PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1793, 3 April 1886, Page 17

PASSING NOTES.

What answer Mr Gladstone will give to the Sphinx-riddle of Ireland we are not to know precisely until the 12th inst. There are indications, however, that it is to be a very surprising answer. One or two hints have been dropped, hint 3 which, coming from an English Premier, are enough to set ('no three kingdoms in a blaze — that Ireland is to have a Parliament, and that the Irish Parliament is to bo endowed with £200,000,000 of English money wherewith Lo buy out Irish landlords. Can such things be, and overcome us like a so miner cloud, without our special wonder? Tho Irish question is a Sphinx-riddle, not merely because it is a poser, but because any statesman who essays to answer it and fails must infallibly bo devoured. Mr Gladstone announces that he v ill auswvr it on the 12th; as his answer will alino.st certainly be adjudged the wrong one, Mr Gla- Istone may lay his account for being devoured at some time between the 12th and the end of tbo ir>mith. In other words, the Conservatives jilt.; the S6 Parnollites, or the Conservatives *ilus tin- malcontent Liberals represented by Chamberlain and Trevelyan, will probably oust the Ministry To say that the position of the Premier offering a finnl solution of the Irish riddle is that of (E linns offering himself to be catechised by the Sphinx is to say too little. He is in more parlous ca^e than that. The riddle is one, but there are in effect two Sphinxes (Iri-sh. and English, respectively) who understand it in totally different ways; Mr Gladstone announces that he will be ready by the 12th with an answer that will satisfy both ! As in the nature of things this can hardly be, the British (Edipus may just as well, I fancy, make his political last will and testament, and prepare his bones to be cracked. Here are three expressions of opinion by three representative Englishmen on the impending coup de theatre. The first, by Mr Cowan, Radical-Conservative member for Newcastle, takes the form of a dramatic sketch of the Liberal party's past and present relations with Mr Parnell ;— Act T.— (Time: Prior to May 1880.) Mr Paunell, as a nincompoop, is despised by both parties. Act ll.— (Time : November 1880.) Mr Pahnell, as a conspirator, is tried at tho instance of the Liberal party. Act lll.— (Time : October 1881.) Mr Pabnell, as the chief of a " handful of village ruffians," is sent to gaol without trial by the Liberal party. Act IV— (Time : July 1882.) Mr Pabnblt., as a despicable P« so "' «•, together with his colleagurs expelled from t ex House of Commons, amidst the cheers ot the Liberal party. AcT v.— (Time : October 1885.) Mr Parnell, as the alleged ally of the Conservatives, is held up to execration on that account, and so are the said Conservatives for daring to hold communication with "the archenemy of the Empire"; that, also, by the Liberal party. Act Vl.— (Time : 1886.) Mr PAnNErx, as a patriot ai».d statesman, is to be flstablisher! at Dublin with an Irish Parliament and £200,000,000 of English money to

sxpropriate the Irish landlords— in pursuance of the policy inUo-iueed by the head of (he Liberal [ arty. The ne: t utt'Tauoe is by An-Meai-on Doni-,.;ti, .i3i'y old Tory of th.s High ( "hurch si hool. Thri Archdeacon is c.ib.i, proternaturaily ;l!1 l omusjisly calm, as iv presence of tho moot apjj.illiag political crime in his experience :—: — • I have beau soarchiujr history, auci.-nt and jpolorn, for a jiarallel to Ulr < Jl:i<l.>to:io nt th's jancturj of Liberal, Sosi .1. »:vl Commiuu.iic forces. I can find only one. It is the chorus in a G.eek play, remonstrating iv finest wonlr-. chanted to the most beautiful music, against proposal to commit foulest murder. But, upon tindinc the exercise of virtuo not promising •success,' encouraging, aiding, aud abetting m the liko finest words, to tho f.anu- beau h fid music, tho same foulest murder. " Geokgk Antuonv Dbnison. " Easi Bcent, Feb. 6, ISSC' The, third opinion is that of a jihilosophic historian, John Anthony Fronde. Sir Froude had been asked to lecture at Belfast on the Irish crisis. In declining, on the ground Hut he is " too old for such a strong advej.ture," and that at present little, good can be done by either speaking or writing, he remarks as follows : —

" The preseiit stata of things is the inevitable consequence of all that has gone before. It will end as tho 16" 11 business crnlcl, or tho ICOO, or the 170S Tho anarchy will grow til! it becomes intolerable. John Bull will then put on hi.s boots, and will do as he did before. What may happen in the interval I do not pretend to guess. You in Ulster I hope to see holding your own ground. Stand steady, whatever comes. The real England is asleep. She will awake before long, and will then know what to do." That John Bull will awake, put on his boots, aud end the ttouble in some other way than Mr Gladstone's way, one can well believe. Buthardly in the way of 1798 and earlier. The landlord question has come up since then, and John Bull will not settle the landlord question iv Ireland, nor in England either, by merely putting on his boots and "doing as he did before."

There was a memorable tanr/i at the Univ«rsity this week. Professor Macgregor is leaving for Wellington, and .his students, to the number of 100 or more — headed by the Premier of the Colony, who is proud to reckon himself one. of them — gathered in the Library to hid their preceptor and friend a sorrowful farewell. It wa •, a melting season, certainly unprecedented in the history of academical gatherings "here. The students wero quietly laohrymo.se ; the speakers struggled with the globus h/atericu.-t ; the kindly Professor himself, brim Fa' with suppressed emotion, came peiilously near to over-slopping ; 111" Hon. Robert Stout openly mingled hi ; tears with those of the llt'v. T)c Ptuart ; Dr &ilmoitd — though ono hardly sijes how he could be in it — made furtive use vi his pockot-h.indkerehiaf; whilst Dr Belcher, the new rector of the High School, who was present as one who woul.l observe what manner of men those rudo Otagonians might b-3 — even Dc Belcher at one peculiarly agonising stage of Uhj proceedings, experienced, :<e iitcito, .1 :>ymp.ithot:j catarrh. In short, this unique valedictory was o'editablo alilio t.i tho sKidenls, the departing Profespoi 1 , the University of Otago, and our common humanity. Mmcov.-jr, it is the only morally respectable iucMcnt in ca::uect:on with the Moral Science Chair sii.ca Professor Macgregor'.-. demission was aiiiiuuucijd to the public. No doubt the regrets of his siude.ii<- at losing him have been Mi:>rpeii'j'i by the wretched controversy about the sweat ssion to fie eliair and by thai,: couv;ctio:i that thurc is sin^il chance of Uv;h' looking on his like again. It i-, not too much to say thit i)v iL.icgri'gor's class was th'. 1 . isitciiecluai c.-nti I.'1 .' or' l!<« Uuivi'isity. Eutivulj' iiia-^K-r v! lib s-,\,jn:' v aixi all :;^!ow with eiithu-:ia-.m for it., the ProiWor brought to its exposition a V'}C-,r>'il:iry aud .i faculty of expre-sion whic'i t;:ig!ir. make pulpit aud platform orators envious, and a feciudity of iliustration positively inarvol.'jus. fie w.is a -lull student v.-ho under CiU hi idling vi ! nol ki'idlo into a higher intoliectnd life 13;- Maugregor departs with my best v. i' lies. At the same time it is a positive pain to see a teacher ot Ipscaiilue effac« hini.self as ;wj i!is|)--c!or of lif>s t »ifa!-, ami lunatic asjluit;*.

To a genteel form of newspaper excitement, commend me to a professional row, clerical or medical — clerical for choice. A clerical row whether a heresy hunt or a dispute about ritual, generally brings into play a depth, breadth, and variety of malediction one vainly looks for elsewhere. Thus, to take a passing example, the Rev. H. 31. Kennedy, of Plumpton Vicarage, Penrith, who has been at war with his bibhop in the Carlisle papers for some time past, has now got the length of addressing to his " Right Reverend Father in God," in reply to a " fatherly admonition," a letter of which the following is the substance : —

Dr Goodwin, Lord Bishop of Carlisle,— Your letter of 11th iji<-t. will not do You have allowed yourself to be the blind or willing tool in the hands of scoundrel* to do me hurt, and now that youhave done it, you, in order to save costs, write a hypocritical letter and desire to have me pose before the public with v blackened character. I would rather go and pistol you in the cathedral, chalice in hand than allow my name to stand blasted by this infamous charge in the manner you propose. ... I am, fornooth, to rest content at being let of}' with an admonition from you as my "Father in God!" Do you think I am a fool, or that I have no Celtic blood in my veins? How dare j'on, who have become a bishop with a blasphemous lie in your right hand, propose this vile thing to me? . . . lam, as far as possible, your obedient servant. — H. M. Kennedy. Compared with this, -anything in the Christchurch medical row reads tame. In a quarrel between doctors the combatants rarely resort to Billingsgate; the row is a good row if each accuses the other of being an ignoramus, a noodle or a quack, of butchering patients by speculate operations," of mistaking a tumour ior a f (E t- J8 or M V, versa, and of concealing faf Rfi TrS U ? CeS ljy Sham PP o*l0 * 1 mortem * ™ A false certificate* o f death. All these features

occur in the Christchurch row, whence it may be inferred thi't the Chri-.tch.urch doctors have h.u> and will havo -.till ,i good time. The \>>:.\ct it* • 1 inference th<». public is Uk'-ly to dr.iw r.ny h- 1 sii'jjjo'-te 1 by a quota! ion from a rwtit ranch :: — '• K-niiiont Physician (taken su.l lenly iil): 'I feel so queer; 1 wonder wliat i-; iiw tn.iikr wiih inc.' Anxious Wife: 'ShaW I send fo-- Dr Pillbox 'or Dl- Squill- ?' ' N.i, no ' 'Or for any otiicr doctor?' 'No! Yon see. we ah go in for thinking each other such humbugs ! ' "

In re the libel action that .sprang out of the Christchurch medical row, I may ]jremiso that lam no friend to libel actions. Quite the contrary ! At the. same timn. if in this column I in.lulged myself in the luxury of snjing that So-and-so had besn guilty of " Bigamy or wniv.c-,'> or of " embezzlement or woivp,'' taking no special pains before saying it to ascertain the actual facts— if I did that, 1 should expect to pay for the luxury at a higher rate than one shilling. Mr WakuUvld affords himself the lively satisfaction of writing a sensational ai'ticle in which he accuses Dr Stewart of "Manslaughter or wo:r>e," takes uo special pains to ascertain the fact?, and fails to justify the accusation when called on to do .so ; yefs a Dunediu jury a^es-es the damage he has done to Dr Stewart's reputation at exactly one shilling! Three possible exnlahatious suggest themselves : The Dunedin jury may have thought Dr Stewart's reputation so exceptionally invulnerable that it could not possibly bo damaged by imputations from any quarter. Or the 3' may have thought Mr Wakefu-M so exceptionally insignificant that it could not possibly b.i damaged from that quarter. Tlip third explanation is that the Dunedin jury may have been exceptionally wooden-headed.

The rebiilt of our now prison regulations providing fur the specially tender handling of convicts is seen in the fact that men have to be brought from the hulk at Otago Heads, 17 miles off. to Dunedin, examined by the visiting Justices in the gaol, and finally charged at the Maelaggau street Police Court, before they can be ppnis-hi!.' for iho ;ihe of an impolite expression to a w lrdi-i*. The opportunity generally brings wi'h ittb-3 mai>,and i:\MrW.llutebison there ha.--aii'.en a ju-.ticß admirably qualified to ii'lministor th- gaol regulations in the .sjiiiifc in v. hieh they wcro framed. This was .satisfactorily obse vable on Monday last, when one of the desperados concerned in the Nenthorn im-rdor whs brought before him at the Police Court c:ii.i;'gt'il with sundry < ffunci's against gaol uis-t-'pliii" Mr Laurence White, it seems, had seiz. .1 and v-.itaincd rations to which ho was not c;ii;l!''l, hn-\ icfufr-d to return to >york at the jil-ic? ordered, had u.-.od moulting and threatening language towards hi.-, officers, and oUierw.'so grated upon the feelings of constituted authority. But he found an unexpected ally in Mr Ilutchi.-oi), J.P., who evidently regarde.l the gaoler, Mr Phillips, with f.ir more su.spijion aud disfavour th m tho accused convict. Mr Phillips having given oiMenec that the latter repeatedly rcfu.-ed to obey his orders to return to his work, thf: Bv-nch is reported to have a&ked th.' witness whether he did not think if he had ro.iioned witii the prismer a b -.Uer result mi^ht have been arrived at. ? Then ensued the following dialogue: —

Witnes- : I .1M iva',on with th^ pii--f>nes- ; but ie is a ljr.icli.-o that U no; c.'.nr.iK ii'lahl" io pursue with prisoners. — Sir Hutehiso.i .- That-, when; iheinwchief has been done, I'm afrni 1 1 ilois'f; think you think prisoners are entiMul lo co::si leratiun — Wiiiscss: [ think tlif-} 1 aie eutifkd i" ;-oiiir>; but of cuur-i; <;o ( th,>t Ijiey arc {<> disobey or.ltu's — Mr W'.Ui-i'.-t-o;!: DMiu, the pris iner .'i.k, wh.*"i liire fu-.ed lo ;jo up ihc cliff, to be pu'- on nt another portion of Ihn woi-H? — Wifcue.s : Yes ; but one reason wliy I did not; do so was because Warder Binnii: had ordered him to work at that spot-, s»n-l it would bo a^ii'tst all didciplir.ft to send him elsewhere. Up in Warder Binnio entering the witness box the 'vorflij' magistrate Muini'd to the charge: —

Mr Ilut'-hi'Dii : Don't you think there was somi- vt-r.son in the pi'Koni r jx-fu-hij: lo i;o up the- ciiff ?—Wifnes--:? — Wifnes--: Tin ro -..'■ay litre boon a rcv-wi, yo'jr Woi'i-hip, but not s logitimato one. — Mr Hutchison : I suppose, Mr Biniiio, you do not ask it mrro quii-tly to do his work You merely ordpr him to do so-au<!-=o — Witness: Certainly nut, your Worship. I order a man quietly to do his work ; but I do not humour him. There is only one distinguished personage that Mr Hutchison can possibly have been imitating in this episode, viz., Sir Joseph Porter, the ruler of the Queen's Navc-o. Their attitudes are almost identical, and it io irresistably suggested that Mr Hutchison must have had S.r Joseph in his mind's eye on Monday last. "No bullying, no strong language, I trust," and a rigid insistence upon the expression "if you please." The floor of the Police Court must, for the time being, have exactly reproduced the duck of H.M.S. Pinafore, and the position of Mr Phillips could have been little less anomalous ihau that of Captain Corcoran, R.N.

The Union Company's steamer Hawea, which went ashore while entering Nelson Harbour, was floated off on Wednesday morning without having sustained any damage.

A very brilliant display of the Aurora Australia was visible in the southern sky on Wednesday morning. The appearance of these -lights seems to have had a somewhat disturbing influence on the electric telegraph wires, on which a strong electrical current, was experienced iv tho early park of Tuesday evening.

Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie addressed the electors at St. Bathans on Tuesday night, when there was a crowded house. At the close of the address he recoivpd a vote of thanks and a unanimous vote of confidence. The Chairman, in introducing him, stated that he had no hesitation in stating that ho considered Mr Mackenzie the best member that they ever had to represent them.

At the opening of the criminal session at Inverrargill on Tuesday the Crown Prosecutor informed Mr Justice Williams that he had been authorised to apply for a nolle ■proxequi in the

case of Briiliri't Campbi'll, v/ho had been Uice at the pi'i\ious sitting of ihe, Court, thjury in e:u:!) ess • i"iiliu;j lo :\y c Tii.-ciMs ua-. aceor iiiiijlj v.-illub'.nvi). The sl.'.b'es c-njii-elfld v irh Mr .T. Milne's Farmi'iV Arais lldul -it *\Vs iidb.-un wort- desfr >^ c 1 by ii.-.' «:i Tuevl i" :>lt 'riiouii, to_erher vvirli rlu* men"- hut a'\) si:ii:'.g. Tho slahlus (s-ivs Hi.- ,S'ii«liil.i;i'l Times) wore iiis-.r^l fox- iCV2S ii.l tlis hut f-T f.iO i'» Hi" Nen / '.i'an'l O.hcc. Tli" t*(/'itt'iics, v „i,)s{.iM';f.f bn^gie.s, b.rnoss.&c . •voro insur.'.l I'm 1 a'J25 in tin -.im : mli-jo, but wci'i. .save I.

At fho Li'.vronco Iv M. Co irt John Johnson, licenseo of iho Comrn.;r< ",il iloid, was fined CS -in 1 17. mists for p:;rni't,tii!',' a horse lo bo Lifn.d.

A siu'cl ing wiv. hold <\t i'film r-.l<mon Tue-flay • 'veninf: cif farmf.r.-<. pi'<'->i led ovor by iilr J. M'Kenzn 1 , Af.II.U. TJio mcoling wa-. liddrs'S^Ml by Mv\,si- h J. L. Loer-miLli, Flemi.ig, Gilmt.ur, aud others; after which a n'solution was unnnimously carried calling for Srato i:iterveuti')ii on similar lim*s \<> Mr CJ!:visKn>i-"s \»>\iry. A county branch of the New /-'-aland Karmor.s' Le .quo was forme-1, and a c-iminirteo of ]-' (with po-.viT to a. id to their number) vice tod ; Mr (xibnonr to be convenor of tho first Cunniitico ni>.-oting.

At a public i>iootins? heM at OWut.-'it on t-'ri-'.iy last, which was wcU atten-i-d, a i<'-</hi-tioii w.is ]>asse.l in favour (.f the le.sumptien of rhp daily thro'i^h snrvicu wi^li Dnuodin We observe 'from the u-port in tin*. Riverlon c!..u' that, nearly all tho speaker-, (iwoii o:i tho i'tinort.miv! of }n\ing spec ly c vninuuiciti'i'.i with Dunedin; and i^ !!ie ti-.i.Ui \.ifch fhu wostfrn districts insist bis of cson-i '.erabli* v.iliif, periiap, so'ii" assistaiicii from hero would assist tins ".fi.,rts now being m.i-lo !•» restore th.s daily service,, especially a1;a 1 ; it only involves ihe d»!ay of the train at Inwrcnrgill for somothtng luul-r an hour. Th" qim-.tion of the railway sates was al-,;> (liscus'e-l, and instinct's given of how the rates at, present enacted proven led the sending of stock to the. Dunedin market.

Colonel rfsu'gsiod. bX-Minister of Defenoo for Vit'ti.^i;), w.-i > ui'.iei taiueil at luvercai'^ili ois 'I'lu.'sda) evening by JLijiir Ii irv.-ell, who iuvilt-ii l iimnli"! 1 of jT.'iitloirH'i! to raw «:vl do hi>::>.i!i' tn his cuosfc. Most of Ihofe \iho iirti'ii-k-.i v«!>o Vohmieers. Tho Souibl.ind Times re:, ,il.-, th'i l , Ml- Justice Williauin pro]>o<-ed the toast of •' 'J Le Army, Navy, and Volunttirn." Tf,- suiii he liad some experience of v.iluntueri"!.'. as b" bi'lon^t'i! at one timo to the clebr.Ue.l "Devil's O.vn," a corps which was supposed to !>•: :ivisb etlieieni, and which.it woulil be adaiittoil.fi least knowhow to eh.irifi k . U. liim^eif v«a.-> ii i>i>!ic-Ml>ie eitiz.-ii, :iii.l it he h.i.l bis own way bo i.T:>ii', bo inclined to <'ndnr.,o tho Quaker's sentiment, which was lo this eff ec'. : '' ?>i,iy ev.-ry st)!di'-r kill a lawyer, and tako tho legal con^qiu-uivs." There wa-- no plac«! in th" w.irhl v. here, the Volunteer;; s-hnuld b? so mach honouusd as in Xbw Zealand, for in no oth::r fount ry had they Tougiil so har.l jiutl well io defend I heir homes, hi j/ropo inij >b:' health of (\.l"bel Sir»i)oi, MvW.i'li; s'ud r h.il; thua- gueifc joined th(iVolu:i-t".-r force in Vk-tori-i the day before he ilid, nvA thonjih iifi\v Cdloui'l he. joineil as a -.rivaf' 1 . in responding, C'llo'ie' Sargnod siiid tliat in Victot'i'i, io un-)U r e il<.ylight p irndis they foun lit ueoossiirv io p n .y a retaining fee of 10? per tiiiv whiles men W' l re b'liuir dril'i'd. The time would .soon arrivo when " th'i jn'-ver^ \h-it be"' i:i New Zealand would lv c, lo hi'; 1 : t'io \u stion f,= irlv in this fa^e, aud lh. i n tin-y would h:vo to decide between (laying a prkv. foi tli ; inaintpnani'e of the. Volunteer foi-cv or lo :i 'rie.it extent wa\iing •hilinoni'j" which lu»>l iiln-a \y 1>- on expe.ided.*

Tho London c>nw->r>;i l-.-nf, nf the Kydu^y .Mor'iing JJVrai.l fiu.ii.-h •-. soitii- inteiv.-tiug as to t!ie se'uV-t ]\',A ■•<•;■ of ih; p«viinl i'et-A.'er. th'; v:-i iinli--) '.<( i r ."v ' SslKbury ami L!i« f'jmiaiioii ul 1 1 1 » - p •son 1 . ri»)|ic-m! A Imiui 6hatio'i, w'r.ii'b. it' im' ii-curan 1 , i- p/obiblu (-'i(Mip,;i to !<■! il.i 1 .! 1--!-—» ling1 --!-— »ling !f- my-, lit it. (lie Q u-.'ii was st'.o'.'jly o;i)i(i<!-,l to s -i»>li>i«c for I\[r Glad-ti'uo ii it t-.i ;!.i |r.i --ii>!\ h.i-.-"bo(.:ia-. oiileii : " Accii- linir to cvi •.•I 1 '- ! *.■> >i r . r he Queen even ih iii;j!i! of scir'iiif; for jVn-.t ir,irti.i';to;i, n;nl some .i''couiits iivi- tli.ii- t'tu- r, (''ii.' 31i,->;ui- was .iclu.iliy souii ''"i "ii flic >it ; i:»'i'i, by B,r Koury lons mli.v, t.h.; t) icen\ c./.'.ii.'t.-iiti il sec.ci;'i'> . Piilt mov( j >n« < !ii, iio.-i ■' r. f.r'!-- ' : for Lord HnrtifUiou recoTiiiso. 1 . {ijii h.,^ co'ii'l >i'>fi iuijif to e.)iii|.;-ic \>ifli »lr ( 'r'i\ '--{'i".<', ji'i.l. lii^i v !f.>. whi«l>. lustly !'.e \\;i< not v.ill'iiLj in m.sku 4 ,Uu atlenipt. Ih 'vouLl h-iv.' by. I.^'.!1 .^'.! :.ir.-j .-:i '■: f.n 1 iliui to limvu Fouiiil n sufiiiiei't nu'ishc! nf eolte:i>rue' i ! to join iiiui in a G"\ »-»-n ui« *»•*". UnK 1 -.-, i'ul.vd, lie \w\ ii-lel.'-tl to Vv M'v^i'sficj;-. t:f v fodiiion. for which ho w,<- i\e,i i.-j , prepared. It is s'ii'l, h-iv. i'voi", tu.it ,i c<>.",!i!>iun was : r\ tht> •i''r f.'T s-inio 1! I smut-., ,m.l v .■ h i ,'f s » n it -tatod tint f.^i-d S-lis'un-y v..-i-. »>'Mi illy jifuj) i '•«'•! to sac. ii d' hi:- i';i!ivii);i.il jio \'i;n, pjm! t') fc.»I:« ijjo Fo.-"iv;:i Ofnce un'i- i r L>r i H:ntiu^iu:i as Pr. ".iiir. ]o »v:is \u-\ u.i ii ai'irr nuilnifzlit on I' 1 .'!'!'!;, that Jlr lila. l'.L.)iic ret-. jvi«.l li.s c.inihris<irn in fyim a Ciovfrp.m.-nl. '!'!;« ni.itr&r liad b'.Hui iii ]nvp.u'i\tii>n : .md aUho.i.jh on liilurdav moniinj; j\li - (iunlstuiif le.iiucl thist Lor»l Iltvi tiiigtou deliuit'.'ly declined io join him, a'Luw wore soadvaiic.- 1 '! that on Monday Mr Gladstone was able to visit, tho Queen at Ooborne and to kiss her h.ind o:i his appointment as Prime Minister. There, is g od ground fo.: believing tiiat at this iuJorvii'w (ha Sovereign distinctly insisted that Lord Grnnvillo should not again take, ihe dutie.-. of Foiei'su Secretary; and doubtless it. was ,lue to this action that th«re was subsequently a ufocv! deal of chopping and changing in the dinUibution of the offices.

It is suggested in Auckland that the New Zealand Cross should be conferred on Sir George Grey, and it is suggested that a requisition be presented to Parliament asking both Houses to pass a resolution recommending the Governor to confer the docoration on Sir George.

The. Fiji Times contains the following account of a mm- ler .it Vui'a : — " News is to hand from Vunn of a terrible tragedy which was enacted at Holmhurst, about n fortnight ago, among th~ coolie labourers. Ono of the men, in a fit of jealousy, attacked his wife with a heavy, sharp a^e, and completely severed her head fmm her body. This occurred during the diniu r hour, and was witnessed by two Indians, who, instead of interfering to protect the woman, ran awuy to tell the white men. These rushed to tho scene of Ihe murder, and the whole of the labourers on the estate were organised into search parties to seek for and arrest the murderer, who had taken to flight after the commission of his horrible crime. These were despatched in every direction, and in the course of a couple of hours the man was discovered, captured, and brought back to the plantation. Ho has since been fully committed to take his trial on a charge of wilful murder."

Reforring to the unemployed difficulty, the Tapanui Courier suggests that small village settlements should bo formed by Government in the leading agricultural and goldfields districts and married men especially, with their families, located Jhcreon. The valley of th*e Clutha River and tho borders of the interior lakes, it points out, are specially suited for

.settling a lar^o population of the labouring i 1 ! '.-.s. On tho bmks an 1 Ijivclu") of (he liver yold can be oD! un-'.l I'm I vail hinall wau'es, with th's chu.'j. oi' .hi iu-.i'i.k'iiral "patch,'" a-icl tho land ii! th;- va!!ev is so pvo luctive that the eatln buc ivquircs scratching t<i jml'l plunti fully tho fi-iiith of labour, barely nu-ii paced a.? we .s!-^;,';-sb would, in the lvn o ' rs.n, liv,j happier llvo, than if e.-<iwlo.l iato cilisK, with ho ivy re;i(s- lo pay \'oc t ho iru-re.st Invete. On Lh'o N(mv Zi'iila.id j,'i)ldfi"!ds thero aie fiuusan !». of acc-s of a.u'il'orous land nimo.st nulou'jhe.l that \v,!l yi"l ) gold sufficient tj pay more than "u.u*ajp!o>i-i! wages," and if. i« quite tinso that so.)if, scheme was intiv,!u.M;d to work r-tich laii'is in pi ico of ke«;jt:t s ' men stonebrenking in tho corporation yai\U of D'mudii), Uliristchitrcl!, aril ofilter cities

'i'lte ijiiinltin uori'o->,ioudeni( of the South Australian He^ist.-r m u.e.s the following t-LUe-me'it :■—"?,!. dc Les-ejis has just lefl. Southampton f<>r Panama. Tii.i opporLunity has b"e:» taken for an cxpi-0.-nion of opinion bow far t!)'; opening of the new canal wiil in che i't^.urc !iil"»i,-t tin; takings of the Slk-k Canal. Its pro.urtor bolii'viw that tho Pamruu Canal will chH-fly derive itsincome from tin* Americati ' rade, tli.xfc ihc Eusli.sh Iralc to India, China, Japan, a.id Au-,tr.ila-ia will not bo deviated from i's present cmr.st:. "Why this will l«s so is evident from some calculations by Mr Sutherland, of the f. ami O Company, which, suinmarisHil, are as foiliMV : ' 'J'lie voyag.i from Plymouth to Hydney will bo 515 niili-s longer by' Panama than by riu"7.,toYok«lnm i! 239 miU-"i>loii<jr ( »r T to Shanghai SyiO miX'S longer, aii'l to Hongkong -17-18 miles. It slmul.s to reason fioiii this that if thu Pawim- 1 Canal propiietin-, aro to grow l"it aii'i U'e:iy ov.t tlii'ir 'livuieiids ih must bo o;nir.:!y from an A'l'.-i'iciin youri-e, from profits derived in E i»iern Asia.' "

Tins presence of alligator*- in the rivers of QjoeiisUuid reruU-rs tue ia.sk of erosM'ig (hem often a vi-ry p -rilon:- one A packer named Ko-Vrick Ilojau, v!u!o crossing the Barren R'vit i'e(vut:y after <-oi.u» of his hoirws, liad no! pr. ce.lc-ii m.usy y.u-.h, i'r.im the bank v, lion the h< rs's he. wa< liHng sank undor him. Fie :i,<|t!ii:.l ih'i :-.j)ur, an i matiap-d to brinsT ics h ,i 1 iii'ibi <.bove wati-v. l.ut on glnucinj; rnimd disci.venil tn his h'uMjr that (h.-; auiiiial had bec-u •i'lacki-.l by an alligator, which ho ju*t caught si^'-.t of amid tip- bloodstained water. I-'roi-hig li.M<si-ii from ih«s dviug hni-.s>;, Hogan struck out, foi- the s-iik' of Ihcs rivor for which ho was in iking, and managed t" gain t'io shore in 3-i My. By tlv» a '-I of 'otnt* C.'iiuamen wh-> c.vne along just then in a boat, the carcass of lh;; ika-l hoi-KH was o\v,.-ta!;e:i about 200 yds d:>\vn tho stream and the s:l'!>'!<j aiui bri.Uu r<H<'V«'roU h\tu\ it, »v'.e;i if. iv.ts found ti:at Ihc rsivt-iious reptile, had uoiiip'.eMy <!U«inbowel!«*ij Ihii poor creatur-".

From the new edition of " Haydn's Dictionary of Dales" w-> learn that the project of leaving small allotments to tho peasantry was put into practice more than 00 year.s ago in one of this English counties, uud tho experiment was ftii"oi!v-ful. Lo.'d Bivybni'ik was Iho author of ic. He allotted ninall pen-lions of land in Essexio poor families-, lo assist th<-m and relievo the. pi.p i. i-ih poor ;'ati'S. Tho littles colony thus formed wax says the "Dietionaiy," first e'.lle.d Pauper (Jin-den.-, but afterwards New Villagu; nnil il. v.is calculated that by tho experiment £2iK) iir-r ii:ct!'.i!ii was siived to I lie parUh.

In a letter to the Daily Times acorre.spojvli'nt signing hitn&cif •' Ph.ut>pf armor "' a-.k:i : "Is Mv Loe-mith . . . the gentleman of ttiu s.une name who not khif? ago held a run in the ILiliyfoni V.-illfsy, Olago, and applied, on the {ri'ound tls.-iti tho run would not pay, in surrendiT his lc-i:-e, which surrender was accepted ? " To tl.i-; >fr L'Oituilh replies as foHows : — "So fu as applii.'-s to a r{iiaitei-s' l ai c in saM lease, X reply tl^at I an. In jr.stico to tho.so who havo bi"-n god enough to give mo thoir confidenceand support, in the present movement, kindly ]je..'i!iit mis sji'icn for a plain, unvarnished, tale. •Spoa'iitijf fr.-in iiic-.'iio 11 ;,, it is ab.-iui live years a£o thic tlirce of us purchased at, a Dunedin Goveinineiit sale tho Icise of some 2<1,000 acres i>i eh» Holly ford Valley, at a rental of some £40 p.i annum, For nine years. A few month.-.after-wnrlsl went up to fjalvj Wakntijiu, pivvi.wOy aj'a-i'.'ii'g with 3lr R C<!'h!'!'!'t;so:i, (hen ou his .•mi .it tho Gnien-tone, for si packhors-e, which t!;«t {.vnlienuu kindiy iironii-i-<l lo proC'.ui I'di 1 mo Upon arrival &i Qnuun^towu aii «h.; kw>\v ihe country aa^uwd me that tho ioa>! via Hits Greenstone was impraciK.ilj!.- for .i pftckhoi-sc, hau'ng failcu in at ni^isy places; nu-l this 1 afterwards found !n ]><>i. -oiial ir i-|icchi(,ni -|icchi(,n io be the i-ase. I then pn^'i^f'l tv o con! £inion«,au'l v. ilh them crossed t:ic i-anges en ft.bi via liFou'it Ka;:is i'lio the Ililhfunl VwUf-j. Afttr a can-fui itvipettion of this <\'»i.'i!;'y we a >t back to Qui-e:">l«u\ i at the end or thiro week;-. ;>in"|or Atl.iii'-.m bapp- n;-d to W up tlit-re, and I c t -i>c,"-<um><\ xo him tint wo wso .>!,\i;;is t-> havo tho lease oxloriuYd io tin. t'-irns <•;• Ks -/c.t.'s hi ih..- a»^iegato ; that without this i- was utterly in.•.jossi'ileto stock a-i.| ryi-u < ut a virgin c..'u:ih'v thickly covered uifb bj-,u 'iun.jn »o sr>rnt a loase with the slightest iirospoct of makitig anything, oven if w- wore, lucky enough to s^e our own mouey again; that in" place of a fair passable road to it for stock, as had been represented by an oflicial iv tho Land Office, saul road was blocked up by fallen debris, and required an expenditure of money which it was doubtful if the County Council would at once disburse to put it in a fit state to get store stock over before the winter ; that, seeing we were prepared to stock the countiy, put a pood accommodation-house near the Jlangiug Falls, which would be of great service to tourists from Milford Sound via Martin's Ba}', and also from Lake Wakatipu, and that one of us would bring out from Home agricultural sealers and place them on the banks of the river, an extension of the lease for the period asked was fair and reasonable, and that great good would be done by opening out the country. The Major could do nothing, could hold out little hope of the request being granted, but would talk the matter over with his colleagues in Wellington. Upon my return to Dunedin I p\ifc the position before my partners ; aud they, I believe, after unavailing attempts at the Land Board to obtain the uecessarj' extension of the lease, were compelled to surrender after an expenditure in one way or another of some £140 or £150 without one penny being taken out of it. The country which we should have been only too glad to open out remains, I believe, a solitary di serfe to this day. If 'Squatter' can find any analogy b tween the above instance and the present surrender by mortgage companies of the runs, he is welcome to any conclusions he likes to draw."

Mr Dopald Stronnch will hold his tliird sale, of sections ii the Merino Downs Estate in May. None of tho sections aye above 200 acre* in extent.

A O ion Acco)tr.\T.— " To sum it up, six long years of bed-ridden sickness and suffering, costing £ 10 per year, tofal £210, all of which was stopped by three bottles of American Co.'s Hop Bittehs taken by my wil'o. who has done hor own housework for a yqar sitice without the loss of a diw, and I want everybody to know it for their benellt." — John Weeks, Butler. Find.

Messrs .Wight, Stcphcuson, and Co. will sell crosssheep .uul pure Le.c-slor r.uns and e«es at I.'lx-it Sjfe;ulin;r, Gre.vfov.si, ou iliu i::tli inst. I Th' Mutual Agency Company will sell sheep" aud ca'Mcr! Stn-l.jij; on . hn IMili iiisu. Mr V\ r . '.Jinn will sell Mr Uallmgairb Kolsa fawn, .i! Uiiiuic fV Jiot -i. K.;!>o,on tlie^lst ins,t. 'i'ii>> M"lu,il Ajifiicy Coiii|i.inv »f 2fo\v Zealand v iii sell ;i fivWi-jiil tai m in i lie Ofakia dibtrict. cout.u:im« 104 .i -L-s. o-i fh'>bth pr ix ; and on tho Oth will ho>.l .i>'teinni{-.i!uol shuep. cattle, innilemcnts, A.:>. at ilillhead, Olakla.

Tlw terms for com'n/j season ot the Canterbury Collf;;o Se'iool ot Agrn-nlture will be found in our a !\ei lising columns. Hie Mutual Agency Company will sell a farm at Ot.ikia on the S'h ins!.., aud stock. &c, at Mr Martin's Ilulhcail Tiirin, Of.ikia, on the 9th inst. Mr DmalclStio neh will hold a clearing sale of st-i-k.Ae., .-.!, JJi' S.\d:u-y It. QiwrfclevS farm, Wiiihnlii. oi: the itilh i.'isi. Air T.. .M.ioUmu will seU sheep at Oultam on flu* .";th insr.

The B.aul ot Hi-vieweis for the Western district will nie-tat. Kivi-rton ou tiie sfch inst.

To meet the times, G. R. Drhmek has reduced the piloe ot hi-, popular Rheuniiiiie Ifemedies to 5s — [Anvr.i

A. Tm'K 'i'KSf.— Thu truest test is that of experience. For prooJ that ' • C'aabury'H Cocoa Kssence" is what it profwsiM to b>\ it is suiiicient to point to tl.e {.;ct (hat ior nioie rhau SO years it hns stood the test ot uaily trial. Yinrhyyear ita sales lmvo gone on, and tht-y me .-.till goin^ o:i steadily increasing ; ii ul at, the present time it hns gained a world-wide U'putdliuu ior piuity and extv!!enee.