LOCAL & GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1945, 28 February 1889, Page 11

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Mr Twopenny, the New Zealand and South Seas commissioner to the neighbouring colonies, thus sums up the results of his mission :—: — Speaking generally, I am satisfied with the results of my visit. The number of British and Victorian exhibits will he far larger than I had calculated for, and from South Australia, though not officially represented, we may count upon a good court. Altogether, I estimate that we shall be perfectly safe to have our buildings full if we draw out our plans for an exhibition nearly four times the size of that recently held at Wellington, and rather more than twice the size of the Christchurch International of 1882. This means leaving a very small area for gardens, but; that cannot be helped. But what gave me far more gratification than the prospect of numerous exhibits was the evidence which reached me from every quarter that we shall be able to attract a large number of visitors to New* Zealand. When I spoke on this subject before leaving I was not very sanguine, but I have returned with a certainty established in my mind that if a fast direct service by steamers of the class of the Mararoa can be established between Melbourne and the Bluff we shall receive between 2000 and 3000 visitors from Australia ; and if the Government of New Zealand put their hearts into the exhibition, and the New Zealand correspondents of the Australian press will do their best to keep the progress of the exhibition before the Australian public, I see no reason why that number should not be brought up to 5000 or 6000. > Nearly everybody I met expressed , their intention of coming over, and though people often do not carry out vague intentions of this kind, I am confident that most of them will in this instance. Not in truth that they will come to see the exhibition, but the exhibition will afford a good excuse for their coming at a time when the reputation of New Zealand scenery, is beginning to establish itself in Australia, and' there is a shrewd suspicion springing up that there are openings for investment here. Much, however, will depend upon the importance that we are able to give to the exhibition in the eyes of the Australian public, and the establishment of a conviction that it is not a private affair, but a genuinely national undertaking and interesting in character. I make no doubt now that we shall be able to make an exhibition whioh will be generally admitted by those who see both to be far more interesting than the Melbourne one, and quite as large as is desirable if the exhibits are to be properly seen. But we have to remember that the larger proportions the venture has assumed entail a considerable additional risk, and to strain every nerve to keep down expenses at every point.

Mr Philp has patriotically allowed the exhibition commissioners the use of his Harbour Beard lease adjoining the Milburn Cement Company's store. This will add considerably tofthe area at the disposal of the exhibition and secure a batter frontage. It may be mentioned that some speculators made Mr Philp a considerable offer for this block for advertising purposes. At their meeting on Friday afternoon the commissioners accepted the generous offer of Mr H. J. Matthews to devote six weeks to making a collection of New Zealand Alpine plants and ferns, free of charge, in the Lakes district, at Duskey Sound, Cafclin's river, Stewart's Island, Mount Cook, and other places.

Some remarks on the subject of the New Zealand property tax (writes our Edinburgh correspondent;) were made at the general meeting of the Scottish and New Zealand Investment Company (Limited), which was held in Edinburgh on December 29. Mr R. Lockhart, the chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the , increase of the property tax had amounted to £389, and was now equal to 2 per cent, of the whole paid-up capital of the company. The tax, he went on to Bay, was altogether a most suicidal one for the colony itself. In some discussion which ensued, Dr Rattray referred to this matter, and remarked that it might come to be a question for the directors to consider whether they should not retire altogether from the colony, fairly taxed out of it. I may also note that Mr Lockhart mentioned, as a Bign that things were improving in the colony that property had recently been sold in Dunedin for £1000 which not long ago could not be given away.

The Bruce Herald says that many of the labourers in the habit of leaving Milton every season for the harvesting at Oamaru and other places up North have returned, and state that there are hundreds up there who cannot get a day's work, and would be glad to get back if they had the means. The all but universal use of reapers and binders has stopped the demand for manual labour.

The Rangiora Standard says :— " The 41b loaf in Sydney is quoted at 4d, whilst here in Rangiora, where wheat is sent away to Sydney, the price is 6d the 41b loaf. Sydney is the capital of the great Freetrade New South Wales. Is this the cause of the cheap loaf, or is it a Rangiora anomaly? Flour is quoted iv Melbourne at 12s per ton less than it is at Rangiora, yet we send flour away to the Australian colonies."

It turns out that Prado, the assassin recently executed in Paris, was the natural son of General Prado, President of the Republic of Peru from 1876 to 1879. Prado the yonnger, in company with 12 associates, performed a daring act of piracy during the Peruvian insurrection. They boarded a Spanish vessel while the captain and his officers were at dinner, overmastered them, and took possession of the ship. The passengers were disembarked at Hayti, and were furnished with the means of reaching their destination. As soon as the piratical capture of the vessel was known, some ships of war were despatched in pursuit, which Prado succeeded in evading, and eventually lauded in China, from whence he proceeded to America by way of San Francisco.

The Brisbane Young Men's Christian Association, which has long been in financial difficulties, is to be wound up. The association has au overdraft of about £800, which is guaranteed by 54 gentlemen, who will probably be called upon to discharge the liability.

At the village of Hamme, in Westphalia (says the London Daily News of January 3}, a most singular wager has been made and won. In the sporting records of Europe there has, been no such race, and its result will open for us quite a new chapter on relative, speed. Every one knows the rate at which pigeons fly, and almost a king's ransom has changed hands on the issue of their speed. Last week the race was between pigeons and bees. A pigeon fancier and a bee "master each backed his favourite racer. The course was three miles and a-half — the distance between the two villages of Rhynern and Hamme— and a dovecot which happened to be near a hive was .the seleoted winning-post. ' The race was intended to be level, but in effect the bees were handicapped. It was very difficult to identify them, and thon^ti rolling them in ' flour before $hej ' Btarted on their course made them easily recog? nised on their arrival, it must have somewhat retarded their flight. Nearly every one backed.

the pigeons, and there was great excitement in the ring which assembled round the winningpost. The favourites were nowhere. The first bee came in 25sec before the first pigeon, and three other bees before the second. The others were not classed.

A somewhat amusing imbroglio connected with forged bank notes is making the Hungarians merry (says a correspondent of The Times). A short time ago a gang of men, supposed to be forgers of bank notes, was arrested at Stuhlweissenburg, and tbe tribunal of that town sent a bundle of their false notes to the Court of Justice at Buda-pesth, before which the prisoners were to be tried. By some blunder the notes were forwarded to the tax office as genuine, and the tax office put them in circulation., As a consequence the prisoners had to be acquitted on their trial for want of proof. They now intend, it is said, to sue the Hungarian Government .for their money, arguing that the genuineness of the notes has been sufficiently established by their circulation through the tax office.

Naturally the President-elect of America (says the New York correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph) is the hero of the hour. Some 20 reporters, representing the leading papers of the country, are kept constantly at Indianapolis, and no details in the doings of royalty were ever so faithfully reported as the incidents and daily life of this modest Indianapolis lawyer. He has recently returned from a hunting expedition, and we have been told with thrilling circumstantiality what a fine shot he is, and how much more adroit and skilful he was in bagging game than any of his clumsy associates. In one of the papers there appeared a. story of this distinguished hunstmau stopping at a farmhouse, where he accepted an invitation from his host to take dinner. It was a most hospitable house. The neighbours flocked in in great numbers. Everyone who came was invited to sit down at the feast with the President-elect. The host himself waited upon his guests, ber cause, to quote his own language, he had never had a "live President in, his .house before." Three ladies of the neighbourhood waited upon the table, and as fast as tbe President-elect disposed of one dish the plate used by him was cleaned and put away as a souvenir. In the distribution of these souvenirs one poor woman who came in late found that the cups and saucers and plates used by this distinguished guest were already distributed, but she was fortunate to find a piece of American apple pie whioh had only been partially consumed by the President-elect, so she seized upon this trophy to carry away with her, and to preserve as a record of the memorable event. No one will say after this that the Americans are not hero-wor-shippers. ■

The immigration and emigration returns for January last were published on the 20 th inst. The arrivals numbered 1521, of which, 675 are from Victoria, 464 from New South Wales, and 250 from the United Kingdom. The departures wpre 1350, of which 561 left for Victoriu, 553 for New South Wales, and 132 for the United Kingdom. There was only one Chinese arrived during the month, and no departure.

Sylvester Denny Egan, an engineer, has obtained a certificate of protection from the Patent Office for an invention described as Egan's motor power, which appears to be an ingenious multiplication of speed. The chief use which this invention can be applied to is probably boats, small launches, &c, where it may be utilised as a medium motive power between ordinary pars and steam. The inventor claims that the invention completely revolutionises the present uses of steam power for small boats, and is especially useful if applied to torpedo launches, &c, and general navy defences, being noiseless, always ready, and not likely to be detected by the enemy at night. One man can work the machinery, which the inventor states can be made to drive a craft any size, aud worked by either hand or steam maohiuery. It is now fixed in a small two-ton boat with an ordinary propeller, which attains a revolution of 450 per minute. It is estimated to give a speed of 18 knots. His Excellency the Governor and Captain Kane, H.M.S. Calliope, have expressed a high opinion of the invention. Admiral Fairfax has promised to inspect it tomorrow, and if satisfied of its utility an order will he sent to the Admiralty.

At the last meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees it was reported that there had been two deaths at the institution during the past fortnight — viz., John Hamilton, aged 73, on the 13th, from fatty degeneration of the heart (sudden death), and Andrew Aitken, aged 75, on the 15th, from chronic cancer, The Chairman stated that John Cook, an aged man, living at Snnnydale Extension, had died, leaving by his will a section of ground consisting of one rood one pole, with house thereon, to the institution on condition of their defraying expenses for a decent burial and allowing his widow 103 per week, or maintaining her in the Benevolent Asylum. The property was probably worth £80 or £90. It was intimated that during last month there were 188 inmates in the institution, the cost of whose maintenance was £207 14s 2<S, or an average of 4s 11 7-8 d per head. This included £16 for clothing, £13 10s 7d for insurance, and £11 10a for coals. It was also stated that in Wellington the cost per head per inmate was lls per week, and that the authorities were highly pleased with the economical conduct of the Caversham Institution.

Dr C. Lloyd Tuckey gives in the Nineteenth Century an interesting account of the plan of faith-healing practised at Nancy by medical men, with excellent results in certain cases, especially rheumatism and nervous affections. He believes that this system of healing by mesmerism and suggestion is destined to be of immense importance to humanity, and that it will considerably modify the present practice of medicine. Treatment by suggestion has been tried on many devotees of viee — drunkards, victims of the opium passion, &o. — and with the happiest results. Inmates of the Paris Female Reformatories— women steeped in depravity, obscene of tongue, arid as it 6eemed utterly incorrigible—have, it is stated, by a course of this treatment, been transformed into decent members of society, and in some instances, have for years held^ and deserved to hold, positions of trust.

The Premier when in Auckland agreed tp purchase on behalf of the Government the collection of Mr Reischeek, naturalist. It consists of seven groups of New Zealand birds in glass cases, a series of single mounted birds, a collection of New Zealand birdsktns, skeletons, eggs, corals, Maori carvings, and mats. Probably the greater part of the collection will he taken to Wellington.

" Good wnnt jtettos ko busk," neither is it necessary to extol the virtues of Rowlands' Maoabs-ir Oil, which for nearly 100 years has been considered the best and safest preparation for the hair of children and adults, being perfectly free from any lend, poisonous or mineral ingredient. It prevents and arrests baldness, and produces a luxuriant and glcsay growth of hair. Sold also in a golden colourfor fairhaired oblldren and adulti. BowzahdV Buxohu is a pure' and delicate toilet powder in three tintswhito; rose, and cream. Ask Chemists and stores for EowiAims' articles, of 20 Hatton Garden, Londou, and avoid noxious imitations.

The Builders' Reporter and Engineering Times gives the following account of a singular invention, entitled " The Farrscope." It has been introduced by Mr George Cecil Farr, architect, of Ship street, Brighton (a nephew of Mr C. Farr, of Christchurch), and promises to become of permanent utility. It has been protected by Royal letters patent through Messrs J. A. Johnson and Co., of Lincoln's-inn-fields, London. The motif of the new instrument is instantaneous communication between the remotest parts of any building. For example, in a factory or public works the different operating rooms can be seen by the manager without quitting his office ; > messages indited on a slate can be, Immediately transmitted to any division of the building and replied to by the same means. The Farrscope must prove a dead shot to the movements of thieves. One of the appliances (which a child can manipulate) can be laid on from the shop or office to the upper storey, a gas jet being left burning in the shop or office ; the manager, by these means, even while reposing on his couch, can watch the security of the basement in the event of any depredators being there ; he can have almost an electro-photograph of tnem while engaged in their depredations on any part of the premises. The Farrscope is one of the happiest thoughtout projects of the age.

The Premier addressed a crowded meeting at the Theatre Royal, Napier, on the 20th ins. To a large extent the speech was a repetition of those at Hawera and Auckland. Among the new things was an announcement that the Government would probably propose to establish pauper farms on the German system, where able-bodied paupers should be compelled to work as a condition of relief. Old people unable to work would be maintained by the Government, and casual cases by local bodies.

The Auckland Herald has the following, which is of interest to exporters of produce, and the farming interest generally :—": — " If this colony aspires to take a lead in commerce it must trade • fair,' and if tbe statement contained in the letter from our correspondent at Hamilton is to be taken as generally descriptive of New Zealand trading, we have a good deal to learn. Our correspondent tells us that an old and well-known Aucklandkettler now visiting Waika to was in Sydney lately', and expressing surprise to an importer of produce there as to the comparatively low price brought by New Zealand produce, was confidentially led into the secret. He was shown some bales of New Zealand hay, and was invited to take one at random and slit its binding and judge for himself. The test having been applied, the inside of one bale showed that two of the ' scats' were dovetailed so as to bind together even more worthless rubbish, while in another a quantity of New Zealand flax was stowed away as fodder for Sydney horses; and to this ocular demonstration there was added the imparted information that the side oE a bale is sometimes filled with stones by way of variety, and for the increase of its avoirdupois. The placing of the big potatoes in the mouth of the sack and the little ones below, it appears, is also an artless trick of the New Zealand trader ; and altogether if this fairly satoples our commercial principles, New Zealand is endeavouring to keep its reputation on the other side for this savoirfaire which came to us with the heroic policy of borrowing and general scramble."

At the Crown Lands Office this week sections 20 and 22, block XVI, Warepa district (containing 234 acres 3 roods 39 poles), were sold for cash to Robert Christie, jun., at 15s per acre.

Mr W. H. Smith, of the firm of M'Gavin, M'Grsgor, and Smith, and an old Dunedin resident, died on Friday morning after a long illness. The deceased gentleman came to Dunedin about 20 yeaw ago under eugagement to Mr Joel. Some seven years ago he joined Messrs M'Gaviu and M'Gregor in the Union Brewery. He was a native of Norwich, England, and spent some portions of his life in the United States and Victoria. He leaves a widow and lirge family.

The movement in favour of a United Masonic Grand Lodge for New Zealand uniting the three constitutions has extended to Southland. A meeting of Past Masters held on Thursday night was largely attended, when it was decided to hold a meeting of all Masons a fortnight hence, with a view to the iorinatioiiof a local brauch of the Masonic Union proposed to bo started as a preliminary to effecting a union of all lodges in the colony under one jurisdiction. It is understood that the Southland Masons are all but unanimous in favour of union. There are seven lodges in Southland proper, and two more in the Lakes district, making nine in all.

Mr M'Kerrow, the chief commissioner of the newly appointed Railway Board, is at present visiting Southland,

At a meeting of the creditors of Joe Scott, the pedestrian, held on Friday last, the liabilities were shown to be £182 14s Id, with a deficiency of £162 14s Id. The Bankrupt, examined by Mr Solomon, said he returned from England last December, but the bulk of his debts were contracted before he went Home. Since his return he had given one walking exhibition at Christchurch, but they (Mr Jarvis and Mr Austin) lost £9 over it, and bankrupt got nothing. The only money he had received since he came back was £4 from Mr Jarvis to pay his board in Christchurch. He had a wife and four children, who had lived as best they could during the 12 or 18 months he was away. Since his return he had pawned his championship belt with Mr Marks for £15. He had come back without a penny. He had five cups, which his wife had sold to his mother-in-law to provide food for the children and herself. They were worth about £5 ; and four medals sold were also worth about £5. Bankrupt did not know what his wife sold these for. He told her she could sell whatever she liked when he was unable to send her any money from Home. He had sold his presentation watch to Peter Scott for £10. The terms on which baukrupt went Home were that he was to take his share of the profits ; not to receive a salary. He got nothing all the time he was away. They ' made nothing, and had no big gates all the time. Bankrupt was away qlose on 15 months, and during that time his wife only had £31, which Mr Jarvis left bet before they went away. Bankrupt was able to send her nothing all the time. A motion to the effect that the bankrupt be recommended for his discharge was lost by value, and the meeting was then adjourned,

On the list of those who ended their lives with their own hands during the last week of the old year (says the London Standard of January 4), tbe case of a Frenchman residing at Gretias, in the department of the Charente, is really remarkable. The individual in question, it seems, had been guilty of some trifling larceny, whioh had been found out, and it was feared he would be indicted. He was warned of this by his wife and son. A family council was held to discuss the situation, the result of the deliberation being that the delinquent had no alternative but to kill himself. Neither wife nor eon appears to have been moved by the approaching and tragical end of the head of the household, the only point on which they were. not agreed being the manner in which the suicide should be carried out. The son suggested that drowning was generally held to be. a painless death ; bat

the father objected— it was " too cold for that/ Thereupon his wife submitted her proposal that he should hang himself ; but hanging not meeting with the approval of the husband, it was finally and unanimously decided that he should blow his brains out. On this comfortable prospect he went to bed and slept ; but the next morning he got up early, went into a neighbouring field, and there, with an old gun, blew out his brains, in accordance with the decision of his affectionate spouse and offspring.

Mr Hay is now taking out the levels and dimensionsofthegroundatthedisposaloftheExhibition commissioners, and Mr Hislop hopes to have a plan of the_ front building ready by Thursday. If it meets with the approval of the commissioners tenders will at once be called for, which would mean that the building will be commenced in about three weeks' time. .

Mr Robert Reid, the retiring president of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, when replying to a presentation made to him, made a few remarks as to the commercial outlook. Mr Reid said they all knew from the signs of the times that the danger signals were down ; that the tonnage of vessels arriving with goods far exceeded the requirements of the community. He feared that in the future, as in the past, many lines of goods would be obtainable here at less than they cost in the markets in the old world ; this had always been the case after prosperous times. He was satisfied that they were entering upon a period of great anxiety in the commercial world. The revenue at the customs, he was glad to say, kept up handsomely, but that was accounted for by the fact that the goods had to be cleared. With reference to the land boom, which was a serious subject to a large portion of the communities, he was sure that it died a natural death before the opening of the Exhibition, and many would remember the common exclamation " I thought ifc was all over." When they read the the reports in the papers supplied by the auctioneers themselves of land to the value of a quarter of a million being 6old on an afternoon, to such an extent did it prevail that he felt, as president of that chamber, it was neither honest nor right, and he interviewed a representative auctioneer, a man of great integrity, and said : — "These reports appearing in the papers from day to day are false and misleading, and if you don't take action in your Auctioneers' Association we will bring it up and get it stopped." He was glad to say that this gentleman did take action, with the result that the reports were suppressed, and the land boom burst that very week.

Mr W. Herbert Hargreaves, a student of Otago University and a son of Mr W. H. Hargreaves, of Ohrißtohurch, was a passenger by the R.M.S. Kaikoura for London, to complete his medical course at London University.

Applications are being invited by the Church Board for the temporary appointments to Otago University rendered necessary by the death of Professor Mainwaring Brown. For the chair of English Language and Literature a salary of £250 is offered for the session of six months, besides class fees, and £100 each to lecturers on Constitutional History and Political Economy. Successful candidates will be ineligible for the permanent appointment.

The Auckland City Council has had rather an eyeopsner in the shape of an account forwarded by the Auditor-general for £48. This was a charge made for the services of an officer engaged for 14 days, of six hours a day, in auditing the halfyearly uccounts. The mayor said that this was a much more costly system of auditing than was adopted in previous years, when two local auditors discharged the same duties for £50 per annum. He suggested thatthe accountehould be paid, and the Auditor-general iuformed that the time occupied appeared to be excessive. Councillor Evans remarked upon the peculiarity of paying the city treasurer £250 a year for preparing the whole of the accounts, while they paid au auditor £100 a year for merely auditing the 3ame accounts. Councillor Lenox moved— '< That the account be not paid, and that the Auditor-general be informed that it is excessive." The Mayor stated that the accounts must be paid, and it was eventually resolved, — " That the accounts be paid, and that the Auditor-general be informed that the charge is excessive."

The Auckland Herald returns to the subject of dishonest practices by exporters or farmers with regard to New Zealand produce. It says :—: — "We have been frequently informed that in some of the stores in Sydney it is publicly announced by plaoard that no New Zealand produce is sold there, and the disclosure of practices such as those to whioh we yesterday referred, shows that the repudiation on the part of Sydney tradesmen is not without cause. Up to the present no indication has been given whether these wretchedly mean frauds and dishonest praotices, of which it is evident; some one has been guilty, were the work of our town traders in New Zealand or of those who tilled tbe soil and reaped the crop'; but the iuference to be drawn, we fear, is that the grower of the produce, and not the town dealer who might chanca to be the direct exporter to Sydney, is the sinner in all such cases. In this respect the farmer is departing from the general honesty of his calling, and accustomed himself to habits of which a Chinaman might well feel ashamed. The Httle monetary gain got by pursuing such practises is far more than counterbalanced by the subsequent decrease in price given for any produce from New Zealand, in consequence of the want of confidence which euoh evil doings invariably engender. It is satisfactory, however, to know that all are not guilty of such criminal conduct, and that some Auckland traders have received the thanks of their Sydney clients for the fair dealing and good articles supplied. Yesterday we were shown a letter from a Sydney merchant to an Auckland one, in which he not on'y expressed his thanks for the fair treatment he had received, tbe faithful articles sent, and the promptitude with which his orders were executed, but expressed a hope that the pleasant experience of the past might lead to more extended business in the future to the mutual advantage of both. It is thus pleasant that all are not guiiby of arts of cheating, and a little consideration will show how unprofitable such practices are. A difference of £3 per ton in the price of hay got from New Zealand and that sent from the other Australian colonies sufficiently accentuates the opinion of Sydney merchants respecting New Zealand honesty. The general loss thus caused to the whole of the producers in the oolony for the dishonest practices of at most only a few, must be very considerable, and it should be the duty of everyone raising produce for either the local or foreign market to do his utmost to expose all such unfair dealings, and to let the guilt and public odium fall upon the proper shoulders. While the guilty are shielded by secrecy the character of all our fellow oolonists is more or \eas under a cloud."

AJRare Bjlbqain.— For positive sale (the property of a gentlemaq in the country), a Phaeton Barouohe with leather top -can be used either es an open or closed carriage -Imported from America, with all the latest improvements j trimmed in brown leather, beautifully painted, very stylish ; steel axles, patent f ore-gear, hung low (suitable for family or old persons); very light and strong, with pole, shafts, lamps, nigs, &0., &o. Quite new. At half landed coat* Apply j Mark Sinclair, Coachbuilder, Donedin.

William Jardin, who by some means fell overboard between the George street pier and the steamer Rotoxnahana, had a narrow escape from drowning on Saturday evening. Fortunately he was seen to fall by Joseph M'Gill, one of the crew of the Rotomahana, who had the presence of mind to secure a cork fender, and after making it fast slid down the vessel's side, and being able to stand on the fender caught hold of and supported Jardin, who at the time was unconscious, until assistance arrived, when Jardin was hauled on to the pier and conveyed on a stretcher to Chick's Hotel, where he received every atten-" tion. Dr Cunningham was speedily in attendance, and applied the usual restoratives with success, as after nearly three hours' work he succeeded in resuscitating Jardin, who yesterday stated he felt no ill effects of his narrow escape.

Sixteen patients were admitted into the hospital last week and 21 discharged. The total number of patients now is 107. Thomas Kenney and Caroline Conner died during the week.

A deputation from the vestry of St. John's Parish, Roslyn, waited upon Bishop Nevill on Monday to urge bis intervention in the differences existing between them and their incumbent. His Lordship gave no deSnite assurance as to his course of action, but promised to give the matter his fullest consideration.

A man named Philip Hawley fell over a precipice on the Arrowtown-Cromweli road on Sunday, and was killed.

The adjourned discussion of the bill to pro* vide for the removal of incumbents from parishes, under certain conditions, was resumed at the meeting of the Anglican synod held on Monday evening. The bill was in committee, but the discussion was not on the details but on the principle of the bill. That portion of the clause dealing with the removal of aged and infirm incumbents, which was previously strongly opposed, passed unchallenged, and the battle was fought on the proposed excision of the words "or other cause, not being an ecclesiastical offence." It was apparent from the debate, which was for the greater part a repetition of the debate on tbe second reading of the bill, that some of the lay members believed that the measure would prevent the practice of ritualism and the teachings of docttines to which the congregations might have strong objections. This caused several of the clergy, who were favourable to the bill on the grounds and for the purposes for which it had been introduced, to offer strenuous opposition to it, and the Bishop of Wellington, who introduced it, finally moved to report progress, with the intention of relinquishing the bill. The supporters of the bill opposed this method of disposing of it. In the first place, the motion to report progress, with leave to sit again and resume its discussion 1 , was negatived by the votes of the clergy ; then the bishops and laity negatived the motion "to report progress;" aud ultimately the motion to report progress and ask leave to sit again was passed, the clergy not insisting upon going to a division.

Arrangements have been made for the holding of a universal zoological congress iv Paris in August next, and it will interest Dunedinites to learn that Mr G. M. Thomson, science master at the High School of Otago, has been elected a member of the committee of patronage, and received an invitation to bo present. The acting secretary of the commission is Dr Filhol, who will be remembered by many people here as the naturalist who accompanied the Vire on the Transit of Venus Expedition in 1874.

During the thunderstorm whioh broke over Ashburton district on Wednesday, a gorse fence at, Tinwald was set on fire, and two draught horses killed on Maronau road, by lightning. It rained and hailed heavily in the town of Ashburton. Three miles westward there was no rain or hail, but a violent wind storm tore big branches off trees.

As a preliminary to a general meeting of Masons of Canterbury, representatives of the three constitutions will meet this week to consider the question of forming a united grand lodge.

It has been recently pointed out that it is almost a law of history that the end of each, century is a period of agitation and convulsion, preceding great political and social transformations, which take place at the commencement o£ the next century. This has been more particularly the case in France. At the close of the 10th century 60,000 Germans enoamped on the heights of Montmartre, and the nation seemed menaced with destruction. A hundred years later the Crusaders paved the way for the dawn of a new civilisation, At the end of the 12th, France was engaged in a desperate conflict with England and Germany. A century afterwards the nation lost her colours in the East, and after a similar interval half the realm had passed under the rule of England. At the close of the 15fch century, the tragic death of Charles VIII, who left no issue, exposed the kingdom to a succession of troubles. The 16th ended in the midst of civil wars, and the 17th terminated in disasters, humiliations, and defeats, which imperilled the existence of the monarchy. Finally came the great cataclysm of 1789 ; and tha question anses-=-What next ?

The First Church bazaar in the Garrison Hall was again well attended on Monday. In thetivening Mr Timson, who has with such signal success formulated and carried out the musical arrangements, played an overture and several selections in the main hall. Miss Mollison sang a solo, which was well received, and Mr Dickie gave another of his clever ventriloquial entertainments. During the evening the art gallery and all the other Bide shows were open free to the public, who largely patronised them, and a very good business was done at the stalls. The bazaar was brought to a conclusion by an auc^ tion sale, at which all the goods left over from the bazaar were disposed of by Messrs Jameß A. Park and E. C. Reynolds, who kindly gave their services for the occasion. At the afternooa interval the stallholders were entertained at tea, and at the close of the bazaar the attendants had supper. Prior tothis, however, the Rev. Mr Gibh took occasion to thank all those who had laboured so arduously in assisting to make the bazaar a success. On Monday £232 was realised, this amount bringing the takings of the bazaar, inclusive of returns to be received, to the grand total of over £1600— a result highly satisfactory and creditable to all concerned.

A singular case of somnambulism is reported at New Plymouth. On Sunday night last (the Taranaki News reports) the son of a settler got oat of bed in his Bleep and travelled all the way to Waitara, where he was found next morning. Thb mystery is how he could have travelled all that way in the drenching rain without waking. He cannot give any explanation of the occurrence, and was entirely unconscious until .-he was found lying on the road and awakened. His parents only missed him a short time before he returned home.

The following patents have been applied for :— Job" Osborne, Canterbury, for a cam to ba attached to a well-driving apparatus for shallow or deep wells, for the purpose of raisiag and releasing the monkey or rods; W. S. Smith* Wellington, for a grating to be called " Smith's patent grating"; D. Robertson, Wellington, fo^r

"Robertson's improved flax-stripper " ; T. M. Bryant, Auckland, for a metal holdfaist, clip, or staple; A. J. Davidson and R. C. Hooper, Auckland, for cleansing ironsand by magnetism ; J. C. M'Kerrow, Wellington, for " M'Kerrow's deodoriser " ; J. Piercy, Wanganui, for " Piercy's fire escape and farmers' ladders " ; E. Waters, Melbourne, for an improved process of and compound for removing precious metals from ores and metallurgical products (being a communication from the. inventor, E. H. Russell, Summit, Utah, United States of America) ; and for an improvement in the art of extricating metals from ores or metallurgical products (being a communication from the same inventor) ; G. A. Bryan and G. Richards, Auckland, for guiding perambulator.-!, to be called " Bryan and Richard's patent movable guide for perambulators."

At a meeting of the Hooper's Inlet School Committee, on Friflay evpning, it was resolved to recommend Mr W. O. Dufchie, of Highcliff, for the position of head master of the school. The committeo also voted for Dr Stenhouse, Messrs Isaac and M'Kenzie, for the Education Board vacancies.

A gentleman who has recently returned to Adelaide from the interior says, that after a carefal search of the sountry in Central Australia, in which the discovery of a burning mountain was reported, he has proved iucontestibly that no such mountain exists. Tho blacks at a short distance from the place made some confused statements which might have led to the idea of the existence of a volcano, but on nearer approach less was heard about the matter.

Captain Hand, of H.M.S. Royalist, was interviewed at Auckland on Tuesday last with the object of ascertaining what part he played in the recent disturbance at Samoa, more particularly dealing with the German outrage on Mr Gelling, and the cargo of the steamer Richmond. Captain Hand gave his account of Mr Gelliug'a arrest and release as follows: — " Information was brought to me on board the Royalist of what had been done, and I went at once to the British Consul, and we both said that Mr Gelling must be immediately released as by his arrest an outrage had undoubtedly been committed. I then went on board the Adler, and told Commander Fritz that Mr Gelling was to be sent back to the Richmond in a German boat, the British Consul at the same time demanded Mr Gelling's release from the German Consul. The Germans gave Mr Gelling breakfast on board the Adler, and treated him very hospitably (so he said), and in the course of the forenoon he was sent back to the Richmond. Ido not know what occurred at the court martial. I believe the captain of the Adler spoke to Mr Gelling on the quarterdeck, but; Mr Gelling did not complain of anything." Captain Hand was asked whether he had to use threats before he induced tho commander of the Adler to release Mr Gelling, and whether it was true that the Royalist and the American man-of-war Nipsic ran out their guns to compel the Germans to refrain from interference with cargo on board the Richmond. Captain Hand snid that no such demonstration was made on the Royalist, and that he knew of nothing of the kind having taken place on board the Nipsic. He said that what took place between himself and the captain of the Adler was known only to themselves so far : he had not yet forwarded his report to his superior officer, Admiral Fairfax, and did not consider it right to make the particulars public through the press. He said : " Immediately I knew that the Germans were breaking cargo on board the Richmond I sent an officer on board and stopped it." " Then you don't anticipate a repetition of the Richmond affair?" queried the reporter. " No, I don't," replied Captain Hand. " The Germans had the law laid down to them pretty clearly before I left, and I don't believe that Captain Kane will have any trouble on that score. As for the search of goods after they have been landed I can't speak for certain. The lawyers ashore gave it as their opinion that the Germans could have the goods landed at a certain place and searched. The Germans, however, will not be permitted to search the Richmond on her present trip as they did before. Their right is to look at the ship's papers and see that she is a merchant ship. They were not allowed to look to more than the papers of the steamer Wainui when she went down. I sent an officer on board, and when the German officer visited the steamer he was told that he could look at the Wainui's papers, but that was all, and he did no more."

The fastest record made without stoppage is made by the Great Northern Railway Company's train from Grantham to King's Cross, 105J miles, in lhr 57min, being a velocity of 54 miles an hour; The longest run made without stoppage is done by the North-Eastern Company from Newcastle to Edinburgh, 124J mile 3, in 2hr 53min, an average of 43 miles per hour. Last year was productive of some striking records of unexampled speed. In the " race " to Edinburgh it was not so much the high speed which was attained as the ease with which the engines sped over summits nearly 1000 ft high. The West Coast train one day did the 90 miles from Preston to Carlisle (over 920 ft) in 89min, and Carlisle to Edinburgh in 102£min, being about 100f miles. An equally remarkable exploit was done one day by the East Coast train, with two engines, from Newcastle to Edinburgh in 124inin f 124 miles. The run without stop from Euston to Crewe, 158 miles, was done at a continuous speed of 57 miles an hour, and is, states "Whitaker's Almanac," altogether unprecedented.

The friends of the inventor Keeley have succeeded in obtaining his release from the imprisonment to which he was sentenced in Paris on his refusal to reveal the secret of the movement of his famous motor to a committee of engineer experts. He has engaged to finish the construction of his motor, and his friends assert that its being displayed at the Pans Exhibition will prove the reality of the invention, revolutionise the scientific, mechanical, and manufacturing worlds, and throw even the Eiffel Tower into the shade. Meantime the rapidly-increasing party that is introducing Buddhism into Europe declares that Keeley's motive power is the fluid akasa, one of the recondite natural forces— beyond electricity and all we yet know of the moving principles of nature— a fluid known to, and employed by, the initiates of Buddhism since the earliest times, but kept secret by them in dread of the evil uses to which it might be turned by the selfishness of the world in its present greed of gold' and power, and its poverty In matters of conscience.

The instructions given to the exhibition architect by the Executive Commissioner with reference to the front building are that there is to be a portico at the entrance, with the offices on either side, so that the public may not have to stand without shelter when buying their tickets, and can go into the offices without passing through the turnstiles. Upon entering, the visitor will find himself in a large vestibule facing a fernery. In the vestibule no exhibits will be placed except a central fountain and statuary. To the right and left a view will be obtained down the building in which the public collections will bo exhibited. The total area of this building will be about 20,000 square feet, and the avenue 25ft wide. At either end itj| will open into the annexes, wbioh will enclose the

whole ground, and at the farther end will be the fine art galleries and concert hall. It is proposed to reserve Cumberland street for a special machinery annexe.

Visitors who arrived from Melbourne last week say there is a great deal of sickness in Melbourne just now, and all the hospitals are fall to overflowing. Tents have had to be erected in some of the hospital gardens for typhoid patients. Quite recently a young man from Dunedin, named Johnston, was taken to three hospitals but could notgain admittance, and eventually he was accommodated at the gaol hospital, where he died. The drainage system is said to be very imperfect.

A boy named William Cummings, 11 years of age, died on Tuesday under chloroform, administered for the performance of a serious operation. The lad was attended by Drs Conghtrey and Teevan, and had on two previous occasions been given a greater quantity of tho anesthetic without ill results. Every care was taken, Dr Teevan administering the chloroform and Dr Coughtrey operating; but the patient died from syncope of the heart during the operation, which was a necessary one.

The Government are evidently determined that the mountain fastnesses between the Lake district and the West Coast Sounds shall not remain very much longer an unknown land. Mr Z. H. Wilmot, district surveyor of Queenstown, has just received orders to proceed along the route leading to Homer's Pass for the purpose of making a sketch thereof, and a reconnaiaance survey of the country which will be passed through. Messrs Homer and Barber, it will be remembered, recently spent several weeks looking for a pas 3 leading from the Greenstone track to 'Milford Sound, and though they did not actually discover a practicable route they explored the country for a considerable distance, and came to the conclusion that a practicable pass exists. Mr Wilmot will in a few weeks be able to prove or disprove their theory, but even though no practicable track is discovered, the expedition should be of service in the valuable topographical information which is sure to be obtained. It is not likely that the track will ever be much used owing to its great length, especially in view of the recently discovered passes from Te Anau to Milford, and Manapouri to Doubtful Sound, the latter being probably the shortest and easiest of the lot.

The principal business before the Anglican General Synod at Tuesday's sitting was the election of a bishop to be primate on the resignation of the present primate, the Most Rev. Bishop Harper, of Christchurch. As directed by a resolution passed previously, the question that the synod proceed with the election was pub from the chair at 8 o'clock. Before putting it, however, the Primate explained that no candidates would be nominated, and that the voting would be by ballot ; and at his lordship's request the members of synod and visitors engaged in silent prayer for a few minutes prior to the question being put. The synod having determined to proceed with the election, the votes were taken, and the result of the first ballot was announced to be "no election." Some discuscion took place on the point, but it was ultimately resolved that the voting should be declared, so as to guide members in the second and third ballot. It was stated that if this was not done they must go on voting blindly. The Primate informed the synod that if there was no election on the third ballot, then the senior bishop would be the primate, and that for an election there must be a majority in all orders. When the result of the ballot was made known ib appeared that the Bishops of Nelson and Wellington received the same number of votes from bishops, that the Bishop of Nelson had a majority of seven lay votes, and the Bishop of Wellington a majority of six clerical votes. A second ballot gave the Bishop of Wellington a majority of three bishops and seven clergy, and the Bishop of Nelson a majority of four laity. On the third ballot being taken the Bishop of Wellington was elected primate by a majority in each order. During the first ballot one vote was given for the Bishop of Dunedin, and the Bishop of Auckland obtained some votes in the first and second and one vote in the final ballot. Great interest was taken in the election, the hall being crowded to excess, and a good number of uersons standing all the time the election was Koing on, which occupied nearly two hours. The Primate-elect made a short speech on the result of the third ballot being declared, and the ordinary business of the synod was then gone on with.

The appearance of the Bishop of Melanesia in Knox Church on Monday evening at the ordination of Mr Smaill to the New Hebrides mission, and this with the full concurrence of the New Zealand Anglican Episcopate, is an event which should not pass unnoticed. It was the continuation of the old friendship which pxisted between the Bishop of New Zealand and the Presbyterian mission in the early days of both churches, when the bishop's schooner frequently carried letters, stores, and passengers to the missionaries, not to mention wives, in the New Hebrides, and always received from them the warmest and heartiest welcome. It may be mentioned here that in the steamer in which Dr Stuart returned from the old country were the Bishops of Nelson, Waiapu, and Sydney, that there was daily prayer at which all attended, and that on Sundays there were combined services, at which Dr Stuart sometimes preached and sometimes read a lesson, and that all met together when the Holy Communion was administered. Further, that when the ship reached Melbourne, Dr Stuart was requested to read an address to the bishops on behalf of the passengers. We have been informed that Archdeacon Edwards invited Dr Stuart to meet the bishops at breakfast yesterday. Unfortunately, however, he had made a previous engagement. Surely all this may be taken as an indication that the resolution passed by the Lambeth Conference on reunion has begun to bear somo fruit.

One of the most terrible, as it is also one of the most thrilling, tales that history has to tell, is recalled by the announcement in the Scottish papers of Miss Edith Brydon's marriage in Inverness Cathedral. This lady's father was tho famous Dr Brydon, of the Afghan massacre of January 1842 — the one survivor who, wounded and faint and weary, after a most perilous ride, reached Jellalabad to tell General Sale the piteous story of what had taken place in the Khyber Pass. They were 16,000— or, counting women and children, 26,000— wh0 set out from Cabul on that ill-starred journey ; and be was the only man who had escaped. Between the dark crags of Jugdullak the murderous Afghans had their fill of blood. The death trap ran with the gore of soldiers, camp followers, women, and children alike. Dr Brydon alone escaped.

Mr Murphy, secretary of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Aassociation, pronounces the grab found in the orchard at Eangiora as the common apple grab and not the codlin moth.

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