £258 13s 6d.— The tender of Mr G. T. Bain for the formation of roads in the township of Canning ton, Maori Hill, has been accepted, the amount being £461 15s 6d.

The Southland Times mentions the following cool case of shop-lifting :— On the afternoon of Wednesday a man named Rolles Pateraon entered the shop of Mr Onus 1 , watchmaker, Deo street, and asked to be shown some watches, as ho wished to purchase one. His tastes were expensive, and after being shown several, he selected one worth £30, which ho desired Mr Craig to put aside till thu morrow. Immediately after he left the shop, JVJr Craig missed one of .the watches. Ho had nol much trouble in finding his cl-dcvavt customer, and also a constable. An adjournment to Mr Do .Beer's establishment discloncd the fact that P.iter, ,- son had walked straight over there and pawned the watch—worth £22 10a— for .W. • Yesterday ho was brought before iMe.wrs i 'J'urnbuU and Todd, .l.P.'s, and charged vith Urceny. Mr Finn appeared on his behalf, aiid. informed the Court that accused had lately been liberated from a lunatic asylum in Christchurch, the cause of his being there ' liaving been drink. Accused said that ho had been suffering from delirium tremciu for soveral weeks past, and from evidence given it appeared that he had been pawning Mb clothing, in town. He was committed to take his' trial at the District Court, which sits next week. Captain Hume, inspector of Prisons, has written to the Portobollo Road Board stating that the prisoners will be allowed to remain in the district until the road is completed.

Mr Carew, R.M., held a sitting of the As sessment Court for the West Taieri district at ■ Outrain on Saturday. With the sanction of the valuer (Mr Thomas Richardson), the valuation on Mr David Edmond's property of £237 • was reduced to £200, and the valuation of £100 , ou the Colonial Bank, Outram, was reducod to £50. Messrs John Gordon, Alexander . Thomson, and Donald Miller did not appear, in support of their objections. ' i<' i-,!'. H .

The Clutha Leader drawß attention. to a . highly dangerous railway-crossing in Balcluthai It seems that boys herding cattle hav,e to drive , - them to and fro across the line, and in conse r > - quence of trees and hedges the train cannot bo seen, nor can things be seen from the train till . within half-a-dozen yards.. The Leader says : i — " Were anyone to try to devise a trap for the. , destruction of boys and cows, and for the general smashing-up of a train, similar to that '■ which recently occurred at Kaihiku, we do not . believe he could produce a more effective one • 'than that now existing at the end of Lanark street. We are very sure that if the travelling, public were aware of the danger they incur , at the" spot referred to, but few. would patronise the trains till the danger was re-, moved."

Speaking of the country "beyond the Waiau,"the Southland News says:— "From the little that is known of this broad expanse of territory it may be stated with certainty that the published maps give no idea whatever of the lie of the country, its lakes, rivers, or watersheds. For all that is known to the contrary there may be some valuable patches of open land. There is certainly an immense extent of level timbered land. When it is considered that, roughly speaking, there is an area equal in size to the old province of Southland, and decidedly superior to it in climate from its position, sheltered by the Southern Alps, without a white settler iipon it, it scarcely seems credible. But so it is, and so it has been ever since the foundation of tho Colony."

The defendant in a civil case at the,R.M. Court at Christchurch, tho other day, wan named Ell. " Where did he tell you to go ? " , said tho learned counsel on the opposite aide. "He told me," replied the witness . uxider examination, " to go to Ell."—" Did you go ? " queried Mr Holmes. " Yes," answered the , unsuspecting witness, amid tho laughter of tho whole Court. " A witness returned from there should be valuable evidence," said the presiding magistrate.

The secretary to the Dunedin branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association has received the following communication from Messrs Louis , Cohen and Co., of London :—" Referring to our letter of 29th December last, we have the pleasure to acknowledge receipt of your favour of 2nd December, covering first of exchange , for £25 in aid of the fund for the relief the Russian Jews, and making in all £300 which ' you have been kind enough to remit to' us. We thank you very sincerely for yowr exertions on behalf of our suffering brethren in the, East, and we shall esteem it a favour if you wll con vey our grateful thanks to your generous.subscribers. You will have gathered from ,the papers that since we last wrote the Jews have, been subject to further attacks and outrages. The Press of England, without distinction of party, has warmly taken up our cause, and a public meeting at tho Mansion House, under ■ the presidency of the Lord Mayor, will be held on the Ist prox., to express the feeling of the English people on these wanton persecutions. We are sure you will share our hope that this influential expression of public and national - feeling will bo of service to our co-rehgionists in tho flast, and will bo the means of preventing any renewal of this disgraceful persecution."

Our cables tins week ctfnfcuiu intelligence of the doath of tho well-known American poet, Longfellow, at the age of 75. J lis works are perhaps bettor known than tlu>ao of any other living poet except Tennyson, and his many ballads and short poems have an enduring place in the literature of -the English language. "Men of the Time" gives the following particulars concerning him :— " He was bom in Portland, ISlnino, on 27th February, 1807. At tho age of 14 ho entered Bowdoin College, who.ro he took his dogree with high honours in 1825, and wa,s for a fow months a law student in the ollico of Iris father. Having boen oilered a professorship of modern languages in Bowdoin College, with the view of qualifying himself for the post he spent three yearn and a-hnlf in travelling in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, and England ; and returning to the United States in,

1829, entered upon the duties of his office. On i the resignation of the late Mr George Ticknor, in 1835, of his professorship of modern lan images and of the belles-lettres in Harvard College Mr Longfellow was appointed to the vacancy. He gave up his chair at Bowdoin College, and again went abroad, in order to become more thoroughly acquainted with the languages and literature of Northern Europe, and caving travelled more than 12 months in Scandinavia, Germany, and Switzerland, returned i in the autumn of 1836, to enter upon his duties at Cambridge, United States. In 1854 he resigned his professorship, ( was succeeded by James Russell Lowell, and ■ went to live in retirement at Cambridge, U.S. Whilst an undergraduate he wrote, many tasteful and carefully-finished poems for the U.S. Literary Gazette, and while professor at Bowdoin College contributed some valuable criticisms to the North American Review." A list of his works follows, his first collection of , poems having appeared in 1839 ; the wellknown "Ballads and other Poems" m ' 1842; "Evangeline" in 1847; the "Song of Hiawatha" in 1855, and "Aftermath" in 1873. *' Keramos," his latest work, appeared in 1878. He again visited Europe in 1868 and 1869. The honorary degree of D.O.L. was conferred upon him by the University of Oxford, July 27th, , 1869, and that of LL.D. by Cambridge m 1868, and in 1873 he was elected a member of the Russian Academy of Science, and in 1877 a member of the Spanish Academy. A confirmation service was held on Friday evening at Holy Trinity Church, Port Chalmers. There was a very large congregation present, and after the evening service his Lordship the Bishop proceeded to address the ' congregation on the nature of the ceremony ho , was to perform. He afterwards confirmed about 14 persons, most of whom were young girls. The choral part of tho service was fairly rendered. | There was great excitement in Mosgiel on Saturday on the occasion of the election of six town commissioners for the newly-pro-claimed district. The poll was taken at the drillBhed, and after 7 o'clock the returning-officer (Mr W. M'Leod) announced' the result as follows :— William Knott, 66; Robert Dickie, 63; John Jago, 60; John Dryden, 56; Samuel Young, 49; Peter Dey, 48; John Brown, 40; Herbert Webb, 40; Thomas Aitken, 36; George Pram, 36; William C. Sinclair, 29 ; Robert' Purvis, 26. The first six candidates were declared duly.elected. There were about 130 persons present at the declararation of the poll, and the successful candidates thanked the - ratepayers for their support. Of 158 electors on tho roll 97 recorded their votes. I The sculling race for the championship at Wellington between Hearn and Messenger came off on Saturday, and' resulted in an easy victory for the local man (Hearn) by 20 lengths. Messenger is the same individual who came from Sydney under the assumed name of I Carter, and rawed Albert' White in Auckland. A sitting of the Supreme Court in jßancowas held on Monday, and several important judg tnents were - delivered. In re John Graham, his Honor dismissed the summons because he aaw no reason for making a distinction in the event of the bankruptcy 6f a judgment debtor between the rights of the judgment creditor against his lands and against his chattels. In Mercer v. Buchanan and another, an appeal from a decision given by the R.M., Dunediu, his Honor sustained the appeal, with costs, holding that the appellant, by reason of his bankruptcy, had been released from his liability to .the respondents. The disputed election case, Regina v. Cullen, was decided in favour of Mr Graham, the petitioner. During the remainder of the day the Court was occupied with an argument for a decree inTumbull v. Proudfoot and others. The following Reuter's cablegram, datiod Washington, March '20th, appears in the Melbourne papers :— " A bill has been passed by both Houses of Congress for expediting, by means of an increased subsidy, the transmission of the overland mails on the Pacific railway, between San Francisco and New York. By this means the Australian mails by this route will, it is expected, be conveyed in a shorter time than is at present occupied." The message as it came to New Zealand stated that the bill had been postponed. The Jolimont railway accident has cost the Victorian Government no less than £37,796 18s lOd. The first sitting of the Licensing Committee for the district, of Palmerston took place on Saturday, at noon, the whole of the members of Committee being present. Mr J. M'Kenzie, M.H.R., was elected chairman. The transfer of the license of the Pukeiviti Hotel from John Hailstone to — Stafford was granted. Some accounts were passed for payment. It was also arranged that a poll of the ratepayers, under the local option clause of the Act, should be taken shortly. Messrs R. S f Sparrow and Co. are at present engaged in fitting up a four-inch rock drill for the Waitahuna Copper-mining Company. The drill is driven by compressed air, and is one of the best made, while its working capabilities, combined with its simplicity of construction and general utility, render it invaluable as a labour-saving appliance, and so well calculated to promote the further development of our mineral resources. Frank Oliver, the pedestrian, has been committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court on a charge of the larceny as a bailee of a watch, chain, and ring at Papakaio. The fishing season is now over, and the competitions held in ■ connection with the Otago Anglers' Association have resulted as follow :— Ninth of November competition : Ist prize, J. A. Connell; 2nd, S. Thompson; 3rd, W. D. Smith. ■ • Special-prize takers for fishing at the Water-of-Leith : C. Duncan and J. M'Laren. Third of January competition: Ist, R. Chisholm; 2nd, W. D. Smith. Twenty-third of March competition : Ist, S. Thompson (weight of basket 71b 2oz, heaviest fish 4^lb) ; 2nd, J. A. Connell (weight of basket 61b 7^o/,, heaviest fish 21b 12oz, two heaviest fish 41b 6oz). The Association's medal, which was to be given to tho largest prize taker'in these matches, will have to be competed for again by Messrs Connell, Smith, and Thompson, who have tied, and the time and place for the competition will be shortly decided upon by the Committee of the Association. Tho Oamaru Borough Council has a proposal before it in connection with the local waterworks of some importance. Mr Harper, the engineer, suggests a plan for the enlargement of the holding capacity of the reservoir to about four times its present size. This is to be ! done by raising the dam to a further height of 15 feet, whereby the reservoir will be capable of holding 1)0,000,000 gallons of water, instead of 25,000,000 as at present. Under present circumstances, should tho supply be interrupted in any way, the reservoir would hold only five days' supply, but the enlargement would secure a three weeks' supply. The want of money is likely to stand in the way of the proposal being given effect to in the meantime.

i The first anniversary of the opening of Morningfcon Presbyterian Church was commemorated yesterday, when the special services held were conducted by the Revs. L. Mackie, J. N. Buttle, and Dr Stuart respectively. Mr Mackie preached in the morning, Mr Buttle (minister of the Mornington Wesleyan Church) gave a special address to children in the afternoon, and Dr Stuart addressed a full congregation in the evening. i A committee meeting of the Otago Rugby Football Union was held on Saturday evening to consider the proposal of the C, R. Union i to play a series of football matches in Christ- ' church during the Exhibition season. It was resolved to wait for further information on the matter before deciding definitely what part 1 Otago should take in the interprovincial con- ' tests, but that if an inter-island match could 1 be arranged Otago would willingly send a con : tingent. | ' The Government steamer Stella, which arI rived here on Saturday, will shortly pay a visit ; to Wai papa in order to examine the landing there, with the view of arranging to put the materials on the ground for the new light- , house. She will also visit the West Coast, and j make her usual trip to the lighthouses. ! The Railway Department have_ already issued their announcements of excursion fares and 1 trains in connection with the Easter holidays, ■ and also with the Christchurch Exhibition. The full particulars are advertised. Prom , Dunedin the return fare to Christchurch (the return ticket being available from April 6th to i 17th) will be 30s first-class and 20s second1 class. One night train from Dunedin to Christ- . ■ church is announced, leaving here on Saturday, , Bth April ; and others will be put on if the [ ' traffic at all justifies it. i I Four members of the Harbour Board and ! several visitors proceeded to Port Chalmers on I Saturday to witness the first trial of the new ' steam dredge, which was fixed for that day : The result of the dredging was not entirely \ satisfactory, as after several hours' work only \ about 300 tons of sand had been raised. This ', may be in a measure accounted for by the fact ' that work was commenced upon a bank of exceedingly stiff sand, and it is expected that a ! subsequent trial will produce more favourable ' results. The party on board accompanied the j vessel on her trip out to the Heads to unload the hopper. : The open-air service in the Octagon on > Saturday night was very well attended, as was also the after-meeting at Trinity Church. Ad- • dresses were delivered by the Revs. Lindsay • Mackie and J. Wilson, and Messrs A. H. i Haycock, J. G. Fraser, and Gordon Forlong. I The last meeting of the present series was held . ' on Sunday evening, when the crowd which as- \ sembled was a very large one, notwithstanding . the rain, there being about 2000 persons present. Messrs D. Wright and A. Brunton addressed the meeting, and the latter gentleman sang the • solo, " Jesus saves me now, the choir joining in the chorus. An adjournment was made to the V.M.C.A. Rooms, owing to some misunderstanding about the use of the Wesleyan Church, but of about 1000 persons who followed the choir to the building little over 200 could gain admission. The meetings are considered by far the most satisfactory of the kind ever held here. Tasmanian people are termed "excrucia tingly loyal" by a contemporary. The 10th instant having been the twentieth anniversary of the Prince of Wales' marriage, was observed as a public holiday throughout their Colony. Colonel Trimble, lately suggested to the Government that willows should be planted three or four feet apart along the New Plymouth railway -line, believing they would be a cheap and efficient fence ; and in a letter to the Taranaki Herald the Colonel says : " I have just been informed that this suggestion will be tried, and that when the proper season arrives two miles will be planted on each side of the line by way of experiment." In refusing a request made by the people of Waipahi, through their M.H.R., Mr Thomson, for the appointment of a local registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, the Colonial Secretary points out that registration by an agent is allowed, and adds : "There are may objections to > tha. subdivision of districts, amongst them being the difficulty of getting the work of registration efficiently performed for the small remuneration which can be given. It^also involves an additional cost to persons about to marry, should the parties reside in different districts." A peculiar action camo before Mr Robinson, R;M., at Palmerston the other' day. It was an information for malicious injury to certain floral decorations in the schoolhouse. Both complainant and defendant were members of the Macraes School Committee, and the evidence showed that the defendant removed the decorations on the ground that he objected to them being allowed to remain in the school during school-time. Defendant pleaded that he had a right to do what he had done as a member of the Committee. Ho was fined 2s Gd. Special services were held at St. Paul's Church on Sunday, the offertories being in aid of the Sunday-school fund. In the morning the Rev." A. R. Fitchett preached from the text, " Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way," and tho anthem, " Wherewithal shall a young man," composed by Mr Towsey, was excellently rendered. A children's service was held in the afternoon, at which an address was delivered by Mr Statham. In the evening the Rev. C. J. Byng conducted the service, and preached from the words, " And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds" (Job xxxvii. 21), referring to the Sun-day-school as a bright light in the dark prospect of the banishment of the Bible as the standard of morality from the public schools. The evening anthem was "Sing a song of praise" (Stainer). The attendance at the various services was large, and the total offertories amounted to £20 15s 3d. The expenses in connection with the election of the South Dunedin Licensing Committees amount to close on £30. According to section 109 of the Act the onus of liquidating this debt devolves upon the Borough Council. This body, however, refuses to pay the amount at present, on the ground that they have not yet received any moneys under the new Act. Tho Lyttolton Times of yesterday says : — "Wo much regrot to announce the death of Mr Oumow, inspector to the Board of Education, who has been ill for the past three weeks of low fevor. He was delirious for several days before his death, which took place last evening at G o'clock. Mr Curnow came to New Zealand from Victoria, where he took the B.A. and LL.IJ. degrees at the Melbourne University, and was appointed to the hcadmastership of the Normal School a few years ago. 11 o had previously resided in Auckland, where lie married .Miss Ahuiro, sister-in-law of Mr A. CJ. Wilson, of OhrMehnrch. Mr Curnow succeeded Mr Longhroy as head-master of the I Gloucester street School, and only a few weeks s ago received the appointment which he held at c the time of his death. He has written several s school-books, which have been very favourably 1 received, and general regret cannot but be felt ] at his dea,t,h at the early age of 33."

The Melbourne Argus has the following :-- i " A number of Chinamen residing in Mcl- • bourne have applied, through their agents, to the Commissioner of Customs for the remission, in special cases, of the £10 poll tax. They state that they are about to visit Tasmania and New Zealand, and that as business is their sole motive for going, they think that on returning they ought not to be taxed as if they were immigrants from China. Mr Graves has declined to accede to this request, for the reasons that it would be difficult to identify the Chinamen on their return from the other Colonies, and that if a remission of the tax were granted in a few cases it would be an argument for its remission in all." The National Gazette, commenting on petroleum being used as fuel, says :— " We shall soon be able to announce a wonderful stride in the mechanical appliances ,for using liquid fuel, generating steam in both marine and land boilers. The matter is in the hands of practical men, who will demonstrate that they can make from 28 to 30 gallons of crude petroleum, costing from 85 to 90 cents, do the work of a ton of coal, costing from 4dol to 4dol 15 cents, without dirt or smoke, and when, as in the case of a large steamer carrying from 40 to 45 men in the fire-room, one man in each will be abundantly able to keep up a uniform pressure of steam at all times. Liquid fuel is the intervening step between coal and electricity, which will in due season furnish motion for the world."

The Parliamentary Buildings in Wellington are now undergoing a thorough renovation, and when the workmen have completed their labours will present a more respectable appearance than they have done for many years past. The whole of the exterior has been .painted stone colour, and the structure, which is undoubtedly a handsome one from an architectural point of view, will soon be an ornament to the city, and bear close inspection — a great change from the dingy appearance which has characterised it of late. A lot of work is also being done in the interior in the way of painting, paperhanging, and distempering.

A determined but unsuccessful attempt was made one night recently in Melbourne to rob the North Elizabeth street branch of the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank. The Bank was entered during the night by means of removing the catch from the Elizabeth street window with a wire button-hook usually employed by housebreakers for the purpose, and the banking*room was ransacked throughout. The private drawers and money receptacles were pulled out, and the papers thrown about, and an unsuccessful attempt was apparently made to force open the strong safe. Owing, however, to the precaution of Mr James Birrell, the manager, who had removed all the available cash to the head office on closing in > the afternoon, the burglars were disappointed as regards obtaining anything of value. " Mr Birrell, who resides on the premises with his family, heard nothing of the occurrence during the night, the first intimation which he received of the entry being the finding of the window thrown open on Saturday morning. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police.

The Saturday Review, in an article upon Henry Fielding, says :— " Many of the most popular novels of this day, novels written by women, and openly read by wamen, which they allow to lie on their drawing-room tables and are not ashamed, are from beginning to end nothing but an abomination. The view of life that tliese books present is as false as it is disgusting' and degrading. They are in reality, though not perhaps avowedly, as vicious as the worst parts of ' Tom Jones,' while they have not a single good quality to cast into the other side of the balance. Fielding had wit, humour, learning, an admirable style, great generosity, tenderness of heart, love for the pure, pity for the weak, hatred of the oppressor, scorn of affectation, and a hearty Idughfor the fool, whether he were the landlord of a country alehouse or a great nobleman at Court. The writers of whom we are speaking have dullness, vulgarity, ignorance, conceit, coarseness, affected airs, a ridiculous perversion of language, and a base worship of the grosser luxuries which can only be got by wealth or by the flattery of the rich. We certainly do not go so far as to recommend Fielding for family reading. But if we were unfortunately compelled to choose between any daughter of ours reading ' Tom Jones' or the works of more than one of the novelists now in favour, we should, without a moment's hesitation, tell her to stick to the * History of a Foundling.'"

We understand proceedings will be taken against Government enginedrivers who allow engines or carriages to remain stationary on the crossing at Rattray street. The Public Works Act gives the Government power to run trains across the street, but it does not allow them to remain stationary on it, as has been the practice for some time past.

Publicans ought to be very careful to see that the duty stamps on their beer-casks are properly defaced in tapping! Four hotelkeepers were on Tuesday brought before the Police Court by the customs officers, for having in their possession casks bearing undestroyed stamps, and threo were convicted and visited with somewhat heavy penalties, considering that the charges were the first of the kijid brought under tho notice of the Court. One defendant was mulcted in a sum of £10, and the other two were fined £5 each. An extraordinary feature of the clause of the Act relating to this class of offence, is that it does not require the prosecution to prove a single fact, the onus laying on the defendant to completely disprove that which is alleged.

The secretary of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce has again written to the Sydney Chamber urging a renewal of the agitation for. a modification of the Now Zealand cable rates. A concert in aid of the liquidation of the debt on Trinity Wesleyan Church washeldin the hall of the church on Tuesday evening, and passed j off most successfully. Miss Coventry received an encore for the song "My sweetheart when a boy," and Mr M'Alpin for "The Midshipmite," to which they responded by repeating the last verses in each instance. Miss Shepard was deservedly recalled for " I had a dream," and sweetly sang "The Chorister." Messrs Calverley and M'Alpin were also encored for the duet " Friendship," and repeated the last verse. The solos by Miss Borrows and Messrs Barmby, Rigg, and Oalvorley were fairly well sung. The duets "Pulaski" (by Misses Bolton and Hindle) and " How sad to say farewell " (by Miss Shepard and Mr Blanchard) were very successfully rendered ; as were also the part-songs by Messrs Staccy, Blanchard, and M'Alpin. Several glees wore taken part in by the choir ; and during the evening tho Roy. L. Best, who occupied the chair, referred to the very encouraging efforts made by the congregation, and especially the ladies, to liquidate the debt of £1200 on the church, and which had now, he said, been reduced to £50. Much of the success of the concert is due to the efforts of Mr J. Lom.T-i, the conductor. There were over 400 persons present, anel the amount realised was about £20.

The regular meeting of the British-Israel Association was held in the Young Men's C.A. Rooms on Tuesday evening, when a very interesting paper was read by Mr R. N. Adams on " The Captivity of Israel." The essayist took the ground that the occupants of Media as the captive Israelites were to be traced from the land to which they had been carried ngnt across the South of Russia.

The Invercargill people are determined to push on the Seaward Bush Railway. Messrs Joyce, Feldwick, and Mackenzie, M.H.R. a, have been requested to urge on the Government; to carry out the recommendations of the beaward Bush Railway Commissioners made in the following terms :-" We re commend No. 3 line as in every respect the best f or r. attammg the ends in view, and would advise that steps be taken to secure the land required in sections 3 and 2 before it is otherwise utilised."

A conversational meeting of the Otago Institute was held in the Museum on Tuesday evening, when a large number of objects were exhibited by Professor Parker, Dr Scott, Messrs R. Gillies, G. M. Thomson, and A. Montgomery. The objects included single and compound microscopes, and collections of forammifera minuted for the microscope, invertebrata in alcohol, and casts of important fossils. Much interest was taken in the exhibits by the visitors. The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times telegraphs :— " I understand that Mr Fulton has declined the invitation of Government to be nominated as Chairman of Committees, and that Government are now canvassing for support for Colonel Trimble or Mr Kelly."

Monday's Oamaru Mail says:— "The announced foot-race over three distances— loo, 125, and 150 yards— between I<\ Smith, a Ngapara man, and ' John Allen, of Sydney, came off on Saturday. The match was for £25 a side, and the Ngapara man caught a Tartar, 'Allen'— who, we believe, is none other than Joseph Jullien, a celebrated Victorian runner— winning the first two events very easily. It is stated that' Jullien has already ' had ' a Southland running man, and that he is still on the look out for other innocents."

MrT. Brydone has been appointed president of the North Otago Coursing Club, and Messrs A. C. Paterson and J. B. Reid vice-presidents. Mr G. S. Lintott has been elected secretary and treasurer. It has been decided to apply for permission to work ,the totalisator on the several events on the evenings previous to the meetings arrangedfor this season.

The competitive band performances which are to be held at the Christchurch Exhibition will commence on Tuesday, the 2nd May ; and a prize of £25 will be given for the best performance, and a further sum of £25 towards the expenses of the successful performers ; also a prize of £5 each for the best performers on the violin and clarionet, and £10 10s prize for the best chamber music Also, commencing on ' Tuesday, 9th May, there will be competetive choral performances, 'for which' a prize of £25 will be given; also, for unaccompanied glees or part songs, prize of £10 ; for vocal solo singing, soprano, contralto, tenor, and bass, a prize of £3 3s each for the best; for school singing, with prize of £10, to be expended m medals. •

Christchurch is losing another of its wellknown cricketers in the person of Mr Fuller, who is to leave the Province in a few weeks. With him (says the Lyttelton Times) will go the last good bowler the Province possesses, and weakened as cricketers already are by thenrecent losses, some native talent will speedily have to be developed, or the prestige Canterbury has so long enjoyed in the cricket field must depart for a time at least.

The Victorian Government continue to push forward the defences, the movement, it is stated, beingconnected with the recent visit of the Russian fleet. Two gunboats have been ordered, besides new armament. The total cost of the present defence works undertaken is £150,000.

The West Taieri River Board held a meeting on the 25th, but no business of public importance was transacted, Some small accounts, amounting to £33 19s 7d, were passed for payment.

The agricultural statistics for the year end ing February, 1882, show an increase of the number of holdings in the Peninsula and the Waitati portion of the Waikouaiti counties, but a decrease of the number in the, Taieri. In the area under crop there is a falling off of 4085 acres in the Peninsula, 5840 in the Taieri, and 3424 in the Waikouaiti County. There is generally a decrease in the yield of the crops grown on the Peninsula ; an increase on those of the Taieri, with the exception of oats, which shows a considerable falling off; and an increase on those of the southern part of the Waikouaiti district. On the whole the results are very satisfactory, notwithstanding the_ unfavourable reports which have been received from some quarters of the probable results of the present harvest. The average of wheat in the Taieri County is nearly 41 bushels to the acre, and of oats nearly 39 bushels.

Two committals for trial were made at the City Police Court on Tuosday, the cases being that of C. D. Hitchcock, for publishing a libel concerning R. Quinn, master of the Benevolent Institution ; and one in which three lads were charged with assaulting a woman with intent to rot) her in Bond street.

Mr John Wells, settleronthe Peninsula, came | into town on Tuesday evening to report to the police that he had seen a .vessel at sea late in the afternoon presenting appearances as if on fire. His residence is situated on the heights at Highcliffe, and he states that the vessel, which was apparently one of large size, was a long distance out. His attention was at first attracted by a column of smoke. Then he saw two or three quick flashes of flame, as if from an explosion, and whilst the vessel remained in sight afterwards a quantity of smoke hung about her. What helped to confirm a suspicion that something was wrong was that the vessel headed for some time direct iu-shore, but eventually she stood away in a south-westerly direction, and when he saw her last as night fell was continuing so. Mr Wells and other HighclifEe settlers thought the matter of sufficient importance to be reported in the proper quarter, and Mr Wells made a journey to town on horseback for that purpose. We understand that Inspector Weldon telegraphed to Captain Thomson, harbourmaster, asking if he would make inquiries ; and also to the head of his department in Wellington, asking if tho employment of a steamer would be authorised. Later, also, Mr Weldou saw the Chairman of the Harbour Board, who telegraphed to Captain Thomson to send a steamer round the coast to ascertain, if possible, what had given rise to tho appearances noted. Wo understand that Captain Thomson is of opinion that it may prove to have been a whaling vessel engaged in trying, which would account for the smoke. He started out at about 10 p.m. in the s.s. Plucky to see if anything could be learnt about the affair. Inspector Weldon certainly , deserves credit for the trouble he took in the matter.

His Lordship the Most Rev. Dr fMotfan, Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, after an absence of nearly 12 months in Europe, arrived in Melbourne on Monday, en route for this city. He left the former place by the s.s. Hero yesterday, and will probably arrive in Dunedin on Tuesday next. His return will be heartily welcomed by the members of his congregation.

The Dunedin Naval Brigade some time ago decided to get a summer uniform, and accordingly an order was given to a local firm recently for the manufacture of 12 dozen suits of the usual light material. The suits are now completed ; and as the necessary number of straw hats have just arrived from Home, the corps will be enabled shortly to make use of the uniform. A fact of interest in connection with this company of Volunteers is that the Headquarters Band have decided to join, their ranks.