LOCAL & GENERAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 15

LOCAL & GENERAL,

The amount of revenue collected at the custom house in Dunedin during the month which fa rminated on the 31st ult. was £6712 10s lOd less than the revenue for January of last year. The monthly customs returns are apt to be misleading, however, and it is pointed out that bad the direct cargo steamer Maori, which reached the heads on the 30i.h, arrived a day or two sooner the revenue for the month would have been very appreciably increased. While the general customs returns showed a considerable diminution upon the amount collected in the corresponding month- of last year, the beer duty received last month was about £100 in excess of the duty paid in during January 1893.

The vital statistics for the past month are : — Births, 130 ; deaths, 65 ; marriages, 32. The statistics for the corresponding month of last year were : —Births, 115 ; deathp, 60 ; marriages, 18.

A somewhat singular petition was presented t)the Land Board last week. It is usual fur settlers t j petition to have neighbouring runs cut up, but in this inatauce tho petition from small settlers near Sowburn was in favour of a run which was to be subdivided being re-leased for- another term. The petition, which sets forth several apparently substantial grounds, has been forwarded by the board to the Government for consideration.

Mr J. E. March, superintendent of settlements, addressed a Urge and enthusiastic meeting at E afield on the 30th ulb., and fully explained Iho torms and conditions on which tho lands in the Tcancraki small farm F-ettlenienfc may be acquired, and the area each bolector could apply for. Me March aho h'ul plans and pamphlets in connection with tho Pomabaka estatD (which will bo open on the 20th February), and explained the regulations for tho occupation of lauds leased under "The Laud for Settlements Act 1892." At the conclusion of his address a number of questions were asked, aUd satisfactorily answered. The Teaneralu settlemeul will be open on tho 7th inst , and, from the demand made at the close of the meeting for application forma, lho land is likely to have a ready Eale.

The half-yearly Purple lecturo and degree meeting of the Otago District, M.U.1. C0 F., was held at the District Chambers on the 31st. The District G.M. Bro. F. Calvert presided, the vice-chair being occupied by the D.P.G.M. Bro. J. H. Chapman. The degree of Past Elective Secretary was conferred on six, that of Past V.G. on three, and that of Past N.G. on four candidates. Two Past Grands presented themselves for the Purple degree, and were duly admitted and obligated by P P G M. Bro. Geddes, acting as G M , the accompanying lecture being delivered in a most impressive manner by P.G M. Bro. Calvert. The recipients of the degree were P G. Bros. Gillam (Albion Lodge) and A. Carncross (Mosgiel Lodge). At the close cf the business the brethren present were the guests of the Hand and Heart Lodge at an entertainment, and a very pleasant hour was spent in harmony.

The results of the New Zealand University's junior scholarship examinations, held in Decembor last, were declared on Thursday by a committee of the University Senate, consisting chiefly of Dunedin members of that body, who met in the University of Obago. Of the 12 scholarships awarded, four were gained by candidates from the Otago Boys' High School, which is this year the most successful of the secondary educational institutions of the colony in regard to the scholarship results. The Christchurch Boys' High School, the Christchurch Girls' High School, and the Nelson Boys' College each produced two successful ndicadates, while one scholarship winner went up from the Auckland College and Grammar School, and one from Christ's College, Christchurch. Of the 2 L candidates who passed the junior scholarship examination with credit, eight hailed from Duuedin, and a similar number from Auckland, two from Christchurcb, two from Gisborne, and one from the Thames.

The voting by the various school committees for the election of three members to the Education Board will take place duriDg the pressnt month, and the result must reach the secretary of the Education Board before the 28th inst. The candidates nominated are : — J. O. Anderson, D. Borrie, M. Cohen, Rev. A. M. FinlayRon, M. Fraer, J. F. M. Fraser, and the Hon. John MacGregor.

Me Coates, the new general manager of the National Bank, who returned to town on Thursday after his visit to Europe, informs us that it was decided by his London directors to transfer the headquarters of the bank to Wellington, the move to be made in about three months from now. While regretting the loss of the general manager and his staff of officer*, we are pleased to learn that Mr Sinclair Thomson will continue the management of the Dunedin branch.

Mr H. A. Young, law clerk, of Westport, has been served with a writ, issued at the instance of Mr Adams, schoolmaster, of Greymouth, claiming £100 damages for alleged libel. The cause of action is alleged statements made by Mr Young concerning "copying" at the recent university examinations at Greymouth.

We have received from Mr Edward Tregear particulars of his system of voting for minority representation. He would reduce the constituencies to 54, each of which would return a local member, the other 20 members to be elected as national members. Each voter would be entitled to vote for a local member, and also mark off the name of oue of the national members whom he desired to eleefc. If his local candidate was elected, then his national vote would not count, as he would be represented already, but the papers of those who voted for unsuccessful local candidates would become available in the count for a national member. As a detail, nominations for a national candidate would only be received when accompanied by requisitions signed by 10 electors in each provincial district.

Mr Cameron, the president of the Waitahuua Farmers' Club, who recently visited the Pomahaka purchase, informed the members that he was not in a position to state whether too much had been paid for the land by the Government, but

he was of opinion that it was very suitable for settlement, and to anyone wanting to take up land he would strongly recommend them to pay it a visit. Several of the members (says the Tuapeka Times) were of opinion that the land was valued at too high a price, and also thought the conditions under which settlers would b8 bound in taking up the laud were too stringent. Of the Cheviot estate, Mr Thomas Black, of Waikoikoi, a practical farmer, informs the Tapanui Courier that the land being let under lease in perpetuity is far too dear for the lessees to make anything out of it. The good land, suitable for agriculture, is let for 6< to 103 an acre per annum, and at that price Mr Black considers it will not pay, owing to the distance from market. In a very few years he considers claims for revaluation will be numerous.

During the month of January 26 estates of deceased persons were placed in the hands of the Public Trustee for administration. Those of greatest value were the following : — M. V. Brackenbury, Auckland, £1100 ; William Smith, Waipori, £1050; Thomas Chapman, Ohaupo, £900; Mary A. Livingstone, Roslyn, £850; Thomas W. Bustard, Greymouth, £450 ; Alfred Smith, Wellington, £215.

Mr Paulin informs us that the rainfall last month (January) amounted to 4- 63in at Opoho and 5 2lin on Signal Hill.

Wini Kerei Te Whetuiti, the leading chief of the Ngatipaoa tribe, died at the Hoe-o-Tainui settlement ou the afternoon of the 23rd instant. He was one of the few remaining notable chiefs (says the Auckland Herald) who wielded a powerful sway and assisted in preserving peace in troubled timep, having frequently acted as mediator between tho two races. From his earliest childhood he s-howed great capabilities, and in tho various councils of his race his word always carried weight. In tho movement which led to the settiDg up of a Maori king, he used h s influence to restrain the restless 6pirit of his people, and to preserve order and prevent bloodshed. At all times a loyal subject of the Queen, he stood between the Hauhau and Kupapa, or loyal Natives, aud by his tact and diplomatic skill made both factions respect him. It was due to Wiui Kerei Te Whvtuiti and W. A. Graham that the disputed land purchases made by the Government in the Piako and Thames districts were amicably settled without bloodshed. Ib wa3 Wini Kerei who settled with Sir Donald M'Lean, Hon. Dr Pollen, and others the position of the confiscated Jine, and laid down tho boundaries of the lauds of the rebel Natives.

Au Odepsa telegram states that from Ist JtUiiury the services of all female clerk?, telegraph oppratoro, &c, employed on the Southwestern aud tha Moscow -Warsaw railway eys-fc-jm iire to be dispensed with. Tho directors assign no reasons for this unexpected aud somewhat arbitrary di^midßal of a v^ry large number of useful aud hard-vvorking employees. It is stated that on all the other Russian railways female labour will be replaced during next year.

On 14th December Colonel Frey was elected President of the fcwiss Confederation for tho 3 ear 1894- by a large majority of the votes of the two Chambers. The new President has had an adventurous career. He was born in 1838, emigrated to the United States, and there took part in the War of Secession on the Northern side, obtaining the rank of major. He was made prisoner by the Confederates, and narrowly escaped being shot ; but was subsequently exchanged. Retiring to Switzerland, he edited a paper at Basle, and in 1882 was appointed Swiss Minister to the United States, which post he resigned in 1886. To his initiative many of the recent military reforms in Switzerland are due.

A singular case of superstition is reported from Galicia. At Polynow, near Kamionka, a small farmer who was suspected of being an incendiary has been murdered by peasants. A hag who told fortunes had declared him to be guilty. The peasants thereupon assembled in the night and pronounced the sentence of death on him, and murdered him in sight of his terrified children. He was found dead with 10 wounds in his head and body. Thirteen peasants have been arrested and charged with being concerned in the murder.

The Vicar of Plumpbon, England, has made a discovery of a curious and remarkable kind. He holds that pork, whether boiled or roasted, or ia the »hape of sausages, is fatal to the religious spirit in man. Pig and piety can never go together ; aud any attempt to reconcile them, to make them walk hand-in-hand as it were, is certain to end in failure. " Why," asks the rev. gentleman, " is the Englishman so neglected of his religious duties ? Because he loves pig."

The Weatport News reports the death in the hospital there, on January 17, of Mr James Morrish. He was a native cf Dawlish, Devonshire, and early displayed considerable musical talent. On coming out to New Zealand about 1875 he was appointed organist of All Saints Church, and he aho conducted tho Dunedin Harmonic Society. Thes9 offices he held for seven years, and duriDg this time he married Miss Fraser. Afterwards he moved to Invercargill, where he was appointed organist of St. John's Church. There he undertook the training of the Garrison Band, and gained first prizes at band contests. He then removed to Nelson, and afterwards to the West Coast.

The Postmaster-general informs us that the cable steamer Terranora picked up the White's Bay end of the Cook Strait cable on Friday.

As the outcome of correspondence between Mr W. Carncross, M.H.R, and the Public Works department, ib has been decided to obtain an estimate of the cost of extending the railway from Walton Park to Brighton. The settlers are of opinion that the traffic would be sufficient to justify the outlay.

The following sections of Crown lands were disposed of at the Dunedin office during the past week : — Section 16, block VI, Woodland, 259 acres, to Henry Wilson, on lease in perpetuity ; cash price per acre, 225. Section 4, block VI, Woodland, 224 a3r 32p, to James Caski, on lease in perpetuity ; cash price per acre, 253.

The rumour is revived that it is in contemplation to run an express train daily between Christchurch and Inyercargill, the distance from terminus to termiDus being accomplished in 12 hours. The names, moreover, of the stations at which the through train would stop are mentioned, Palmersfcon bsiug named as the station at which the trains north and south would meet. Upon inquiring from the Hod. J. G. Ward we learn that, so far as he knows, such a change in the railway service has not even been discussed by the authorities, and that he never heard a suggestion of it until bhe rumour reached his ears during his present visit to Dunedin.

At the Ringwood railway station, Victoria, on the 20th ult , as the passengers were taking their seats in a train, a terrific explosion occurred which ehook the earth for miles round the spot, aud was heard for still greater distances. A rush was made for the engine, whence the awful sound and concussion had come, and from which a great cloud of steam and smoke was rising. Ib was at once seen

that the boiler had burst. The fireman was prostrate on the platform, and the driver was groping blindly about with a dangerous looking wound on his forehead, and his, eyes closed with dust and blood. After being examined it was found the driver had escaped with a superficial cut, while the fireman was not seriously hurt. So great was the force of the explosion that the boiler was torn open like so much paper. One piece of the boiler plate, weighing 7cwt, was found 200 yds away from the line. The fence of the station-yard was broken down. Windows were broken in houses miles distant by the concussion. No cause for the accident can be assigned. The boiler was manufactured by the Phcenix Company, Ballarat, and the engine had been running for 11 years.

The clerk of the Taieri County Council, who was also returning officer for the Taieri district at the general election, mentioned at Friday's meeting of the council that he had received no intimation yet as to the manner in which the licensing election should be conducted, but he had received instructions to prepare the necessary rolls either by having them printed or by employing clerical assistance to make the necessary alterations in the old rolls. The council authorised the retention for the licensing election of all the polling booths used at the general election.

For some time Mr William Earnshaw, M.H.R., has been endeavouring to secure the extension of telephone communication to Highcliff, and he on Friday received a memorandum from the Postmaster-general to the effect that this work had been authorised.

At the first meeting of the West Taieri River Board Mr Snow was elected chairman and treasurer, and Mr Grant was reappointed clerk and collector. The clerk was instructed to sue for all unpaid rates after March 1. The clerk intimated that tho £8000 loan had now been reduced to £2975

At tho Port Chalmers Police Court on Friday, before Messrs A. Thomson and J. Elmer, J.P's., two boys named James Mathers and James Lee, charged with wilfully defacing and destroying notices and placards posted on the Upper Port Chalmers railway station, were convicted and ordered to be brought up for sentence When called upon.

At the Lincoln Assizes in November a man was convicted of the murder of a young woman at Grimsby, and, being asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death Bhould not bo passed, ho made the following extraordinary speech: — "Ho was much obliged to the jury for their verdict, for he would not have liked a verdict of manslaughter. He thanked his lordship kindly for what ho said, and he would be very thankful if he would grant him as many cigarettes and cigars as he wished for from now to the day of his death, as he was a great smoker, and he did not want to break down. He wished to die an English hero. Of course he knew he was a disgrace to his country aud to all his friends. Bub he was in hopes that he would join the girl again, and he knew that if sho camo to know that he broke down in that affair she would bs doing nothing elso bub poking fun at him and throwing ib in his eyes in the next world." His lordship then passed sentence of death in the prescribed form.

A man who has been posing at Christchurch during the past week as special correspondent of the Yorkshire Post, and who represented that he had a special mission to fulfil in reporting on the resources of the colony, was arrested on Friday for obtaining money by false pretences from Mr W. A. M'Laren, traction engine proprietor. He represented that he arrived in Wellington by the Rimutaka on January 10, but when arrested letters were found on him dated 11 January 16, Occidental Hotel, Dunedin," and mentioning Johnstone, chemist, Manse street, Dunedin. He has victimised a number of people here, and on Wednesday night gave a banquet to a number of Yorkshire men at Arenas's Cafe" de Paris. He obtained a watch from a local jeweller, and showed it round as having been presented to him when leaving Home by the men at the Yorkshire Post. He appears to have several aliases, having gone as both Richson and W. Robertson at Dunedin.

The Hon. J. G. Ward has received a telegram from the Premier intimating that the question of proceeding with the new gaol building in Dunedin will be deferred until a report is obtained from experts.

A retreat for women was commenced at St. Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock by the Rev. Father Hillary, a member of the Passionist Order. The church was crowded to excess. Devotions have been held during the week, and at the termination of the retreat one will be given for the men. At all the services on Sunday special prayers were offered for the Most Rev. Bishop Moran, whose condition was described as very critical.

A numerously-signed requisition was presented to Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R , asking his consent to be nominated as a representative for the North-East Valley and West Harbour districts on the Otago Harbour Board. Mr Millar, whilst thanking those who had signed the requisition, and recognising the necessity of needed reforms in that body, stated his inability at the present time to comply with the request.

Some time ago Mr J. D. Scott, of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Oamaru, who has taken au active interest in electrical science, was asked to allow himself to be nominated for the institute, and was elected an associate. ; and now in corresponding with some of the leading engineers in the Home country, they have done him the greater honour of appointing him a member of the Watt Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Shipbuilders. This is worthy of note inasmuch as Mr Ecott was a Dunedin boy, having served his apprenticeship with Messrs R. S. Sparrow and Co., and is probably the first New Zealand engineer who has had these honours conferred upon him.

Mr R. L. Ritchie, of Port Chalmers, who is studying mining surveying at the Bendigo School of Mines, has been very successful.^ At the examinations in the department of science he took honours in mining surveying and levelling, passed in mensuration, took honours in algebra, and passed in geometry. Mr Ritchie was educated iv the Port Chalmers District High School, and held the junior and senior scholarships at the Dnnedin High School.

Some old timber taken from Casey's Hotel, Sydney (an old-time building), was sold recently. The purchaser of some of it in sawing up a beam cut through' some paper, which turned out to be eight bank notes of £20 each. The notes had been let into the beam by an auger hole. The Under has since received cash for the notes.

well-known firm of bankers in London have just made a profitable investment. According to the London Daily Telegraph, some time ago a man who had defrauded them of a largo sum of money was taken iato custody, convicted, and sentenced to a loDg term of penal servitude. Prison fare did not agree with one who had lived on the fat of the land. The change

affected him in many ways, but he complained more particularly of the injury the food caused to his teeth. They were neither numerous nor in good condition when he was sentenced, and as they rapidly became worse he applied to the governor of the prison for a new set. Being told that the Government did not supply prisoners with artificial teetb, at the first opportunity Le wrote to the banking firm in question, offering, if they would send him a new set, to tell them something to their advantage. Thereupon the bankers, thinking the offer might be a genuine one, sent the governor of the prison a cheque for • £5 and asked him to provide the convict; with a set of artificial teeth. In due course the convict kept his promise, and sent the bankers certain information, by means of which n. e JL we ™ enabled to recover no less than £1500 of which they had been defrauded. They naturally regarded this as the best investment they had ever made, but it has proved even better than anticipated, for they have just received from the prison authorities a remittance for £1, the teeth having only cost

The outbreak of pleuro-pnenmonia among cattle m various parts of South Australia appears to be serious. (Since the middle of November 13 cases have been reported from the north, and in each case quarantine grounds have been proclaimed. Last month a serious outbreak of the complaint was reported north of Port Augusta, and about 12£ per cent, of th» cattle were sacrificed to pleuro before the inspector was made aware of the existence of the disease. Since then quarantine grounds have been proclaimed, and some 600 or 700 head of cattle have been isolated. Up to the present about 400 head of cattle have been inoculated, and by this means many have been saved from death. More recent outbreaks are reported from Crystal Brook. Tuberculosis has also made its appearance in the south-east. Twenty-nine cases have been reported to the inspector during the last three months. OE these four died, 15 were destroyed, and the remainder isolated. In the same period 21 instances of acbinomycosis were treated by officers, who killed nine animals. Not long ago tick showed itself in a large number of sheep in the south-east, but, thanks to the speedy resorb to dippmg, the complaint has now practically disappeared. Tuberculosis is a much more dangerous disease than pleuro.

The Excelsior, the largest diamond in the world, is now deposited in one of the safes of the Bank of England. It was found in June last in the mines of Jagersfontein, Cape Colony, by Captain Edward Jorganson, the inspector of. the mine. Iv his opinion, corroborated by that of the director, Mr Gilford, the Excelsior is a stone of the purest water, and is worth about £1,000,000 sterling. Exceptional precautions were taken to have it conveyed from the mine to the coast. A squadron of the 16th Lancers guarded the carriage to Capetown, from which it was brought to London in the gunboat; Autelopo. It is fully 3in in height, and nearly 3in in breadth, weighing 971 carats, or about 7oz troy. The colour of the Jagersfontoin diamond is white with a very slight bluish tint, and its lustre is matchless. At the centre is a very small black spot, which experts consider will be easily removed in tho cutting. According to M. X. West, the British Government have offered £500,000 sterling for this diamond to the proprietors, Messrs Breitmeyer and Bernheimer, bat the offer has been refused.

Captain Amery, of the schooner Origin, which has arrived at Plymouth from Labrador with fish, reported that while on the outward voyage from England the vessel was attacked by a swordfish, whose sword penetrated the hull, aud broke off as the fish attempted to withdraw it. The fish then turned several somersaults and disappeared, as if either stunned or killed by the force of the shock. The sword left in the side of the ship measured 18in. Before Newfoundland was reached the vessel made over a foot of water, and the crew are of opinion that if the fish had succeeded in withdrawing its sword the vessel would have foundered.

The Premier, the Hon. R. J. Seddon, proposes to leave Wellington almost immediately on a trip into the Native country, and will probably be absent from the seat of Government for over a fortnight. The Colonial Secretary, Sir Patrick "Buckloy, is at present confined to his residence at the Hut*;. He has been suffering from an attack of influenza.

The Government have decided that the titles of Native land in the colony shall be ascertained without delay, and the judges will be withdrawn as soon as practicable from the work of subdivision and set to adjudge titles. Districts are being scheduled for allotment among the judges. A measure will be introduced next session for consolidating the various statutes relating to Native lands.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that the Hon. W. P. Reeves finds it will be impossible to accept an invitation from the Labour party in Australia to visit the continent and deliver a series of platform addresses.

With reference to the statement siade by Mr A. C. Begg in his address to the Chamber of Commerce when referring to the San Francisco service, that so far as he was aware the American Government had not contributed any subsidy to that service, we have been asked by the Union Steam Ship Company to point out that a payment of £12,000, has been made annually for a number of years by the United States Postal department for the conveyance of the mails by the contract mail steamers. The total sum received by the line in the shape of subsidies and mail payments is about £30,000 per annum. Of this it will be seen that the United States contribute £12,000 ; New Zealand, £7000 ; the Imperial Government, for the outward New Zealand mails, between £5000 and £6000 ; New South Wales, £4000 ; and the balance of £1000 to £2000 is made up by mailage from non-contractiDg colonies.

The Balclutha School Committee on Monday night voted for Messrs J. C. Anderson, J. F. M. Fraser, and the Hon. J. MacGregor for the vacancies on the Education Board.

A circular has «been issued to the heads of the departments in the Civil Service instructing them to stop all overtime in the future, except when despatch is required in circumstances of a confidential nature. Extra clerks will be temporarily employed when required.

The first meeting of the now Henley River Board, held ou Saturday, was attended by Messrs Stevenson, Wilson, Anderson, Robinson, and A. C. Thomson. Mr Stevenson was elected chairman, and Mr John Grant was reappointed clerk. Messrs Wilson, Thomson, and Anderson were appointed inspectors for river embankment, and Messrs Stevenson J and Robinson were appointed inspectors for the west side of the district — namely, Lee creek side. Messrs Asuby and Robinson waited- on the board re the leakage in Lee creek embankment. Ib was resolved thab another 10 chains of work be done. After passing some accounts for payment, the members proceeded to examine the place near the site of the old Henley bridge where tho road and embankment had been carried away. After consideration, it was agreed.

to accept tho council's mbsidy of £50, and erect an embankment suitable for a road way from the site of tho old Henley bridge to Lawrence's, some 12 chains, as per the engineer's estimate.

The output of coal from the Westport and Greymouth mines for the month of January was as follows : — Westport, 20,944- tons 14cwt ; Greymouth, 8368 tons 18cwt.

The congregation of the Palmerston South Presbyterian Church have resolved to call the Rev. James Clarke, of Fairlie, to the ministry of their church.

The Waiapu Diocesan Synod will not meet till April to elect a successor to Dr Stuart as Bishop of Waiapu, by which time it is expected that the bishopric endowment will be made up to £10,000. Hitherto the bishop's stipend there has been supplemented by an annual grant of £400 from the Church Missionary Society in London.

For the convenience of the northern residents of this city the executive of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society have made arrangements to have the trophies presented by Sir John Bennett Lawes and Messrs John M 'Nairn and Co. exhibited in the window of Messrs Duthie Brothers, George street, during the next week, before forwarding them to other centres of the colony.

An important meeting of the parishioners of St Paul's was^held in the pro-cathedral on Tuesday evening to consider the question of having the church raised to the status of a cathedral. There was a good attendance, and without dissent the meeting confirmed the action of the vestry and adopted a resolution in favour of the proposed change.

A human skull and a quantity of human bones in an advanced state of decay were found at the Ocean Beach sandhills on Monday by Mr 6. Blyth'a children. The skull was that of a Maori, and had no doubt been buried in the sandhills many years ago.

At Tuesday's meeting of the Bruce County Council the inspector of works was instructed to make an estimate of the damage done to the county roads in the Clarendon riding owing to the mining operations at Waipori, and the chairman was authorised to communicate with the Minister for Lands with the view of getting the Government to pay the amount of the damage (which wa3 represented to be serious) and also to take steps to prevent further damage.

An Auckland telegram states that Messrs William M 'Arthur and Co. have decided to carry on business as üßual, but to close the Wellington house, the offers made for the business not coming up to expectations.

We regret to learn that there was no improvement on Tuesday in the state of Bishop Moran's health. Special prayers are offered at each service in connection with the retreat of the women in St. Joseph's Cathedral. The evening services are largely attended, and the cathedral is comfortably filled at 6 a.m. by women only. The retreat for men only will be preached by the Very Rev. Father Hilary next Sunday evening. In connection with the bishop's health, it may be mentioned that the children of the Catholic schools assemble daily at 3 p.m. to recite prayers for the bishop, who was much moved on Monday when he noticed them going to the cathedral on learning the object of their visit.

Christmas never used to be observed very largely either as a popular or religious holiday in Scotland, where it has been more usual to concentrate interest — and whisky— on New Year's Day. . But the Scotsman says there has been of recent years a growing disposition in Scotland to observe the Christmas festival in its religious aspect, and the Presbyterian churches have now, to some extent at least, joined with the Episcopalians and Roman Catholics in holding special services at this time. As a holiday pure and simple, also, Christmas is now looked upon in Scotland much more generally than used to be the case ; and in Edinburgh there were indications of this on Christmas Day in the number of places of business that were closed early in the afternoon.

It appears that Mr T. A. Wright, who took over Ayrshire cattle from Dunedin to New South Wales as stated last week, is not manager of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, but has gone over to assume control of the dairy department in that institution.

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