LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1652, 21 July 1883, Page 9

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The Rev. 0. S. Ross, of Anderson's Bay, has been given a call by the Presbyterian congregation of Napier.

The Superintendent of Agents in the Go vernment Insurance Department received a total sum as salary and commission last year of £2952 9s.

The evangelistic mission conducted by Mr D. Wright at South Dunedin was concluded on Thursday evening, when the church was crowded in every part. One result is that 227 persons signed the pledge and donned the blue ribbon.

Mr Fish, in the course of his speech on Mr Montgomery's motion (which was one of his red-hot ones), characterised the House as a " wretched coalition of incompatible atoms." In speaking of Centralisation he said he would much prefer to see the two Islands united under their individual form of government, with a federal government at Wellington.

The particulars to hand of -the suicide at Mount Somers, Ashburton, are to the effect that George Long, the deceased, was a labouring man, who had recently returned from a visit to Dunedin. In a melancholy frame of mind he procured a gun, and went to the plantation adjoining the Mount Somers Hotel, where ho deliberately tied himself to a tree, the line made use of passing around the trigger of the gun. The gun itself being pointed to his chest, a slight pressure with his foot discharged the weapon, and the contents of the barrel brought about the consummation he wished. It is alleged that unrequited love was at the bottom of the affair.

As showing the growing importance of the frozen meat trade in London, the following statistics, taken from the annual report of the superintendent of the central markets at Smithfield, will prove interesting: — "In 1881 222,114 tons of produce were delivered at Smithfield, 106,376 being country killed, 79,680 tons town killed, 8054 tons general foreign meat and produce, 27,439 tons American killed fresh meat, and 565 tons Australian and New Zealand killed fresh meat. Last year there were 101,643 tons of country killed meat delivered, 81,520 tons town killed, 9936 tons foreign meat and produce, 16,635 tons American meat, and 1747 tons Australian meat. In February last some Australian oxen and sheep, which* had left Melbourne two months and nine days previously, were slaughtered in England and sold in the markets ; and in May last a consignment of about 5000 New Zealand sheep was sold at Smithfield after a passage of 98 days in a sailing vessel." These figures show how small a proportion Colonial meat at present bears to the total supply, and what ample room there is for an increase in our quota.

At the Wellington Philosophical Society's meeting last week was exhibited about two pounds weight of quartz taken from a point between Lowry Bay and Pencarrow Ligh thouse, near Wellington. Dr Hector said that this "specimen" had been tested, and was found to contain gold at the rate of 6'070z to the ton. He added that the breaks were all fresh, he himself having made them. Beyond that he could say nothing about the find, except that the quartz had a very close resemblance to that in the Wealth of Nations mine at Reefton.

In the annual report of Mr G. T. Wilkinson, Native officer, Auckland, he describes the condition of the Waikato Natives as being at a very low ebb. He says they are poor in pocket, poor in possessions, and ; worse than all, they are poor in health. The diseases from which the elderly people suffer are principally asthma, lumbago, and inflammation of the lungs. The children are afflicted with all the sickness that childhood is heir to, and which, on account of poor f sod and scanty clothing to protect them from the cold, frequently carries them off, whon under more favourable circumstances they might have been saved. A great many in middle life are not by any means strong, as shown by the hacking cough with which they are afflicted.

A Victorian squatter named Wyslaskie has left a number of sums to churches and public institutions. To the Presbyterian Church, High street, Langahar, Scotland, he bequealhed £5000; and £2000 to the Presbyterian Church at Wickliffe, Victoria. To the endowment fund for salaries of professors and teachers in preparing young men for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria he left £20,000 ; to the treasurer of the Presbyterian Church, Victoria, £5000, to be applied towards building a hall for the Presbyterian Ladies' College in Melbourne ; to the theological hall fund of the same Church, £10,000; to the University of Melbourne, £12,000, for the purpose of founding scholarships for Mathematics, Natural Science, English Constitutional History, Political Economy, Modern Languages, and Classical and Comparative Philology and Logic. These are to be called the Wyslaskie Scholarships. He has besides these bequests provided handsomely for his wife and family.

The Rev. Mr Chalmers, who has lived in New Guinea as a missionary for seven years, and is described as probably knowing more about that vast and mysterious island than any other European living, recently spoke on the subject at Brisbane. He is reported by the Brisbane Courier to have said that " Queensland ought to be very proud of their new acquisition. It was a magnificent island, and inhabited by a fine race of men. He earnestly hoped that the occupation of the island by white men wonld not mean the extinction of the natives, but would rather tend to teach, instruct, and establish them. He felt he would not be doing his duty if he did not give his full opinion on the subject of the traffic in coloured labour. Ho knew that they did all they could in Queensland to check the abuses complained of, but it was impassible to regulate traffic in labour carried on thousands of miles away. As for the natives of New Guinea, he was confident they would never consent to leave their country if they understood thoroughly the length of time for which they were required. They might agree come to Queensland as labourers for three years, but if they were asked to enter into a contract to serve for six moons not one would come. But looking at the matter in a moral light, why should we deprive them of liberty ? What right have we to take thorn from their wives and homes 1 And it must be borne in mind that it was not the old and useless men we required, but the very pith, marrow, and

muscle of the people. % did not wish to see; the people civilised in the iW conventional manner; he did not believe in disguising the= blacks,nor in shirt-and-trousers natives. 1 or hispart, he preferred pure, unadulterated savages. Six years ago he landed in Port Moresby, and) settled among a cannibal tribe, encounteringman* troubles and difficulties at the outeefc. Afterwards things became more settled, ao* they were invited to a cannibal feast bat thought it better to- decline the invitation. His wife, however, had made friends with a neighbouring chief, who looked in during the evening with a piece of flesh, which he thought would prove an acceptable morsel to his guests. Great was his astonishment at their refusing to eat a portion of a fellow creature, however delicately roasted. For the last three years? theve have been great improvements in theiir habits, and for that period cannibal feasts have been unknown at Port Moresby. Many have joined the Christian Church, and have been baptised ; andthough, perhaps, they arenotgreat theologians, still their faith is pure and simple. When the gold prospectors visited the island some years ago, one of them shot a native/ The natives then became hostile, and threatened the lives of the teachers. He called the natives together, and explained that the teachers had come simply to instruct them, and wanted nothing in return. He succeeded in pacifying them for the time, and they agreed to accept their teacher, who, however, became unpopular, and was shortly afterwards murdered when the great massacre of teachers took place. The missionaries had had a hard struggle ; pome had fallen through the unhealthy climate, some had been murdered ; but daylight was now dawning over that island, and he trusted the time was not distant when it would be prosperous and enlightened." An account of a remarkable atmospherical phenomenon appears in the report of the Superintendent of Polico in the Tmnevelly district of tho Madras Presidency, and is published in the Bombay Gazette. It is reported : "On the sth ult. a whirlwind passed over the country near the village of Neelisnallur, attached to the Kurkulputti Station, and m its progress two boys, aged 13 and 15, a girl aged 10 years, an old woman of 68, and a man of 56 years of age, who were working in a neld ! were seized and sent spinning in the air. lhe man and the woman never recovered from the shock. When the children came to they found both lifeless. It was some time before the children recovered consciousness. An inquest was held, the verdict being, ' Death from whirlwind.' Two sheep and 10 lambs were destroyed in the same manner near the same spot. * A similar occurrence,' adds tha superintendent, 'has never before come tor my notice.'"

The directors of the Southern Cross Petrc leum Company (say the Christchurch papers) have received several casks of paraffin mineral and oil from the Company's works, Rotokautuku, near Gisborne. Samples on view at the Company's office, Chancery lane, have been re ported on most favourably by Mr Weaver, the American borer, who has just arrived. He considers the oil fully equal, if not superior, to that of the Pennsylvania wells, and thinks the indications extremely favourable. Samples ot the products of the Company's mine have been forwarded to Liverpool and London, consigned to experienced oil-brokers there. Dr J. 1. Rouse (a director), who left "by the steamship lonic, has kindly undertaken to interview these gentlemen for the purpose of ascertaining its commercial value in the Jinglisn market.

Nearer hand than the Old Country, clergymen have been accused of partisanship in the pulpit in political matters. Two instances are given in a recent Home paper. In Ireland it is stated that a priest illustrated his views of the decision of the Sub-commissioners under the Land Act by preaching a sermon from the text, " And the rent is made worse." _£Jniost exactly a century ago the Borough of Bedford was disturbed by a hotly-contested election. The popular party was represented by the philanthropist, John Howard, of Cardmgton, and his relative, Mr Whitbread. On the other hand, the Corporation was suspected of having sold the representation to a couple of strangers —Sir William Wake, Bart., and Mr Robert Sparrow. The feeling against these purchasers of the electors' honour was so high that on a Sunday when the election fever was hottest a clergyman of the Established Church took as his text, "Are not two sparrows sold for one farthing? Fear ye not, -therefore ; ye aro of more value than many sparrows, lhe result of tha poll, nevertheless, was that Wake and Sparrow were returned.

The Rev. J. G. Paton, in the course of a lecture delivered by him on June 27, in Melbourne, on missionary work in the JNew Hebrides, said :— " The islands were very fertile. Any quantity of sugarcane, spices, cocoanuts, &c. could be produced on them, and those articles would become valuable exports soon. The French were well aware of that, and from what he had learned he was convinced that it .was their intention to take possession of the islands before long, it they were not anticipated by some other The missionaries were afraid that the ■**«enc& would do so— afraid because they knew that whon the French took possession of other islands they forbade the Protestant missionaries continuing their labours. He mentioned some of the means which the French took to suppress Protestantism in the islands taken possession of by them, and then said that the missionaries feared tho French, and consequently were eager for British protection over the islands, or for their annexation. If the capitalists of these Colonies, who were generally so anxious to extend their business, only knew the value of the islands, they would urge the Government togo and takepossession of themat once. If the French did take possession of the islands it could only be expected that they would do as they had done on other islands, and no one need therefore be surprised at the anxiety of the missionaries to have the islands placed under British protection. If they were annexed, or taken under British protection, Britain could protect the natives against the labour traffic, which had swept away one-third of the population during the last 20 years.

The unusual mildness of the present winter is borne witness to by a resident at Upper Shotover, who writes to the Wakatipu Mail as follows:— "There has not before been such a season on the Shotover since 1863. We have not had one severe winter's day, although certainly the weather has been boisterous and slushy ; but still no snow or ice of any account has been seen— in fact one of our packers came to the Point and wont on through to the Phoenix mine with a barefooted horse on the last day of June, whereas in other years (18b3 excepfced) the horses would have to be frosted in May. Still there is time, however, for any amount of snow yet; and it will be required, or there will be a great scarcity of water next summer."

The Te Aroha News has the following :— •' On Saturday last Te Kooti duly paid his promised visit to this township in response to the invitation of Mr Coleman, hotelkeeper. He came in a double-aeat6d buggy, with three of his coin*

patriots, a yo&ag Native acting as charbteerJHe was accompanied by a large cavalcade of «f both sexes, mounted and ou foot, hut there was little curiosity and no excitement ■whatever. A few white people went to Cole«n»n's to see him, and some, but not many "drank with the visitor and at his expenae. He appeared to have plenty of money, and certainly did not present the appearance of the bloodthirsty savage of the past. During what may almost be deemed his present triumphal march, he has proved himself nearly as good a patron of publicans as his sovereign, Tawhiao forihe halts at all public-houses en rente, and treats his bodyguards most liberally. This shows that he must ba well supplied with funds, for some of them are exceedingly thirsty souls, and hs pays cash for their re-

The c&sges commenced within the last week or so for tfoe purpose of giving religious in av"iuctioa to children attending the various public ■fieheols in the city have been in every *case well attended. The Rev. Mr Dumbell "corasaenced classes in the George street School *o>fc behalf of the Ministers' Conference, but uas had to discontinue them, as he has gone North to attend the Methodist Conference now sitting. The Rev. Mr Gillies, who was also to have taken charge of the classes on behalf of the Conference, has not up to the present^ been in good enough health to enter upon his duties, and he at one tune contemplated the withdrawal of his services on this account.' He has, however, decided to reconsider the matter, and will probably commence his class shortly. About 70 children attended the class started by the Anglican clergy at this school. In the Union street School the Rev. A. R. Fitchett's class meets daily, and continues to be well attended; and the children attending the Conference class num ber 100. In this school some of the pupil teachers v?ould no doubt have volunteered their services had they not to attend early for ordinary work, in accordance with a rule followetl in the school for several years past. It is aot at present deemed advisable to alter the existing arrangements in this respect, it being found much more convenient to instruct the pupil teachers in the morning than in the afternoon, as is the case in some of the other schools. About 200 children, from the Third up to the Sixth Standard, attend fche classes at the Albany street School, where Dr Salmond and the Rev. Mr Johnstone conduct them on behalf of the Conference. In the Arthur street School upwards of 200 of the pupils attend, 140 being taught by the Rev. J, Berry and Mr Alfred Brunton (Conference), assisted by two pupil teachers. The Yen* Archdeacon Edwards coaducts the Anglican class, and he also has the assistance of two pupil teachers. The Normal School classes start next Tuesday.

Rev. Dr Macgregor, of Oamaru, delivered fche second of his lectures on the land question fin the old Knox Church on Friday evening. A 2arfle number of ladies and gentlemen were ipcesent, and manifested their approval of the sentiments of the lecturer by frequently applauding his remarks.

In a case heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday, in which the plaintiff claimed to recover, among other items, the value of two bottles of gin, his Worship (Mr Carew, R.M.) gave judgment in plaintiff's favour, and intimated that the Licensing Act of 1881 repealed the English statute commonly known as the Tippling Act.

The St. Andrew's Church division of the Blue Ribbon Army met in the hall of St. Andrew's Church on Friday evening, when the Rev. Rutherford Waddell presided. There was a very large attendance, the juvenile portion predominating. The meeting had been called principally for the purpose of electing officers and enrolling members. The Rev. R. Waddell was elected president ; Messrs W. Gow and T. B. Low, vice-presidents ; Mr J. Rose, secretary senior division, and Mr W. Rose, junior division ; Mr J. S. Mollison, registrar ; and Messrs Gow, Reynolds, Grigor, Scott, Ewen, Muir, 'Lawson, and Anderson to form the Committee. At the conclusion of the meeting, many of those present donned the " bit of blue," and altogether, we understand, about 200 persons have expressed their intention to join.

At a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Dunedin, held last week, a resolution proposed by Bishop Nevill was unanimously agreed to expressive of sympathy with the Rev. Dr Stuart in his late bereavement. The Bishop was requested to forward a copy of the resolution to Dr Stuart.

Gold was exported from the Colony for the half-year ending June 1883 to the amount of 123,3680z, valued at £494,002. For the corresponding period of last year the amount was U4,2530z, valued at £456,215.

The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times states that Mr Pyke's speech during the debate on the local-government resolutions " was decidedly the most noteworthy I have ever heard him deliver, besides being one of the best yet made during the present session, and certainly the very best upon the particular question just now before the House. It had ther good qualities. Shrewd common-sense, mingled to advantage with that particularly rich vein of humour belonging to no one else in the House but the great 'V. P ' himself, were two of its leading characteristics ; but it had 'greater value withal than that merely of excellent political fooling. There was in it, when the Son member for Dunstan had got off his prepared jokes and settled to the work, a flavour of statesmanship as distinguished from the political smack that mars nineteentwentieths of the insipid speeches heard in the House of Representatives — such a rarity that the dainty dish was quite enjoyable in its seasoning."

George Timothy Stephenson, who has become notorious in connection with the Dunedin tragedy, was (says the New Zealand Times) well known in Wellington, having passed his early years here, and there are hundreds of his old schoolmates who regret the sad termination of his career. His father, Timothy Stephenson, was in business in Wellington. Thomas Dwan and Co. now occupy the premises formerly Stephenson's store. Mr Stephenson, sen., was for many years a commercial traveller in the Colony, but has now settled in Sydney, where he went some time last year with his family.

The Hospital returns for tho past weak are as follow :— Remaining from tho previous week, 127 ; admitted during the week, 21 ; discharged during the week, 14 ; deaths (Peter Anderson, James West, and Amelia Anthony), 3 j total remaining, 131.

While the Prisons Bill was under consideration in the Upper House the Hon. Mr Nurse S t &c& c considered it very hard that a prisoner should be punished for cursing and swearing, seeing that cursing was the normal language of bullockdnvers."

The Dunstan Presbytery have passed the following resolution, and it has been forwarded to the Rev. Dr Stuart :--« The brethren of the Dunstan Presbytery, being met this day, take the opportunity of assuring you of their most

heartfelt sympathy in your recent great affliction, and all unite in prayer that the Lord, our Master, may strengthen you to bear with resignation the sorrowful loss with which, in His wisdom, He lias seen meet to try you."

A young man named H. A. Nicholls, recently arrested in Wellington district for forgery, has succeeded in acquiring the reputation of being a very desperate character indeed. Aocording to the evidence of the police it usually took three or four men to arrest him, and Chief Detective Browne informed the Bench that when Nichollo was required on a previous occasion nearly a hundred men were engaged in searching for him. He was an apprentice to a large mercantile marine firm in London, but left that employ, and arrived in the Colony about 18 months or two years ago as _ a second-class passenger in a ship, in which he managed to excite a mutiny amongst the crew, and he was then put in irons for the remainder of the voyage. Immediately on landing he commenced a drinking bout, being well supplied with funds by his friends at Home, and upon these being exhausted he forged a cheque for a small sum ; his excuse upon his trial being that he expected a remittance from England in time to take up the forgery. A second time he committed a similar offence, and at present he is in custody on a third charge of a like nature. It may be presumed that it is the old experiment tried again of sending a youth to the Colonies so that he may reap the crop of the wild oats he sowed at Home.

A deadlock of a peculiar character (says the Lyttelton Times) has occurred between the South Canterbury Education Board and its late architect, Mr Duval. Mr Duval's engage ment with the Board terminated on June 30 and at the July meeting, a few days after, he presented his account, amounting to something slightly under £120. The Board handed the matter over to a committee, with power to act. The committee, having investigated the affair, offeredthe architect £52 in satisfaction of his claim. This he has refused to accept, and acting under advice, he has seized all the plans by which works are now being carried out for the Board. The Board hold that Mr Duval is entitled to commission up to the date of the termination of his engagement. He, on the other hand, maintains that he can claim full commission on all works in hand up to completion. The works, therefore, are at a stand-

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court closed on Monday evening. In the morning Mr and Mrs Wain were brought up, and were each sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. The prisoners felt their position keenly. They betrayed a great deal of emotion, and after the sentence it was with difficulty that they left the Courtroom without assistance, so crushing was it in its effect. No demonstration whatever was made in Court, though the Court wa« crowded to excess, and the people outside behaved with similar propriety when the prison van left the Court. Geo. W. Minter was tried for the third time for embezzling the funds of the New Zealand Insurance Company, and was convicted. His Honor, in summing up, characterised the demand for wages made by the prisoner, after leaving the books in a confused state, with a large balance against himself unaccounted for, as a piece of colossal impudence. In returning their verdict, the jury recommended the prisoner to mercy, and his Honor sentenced him to two years' imprisonment. The remaining indictments against the prisoner were disposed of by the Crown offering no evidence, and the jury, under the direction of the Judge, formally returning a verdict of "Not guilty." Our Edinburgh correspondent writes : — " Miss Jessie Josephine M'Kean ha? been appointed vice-principal of the High School for Girls, Dunedin. Miss M'Kean was a former dux and gold-medallist of George Watson's College for Ladiea, Edinburgh, and is at, present a teacher of mathematics in Park School, Glasgow."

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a tramway up the Leith Valley was held on Monday evening in Clarke's Woodhaugh Store. Some 30 persons, among whom were Bishop Nevill, Mr R. Gillies, and Mr D. Brent (mayor of Maori Hill), were present. It was resolved — "That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is very desirable that a tramway should be formed up the Leith Valley, and that a committee, consisting of Messrs Skey (convener), R. Davidson, Hogg, Campbell, Rossbotham, W. Jones, and E. Clarke (secretary), be elected to inquire as to cost, concessions, &c, and to report at a future meeting of those interested."

The seventh anniversary concert of the Lily of the Valley Lodge, 1.0. G.T., attracted a large audience at the North Dunedin Volunteer Hall on Monday evening. The performers were Misses Lake and Janet; M'Connell, Mrs M'Ewan, Messrs Neilson, J. B. Kirk, Stevenson, Shearon, Parker, R. M'Connell, Scottie, and Wiggins. The farce, " Borrowed Plumes," was enacted by Misses Dunn and Ward and Messrs J. P Smith, Sweete, and Small.

The Pioneer Lodge, No. 25, Protestant Alliance Friendly Society, held its quarterly meeting on Monday night, when P.M. Bro. Jas K. Henderson installed the following officers :— W.M., Bro. Dickson ; D.M., Bro. M'George ; secretary, Bro. Dobson ; treasurer, Bro. Scott ; elders, Bros. W. Knox and Walters. The Lodge is making satisfactory progress. It was agreed that this Lodge pay a friendly visit to Triumph Lodge, No. 9, South Dunedin.

A number of additional samples of liquor taken by the police from hotels within this district have been submitted to Professor Black for analysis. The report is in many respects far from favourable, and it is under stood that legal proceedings will be instituted by the police in some instances.

The proprietors of " The Schoolmaster," published in Napier, announce in the July number that it " will cease to be published by the present proprietor after this date unless the teachers, through their associations, guarantee a sum sufficient to cover the cost of publication."

According to the Press, " the Takapuna, the Union Company's fast boat, it is expected, will make her trips between the Manukau, New Plymouth, Wellington, and Lyttelton at the following quick rate of speed:— Leave Manukau, arrive at Taranaki (135 miles) in 91 hours ; stop there one hour ; arrive at "Welling ton (176 miles) in 12 hours more; stop at Wellington 1£ hour, arrive at Lyttelfcon (175 miles) in 12 hour3 — total distance, 582 miles in 36 hours. The steamer will run between Onehunga and Wellington in 22^ hours. She steams at the rate of 14 knots an hour. Should the train suit at Lyttelton the mail from Auckland will reach Dunedin in 48 hours."

Some days ago (says the South Australian Register) Mr Bowden, of Winninowie, discovered some gigantic bones of animals in a tank lift from the surface, and some in a well at a depth of 65ft. They were sent by him to the museum, and the curator (Dr Haake) efotes that they are, be thinks, the bones of a

gigantic and extinct species of marsupial, and he does not know whether any of the sam« sort have ever been discovered before. It is impossible for him to say what kind of animal they belong to, and there are very few skeletons in the museum that _ the bones discovered could be compared with. He is, however, pretty certain that it is an animal quite unknown, but will take casts of the bones and send them to Sir Richard Owen at London, whose reputation on the subject is weii known.

Four vessels were to leave Newcastle the other for San Francisco— viz., the Knight of the Garter, Francis Thorpe, Eivion, and Windermere, taking altogether 7280 tons of coal. The "Vagabond" writes in the Argus; — " These New Zealand lakes are the coldest in the world. Here, on Wakatipu, lam told the same as on the Fraser River, in British Columbia, should I fall overboard I shall never come to the surface again — the ice-cold water will kill me. But they also say that I should never reach the bottom, but 50ft down would be frozen, and so float about, stiff and gruesome, a fearful sight for young trout. 'So the old men tell,' and if such be the case, instead of planting one's beloved on the hillside, it would be nice to moor him or her to a buoy in the middle of the lake, and then one could occasionally haul up the dear departed and see how the body was getting on ; it would be far better than any system of embalming I have heard of. It isn't a very easy thing to g«t to the bottom of Wakatipu ; in places it is 1400 ft deep — that is, 400 ft below the level of tho sea. In all these lakes there is a xieculiar quality, present or lacking, making the waters wonderfully light. It is very hard to swim in thorn, and it may be this, instead of tho cold, which keeps down the bodies of drowned men."

In a review of Mr Rusden's " History of New Zealand," tho Argu3 says :— " Mr Rusden's qualifications for the office of an historian are, unfortunately, extremely limited. They consist merely in his patience and industry. As a collector o£ material for a writer like Mr Froude or the late Mr J. R. Green he would be invaluable. But when he cornea to marshal his facts and arrange his narrative, ho betrays his incapacity. He is like a man afflicted with a voracious appetite and feeble peptics. He devours a great' deal of food, but as he is unable to digest and assimilate what he eats, the elements of nutrition aie converted into the factors ot disease. Instead of furnishing his readers with wholesome mental aliment, Mr Rusden only confuses and bewilders, while he occasionally misleads them, by the moles indigesta which he has emptied out into his 1800 pages. Mr Rusden'B work contains upwards of a quarter of a million more words than does Hallam's ' Constitutional History of England,' which covers a period of two centuries and threequarters—namely, from the accession of Henry VII. to the death of George 11. And the diffusiveness of the three ponderous volumes under notice is not redeemed by any grace, vivacity, or picturesqueness of literary style. Mr Rusden's 'History' is as dull and as deadly-lively as a blue-book. . . . The best we can say for Mr Rusden's ponderous achievement is, that it is the work of an historical brickmaker, and not of an historical architect. "

In nearly every city in America the attention of teachers is attracted to the increased use of tobacco among lads and young men, which is due to the introduction of the cigarette. A principal of one of the Philadelphia schools has addressed the Board of Education upon the subject, and says that a large proportion of the 50,000 pupils in the schools are in the habit of using tobacco. In hopes of doing something to check the use of it, as well as the use of liquor, he has pasted on the inside of every text-book used in his school, where it will stare the pupil in the face every time he opens his book, a form of good advice, entitled "The Three R's"— "Read, Reflect, and Resolve that you will never use intoxicants or tobacco. Intoxicants greatly shorten life." This is accompanied by a table of insurance expectations, showing that the life of persons between the ages of 20 and 60 is shortened by intemperance to the extent of from five to 28 years.

The last American census shows how remarkably women have entered into the domains of labour other than the domestic, which so many contend is the only sphere they are meant for. Nearly one-third of the professional artistes in the United States are women, their precise number being 2061. Of 1100 authors, 320 are women. There are 75 female lawyers, and 165 women have climbed iuto the pulpit. Female physicians number 2432 ; barbers, 2902 ; and printers, &c. 3456. Of 30,000 professional musicians, 13,000 are women. There are 52,000 female tailors, against 81,000 males ; and 154,375 female teachers, against 73,335 males. There are a few dentists and a few commercial travellers of the female persuasion. Of 12,308 journalists, 288 are women ; and as correspondents and reporters female scribes have advanced in certain lines to the front rank.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs the following items:— "lt is reported that Sir John Hall has disposed of his estate of Leeston for the sum of £120,000.— The Post to-night gives currency to a rumour that three of the Supreme Court judges are about to retire."

The Russian St. Petersburg Gazette thus developes its idea of a Russo-Irish combination against England: — "Like all the European States, Russia has been the enemy of every other country, and may be so again ; but she has only two enemies with whom she will inevitably have to enter into a struggle for life or death. These are Germany and England. The conflict between the Slavs and the Germans is an historical and unavoidable necessity. .... As to the coming struggle with England, Russia should prepare herself for it by a rapprochement with Ireland. The United States of America were able to gain their freedom without foreign help, and the liberation of Ireland is only a question of time Ireland's victory will be made the more certain and speedy by the fact that the majority in England, as well as in Ireland, will certainly demand before long the establishment of a separate national Parliament at " Dublin. Whether the result will be the autonomy or the complete independence of Ireland, England will in either case be completely paralysed as regards her action abroad. It is, therefore, undoubtedly the direct interest of Russia that Ireland should come victorious out of the struggle in which she is at present •ngaged. We need not openly assist her; this would be useless, and indeed impossible. But it is our duty to enter into friendly relations with Ireland, which would be the more advantageous to us, inasmuch as they would improve our relations with the Catholics genewily. The best means of doing this would be to promote Irish emigration to Russia. . , , The establishment of Irish colonies in Southern Siberia, in the Caucasus, and in Turkestan districts, with a climate far sur> pawing that oi Ireland, would, be very advan-

tngeous both for the Irish and for Russia. There is much land in these districts which would be admirably suited for Irish settlements ; and if such a movement were encouraged by the Russian Government^ Russia would be brought into as close connection and sympathy with Ireland as that which exists between Ireland and the United States."

The classes started in the suburban schools for the religious instruction of the children hive in every instance been well attended. At North-East Valley the Rev. Mr Arnot has baen deputed by Dr Stuart to carry on the Conference classes, and he is assisted by the second master (Mr Fergus), and by Miss Short, there being 130 children in attendance. Oa the 7th inst. the Revs. Gibson and FraserHurst commenced the Conference classes in the Caversham School. About 100 children attended. The Rev. Mr Ronaldson intends, we believe, to start a class on behalf of the Anglicvn body of clergymen in the same school. The Rev. Mr Campbell's class at the Forbury School is attended by nearly 90 of the scholars, and at the Linden School nearly all the chil-di-en above the First Standard attend early for Bible instruction. The Anglican class, numboring 50 of the pupils, is conducted by the liev. Algernon Kerkham, and the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland has charge of the Conference class. This is attended by fully 140 of the, scholars. At Mornington the Conference classes (which are to be conducted by the Revs. Murray and Michie) have not yet been started, but the Committee having now granted the use of the school on two days a week from 9 to 9.30 a.m., a beginning will be made in about a fortnight.

The lad Webb, who some time ago suffered amputation of both legs in consequence of frost-bite, returned by the Tarawera from Melbourne, whither he had been sent to obtain artificial limbs. He has been provided by Mr Gallagher, of Melbourne, with cork legs (joining the real limbs a little below the knee), which appear to answer their purpose wonderfully well. They are constructed upon the most approved principle, and already the lad is able to walk with toberable ease by the aid of a cnuple of sticks, which, it is expected, he will b » able to discard before long. He looks exceedingly well in general health, and is now residing with Mr Ziele, in Dunedin, but returns to Clyde ou Friday next. The Committee of the Webb relief fund will now prob.ibly cast about to find some suitable occupa tion for their protigi.

Of the Colonial industries which are coming prominently before the public may be mentioned the one promoted by the Southern Cross Petroleum Company, Poverty Bay. In the locality referred to petroleum is said to be fouud in large quantities, and only recently, the Company have engaged an experienced miner to conduct operations for extracting the j oil. So far the Company have succeeded in producing some good kerosene, gasoline, and' benzoline ; and samples of these, as also of I petroleum, mineral paraffin, and mineral tur- ' pentine, are at present to be seen in the win-, dow of Messrs Bardsley and Sons—Mr Robert I Seward being the exhibitor. The quantity of i kerosene which is consumed by householders is. so great that there ought to be every prospect of the Company's wares finding a ready market, and at the same time the oil being locally refined, and possessing some excellent illuminating qualities, it should recommend itself.

On Tuesday evening, in the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Dr Roseby delivered a ' lecture on Astronomy, in connection with the local Mutual Improvement Association. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland presided, and there was a numerous attendance. The lecturer dealt generally with his subject, which was illustrated by a large number of diagrams. He referred to the constellations which are the most interesting to Southern observers, and dis- ; coursed on the physical constitution of the I Sun, giving some* practical illustrations of the use of the spectroscope. He discussed the question of the habitability of worlds, and, pointed out that in the long history of the star (which was a sun), from its fiery birth to chill inanition, it would necessarily pass through a certain phase which might be called its living phase. He gave a sketchy account of the recent comet, illustrating its orbit by the use of a model. He pointed out to the young men the value of the study of astronomy, from its sublime and elevating character, and said that he looked upon it as a wholesome tonic and corrective amid the prevalent secularism, bewildering scepticism, and tendency to materialism so noticeable at the present time. Votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman terminated the proceedings.

The Gospel Temperance movement which is now spreading: so widely and rapidly has extended its influence to the suburb of Mornington, where a branch of the Blue Ribbon Army was inaugurated in the Presbyterian Church last Friday evening. The Rev. H. E. Michie, pastor of the church, had preached a temperance sermon on the Sunday previous, in which he traced the origin and progress of the movement, and urged his congregation to give it their countenance and support. At the meeting on Friday the subject was further referred to, and the practical outcome was the formation of a branch numbering over 40 adult and something like 80 juvenile soldiers of temperance.

A public debate on the question, "Does Science Contradict the Bible?" has been arranged in Sydney between Mr Charles Bright and the Rev. J. Evans, minister, of Newcastle, in about a month's time. Mr Bright takes the affirmative and Mr Evans the negative.

At the Grand Lodge of Freemasons on June 6, the Board of General Purposes recommended the rebuilding of " The Temple," which was burned down on May 3, on a scale to accommodate 1500 persons. The cost is roughly estimated at from £30,000 to £35,000 beyond what will be received from the insurance companies. The suggestions made by several persons that the new hall should be built on the Thames embankment are considered impracticable — in tho first place, on account of the immense cost of land there ; and secondly, because it is not freehold, as the large area in Great Queen street held by the Grand Lodge is.

Dr de Jonsh's Light-Brown God Ltobr On..— lts UNEQTTAHiBD tijTJttOACY IH CONSUMPTION AND DISBASBS of thb Chest.— Tne medical profession of Allcouuirie< n.w consider Dr de Jongh'a Light- Brown Cod Liver Oil a- incomparably the most valuable remedy (or O jusumptiou and Diseases of the Chest. Ho remedy so rapidly restores tho exhausted strength, improves tti«- nutritive functions, stops emaciation, checks the perspiration, qul ts the cough and expectoration, or p oduces a more marked and favourable influence on the l-cal malady. Dr Waudby, ph>Bician to the Here t >rd Infirmary, writes :— " I SK a take Dr de Jongh'a Light-brown Cod Liver Oil without any difficulty or dislike, and with as HUe inconvenience as water alone. Not only ia my own case, but in many others I hive Bden, it has caused an improvement of chest symptwns »m1 an increase of weight, ao soon and bo lastingly, ag to bo aulte remarkable. I believe Dr de Jongh's Oil 111 1 ba Che moat valuable romedy we possess for ob*onic and constitutional disease." Dr do Jonch's LightBrown Cod Liver Oil is Bold only In capsuled imperial hitf-pints, pints, and quarts, with hie stamp and ■Unature of hia sole consignee! jon the capwle and tha label undtr vrwpper, by all chemists: Sole ConIguees, Ansar, Hftiford, and Co, 77 Strand, London,