SINKING IN A QUICKSAND. ANGLING. BANK NOTES. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRILSE AND SALMON. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. INTRODUCTION OF MARINE FOOD FISHES. THE COUNTRY. HALF-MOON DAY RIVERTON. DIPTON. LAKE COUNTY. HOKONUI. POMAHAKA DOWNS, WAIHATUKU, TAIERI FERRY. LAKE WANAKA. CLYDE. GORE. CLINTON. TAPANUI. WALKAIA. TAIERI BEACH. COUNTRY ITEMS. A WARNING TO SHEARERS. OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. CROMWELL BALD HILL FLAT. WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL. OTAGO SCHOOL COMMISIONERS. A SINGULAR CASE. SHOCKING JUVENILE DEPRAVITY. Tree Foint. TO THE EDITOR. COMMERCIAL GRAIN ARRIVALS, WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT. GRAIN REPORT. WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. A. LORIE AND CO.'S PRICES CURRENT. FRUIT AND PRODUCE REPORT. RABBITSKIN MARKET. ADDINGTON STOCK SALES. AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL. PROPERTY SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 23

SINKING IN A QUICKSAND.

ANGLING.

BANK NOTES.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRILSE AND SALMON.

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

INTRODUCTION OF MARINE FOOD FISHES.

THE COUNTRY.

HALF-MOON DAY

RIVERTON.

DIPTON.

LAKE COUNTY.

HOKONUI.

POMAHAKA DOWNS,

WAIHATUKU ,

TAIERI FERRY.

LAKE WANAKA.

CLYDE.

GORE.

CLINTON.

TAPANUI.

WALKAIA.

TAIERI BEACH.

COUNTRY ITEMS.

A WARNING TO SHEARERS.

OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

CROMWELL

BALD HILL FLAT.

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

OTAGO SCHOOL COMMISIONERS.

A SINGULAR CASE.

SHOCKI NG JUVENILE DEPRAVITY.

Tree Foint. TO THE EDITOR.

COMMERCIAL

GRAIN ARRIVALS,

WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT.

GRAIN REPORT.

WEEKLY MARKET REPORT.

A. LORIE AND CO.'S PRICES CURRENT.

FRUIT AND PRODUCE REPORT.

RABBITSKIN MARKET.

ADDINGTON STOCK SALES.

AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL.

PROPERTY SALES.

May 18. — l^ist Tiiesdny wo had a vißit from Mr T. TMacke zl; M.H.tt. Mr Muckcnzie had apP'inteil the hour of hitlf-va«t 3 to meet tho settlors, but as that was a very inconvenient tima there wai only a small attondancs. Mr Clements took the chair and introduced Mr T. Mackenzie to th-se prex«nt, included ainnngsb tho (number being two ladies'. 'Uiespenkor in opening avid that he had purposely ktpt awuy fr m the Poma« h<ki Es f u ( ' > because he did not wish to thow by hi- r> c '•(•• th t he vrai in any way trying to uu'tt imhie the policy of tho <Jo>ejnmeiit -a policy w-'m'ck he comrid-nid ought to be allowed to take its course. After shorilf referring to several bills which tbe Government had brought in, he txprtsi-d a wiuh to answer any questions which might be put to him. What moi»t intc rested us was his propnunding a scheme whereby the rents could be reduced, »iit with no locs to the n -vernm^nt. He expkin-j-1 in the fifst placa that th- value of thfe lan^ jet %M# i«r th- <s nita resarve and educational yurpofwi ougii* n>t to have been included ia the total tain, oa which wo as settler 1 ! have iovzv the iabtzest. He also said that the loading of thst estate was far too heavy an item. Th»s i* oerwinly a uwtter that everyone connected vrfck ttc e«4a*« knows full welL But he submitted a rerr i*»iMs p?aa for lowers ing tbe mfc-re t. He exjlaiasd that the money paid to Mr D^aglii.s -as raised lor»1y fey debentures bearing <J per eeait *B&ev&± No -, -dnca ibat tr3.K*ie'i<m vss wjh?s sasm- f it** tee m-. a good &nA c!ht£z>zx, *ai3 jt »a3a ffinsii bs mu-^d at 3 per vefc. fo pcrj <f£ HSisße 4ffi jsa 1 <omt. deben* tares.-. TfcJs aras, Iboi«BSfiksr w-SHfc SB»<isaEa;tiona sixmt in«2ij3*^:tes. ssg&it Urn Ha&Bg; ffi&e jnaal: «3awn f3 2 j»=t atts, a. ir-tar, ■wMilh Ihs mnnraSßrafl ieason« afcle it &" ftsrofl. Iftrrgajiiibßit mrifineiof tfiiia will be itAte 'i Thy SlbelEsmfiSitir fim- E»wr&i, roc ilihai foe caa sey Ms ■wij> "o I-if tißar sitsnllsrp BrnntF anufi^r Hathib, whwn I Milk w.t o)£gjki affl te» fhu \Mn 4b jjiuj cua wayasni. sfct teujprj' iLiimta, Smiihn(onßßiSEDia*» "Koe ts s'm©iifc'sr tto ac hdi;, a "xsite of

May 19. — After a week of open fine weather there, waa a sharp frost Vas% night, a?id all the 'mountains ia the Lake country visible fm>i this quarter are covered with snow. GYMNASIUM —The result of the Industrial Exhibition and Hobhy, Show bms been vary satihfac- ' tory, and a handsome sum has been placed, to the credit of the gymnasium.. This institution is very much required, as many of tha young colonials, while otrong-, are not particularly well stit up or . developed about the chest.

(From Victor Hugo's " Leß Rlis6rableß.")

The following is the deectiption ol a death through sinking in a quicks-vnd, referred to in letters in cur correspondence columns recently :—: —

It sometimes happens, on certain coasts of Brittany nnd Scotland, that a man — come traveller or fisherman, perchance — as he makes his way along the sands at low tide, fur from the beach, saddenly becomes aware that for some minutes ha has been walking with difficulty.

The strand is as wax beneath hia feefe— tbe sole sticks to it ; it is so longer sand, it is glue. The beach is quite dry, but, at eaoh step ho takes, whenever he lifts his foot, tbe footprint thut he leaves fills with water.

The eye, it is true, has noticed no change. The wide btre'eh of shore is unbroken and still, all the sand looks the eamo, nothing distinguishes the surface that is firm from tho surface that ie no longer so ; the joyous little olou.l of sand-hoppers still leap tumultuoasly over his feet.'

The man pursues his course, goes straight on, presses towards the land, and seeks to gain thu upland. He is not uneasy— why should he bo ? Notwithstanding, he feels somewhat as if Ititfeet ware- growing ' haavier tit every step. Suddenly — he is sinking 1 He sinks two or three inches.

Assuredly he is not ou the right courae, eob>stops to take hit bearings. All at once be looks down &t his feet. Tiiey hare disappeared 1 The eand covers them He draws his feet from the -sand; he will retrace hio steps ; he turns back. He sinks in deeper 1 The sand comes np to his ankles ; he tf.arhimself from it. He throws himself to the l-.ft the sand com9S half-way up his leg ; he throw* himself to the right, the sand comes to his km ci Now he recognises, with horror unspeakable that he is caught in a shifting sand ; that hi has under him the frightful medium oa whic man can no more walk than fish can swim in i He throws off his burden, if he has one ; U< lightens bitnself like a sWp in distress ; it it already too late— the sand is above his knees. He calls, he waves his hat or hi« handkur phief, the sand gains on him more and mo-, if the bdach is deserted, if the Und is too i off, if the sandbank is of too ill repute, if tb .• is no hero in sight, it is all over, ha is o demned to enlizement. He is condemr.-. < to that appalling interment, long, infallible, implacable, impossible to slacken or to hastewhich endure 3 for hours, which will not etc which seizes you erect, free and in full heal h, which draws you by the feet, which, ftt ev-.> effort tb*t you attempt;, at every shoufc that j n — otter, drags you a little deeper, which api c < to puniflh you for your resistance by a redo'ie ling of its grasp, which sinks the man elowjy into the earth while it leaves him all the tniuto look at the horizon, the tre:s, the greeu fi»lds, the emoke of the villages in tbe pWn, the sails of the chips opon the sea, the bird* flying and singing, the sunshine, the sky. EnWzemsnt is the grave become a tide, an< rising from the depths of the earth towards i living man. Each minute is an inexorabh enshroudress. The vi"tim attempts to sit down, to lie down, to creep ; every movement he makes inters him ; he straightens up, he sinks in ; he feels that he is being swallowed up ; ha howls, implores, cries to the clouds, wrings his hands, despairs. Behold him waist desp ia the sand ; the sand reaches his breast, he is now only a bust. He raises his urns, utters f urioui groans, clutches the beach with his nails, would hold by that straw, leans upon his elbows to pull himself out of this soft sheath, eoba frenziedly ; the sand rites. The sand reaches his shoulders, the Band reaches bis neck ; the face alone is visible now. The mouth cries, the sand fills it ; silence. The eyes still gaze, the sand ehnfcs them ; eight. Then the forehead decreases, a little hair flutters above the sand : • hand protrudes, comes through the surface of the beach, moves and shakes, and disajniSMt*' Awful effnoement of a m»n.

Ky Juck Scott.

T« be a perfect fljherraan you require more excellences tha liouimlly to .be fnuud in sueii a entail spaos as i 3 ullotcc a to man's omrcass.— Pahkbb Qh-moor.

Readers arc mUted to cautribut* items of local fisting new« hr tneertlon in this column. For insertion in the ensiunfi issue tteytoouJd readi Dunwlia by MonS»j nitht's mail.

• . ' It ia n yingalar fact (says the Southland News) tbat Osh caught at the Southern Islands b«,ve been hitherto 'found to be infested wiah worms burrowing in the flesh, for which reaßon ■no visitors to tnote patts would eat them. They lire not all 'thai; way, however, ac some very fine blue cod, caught; at Antipodes lalend by passengers on the Hintmoa, were found to be perfectly (ilean fish and in the best of condition. *Some of ihe ve^selV • ffi-era declare 6he«i to be "'Superitir for ficmnei-s >tud fUvour to thos^ taken on" the eoMfc of New Zealand.

• . • On Friday we (Taieri Advocate) were iboTrn-thetioot to be liberated in the Wh*re Creek and iiribqrtwries. They oonaisted of about 2000 Scotch brarn "trout, and -will be liberated >by Meesrs M'Quilkau and Swing,. Jan., m Whsre Flat. B h these gentlemen are •eiithusiaßtfl, Kirn can &{way*Tja telied upon to look well after the ititeregfrf o? th* Obago Aeclimatrea'tion Society. MrTfl'Quilian informod "os tiiat the Bco'tch burti tirout *ppareutly thrive l)etter in the -local streams than any other Taritty, and 6h»t the brown trout liberated last »ea*on have not done very well. Mr Bwing udded that good fishing could bs obtwned in the Whare 'Oreet. T»»e *r,iutwere not Jarge, •averaging from lib to 2U>. Tb« strict watch that has been kfpt over thi shewn by those Bjuxious to supplemeufcthe good "work done by the Acelimatwation Society has had the .effect of keeping poachers off this partical&r stream, and the'honorary rangers now intend w*tching ■other creeks to prevent the depredations of those who prefer poscbing" to the legitimate means of 'fi>hin£.

"Angler" asks "What is the distinction between grilse and salmon, and what is the relation between seatront and salmon, if any ?" Fufe britfiy, a gritee is a young salmon on its rctrrxrn to tbe fresh -water, usually in ihs second year of 'life. Previous to the youug hsh going to sea -it i» known as parr, or /samtet, and in some places as pink brandling and fingerling. Having attained the «ize of from 3£Ln to Bin it "migrates, and is then known as stuolt. From 10 to 70 of these emolt will de?caud into the aea ; nothing i« known of their life there, bnt they •return to .the fresh largely inert as**,"! in b ; z", end Are tlsen known as grilse, ami ru b ut 3b to Bib in weight, and in some eased ». lugu a- d'.h. On again descending to the sea they atsuuie ibe perfect character of - the mature salmon. -The second portion of tbe query is difficult, if not impossible to *nswer. There is no doubt that salmon and the ees. trout come from a common source, but the degree of relationship existing is difficult tv any. The rfpU»is.tion of the tonne "B»'mon trout " is usually definf d*s a n»*ll species of salmo (salmon), resembling the common B*imon in colour, acd known also as tea trout. The three great branches of the salmon family, *s I understand it, are the salmon fari«, the salmon solar, and the salmon fcrntta, and to this last belongs the cc» ,or salmon trout ; but who can say the degree of selationthip existing f — Jock Scott.

KILLING BAIT FOR GRAYLING. An inquirer writing from the West Const asks what is the most killing bait for grayling. I was oot aware there were *ny grayling in,] New Zealand, and if there »re it is quite j possible thftt their feedißg haWs m*y bd at variance with 'the Home fish. "However, the' grayling is usually fished for in the s&mel manner as the trout;, and with similar "baits. ; Grasshopper, wasp grnbi , maggotf , brandling ' worms, »nd the artificial fly «re the most killIng baits at Home, and the ~foh will be found to fcff e more freely than the trout, nofe being ' afraid torenew the attack eren aftertfeeliog'the . book. — Jock Scott.

The monthly meeting of the committee dt , the Otogo Acclimatisation {Society was held dd THonday afternoon ; present — Messm A. C. B*gg (ia the chair in itae absence of fit J. P, , MaUlond), "D. EusooH (fecretary), F. Deans (manager), R. fW<st, P F Stoddarfc, S. Gold--smith, A. C.'Stmnacb, T. Brown, R. Chiohojm* ; A. M. Xt)Mby,»nri J. JStuclair Thomson. MANAGJSE-8 .UKTOttT. Mr Dean's report far the mouth of _M»y wws as foUowa : — We are now busy giving the po»d» their surnual overhaul. Seven of them 'have bseu «cnph)ed and cleaned, .»nd bcoui pipes have been Axed in two of tbem, which tvill bs a great -saving in time .and .labour. The rainbow trout, which are now neariy two years old, bave b^en transferred totbepond lately occupied by the Loch Leven trout .The Loch heron trout, at present in oce of the racei, will b» placed in orie'Of the nfiWpondß^Eter.epawDiDg, ■md the Scotch burn tiout will occupy the other. The sleek fish have commenced spawning; 398,000 ova have already been taken. The Soot -,h burn and American brook trout are yielding well, ■ but the Loch Levens do not seem to be so prolific i this K%on, These fiuh have increased in sizs Vffltly during the past season. The sabnon fry I in'end putting in the pond Jutely occupi'd by the Scotch burn trout, as the Water. supply can be more easily regulated. We have erected for the English mallard and other ducks a large enclosure of about a quarter of aD acie, with plenty of shelter and a good fond.

There are nine Htjc» of Bng'iih dnck.*, and T would recommei d rhat five of the diak-^ Up 'liberated in a »u>t'l>le 1 critics to mate -with the native ducks, bh it is quite unnecessary to luve an equal number of '■exes in confinement, Ranger Di'Oormack writes an interesting letter ■with reference to the herd of doer on the Blue Mountains, and mikes sorao useful suggestions, 'tvhtch can be considered Inter on. Tho report was adopted. TROUT ON TH« W/ST COAST.

Mr CsißHOLM'laid beforo tbe meeting a letter je bad' received from Mr Donald Rose, who furnished particulars of » trip bo made to To

Anan and the Wesb Coast, dealing especially with trout in the st earns of thoss parts The Arthur river was well stocked. At the upper boat landing, two miles and a-half above Lake Ad«, he saw fully 200 trout from l£lb to 51b or 6ib in weight. On the gravelly rapid ab the outlet of the pool the fish had commenced spawning. In the Clinton river trout might be sera in the pools for two miles end a-balf sb.ve Lake Te Anau. The great boulder rapids above that point had probably proved a bar to their further ascent. Many parts'of the Upper Oliuton river seemed admirably Rdsplcd for Scotch burn trout or some otter r,f the Bmallor kind*. Lakes Tc Anirn and : Msuapouri and the W»i»u rive-- vow abounded iv Uah, th'ingh so far M_r> ftw have- been tak n. Mr Sutherland, of Mi ford Sound, had suggested tba^jft few hares might be liburated in that loo&Rty. If the society could see ita way to pustP on such works of ncclim.ttisa.tion in a region that inusb always bs a great national park and recreation resprve, it would b3 doing the country good by making it more attractive to the constantly increasing stream of tourists. Mr Stronach brought under the n< tice of the council Mr Sutherland's letter, and further co. sideratioa of tbe mutter was deferred. INTRODUCTION OF FOOD FISHES. Mr George M. Thomson wrote with regard to th? q-uestien of introducing new marine food fhhrß into our seat. A auyg-ibtion had been made; that an inspector <*f fisheries should be appointed, and the idea seemed to fiud favour with Mr Ward. The writer deprecatsd such a step. The creation of such an office, with sub-inspectors, travelling expenses, and all the manufactured business which must be got up to justify ita existence, would, -it was e>tifßsted, run h.t3 an annual expenditure of £2000. He (Mr Thomson) urged -that the time and the, >tate of the fishing industry were not ripe for inspetion. He held that all the present fishery laws which pressed hard on those engaged in the industry should be, if nut repealed, at any xaiw withdrawn indefinitely, for there was not a "more struggling industry in the colony. So instead of making billets for two or three men, 'let the Government go in for tha infcro--ducticn of new sea fnh»<s, and for less than huli Hie ram -named they would be «ble to keep ■going a (very consderahle estabiißhiaent, which ■would prove a great boon to the colony by ivdding enormously to the value of our fisheries. At such a hatchery, whioh would also be a biological station, the very information which ■was required before rational fishery laws conld j be framed would best-adily aocumu ! *ted A 1 present the fishing industry wanr. d fost r<.ny (not only for the sake of thoee eniuloyed in it, bntforishe general public, who benffitad by it), not inspecting. There T?as a third tubJHct to which he wished to draw attention. A regulation, he thought, was in force forbidding anyone from taking or selling salmon (s-sa) trout. Did anyone take out a license ? There was no doubt these fish we're not infiequenUy caught. Ouce caught they were done for. It *muo u/*e "throwivg them back into the ssa, .for they di«d. So the fishermen were practically turned into poachers, for it certainly would not pay them to take out the license. At the same time, the society might get a law passed forbidding the use of eeine nets within a stated dis'nnce of the mouth of th» Lsith. The Chairman thounht the society should assure Mr Thomson of its help and sympathy iv connection with the proposal to est-ihli-,h liatcheries for sea fish The movement was only a recent one, but both at Home and in America establishments had been set up which had done a l< t of valuable work. Mr Brown also thought they should give tbe -matter every Bapport, H-- moved — " That the secretary be instructed to write to M- Th Hn^oa informing him that the toouby would .give the matter every consideration, and reaogoisad the proposal as being one of the very greatest imjottince." Mr Ohisholm seconded the motion, wLioh was carried. THE DEEB SHOOTING. A long Iftter w«s reived frm Mr A. A. .Blitcbwj'od relating his *ueßess m'ftear-Bhoot-ing. He statvd that he was glad ;o know fiat the survivor of the two imported stags was often visible with evidence that lie bad obtained a good surrounding of binds, and the silence of rifles in that part of the country .would largely miuimi-e th« chancei of auy'iU bafaliing him. The decease of the other was much to be rpgre'ted, as therrt was no doubt as to the desirability af introducing new blood However, he would be glad ta present to the society another stag. It was decided to thank Mr Blackwood for his i'nd offer, and fc? state that the lecretary would -write "to him again svs to the best t ; m 9 to send the animal .to New Zealand.

At a meeting of the Otago Institute, held on Tuesday evening, fcbe following report;, drawn up by., the committee appointed last October, j "was brought up and adopted :—: — * I In considering the conditions required in select- j ing a suitable locality at which to establish a j i "marine fi*h hatchery yo " coinrnir.tee was guided j 'by the following considerations '.— ■ 1 Nearness to heaf]qartrt"ra. * 2. AccMwihility by sea ,i« nil 'Weathers. I -3. Abundance of wattr supply. 4 IVoximrty to good and undisturbed feeding gr«ttnd«, 5. Convenience of access by land. I The available localities miy be considered tiadcf two henda : Wlrat, Otago Harbour itself; *ad, 'second, outride buys. llhel 1 he objections to nny stto to Otago Harbour within 'the heads refer ahmwfc exclusively to the fourth point wtatod above. Nuinerou* localities Could bo pointed out which are eminently suitable nss far a* abundance of water supply and convenience of access are concerned, but they have atl th* one great objection— that the whole area in*ide the hectdsii s»B f eii»atic*lly fished by seine note ftfrtl lit.es, atitl is liable to constant disturbance by traffic and harbour works. Your committee decided on these grounds that any site inside Otago heads was unsu tabla and undesirable. Looking to localities outside, Hooper's Tnlefc and pHpanui Inlofc (Wickliffa Bay) are unsuitable \ ■for various reasons. The ent anoes are closed byshallow bars, which are dangerous to boats in. nearly .all weathers, and they are uot. readily ■ reached by land. On the other hand, Furakanui i Inlet realises nearly all the conditions primarily sought for :— 1. The mouth of the inlet is easily reached by steamer in les=i than two hours from Port Chalmers, or one hour from the hevis. 2. In all ordinary weather a steamer of small draught could run very close in to the entrance, and get from 2§ to 4 fathoms of water immediately out-ide the bar, aud even in a northe?.s>t wind could lie at nnchor in compintve slielter at a distance of 10 chains fr^in the ro ks. !•'■ • lishing boats the -entrance is acce-: iblr in all ». m/heiv, as the channel runs out in a iwly '-ue nortb-v.'cst direction into Furakauui B;v, whii-h itself is a small and shelteied portion of Blueskin Bay. 3. The area of the inlet ia about 280 acre, nearly the whole of it, except one or two narrow channel?, being rirai-ed and refilled at (.'very tide. The whnlf of the large bo iy of water required to fill the inlet, atimunfcing *o 1,345,50 cubic yards at nuap tide and 2,01^,250 rubic yards at spring ; tide, therefore flows in and out. every 12 hours, ■passing •through a channel winch at ordinary low water is about 2 chains wide and 6 feet deep oa

the average, and at high water is about 5 chaiu3 wide and 12 feet deer*. There is therefore an unlimited supply f puiv sea water always available for the purposes of a fish hatchery. 4. There are two or three fishermen established i within the inlet, and a little fishing is done by : Beine nets in the channels and clo^a to the rrefa just outside the bar, and also by lines in 7 tj 10 fathoms in Blueskin Bay. But, with this slight exception, the whole area of the bay is almost , undisturbed. Your committee has not been able to ascertain i the fact experimentally, bnt they ara of opinion that there is a fi<*ueral tendency, especially during the prevalence of westerly and south-westerly winds, for a sort of eddy into bluetkia Bay, and that as a consequence the pelagic fauua tends to iccumnl.ite to a very con=in-rable extent in that some .li.it sheltered area. They have alsobien informed that after south-east wind large quantities of kelp from Pleasant river are brought into the b-iy. 5. The entrance of the outlet is easily reached by land, being distant from Purakanui station only two mile 3 going roan \ th^ inlet, and less by taking ,i c lurae across the flat at low water. The channel at the outlet reg iire3 to be cros-ied by boat except at dead low water, when it can bo forded. While the general conditions are thus founl to be suitable, there are special features which render this locality i-minenUy desirable for the purpose suggested. The western side of the entrance is formed by sandhills, and the beach on this side is therefore of clean rand. On th<s other hand the eastern side is formed by a high and somewhat rocky peninsalnr, ahping rather abruptly down to the inlet The shore i* fnrnuod of large shingle, and it would be extremely easy to ere 't aloeig this (partly above and partly below high-water mark) th« buildings necessary for a fish-hatching: station, and also to enclose by concrete and rubble walls a considerable area as spawning poudaand reserve basins. Spa-e<for a dwelling house could also be obtained either on the foreshore or on of the adjacent aectioas. One great advantage of the locality Mum mended by your committee, and which is shown in the plans appended t fciiis report, is that, owing to the narrowness <A th<- inlet at this particular point and its nor h-west to south "a^t di ectinn, itis pr*>tect» d ag*inst any sea which could arise eith-r outside or inside the entrance On all these grounds your committee has no hesitatim in re-ominendin» the site selected by thamas being wond-rfully Wrll fitted naturally for the purpose sp^ified, and capable of easy adairta'ion to .my required w*nts at a relatively small cost, both for con^tTuotio-i and inaintenanca. ■ (Signed) A. Hamilton, J. S TbnjNant, Ge-j. M. Thomson. Mr Thomson adds the following memorandum to the abova report : — In the course of their investigations the committee tried to gain "-ome definite info imt'on 1 about the natural hietory of Blit'«Uin B*y ani ; the area of inshora waters withiu a f>;w mi les of 1 Otago -Reads, and, with thi* object in view, mada inquiries among fishermen in fch'i lower harbour*' and elsewhere. Also, through the kindness of the Harbour Board, which placsd the Plunky at thair disposal, they were able to trawl a am ill i.ortioa of the ai'aa referred to The trawl used, which was lent for the occision by Mr P. J. Sullivan, was one of 3of' beam The brbt'im of Blueskin Bay, out-ide of Pu-akanui Inlet, wa- founS to be nearly cl<*au sand, with only a little w^eii here and there. The catch was most disappointing. After two hours' haul only ab .ut two rioz-m ioles, togeth r with a few very large crayfish, and about a dozen elephant fish (Oallorhynchus) were brought up The latter are quite useless as food fish-s. The crustscea, mollufca, &c. which ware brought up with the kelp and in the tangles attached to th^s trawl were pvesorv-d for future exa.aina'ioa Turn .verts, however, comp<r> iVfly few in number aii'i variety. _ Throughout the summer the fishiug, lnth by lines and seine nets, has b -en very unsatisfactory in this neishbouihoad The boats were out repeatedly with little or no result. Line fishermen in our waters content th-mselve3 with using only &bo v «t three hooks on «ach liu^, each ma<\ usin two lines, which he pulh up as soon as he feels the fish biting. The reason given for this ini'thid, of using fch? loug lines —e.rryin* som-- j times as many as a him Ired hooks— *uch I as are used by fishermen in Eur.ip an or North American waters, is stated to be tile gre*t prevaleuce -of de trucdve fish (shirks, dog-finh, skata, &c.) which are of little or no value for fo>d, and only yield a limited quantity of oil. The pr >babl«- explanation, ho.revrr. h waut pf organisation and sy.--ttm\tio procedu>e amoog the fi^heimeu themselves, and the total want of arrangenmnt for secunjag a rd*ular supply of biit No provision seemel to be m*de for the laHer, each boat SBt-ming to d»poivl upon gettin? some undermiz^d flounders or other fish fiom the seine nets with which to bait their honks There is evidently great roum for improvement in method, and the removal of all restrictions as to sizn of fi«h caught would ma{e<-iully help a mot htruggling indu-tcy At presout the fisheiixen ar hampered by legislative re.trivtinns of an irritating character, which not i>nly aci. as an impediment to them in their work, but also limit the avail iblp supp'y of tish to the public. As p tinted out in Mr Thorn <on's paper, read bef-ire thf institute on Buh Ocbubsr of last ye»r, no amount of fishing in the open seas of New Zealand — even were it a hundred tiot^s as gr«iat as it is now-ould make any apor^ciuble difference on the available supply. Wiril« the fishe^men we liable to severe penalties forwjlliiig sole* under Sin in length, no penalty caa pussibly attach to other than human dapredatois in this direction. On one ocuasion when sole* were not to be had in town at all M^ssra Hamilton and Thomson visited Mr Tunnage'b establishment and saw 18 groper brought in and opju-d, and from their stonnchs four dozen large 6oles— vory few under 9in long— ware taken. Is it too bold a , flight of imagination to suppose that the soles ea'en by proper off >Ha'o Ponin-inl.i th.it m a*ning would hive -t applied DunaJia for a tw-lvcowutti? Yft had one of the 10-.ai fi-lurmen olfered an Bin sole for »ala, or beau scan with one in his boat lie would have be3n liable to a fine of £5. As rdjsaHa recant information on marine fish hatcheries, the f illowing faoi.s are interesting :— Dr Fultou, (if fch<j c-ifch , Fishery Bwd, in his iwport for J895 givea the followin? atfttistio3 of the fry distributed from the recently opsneJ Dunbar hatchery in the Firth of Forth :— Other Plaice. Cod. Turbot. fish. Total. '04 2-3,O0O,(JO0 5(10,000 — — 26,560,000 '95 .<8,615,OOOJ2,7(50,01'0".},800,000 1,050,000 46,226,000 He remarks on the above : "No doubt, the g i- eat majority of fry distributed on the fiKhing grounds ar« destruyrd from natural cau-es, but if only a fractiou of 1 percent, survive, the je ulting benefit wou'd far exceed ths expenditure upon the work. It would require the survival of only one fish in a thousand to a marketable price ot Id to cover the expenses. Tf 1 pei ci;nt of the fr> survived, and if the price be placed at Bd the »e-mlfc-ing value of the fuheries would be aboat £18,030.' From other countries comes thesam? testimony to the valu>i of the hatcheries. In N-j wfoundlana over 2-21 000,090 fry were distribute in 189-1, while in the last iiv«j years some 64 1,090,000 have b 'en set fred. In localities such as Trinity B .j', which were formerly quite depleted, the c id are now so abundant that linhornun coma from all part 3 to fi-.h_in the neighbourhood. At the great Aivmdal station, iv Norway, the seveivj winter killed many of the b~ood fishes in th<j enflosurej, yet over 100 000,000 fry were distributed. At the two Unite 1 States stations, of Gloucester and Woods Hill, 57,000,030 cod, 3,590,'i0Q flat fish, and 6.000,000 lobsters we-c liberated. I t i- .'loir, th"n, tfcab th* r»i'-iiu f . i ,1 fi.l.e ms MMwpi s<l -j-iit-i hy. \ I !, „ „- ? . veriiue-t.l hUige, a-» I h*-, Ummii a ie-u^t ,->A Jiistli id of in ;rea;ii]g iho «u-),-)lj-, and go earl -hin^ the countries which ad .pb sanh m^thicls. If a. start were to bo made now in this neighbourhood by the prection of a lntchery, an'an^eineat-i could then be mado for the in.tr idu :Uo i of fi'iH an 1 ova from Gr^at BriUin, which woulTl probably lead in 'a fe.v yeais to the at-wkinff of our wa*e d with m"-t valuable fi-h To bring about tlm woik ' the cooperation of t!in Otigi \ c -.l-m-vtisiitioa ' Society and of the locd mo-mbjrs of both Homed of the Logif-laturc with the Council of ttte Otago ! Institute is very desirable.

Letters in order to be in lime for the lssne inooeeiing tha day o ,"}^' h!Sh !S h n *!f 03r aro wrUtc n °">« rcaohDuncainbTTUßSDAY NIGHT S MAIL.

IVlay 11.— The fishermen wera able to .got out during five days of the laat week, the weather having shown decided *igna of improvement. The takes of fish b,ave therefore been moro satisfactory, an'l some good hauls of blue cod have resulted. There are four fish companies now at work on the island, and a rise in prices ia looked far shortly. Since the Chang's In the weather for the better one hears less of "Maori prognostications an to a coming timsjof storm and tempest. We have had our sliaie of hurricanes for many months to cane. Ecclesiasticai, —The E jglish Church services are regularly held ia M. Napier's house That gentleman ie also stated to have givou a site for a new church. Mr Siuger is the lay-reader, and I ke-tr that Mr Napier has also been licensed to the same office. Mutton Biroing.— The mutton birding has proved very (successful,' and the Maoiis who pTOsecnte tlm" branch of industry have all returned'in safety, br'nging their hnrveßt with them, which in the case of eoine families is said to have reached the extraordinary total of 6MOO6 M 00 birds. They are this year exceptionally large and fat, and those of your readers who are disposed to try this luxury would find that a visit to some of your local poulterers would well repay them for Ifne trouble. Cara shonld, however be taken in the cooking. The birds shonld first be simmered ia hot water for an hour or so, and then fried or, .better still, grille i over a brisk firo. 'I hey exactry resemble in flavour the famous Yarmouth bloater.

Mat 12. — The weather here has been very wet during the last fortnight, but it now hids fair to be fine, theie being a hard fiost last nigbt.

Tub Hospital -Thoro are -no le.su th.n 15 accideut cases in the Southland Hospi al at the present time. During the past four or !five months there has been an average of about 10 patients receiving treatment in the institution for fracMired limbs. Obituary —An old identity, iv the person of Mr James O'Connor, pawed away last Wednesday week at the residence of Tiis sou, Rivorton The deceased enne out in IS3O, aud has thus be^n in the colonies for upwards of 02 years. He waa 87 yours of age, and hia wife, at the age 'Of 76, survives him. His remains were buried in the Riverron cemetery the day following his death. The Bircuwood H unds. — >m Saturday waek the hounds met at Mr J. Quinn's, Limestone Plains, ■ for the first run of the se.iuon. The weather was very boisterous, and the ground slippy, but the feuct-s were in npleadul order, the re ul' 'ming a fa<t run. everyone greyly enjoying th inoj , which is in 'iou'it the herild uf a goo'i sc-asou'a hutitiug. After the hunt was endrd, and having partaken i f the hospit lity of the m»«ter, Mf Quina, fchree cheers were given for him and Mrs Q'tinn, the huntsman, and the whip, thus endiufra very pleasant day's outing. Accidental PoiSo.vi <a —An infant daughter of Mr Simpson's, at BWkmount, del Ust week. It appe^M t.h.it some of Mr Sirapsou'w children w-ire playing at being sick, and manw.ged to pour a solution of acettta of 1-jad and opium, which was u»ei as an eye lotion, into the baby's feeding bot r le. The child soon a'ter became unconscious and died in a few hours, n twithatandiug that Mr A. It. Hare and Mr Glendinning did all they could to counteract the eff-egts of the poison.

May IS. — There is v-ry li'tl- freth to nhrouicle here of lute Winter is wifch us n >w, snow appearing on <h.3 back ranges, And the nights are keen aud frosty, but bo fir the weather has been much b-tter than in either the spring or the summer. There is still an amount of three hing to be <one, although we have had one mill constantly in tbe district, the work seeming to drag slowly Along. This is no d -not party owin-; to torching- ard chafftig beiug mire or less combined nnt,o t, tbe latter i rurferia^, greatly with the forme-, and partly, perhaps, to the fanner's desi-e to hold Ms gr -in iv hopes of a rise It is all ri»ht white in. the srack, but, when threshed most of th-m have to part witlx it owing to want of storage accommodation.

Dairying, — Our d^iry factory fi uished up the season on the 30th ult., and the new proprietorship took delivery on tv« Ist inst., and havo now the share list open. I believe (-uarea have been tak--ii up pretty freely, hut there are still some left to dispose of, and it behoves the fa- mere of thu dUtiict/e'venially those who aie likely to bs suppliers next season, to rally louud the concern and give it all the support they con. The old saying that "a poor beginning otboa i. akes a good ending " was not exemplified so far as the factory was concerned lust s ason, and 1 prefer the adaße that " Nothlug Buoc.i'edh like "lire s< " Lot all nnd sundry "do fcbeir beht i.uw, an<i if it hat a sue csfnl start with am thing of a good season thera is little donbi, but that it will bo a succefii, and will be lik«ly to keep open throughout the winter months butW-uukiug. Auusg.mkni'3.— We have had little of Into in this linn. Th i Rev. F Stubbs, who has occupied the Piedbyt».rian pulpit hem for a month pnst, Ruve a, humourous lectur-in the hall, which was well ami much appreciated.— W« have Pr-ifes-orO. K. flogo -unungst us atpio-ent He h •& givdn i-ome three or four lectures throughout the district wirh much acceptation. His visit of bo me six ye.tM ago ia still remembered, especially by the chilriran, with wlwm ha is a general favourite. Hois much thought of by afihere, and I believe he does a fair amount of business amonght us. - Our Gr>od Templars held their anniversary weeding in the h»ll a short time since, a id it was quite a success and in every wav "njoyable.— The Quadril'e A^ssmbly is stitl very much to the foro. It mee-s avtvy Friday cv mug, though originally it was only fortnightly. — The Inzaarin aid of our Sunday school comes off on FrLlay, the 19th prox. I believe contributions •ara , -purely voluntary, but I hear they are coming in freely. The children themselves are working well, m*king up stuff for it, and I have no doubt but that they will make a creditable show. ,Its : well-wishers shonld remember the date, and send in their d matious early.

May 16.— During the past week we had a real , foretaste of winter weather. There were some cold frosty nights, sloims with rain, and so forth, but no snow. On Drr.— The Lake County Pr<-ss gives circulation to a. rumour of a movement bei' s on ioob to get up a requisition to Mr Scobie Mackenzie asking th^t gentleman to contest the forthcoming election of member* to tbe House of Representatives in the intere=tj of Lalce County. I believe there iH lifctle foundstion in the rumour— not that Mr Mackenzie is in any way objeotionabls as a member — indeed, it is rather the other way; but why should Mr Mack nzie be approached when "cur piesent member is of his p litical colour. And as for a Government suppo ter, we h*ve one locally grown vtho only ■Wcints the wink end he'll be on the warpath, sothafc th-re is no need for going outside the dintrict. Cogitative. —Wonders will never cease. In my Ust letter I referred tj the Kontgen ray being brought to hear upon the Macetoivn hills in order to see what's in them. I now see from an article in a newDptiper that a very slight altera ion in the human eye wouM enable a man to see through r\erythin£. In other word*, every object xv on thocr'b n'l the earth itsrlf would lo c t <-ir u|..icih' A •■>' •■•. - i'luw -ift»r this fa 1-ion svould n-t bs li ■ - lie '6 .r where anybrd/ cl'-e ia. Ho would walk up'iu nothuig^nJ dash himself to p:oc£S by luntiinjf up axAtuat lamp pjsts or i-\ tLc Wak..tipu by stepping ovtr pte-ipicdi. he diifu't see. For all practi.xl purposes a man might as well be st>ne blind at once. Can it 1 c possible that eueh ej ea are bsginuiag to devjl'ip thenisalv. a iv New Z-n.li.nrl, vvheie we are fold the Govcrunißut hive magnificent surpluses which are tot^lly_ invisible to a large number of fiuaiiciets »nd legUlatora ? These unfortunate people lud tetter consult an oculist or invest in a microdcopo.

Signs op the Times— "Tho poor we liava always with us" is an old faying, bat whajb appears to be new about it Is that the poor ura increasing in number. Judcring by recent develop. meats we have become too poor to play cricket. One club at leaßt in this county make* mora fiequent appeals to *the pnblic than any other local i< stitution. About thxea weeks ago they had a concert, and now they are to "the lore with a balL This is coming it rather utronjr, and it calling forth remarks irom tho fen era! publia that those more directly- concerned wou.'d nob deem flattering. Bssides, peopla wtth, a little spare cash find plenty of other outlets for 1% fox w« hnvo many degervinjt casoS'af hardship wnic& claim more urgent attention than cricket

lUy 13.— The weather for the last few weeks has been very seasonable. Th.rej.hiug ia all over except in ft few eases. Th« yields have not been go good " as in former years owing to high winds. Most at tho gram ia parted away and sold. Those peopla who were lake in thrashing were rather fortunate, as prices h>.ve gone up about 4d to 5d per bushel. Tukmps —Tho turnip orop ia fairly good,' :-1 fv oi-n rh -t; h.re a f * v pad 'oelra whete they Iwv,.- tMlud. In tue early mouths they did -not seem to com* »way well on acconnt of tho very unfavonrabla weather. The late months boine waron, they seem to be bulbing better, so I thinS there will bs ample winter feed. Land foh Setu.ement.— Th'rite thouannd seven hundred acres of the nowly surveyed blo'-k of bush land on the southwestern slopes of the Hobonui Hills were opened for selection on -tha 2S)fch nit. The land is tatmed 3BO<>n' < -cla«n Innd of eandt ne formation. Prices rtmga from 12- 6d t^ 10a 6d per acre for cash, 7id per aore for «ecu. pation with right of purchase, aud tfd per acra lease in perpetuity. It appeaTa lihat it won't be settled very readily, as there have b»en no applicants as yet. The general idea is that it will be many years before it in settled, unless tha prices are substantially reduced. My own opinion is th»t «c c<nd snw) 'third aluss buKh land i« dear at a v cri"". I'.runxi;k Rku p Fu,\d.— Hokonul has ro« | Epondcd to the cull to help those nnfortunata women and clriMren who were so suddenly deprived of thair breadwinners. The mirn of £9 goes from here to ••well the Invorcnrgill fund. It w to be hoped that the money will ba wisely dls« tributed.

Mat IS— We, al^ns wiSfe ushet n&fo«r yarfcs of Southland, liweind a fair sh*r«<!f spinets. To supply tltf demand o»x>n b?eatt«noaac.*'X> Ne'sou would need to have the power of trAnsniiur.it i.m, so that in liis own body ho coula he at Jliverton aud nt the pa me Umo i« the ho'io-> of su f stitutos at OrofnW, OUutau, and Waimutuku. But our sympathetic medico, \vUh nil Uis powero, has not this one, so we Dm 4 p»tie tly and anxiously waH our turn. Even ourtcbool had to be closed for a few days becaune our schoolmaster— although a State bchool teacher ought never to be ill— was pro<<tiHtfd. But the weather h.w ing the apoearancy of mosc utishine and froat. w.th '<*ss raja an I easterly winds, we are f-ang'iine of the sveedjr restoration of good health, accompanied by tfas merry sound of mam*ge bells. . „ _ .. _ < bituary. —The reaper who3s name is IWatn, and who " With his sickle keen Re-.ips the bearded grain And the fiowera that grow between,'* 1 has taken one tender fl-iwe-, and. left a vacant chai' and heavy heirta in one home. Mary llobbie— at honifl quiet, psvfient, and hnlvful ; in the Sunday school thoughtful, attentive, and ■well-brtiaved ; in the sc 00l wh'ch Ac had jurt JeTt, em^rt, diligent, and respectful— was the flower that wss suddenly and unexpectedly plucked out of this earthly garden and transplanted to the heavenly garden tended by angela— herself an angel. , JDi-afcb u-ve time so nigh k > the:.: hefor^ .Nor showed tb-rn his mild Face. True it is fhat Death's face seem 3 stern and cold When he io sent to summon those we Jove, "But all God's i-.nge's com" to us diasmsed. Sorrow and Sickness, Poverty and Death, One afte* other lift their frowning masto, And we behold Hie senaph's face beneath, All radiant with, the glory »nd the calm Of having looked upon the front of God. "With ev»-ry ansuisn of our earthly part The spirit's sipht grows clearer ; this wm meanfc Wlien Jesus touched the blind man's liflg witk clay. ...... She lietb. cold and silent, Her heart is c Id and still ; Her eyes -are ?hnt for ever, And l % eatb fcatb. had his will. He loved and would "have token, W« loved s»nd would have kept ; We strove— aud ho was stronger. And we have ever wept. — Lowelb.

May 10. — The local Literary aud Musical Society has, I am sorry to say, suspended oporatirns for a season. Many former members have left tha district or arc leaving; vaiious others have gone off to the United States, two by two; family circumstances .pi event others from attending. Taking all these thing!) into account, the small though representative m*sting on Friday night resolved to suspend work, leaving the office, bearer* and committee in charge to revive it when opportunity may offer. Another thing that enabled the meeting tke more re»dily to agree to the step was that Mr Peattie, the president, declared hie intention "to form evenieg classes during the winter montha, promising free tuition to all membera an.l the-yonih of bothsexea in tna district, the rl •-},*• 1» he tv ie- v a week asui to bfjin mi Tu«i»J»i, £ts.h inbt. lie also promised, with the gjuiuly'it liclp, a concert, and probably a lbdnre or two. By these mewin ho hoped to L.eep_ up an inteiest in the scciety_, especially if muaic weremade-a fixed lesson, which along with English would be tho work of the Thursday evett« ings. Hrnley.— l hear that the storekeepipg business of Henley is about to change hands, Mr W. A. Milne having sold out 10 Mrs Greenwood, widow of the late Mr Greenwood, manager of the Cranley factory. For Mrs Greenwood the sympathies of the inhabitants will go forth to see her thna

attacking trade to provide for herself and .%er four young children. More power to hen, ,i»y I.

Albertowk, May 19.— The p*st few dayß have fceen very fina, bright, and auany. The begiu■Ding of the week wai fog^y, culminating in a praVerbial Scotch mist, which "wet* an Eoglishnun thcou^h." Rabbits o» R*ts, Which ?— I notice that Mr G. M. Thomson, in the Witness and Mr A. Watburton in. the Cromwell Argus give publicity to- a statement made by a settler at Terras, to the effect that- the rabbits hare developed m new trait— that of atoring potatoes for winter feod, ' and they- Mb that a ray of< light may be shed od the matter. Without the slightest hesitation I would eaythat thtse potatons were stored up by the rats, and not by the rabbits. It is not likely ihftt the l»tter would emulate the aquiirela in this matter, though in the * present caae they might help. We all know that rats, will store up provision!', even if they never make use of th-tn, | and it. is probable that in- this case the rabbite would scratch- out the potatoes, either to eat thenr or take a bite' out. of them, of parha.pi for the amns'inant. of scratching in the nice soft ground. The rate, finding a good supply of potatoes, ready to. carry away and five capacious rabbit burrows close art hand, would sA oace set to work and act up to their known instincts and habits and lay up a good sfr re. It has excited remark that the rabbits manage io eat the bark of matagouri bushes right up to the points of the •branches, and I always wondered how'" thay BUcceeded in this difficult operation. The late* severe winter, however, made this quite plain. The "weignt of the heavy snow would bend the •bushes and branches down to the ground, so that •the rabbits could reach the branches with ease from the ground. Sometimes they would climb .'up' on the bank of snow as easily as> they could > elimbiuu a rock, and' scratch- a. hole hercattd. there aud eat the bark beneatli ; at others, a branch' or 'two would" stick out of the snow, and the cab bits Could then reach them without any difficulty. . , BoT Fly —We have had sn extensive visitation ••f the bob-fl> during the pash seaa<in. It stems - tb/it it appeared at the- Forks and Hawea early in "the summer, but it was first seen in my neighbourhood, Mount ißUxker, al.out harvent — the middle of February: TBe vita were found on the long hair* under the chirr, and' also between the abort haira next the<»kin, contrary to tha descriptions gii-en in the leaflets to the farmer* which Bimply represented them as hanging bo the long hairs A liberal application of either sheep dip or castor oil oeemed to kill them at once, and as the botnvideonty one visit .tion no fur her application was required. As regards' a euro when the horse has swallowed them, it is made very evid.-ut that drastic and burning m '(Ucines. will do more harm than good, c- Utfing the hots' to bury their heads' deeper into the coa). of- the horse's stomach. It is plain, then, that the 1 beat cure is something !>lpu -nt v."d swee h — something unusual to tempt th- m to leave th/* coat of the stomach and become toreed' and pass away into the intestines. Such remedied appear to be sheep's blood, or new milk with plenty of sugar or""treacle in it. Scraped potatoeamixed with water are also put forward as a good .remedy, Au account was lately given in, the racing colu < n3 of the Witness, and Eubiequrntly in the agricultural and pastoral news columns, of how a horse in Dun««'?ib. was cured of Ws'by homoeoyathic treatment, but I have not heard of rhis-bcing tried- elsewhere I aui on the outlook to hear of a«> deu'hs among tho h..rnes prenmr-bly from the boi. Lately. Mr Roger Holiday was working a colt belonging to 'ir John; Walsh, ofrCardrona. He appeared in the best of health, eating- and drinking, and doing, only a moderate amount of work, til! ha, got "set:" Suddenly, one evening he sickened', and. died at ' daylight the next mnrninfr. Mr Halliday went to Cardrajia to apprise Mr Walsh, But on his return, tfie colt was t-'o " high " to admit of a pout iriorUm. ■ examination, wbich was a matter for muck regreK

Oalidrona.— lt will' be remembered, that Mrs. ' Knowleg'a hotel at Cardrona was burned down. The blaze was so fierce that tha slates of the bil'iard' table were broken up into small bi»-g. Mra -Knowles was'on the eve of rebuilding, uncording • to the. Licensing Act,, when Mr John Wi*l"UsrWhy, who owns the other hotsl, bought th« b\> l"i»cs that were saved from the firs, and also th« o i-luH The former he intends removing to his other hotel and tha hall' he sold tcthi* Koman Citholica for church purposes As Mr WiUoughhy is bow the onU hotrlkecper in Cardrona, aji-1 »n other hotel within 18- miles, doubtless the Licensing Bench will grant bim an accommodation liens" inftead of a hotel license, Mrs Knowlea has bought an<T entered into pos-ession, of the hotel at Maori P»int,, near, the Upper Shotover, and all her old friend's will wish her well in her new undertaking. x

Way 8 —Saturday's Warden's Court dealt with a number of applications for raining privileges in the district, and the sitting was au unusually lengthy on*. Mr Warden M'Carthy is undenftbly paiu«taking iv Ms- decision*-, and the manner in wbich he administers the law-relating to raining is po-titiva proof of the. wwdom. of appointing meml-era of the legal profession to the position of Gymnastic—The local gymasium is well patronised by the young people, and the inBtrnctor, Mr I. Beveridge, is both capable and pains' akins in imparting a knowledge or the various exercises I had the pleasure of being a: • looker on at a recent gymnastic exerc^e, and I ■was ugreetbly surprised at the lenwrkahly difficult verforina'>c*B gone through by iKe hoys, many of whom, exhibited creditable skill in performing the usual gymnastic feita. " Journalistic— The proprietors of the late Teviot Herald have taken up their abode at Alexandra, where thay intend publishing a Dews.paper henceforth. It remains to be seen if this oittrict i* able to support two weekly publications of the kind, and if it is, then we have the proof of our love of all that tends to promote education and intelligent reasoning —the two princip d factors in arranging the fate of a people or a nation. It is to be hoped that this the latest venture announced . is _our district will be- a succss, a« indeed there is every reason to believe it will be, seeing that Alexandra 1 is the busiest centre in Central Otaeo, as is the most go-ahead township on the goldfields. Tub Fbxiii -tnowers' Conference.—lfc is B»ti«^ix't^ry t" le*n that, some fruit grown • in O«tral Otaio, aud exhibited at the late conference at Wellington, was much admired for quality, and appeal ance. Canterbury was well repiesnited evidently, and the display of fruit from that province must have occasioned no little surprise to the visitors from beyond the Tasman Sea.

Mat 18.— The efforts of the local committee to raise money for the Brunner Belief Fund have been rewarded by a very faiv meed ot success. Altogether £51 net was collected from the Cromwell district. Cromwell borough contributed JJ27, Tarras, Bendigo, and Mount Pisa £15, Pembroke and Hawea the balance. The committee appointed Mr W. Fraser, M.Vc U., their delegate at the meeting to be held in Wellington, and pas»ed a motion affirming the desirability of the fun^s being handed over to the Pnblic Trustee. The lista sent from Cromwell to Nevis and to Bsuinoclchurn were sent into the county, and will appear as- a county contribution. Mosical.— Tha Cromwell Dramatic Society is aiming at high game this season, as it has determined to rehearse, stage, and produce the well- • Ttnown opera " Dorothy." This is not a bad bid for fame from a town posae-sing 631 inhabitants , (we have increased some 60 or so since lastcensus). ' The local band ia practicing diligently, and intends to be first next content. Tha Bannockburn band is also hard at it', and <♦ is evident to the uninterested outsider that the contests will wonderfully improve the pitying of the up-country , bands. A meeting of the O'ago Central Brass ,' Band Association is to be held at Alexandra on Monday, 25th in«t., to arrange for the next contest. . MINIWG. Crookston and Roy have got their dredge ' finished, bat have not yet atsrted. They have had steam up once or twice testing the machinery, .as they want everything to.be in - «i>ple-pi& order before they begia dredging in

earnest. By the time thts to In print they will moat .likely be in full swing. The timber for the Electric Company's 'new dredge it beginning to arrive, and several loads are already on the ground. The dredge is to be bailt just above the town, near Good ger and Co.'s coalpit, and noi doirbt the fashionable Sunday afternoon promenade will he throu-'b; Chinkopolis to the dreice. Wiirjn burtfc she will set to W'irk oa the rivet fatlow the Chinese quarter, oppaaite Mr StuarL'a Victocia Hotel, and she will be. worked in full sight of the town. •

One pasty of Ccomwell trtbutera" brought down ft nice- little cake of 940z on Saturday. There it some talk of tha Cromwell mine being worked, again by a resuscitated company, but we have heard that sort of talk so often that when we ses the mine taken in hand in earnest we shall believe it. It would be a food thing for this district were the mino to be worked on alarge scale. There is doubtless plenty of sold, ia the Cromwell Company 1 a property, but it will take gold to get it, and the necessary g.old has not been forthcoming- so far. Lasts Friday-wasr a busy day in court here, and when the court adjourned at 8 p m. a lob of business remained undone. A dredging claim was granted to Mr H. H >tvp r who' represents the, only local company endeavouring to exploit the Upper OLufcha ;, and the application was opposed by the Lowburn Miners' Aa^oci&tfonon the ground that none but bona fide mi>>eis should take up claims. Thig show? a m»st selfish and dog-in-the-inasgerish spirit iv the association. What the Qtago Centra' goltifidds want now is capital conjoined with brains and' muscles. Let the associa- \ fcion supply the last two it»m9 an 3 let the speculators supply the first, and porhaps the division might please the association. The Clutha and Kawarau Rivera have rolled their waters pant the doors off the association for years, und_tne association has put no dredg-i on, but it objects on public grounds to another person doing what the a-siciti-tibn or its members' can't or won't do. If none but bona fide minors are to engage in mining none nut hona fide farmers should engage in farming, a*nd where w 'Uld>the< hybrid mir.en, — half miners sud Half noclra+oo.'i -who form the Lowburn Association be ?' Th^y ;> r.s malLy aye to b»* highly commended ford.tvoiin-g,t!ieir attention, to making perm «nent homes for.thtpiselvea and faniilieo, aud providing a mode of living for themselves when the auriferous country bee >tuea worked out; and to my mind nothing' is so pltfasing as the sight of a nviner's home snrrouii.led by its orchard and clover fi'l-is with a f«w acrf 3' of crop, the lowings of cows in the yard and pigs in the- stye making rural music- round the horns. It shows that the once' rovinp .and vagabond miuer has taken rout and is no longer a more bird nf passsge —a wandering Jew with no rest for the sole, of his foot so long as rushes tempt him from -far. It shows that New Zealand is in a fair way to become possessed _of a race of vigorous and independent yporoetf, of whom any country might be ' proud. But tv endeavour to seoure a monopoly of ■ th& auriferous' wealth of-, the country is- jtrefe a little too selfish Howevev, Warden M'Oartby tojk no noticeof the objection, and giante ■ tho application , It would be a pitiablf state of affairs if all thu river bed from Cromwell to Wanaka was to be closed against the miiiiog' operations of men who, though euK«g>-d in business or profebsi.fnw, wished to risk their capital in d- edging !

Improvements —There is? a good djsal of build- . mgnoinß ou in different parts of the town. The I electric light poles are being erected in Gordon, and the new traffic bridge has made rapid sti idea during the nunt fortnight. ' Entertainments — The " Calculating Bay " , Company had fair houses on Thursday and Friday . last. The little fellow solved aIL the posers given ', to him in a marvellous manner, and took the lion's fliare of the work in "singin-j comic songs. To expect any human being to stand tho strain of such mental calculations and also sing comic , songs is really too much — On Friday next the Gore Bras« Band intend giving th* first for this season of their very enjoyable socials. Last Sunday they gave a sacred concert.in the Domain, the pleasure of which was considerably marred by some well-meaning people improving tha occasion by addressing the audience between the selections j of the band No doubt it was lawful, but certainly not expedient. I'e-iple « ent to hear the band

WiiNTKa Show - The winter &how, which it ia intended to hold next week, promises to be a great success. I understand vary' satisfactory entries have already beea received. The dog trial at Mr Coutts's farm will no doubt be a great attractian.

Brunner Relief Fund.— The amount received up to May II was £157 16s lid, which has been forwarded to the treasurer at Greymouth. A few further small rams are expected from one of the country districts.

May 19.— We have had very f ro3ty nights here lately, but the sua en men out brightly during the day, and people are able to go on with their work. This is perhaps tlie beet kind of weather wa can have for this seatou of the year.

Political.— Politics have been a little to the front here of lute. Mx Mackenzie, tha number ! for the district, addressed this section of hi* constituents about a fortnight ago. The proceedings were a little lively towards the' end, but I do not think there in anything like a general feeling against Mr Mackenzie. There is a movement on ftnt to get Mr Ward, the Colonial Treasurer, to address a meeting here before the session commences,, but it i* generally thought that he will not find tim* to do this.

C. M. I. Society — TaeCliuton Mutual Improvement Soriety is now in full swing. Ib has held three meetings. On Tuesday evening several interesting esaays were read and criticised. On Wednesday next your townsman, the Key. Rutherford Waddell is to favour the society with a lecture. Mr Waddell has the reputation of bain? a first-sl <b8 lecturer and there can be no doubt he will h*ve a large audience.

Magistrate's Court — Tuesday last was our court clay. Mr Hawkins, however, could not attend, and the business was conducted by two local J.P's. There was only one case, and it was one of those petty cases that should never hive been brought into court. It is stiange that some people will not be content to wash their dirty linen at home, but must do so in puhlic. New School.— A. new school has been started at the Kuriwao Gorge. This is about three miles fI om Clinton. lam glad to hear that the attendance is fully up to expectations. Thiß school will be a great convenience to the family men of the district.

May 18. — A concert and dance is to be held in the schnolhou-.e on Friday evening next in aid of the ech ol library fund. A good many of the items on the concert programme are by the school children themselves, so that the entertainment .is looked forward to with a considerable amount of interest by the local people. School Committee.— At the school committee election things went off quietly, only two fresh members being elected. The old chairman (Mr F. Gray) and the clerk (Mr J. C. Smith) were also re-elected to their respective positions. Coming Ball. — Invitations are out for a spinsters' ball to be Held on the evening of the 29th inst., and it is rumoured that a benedicts' ball is to follow at no distant date, so 4bat there will be no lack of social intertainment* for some time to come. Fruit-growing.— l had the pleasure of a visit about a fortnight ago to Mr R. Dawson's orchard at Conroy's Gully, where in Bpiteof all that has been written or said to the contrary bunches of luscious grapes up to 61b in weight hang from the vines in the open air. Although the past eeason has not been a very favourable one for the ripening of grapes, I had an opportunity of seeing and tasting for myself what our district is capable of in the direction of ripening that delightful fruit. No »aa vtha takes an interest in the cultura ef

fruit should, when visiting Central Otago, miss 'seeing Mr Dawson's orchard, which has b«^a pronounced by Mr Blackmore to be about tho best kept garden, vibHed by him. Although most of the hospitable proprietor's attention is given to • fruit, the lovely roses ia bloom *s, the time of my visit bare strqng evidence that that brunch of his art was not by aay means neglectd! Mr A. Irnrtvu. owns a, capital orchard ar.d 'Arm not far •'from this la-tplaco, which yieUs all kisnis of fruit of Bplsadid quality. The owners have unfortunately, however, to feed tons of wa ting fruit to pigs every season for the want of me ms of rapid transit to centres where a ready market can be found for It. There can be no question 'hat should & railway ever find its wray to the Dunstan district trees <wiU be_ planted on thousands ot acres of land which is at, present useless for aay othor purpose, and the district mentioned will ea*ily tftfce the palm as the be 3« fruit-growing district in New JS-mland. MINING. This industry ia booming in this locality. Largo are*e of new ground are being" taken up every court day. The reefs on the ranges are looking well, a.ud are being worked with a good deal of enersy by their owners, who are takinj out cruattings before the frost sets in.

May 19. — An open temperance meating under the auspices of the Go. id Templars, was held in the lodge room on Thursday la<it, when there was a good attendance, and a capital programme, CO niiating of songs, recitations, instrumental duets, addresses, *c, was gone through. The chief feature in the programme was an address by Dr de Ldtour on the " Distill it.tnn of Ateohol and Klemttu-tury Chemistry." Fire. — On Sunday eveningataboutSo'clocka hut on the Glen k«iich estate was completely destroyed by fire. How the fire originated is a mysfery. as no onr wax living in the nut at tha tirao, ana it was a long way apart from any other building. It' is supposed that it was wilfully sat fire: to. Rbturnet).— Dr H. D. Mickenrie leturned home, on Saturday last, having just completed his studies iii Amei ici. He is looking- none the wonse of his travels*. Wheru he intends tn commence gractice T have not ye£ ascertained, but I am siire is- friends wish him every success iv his View sphere whenever it may be located.

Presentation.— Mr R. Gossage, who i-s abjutto leave here to enter upon his duties as stock inapec^ar at Naveby, was enteitained by a number at his f riend* in Munynrd's Hotel on M< nday evening aud jire-<eiiteii with, a pnr.^e »f sovereigns »s a slight tribute of re-ipect f >r tbe many valuable Rervice-i rendered by him during his st-*y here. Mr Gossas;e ia leaving here car.ies with him the best wishes of all who know him. In all out-door amusements he has always taken an active part, and he will be very much missed.

" -May 18. — Very wintry weather is prnvAiling at pienent, with cold and heavy rains. This morning it is cold and frosty. Mr John Telfer, tailor, late of Cromwell,, has come to settle here, having taken* the shop next to Mr Chow Yoke, merchant. It is to be hoped that business will be good. Ha is au earnest. Christian worker, and conducts a Bible Class in tho Presbyterian Ohureh on Tuesday evenings at 730 p.m. Large attendances would, of course, greatly please him* Eleven attended the flrat raeetiiuß. — Mining ia gpiag ahead, and things l-<ok. vary promising. Accidents. —Mr J. J. Thompson met with, a nasty accident the oth<r day. While riding past Mr A. Christie's homeKtrad a dog sprang oufe barking; an i frightened his horse He was thrown and seveielv hurt, but is now recovering. — Mies P. "Fielding, when riding near the bank on Sunday evening, was thrown through ' her horse swerving and had her ankle badly sprained- She had a very narrow: escape. »

April 14.— "We liad three nights' hard frost at the beginning of the week, but tUe weather is now broken by heavy showers and a south-west wind. Threshing.— Threshing was in full swing here till the uaiu interfered with operations. The farmer* asked Mr T. Crave to come in with bis traction engine. Hia mill it* turning out splendid samples of oats, 'and the farmers aay that the wheat, if it reaches Dunedfn safely, will fcjp the > market. Ecclesiastical —We are losing our old pastor (Mr Hall) through ill-health, and the Beach residents, in showing him their respec, presented him. with a substantial purse of sovereigns.

Apoitable engine drawn by eight bullocks was one of the sights of Milton one day la-tt week.

The Bruce Herald le ims that there i* a probability of Messrs Sixton Bros , proprietors of the Waihola and Maungatua dairy factories, esta blishinga creamery at Otakia. Otara Dairy Factory (Mr J. Dumbleton, manuger) has closed down for the season. Its output was 75 tons. Th«- North Otagn Times sajs that Mr J. F. Spence has a, crop of purple top mammoth turnips weighing on an average 12lb each. They are grown on the Middle Ridg-s, Herbert, at an elevation of 700 ft, and are a splendid crop, grown without any manure of any, kind. Specimens of the rootg arc at Mr Brownlee's.

"'Wellington, May 19. The Inspector-general 1 of the New South Wales police has cabled to the police here requesting them to warn shearers against an advertisement by a certain company in Sydney appearing in a number of New Zealand newspapers inviting applications fnim- New Zealand men for work in New South Wales and Queensland sheds. The advertisement asks that references bs forwarded with the usual deposit of £1, and the Sydney officer states no such company as advertised exUts.

THB WINTER SHOW.

The committee of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society are working stronuoualy to make theic third annual show of grain, roots, cheese, &o. even a greater success than those of previous years. The committee have engaged the Girdsoa Hill, and intend utilising the whole building. Cheese, grain, and roots will be exhibited in the. main hall, and butter, bread, &o. in the band room upstairs, while the ground floor or cellar will be devoted to the display of agricultural and dairying implements. The committee find themselves again considerably hampered for room, the Garrison Hall being quite inadequate to provide space for the large number of applications that have already boon received. For the convenience of country visitors Eeason tickets that will be available for the three days will be issued. The hall will be opened to the public at 2 p.m. on the 10th June, and will remain open from 10 a m. to 10 p.m. on the two following days. Holiday excursion tickets will be provided by the Railway department in connection with the show, th* fares being 2d per mile flrat-cltss and Id |.>er aiilf necoiid-cIaSR. They will be issued add available *6 follow :—: — Stations from Ohrisfcchurch, Pukeuri (iv- . eluding branches), Invercargill, Wairuua (including branches) from June 8 to 11 ; between Oftmaru and Clinton and intermediate stations and branches from June 9to 11 ; between Palmerston, Clinton, and intermediate stations and branches, where the train service Anita, by the morning trains on June 12. AU tickets will be available for return up to June 15. A good programme has been arranged for the

week, and it ia to be hoped that the efforts «& tha society will meet with the approval they deserve, and that the farmers and general public will give it their hearty support.

The ordinary meeting- of this County O juncil was held in Counoil Chambers, • Palmerstoa, on Tueud&y, at which there wore present — the Chairman (Mr T. Muir), and Crs J. Hartstonge, j.UD., M. Isbister, D Kennedy, R. Matheson, J, J. R unsay, D. Rosy, J. Boss, and J. StowarS.

DBPUTATXONBMr R,. Steel waited on the counoH aud reprosentad that a ditch adjoining his property in the Blue Mountain riding roqufred cleaning ■ oat, ! and that owing' to the drainage not; being effective he- had euatained damage to his crop. The ditch had not been attended to sJDce the existence of the road board. The estimated cosh w&s given as £1 — Cr IaBTSTEB. moved — "That the application bo graatsd', oasb not to exceed £1." — Carried. The Mayor and Cr Kitchen waited on the council as a deputation from the Falmerstoa Borongh. Council to ascertain if the County Council' would notS contribute towards the cent of a paddock for bha use of the poundkeeper. — On motion of Or J. Ross tzhe council agreed 1 (o contribute £1 p^r annum. a s KNANeB. Accounba for the mouth amounting- to £303 18 1 3d. were passed for payment. ihsfsotor's reports. The Inspector repotted as under : Bushey Biding. — The toads iv this riding had' been repaired with m»inteu*oc<3 gravel, and rubble atones had bean . put in xt Shag/ river bridge, which with » Jifetle more- attention would bo made secure . Thfc boundary road leading to Mr Dick's property had been examined in company with the borough, foreman of work*. One block of ' cutting was required to reduce the hill near Dick's to a permanent - grade— cost about £20. Lower down, near Donaldson's hut, there was another pinch that required r«duci»g— cjst, £2 103. ' The rokd was in bid ordtc as regarded surfacing, which it w«s arranged should be attended, to at once. The distance from the Main road, j was about 30 ch*ins to gravel, and would take about 6yd* per chun— oost, Is SI par yard. — J ■ Resolved on- motion of Or J Ross — " That the council agrie to. effeofc improvement recommended at a cast not to exceed £10, provided , the Palniergton Bjrtiuah Conncii expend poundfor pound up bo this amount ' , Blue Mountain Riding. — The road* m this, riding had also been, repured with, gravel. There was a small piene of Craig's road th»t' required about 30yds of gravel, . and on M'Grady's road, pant Muir's woolsh-d, about 30 chai«iB rt quired repairs — The inspector wa» authorised to have th« work done, also to 1 repair the road pa«*» P. Arnot's land', Blu& Mon^tain riding, oa motion of the the Ghaiuman, teoonded by Or Isbistbh Danbaok Riding. — The rocky cutting in this! - riding had been attended to — Received. COBRE3PONDBSOE. ' Mr George France, Hyde, the contractor for | the C&pburn bridge, wrote aneloning letter from) ' Mewrs. Faterson and Barr,, Duaedin, stating 1 that the wire rope required*' for the bridge would 'not be ready until about- the- 24th inst., and applying for an extension of time for completing his coatraot of one month. — The request; was granted. The Seorebary Department of L«nds and Survey, Wellington,, wrote stating that the application of the council for a farther contribution of £4-00 towards th» completion of the repairs to th<? Ddnb*ck-Sv»iuburn road would bs eoiMidered ia preparing the e&timabea for the current year. — Reoaived. The Chairman of the Charitable Aid' and Hospital Boards Dunedin, wrote intimating that Mr T. S. Graham hid been appointed secretary to the boards, and that all communications connected therewith should be sent to him. — Received.

The *eor«t*ry of the N«w< Zealand Countie*' Association, Wellington, wrote pointing eufc , that, in view of action beiug taken in respect) 06 tho Lccil Government Bill brought down by the Government" ljwfc session, it would ba advisable to have as representative a gathering as possible, aod< at such data- as would ouabla the views of tha conference to ba freely circulated amongst members of the Home of R-'presentative* prior to tbe discussion of the bill' in Parliament; and' , requesting to ba supplied as soon as possible with the' name and address of the delegate appointed to represent the council. — Received, and held over for' consideration. - The Town Clerk, Palmerston, wrote informing the council that the Borough Council had agreed to contribute towards thi cost of improving boundary roads leading to Mr Dick's premises — Received. The Treasury, Wellington, wrote intimating ■ thatgaldfields revenue amounting ta £15 12* had been remitted to the credit of tbe couucil at the Bank of New Zealand, Palmerstou.— R ceived.

The Receiver of Goldftal'dt Revenue, Naseby, wrote stating that the sum of £15 had been received during the month of April as goidfields revenue payable to thfl council. — Received; Mr C. W. Anderson, rabbit factory, Dunback, applied for a slaughterhouse license. — The app'icition was grautad, tho inspector having approved of the premises. The Town Cierk P*lmersbon, forwarded a resolution passed bjr the Bocough Couucil thanking the County Council for the use of the council chambers for holding their meoliuga. R<>csived.

Mr A. D. Bell, Waihemo, wrote stating that he wat prepared to consent to the immediate deviation of the road leading to Mr D. Mutr's small grazing ma oa the following modified terms : That the road Jrnown as Annan's ba closed and conveyed to him ; that the fences shown to the inspector to be shifted as indicated, but all new matetial to be found by him, except half a ton of wire, any wire in excess to be tilto found by him, and all new material required to be delivered by him frae of cost for carriage near the *ite of the fence. — Referred to the inspector to extraine and submit an c tiniate of the cost of shifting the fence, &c.

Mr Eggerg, Macraee, wrote painting out Ye county slabs that they were lef b iv his yard for th« U4e of the miners at Horse Flat, the county prospectors, Mesard Watte, Anderson, and C 0.,. and were left there afterwards by the late Mr C. S. Hay's authority. What became of them the inspect >r would be able to iuform the council. Some of thsm were used for the county well in the Macraes to*'i-.h s -,v. *jn-i 12 had been lent to Mr A. Simp^-Mi >' i» .-opctiing at Xi f chener's on the D>ikt •' el •^u-g | a reeF, and were left "in a vt>ry «eL s,a.ii, on the reef!, and if Mr Griffon required thrift let htm draw them out. The county windlass wa* alio in his possession and had nob beea returned yet.— Received.

OTH.BE MATTERS.

The council decided to order 15 bushels of poisoned grain for the - destruction of small birds within the county. There only being one tender reoeived for contract 302— supply of 100 yds of motal, Main

road, Macraes to H^dfrocgje oonndl resolved to call for fresh, banders fur ffag tv&rfc «* next meeting. Permission was given to Burfaconaan Nicuolboq to flreofr » hougO'OQ a reserve in the Maoraei riding, to remain during, fcUo pFataura of tb( council, bat to ba allowed to remove tile saint at auy time The eltrk wii infracted to iufofta Mt 0. E, 1 Qriffi'i, \in.cf<ua, fcb'i.t it will bu Heoesaarj fin him to suU*er'i-e the application for fcha slfcaghteraouise license bafonj the council had ■ fthe power to grant it. The inspector was anlharfsed- to arrange foi the -erection of the fence in connection with tiki deviation of road through Mr Hartatonga'B land, MaorneaJ CR ttAMSAX'a STATUS. Cr Kenned? raised the question as Co tkt legality of Oi v Rimsty'd right to occupy his seat at the council table, as he hid resigned fcfec ' position, and said that each member of the counc 1 ws.B liable for the travelling expemes lie (Cr Rumsay) was reoeivin<|. He movedr- " That the solicitor's opinion be o&aiaed ia tht matbor." Cr J. Ross seconded the motion .pro forma, Cr Ramsay a»id he was qnfte prepared to qabil in hie realisation if the- oovinoil desired hfro to do ad. Cr Kennedy : You have already doaa po. Cr Ramsay said he had no wish to sit if. ll« w»a illeg*lly thsro. The question raised wms» very simple one and a very trumpery one. If the mottan woe carried he would hand in his resignation and see waaV th» ratepayers h«d to «ay m. -tha matter.. Cr Hartstonge considered that Cr R*ms«y bad as muoh right ttioro as any- oonnciilor. His - resignafion had not besn accepted. Cr Ejinnedy : Show me in the act where a resignation haa to be accepted. Cr Haktstonob said he did. not. require to do ■thab. Wnat some of the membors want«d to do was tv kick Cr Bs.msay oat of the council* bat he (Cr Hart»-fcong«) could atsurehthem.fchtt the ratepayers in fche Jtficca.6B- riding vroulei bawa some thing to say in the matter. Gt RkUiKX aaid Cr Kennady had obtained his information from a member of the. Education Board that he was sitting Uleg*Uy when travelling, with him in the train. It ueeesiftty, he could nientior. names, The CitAiHif an pointed out. that *ny mcmbei who sat at th« table illegally was liable to-a flne. Cr IsßisTKit remarked that ha understood that CD~Ranua*y was asked to withdraw his resignation, and he did so. Cr R*M3AT t Jusfe so. The Chairhajt : That is qutd right?, r but th« question' arises, Did waexoeed our powers ? After further disonsiion the motion wan carried by the catting vote of the chairman, who explained that be bad been advised that Cr Raimay was sitting illegally i that when Us handed in hi? resignation the counoil had' no power to receive or reject fir. • Cr Ramsat theu handod ia his resignation again, and explained that lawyers' opioiens on the matter differed ; that the question waa,a difficult one, and an opinion hingvd very mrnit on the way it was put. The counoil theu adjourned.

The monthly meeting of the. Ot ago Sohooi Commissioners, held on the 19th, was attended By Mfssrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), J. Walker •Baltt^ W Dallas 1 , J.. Green, and A. BaUey.

The Clerk of the Otakia Drainage Board wrote stating that the board .was a duly constituted board 1 under ''The Land 1 Drainage Act 1893," aud applied for a suhscriptlm towards the co*t of' the erection of aputsion wheel. — Consideration of the matter whs deferred' until »11 the parties concerned had tiansferrsd their interest in the pumping plant to the- Drainage Board. A memo. was-, received from the Under-secro-tary for Lands, Wellington, stating that a pro' clamation would be issued bringing certain forfeited sections in Wendonside and Wendon uiyler "The Land Acir 1892."— The Ch-atrmab stated that another letter had been sent to. the undersecretary to the effect that the above-mentioned proclamation would not meet the case of sections ' under the Land Board where the occupiers wi»h«d to change the nature of their tenure, and urging ' that the whole of the endowments dealt with under "The Land 1 Act 1882" should be- brought c under the actor 1892 —The matter wao left In tho hands of the chairman to attend to. ■ MtJ. L' M'Donahtforwardcd an. application from Mrs E W Aitkeu and Mts F. L»ws"n to leape section. 8, block XIV, Wendon.— lt was resolved that Mr M'Donard adverfci-e in thu Gore paper for tenders for a yearly* lease of the section. An application from Mr P. Flanagan for con«ent to transfer lease of section part of 65, Oreti , Hundred, to'his aon Q. P. Flanagan, wai approved pu condition that the transferee was of ace. The Secretary stated that he bad fnspeoted the reserves in the Kuriwao, Hillend, Clarendon. A.kaiore, svnd Moeraki dftstrfcte, the leases, 'if which wera expiring, and recommended that tncy be advertised for lease by aoctitm. at Dane Mn tv upsets to be approved by the ,cbairman.— Approved. Ktr M'Donald returned a, letter from Mr l f Falconer in reference to an application far rabbiting on Otama rung, and sngge-twl that Mr Jamel Gall be asked to arrange for -the destruction* oi rabbit's on the land in question.— 't was resolved that a reply be sent to the effect that the commissioners wera not prepared to consider any proposal until after the sale au the-2flth inst. > Accounts amauntiug to £42 4s id were passed for payment. It was decided to Instruct Mr M'Donald to take proceedings for tha recovery of arrears of rent from Mr J. F. Garvey in respect to Bection 11, blojk I, Wendon.

ARREST OF A DB.THCTIVB.

•Napiee, May 19.

A most extraordinary and painful sensation was created in town to-day when DeteoMve Kirby was arrested on warrant from Wellington charging him with having, on or about 1882, at Timaru, feloniously threatened to accuse one John Herman of a certain crime with a view to extort and gain money, and 'by threatening m a like manner did c»use the said John Herman to sign two ehequ«s valued at £400 and £300 respectively , The accused was brought, brfot-fl Mr Tucnbulj, S.M,, this afternoo i, •vpou, wilh"iifc offering" any evidence, Sergeaut. Djuovan applied for a remand to Wellington, whioh was granted. Kirhy appealed for bail, 'substantial pureties being ia waiting, bat the Stipendiary Magistrate said he would give him a nhort remand to Wellington, where he conld fcak* his chance of getting; bail there. It is understood that this is not a piirate prosecution but undertaken at the instance, of the Government). Herman at the data of' the '6umnoons was in business as tobacconist, nt Timaru,' but he soon after went to America., whence he returned only a few months ago. He waß, it is said, met by an old friend who had a grudge against Kirby on account of an affair in Napier, and on hearing of the circumstances his friend commuoioated with She authorities, who f after inquiries, instituted the prosecution.

A Cheviot settler is said to have been sue* cesaful in drawing a section aS Ardgowan*

LAND BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Land Board ■ was 'held on Wednesday, when there were present — Messrs J. P. Maitland (in the chaii), W. Dallas, H. Clark, J. Duuc>u», and A. M'Kenow. Table Hill. - \ memo, was received from the Survey or-g'-t.eral in legard to George Milue's application to surrender fantoral licence over section h, block IV, Table Hill di&trlct. - Surrender accepted. Pomah\ka District.— William Mitchel applied fer the light to occupy the Kducation reserve, section (JO, block X, Fomahaka district.— Yearly licme grunted at £1 per acre. Tigicr KrLL.— A letter was received from the Vinceut County Engineer requesting the board to reconsider decision in regard to application to have an area of five acres reserved upon small grazing Bun 244b, Tiger Hill diutrict.— The board decided to ask the council if a further reserve was nectssary, seeing that there was a reserve on the run within less than a mile of the area applied for. WAiPoni. — Robert Cotton requested that his tramway site license 521, Waipori district, be cancelled. —Accordingly. Maniototo. —A. 1«, Herdnian,- on behalf of Patrick Kearney, applied for 4100 acres of land in block I, Maniototo district. — Consideration deferred. Matakanui.— Consideration -was given to an application by Catherine Mellor to purchase an area of one acre held by her under residence area certificate.— Consideiation deferred pending the decision of the Supreme Court in the aotion Slattery v. Mellor. Rankleburn.— The Surveyor-general wrote in regard to William Sheath's application to surrender his temporary pastOral license over sections 2 and 3, block XI, Rankleburn district.—Surrendei accepted.,. AprucmoNS.— The following applications were approved :— T?or rural .land on lease in perpetuity : William ESurns and Peter Bone, section 20, block VIII, 1 u»peka West j for rural land on occupation with right of purchase. Thomas Robinson. Fectioo 8, block VIII, Wondlan.i district-., and W. J. Smyth, section .10, block VIII, Woodland district;to transfer sn.a'l g-azing tun, S. M. Law to Peter M. Law, Run 225 a, Gimmerburn. ; to transfer small grazing run, Richard Wihon to John Wilson, block VI, Lauder district ; to transfer perpetual lease, Annie Macuhmon to Marlon Youngson, section 21, block 11, Maerewbenua district ; to complete purchase of deferred payment sections, Patrick Downey, section 10, block XI, Waitahuna district; Bitfget Downey, section 13, block XI, Waitabuua West; to have pastoral license over Runs 346b and 316 c and sections 6 and 7, block I, Upper Wakatipu district, cancelUd, John Smith. The application of H. Birley for a license to cut bush over the whole of the liinloch Bush was declined. The application of Peter Muir for 100 acres in block XIII, Loner Hawea district, was granted. Kveburn.— John Creighton applied to rescind exchange, of deferred payment for lease in perpetuity in respect of section 12, block 11, Kyeburn district —The board decided that it could not rescind the exchange. Arrears.— The resolutions forfeiting the holdIngs of the following for arrears of rent were rescinded, arrears having b<"en paid :— James Caskel, Mary J. Jones, A. Parkhill, A. Fraser, F. Meada, and i\ Meade. Teviotj— The application of W. L. Simpson, ou behalf of Henry Williams, to purchase 12 acres at Swamp Creek on Bection 2, block VIII, Teviot district, was declined. Ardoowan Estatb.— The applications for sections by those successful in the ballot in connection ,with the Ardgowan estate were approved. The following applications for temporary licenses over reserves on Aideowan estate were also approved :— William Milla, section 7, block 11, Oamaru district, at 5s fid per annum ; William. Mills, section 137, block If, at £1 10s lOd per annum ; Ellen Gilligan, section 84, block 11, at £A 2a M per annum ; H. Cunningham, section 135, block 11, at 10b 8d per annum ; Rose Robinson,, section 114, block If, at £5 6's 4d per annum. j

At the Police Court on the 19th, before Messrs D. Harris Hastings and O. Hayne3, J.P's., a Chinaman named Ah Hoy, living in Moray place, was charged with defiling a girl 14 years of age, and therefore under the age of consent;. JUr Hanlon appeared for accused, and Chief Detective O'Connor proaecuted. "" . The Piosbcutrix stated that she was 14 years of age in January latst. She lived with her mother in George street. She had known the accused for about five week*. She went to his place four weeks »go with another girl. The accused lived in Moray place, near Irvine and Stevenson's. He did not keep a shop, but his house stood back | from the road. She went there at 5 o'clock; and accused told her to return at halfpast 6.- She and the other* girl"- did so, and remained for about an heuv. The Chinaman then gave her 2s. Witness gave a shilling to her companion. Cross-examined, the witness said her mother was a widow. Witness had a brother and sister." The former was 18 ond the latter 16. AVitness weut to school till she was over 13. She afterwaids went to work. Latterly she had been doing nothing. She spent her evenings at home. She- had only been once before in a Chinaman's hou3», and that was a house next to Tommy Hoy's. It was about 5 o'clock on the evenicgof a day five weeks ago. She wont with another girl; and r mained in the house for an hour. Two Chinamen lived in the house.

A gitl, 11 years of age, living in King street, gave-, evidence that she went to accused's house with the previous witness. She gave conoborative evidence of what took place in the house. They went to accused's house more than once about. that time. In cross-examination, witness Baid she had been in Tommy Hoy's house more than once before the night she went in with the complainant. She also had often been in the Chinaman's house next door. It was the com? plainant who proposed to go to Ah Hoy's place. Bhe told witness that she had been there before. Witness had been in Chinamen's houses in Arthur street, in Moray place, at Sawyers' Bay, and at Anderson's Bay. Other girls had gone with her to those houses. She never got money and never did anything wrong. It was the other girls who did the wrong things. ' To the Bench : Witness told her mother that she went to those Chinamen's houses, but sh« took no notice of -her. Witness did not think she believed it.

The Bench : Is this not a case that should be brought before Mr Carew with a view to h«ving the child sent to the Industrial School?

Chief Detective O'Connor : The police intend to take action.

Mr Hanlon : She would not make an acceptable inmate of an industrial school.

. Chisf Detective O'Connor : She would conupt the others. It's more a case for a reformatory such us the Magdalen Agyhuo. Dr Ogaton also gave evidence. The mother of the complainant in her evidence stated that her daughter was not ve»y Btrong ; she was a neivous girl. She did not tell witness that she went into Chinamen's houses. The ftrst Bhe heard of it was when the police came to the house and told her. Her daughter was not there, but when she came home witness did not ask her if it was true. She let her go to bed without saying a word to her. Witness was a washerwoman, and kept the house by her own exertions.

Constable Broberg also gave evidence, which concluded the case for the prosecution. Accused was then committed for trial. Bail was allowed- accused in his own recognisance in the sum of £ICO and two sureties of £50 each.

Sir,— The letter from your One-Tree corr<>spondert of May 12 ha» 4 been read by myself and others with indignation, and if your correspondent cannot furnish your readers with general and edifying news about us he had better give up the ghost. He is all blow about aobools and school teachers, and we Imagine he likes to think lie is somebody, aad that he is highly educated, for he uses words such as the humble few in Oteramika have to refei to the dictionary to find the meaning «f. We are imperfectly educated, Mr Editor, bo

he says, put for all that we don't want school inspectors' reports from such an astute person as ne is ;_ we get them from our respected and educated inspector himself, and if your correspondent was as 'earnest in attending to hib own Business and in sending you the truth concerning our affairs the Oteramika zealota would appreciate his reports As it is, w« caimot lecoive iuch condemnatory and sarcasvic writings about ourselves, who, according to his idea, have such an imperfect; education and inexperience, to pose as the representative of a community that totally ignores his worthiness, much leas his suitability, as the advocate for the redr&s of wrong*. Here he shows himself to be malignly deposed towardi one person, and the hum bio few in Oteramika have weighed him in the balance and him wanting. So, leaving him there, I give your readers the true story of the Watuna School : Some months ago it was rumoured that a school wjuld be required for the expected children who would likely be living at the new sawmills when they started at Kapuka station, some four miles away. This gave rise to gossip, and gossip had it that Miss Jamieson's school, standing at one end of the district and having a small attendance (uofc according to the assertions of your correspondent), would be shifted The board having heard of this, when the Watuna School Committee applied for a residence or the mistress they wisely decided not to grant it till they had visited the district themselves, and had seen what 'this gossip meant. Accordingly after several months had passed by a commission was appointed by the board, who visited the district, and they have now made known that the school is to stop where it is, and that a residence is to be built. No one, to my knowledge, poso-i a3 an agitator to get the school shifted to their own doors or own wings, and no one, to my knowledge, is grieved because it is not moved. Depend upon it that some of us, having lived in New Zealar>d for over 30 years, are not going to leave it to please such a busybody as your correspondent. Your reader* will now be able to judge whether the humble few or the supposed poi>er are rewarded for their senseless meddling, or whether your correspondent has not dug a pit and fallen into it himself, fiom which I trust he will come out clean. — I am, &c., Truth. Kapuka, May 18.

A strong effort is being made to retain Inspector Pratt in Nelson,

Messrs A. W. Sandford and Co.. in their report dated Adelaide, May 1, cay :— " Heavy business doing in all dairy lines. We have continued to be dependent upon New South Wales and Victoria for a portion of our requirements in butter. The latter colony bag been supplying bulk of imported lately, but prices theie having advanced, our further wants will probably be obfaiue.i from New Zealand, seveial parcels being already on way. With the improvements in crowing feed, a few weeks will, in all likelihood however, see South Australia again self-supplying. Values have ruled steady." MesTs LeCken and Davidson report having sold Mr G. B Shepherd's property, Frederick street, Roslyn, consisting of section wilh sixroomed house thereon, to-ifpurchaser at a satisfactory figure.

The Otago Farmers' Co operative Association of New Zealand (Limited) report having held a sale/ of stock, <fee. at Greytown ou Friday, 15th inst-, when there was a good attendance of buyer*, who operated freely at pi ices quoted below :— Horses : 36. were submitted for sale. Heavy di aughts realiied up to £23 103 ; unbroken, from £15 to £>9 ; young draughts, from .£l2 to £15 ; light do, £8 to £12 ; aged and hacks, from £3 to £6 s*. Cattle : 127 head were submitted, of which 122 were sold, there being keen competition for good cows and springers. Store cattle, £6 si, £5 1 2s 6d, £4 15s, £4 145, to £3 ss, according to age and condition Cowb — Springers, from £3 10s to £6 2s 6d ; heifer*, £2 10s to £3 53 ; calves and yearling*, from £1 to £2 7s 6d. Grain and sundries'at satwfactory prices. >

The number of bags of grain and produce received at the Dunedln railway station during the week was as follows :— Oate. Wheat. Bar- Puta- Pro- Total. ley. toes. duce. Wed. 2738 677 238 240 602 4495 Thura. 3413 672 25 349 308 4767 Friday 3806 944 290 304 565 59)9 Sat. ... 3846 971 152 822 708 6499 Mom. 2427 467 420 144 412 3820 Tues. 1936 637 60 123 244 3000

Wednesday, May 20. Fat Cattle.— lss bead yarded at Burnside Baleyards for this week's market, a very small proportion of this number being prime, the bulk of the yarding being made up of medium-conditioned bullocks and old s cows. With the latter, of course, sales were^difficult to effect, but prime beef was in fair demand, best bullocks fetching up to £9 155, medium to £7; light cow? and heifers,' from £4 to £2. -The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) yarded and sold 25 head as fallows :— For Messrs James Wylie, Early and Son, Pat. M'Dst>a\d, Thos. Lynn, and others, light-weight bullocks from £5 10s to £8 7s 6d, cow* from £4 10s to £6, and heifers to £4 s*.— Dojuld Reid and Co. yarded 39 and sold : For Mes.-rs Gray Bros. (Kelao), 6 heifers at £4 12s 6d to £3 2s 6d ; Mr R! Horn (Purakanui), 2 cows at £1 10s to £4 2a 6J ; Mr A. Rutherford (Kaikor*i), 5 heifers at £i 2a 6d to £3 7s 6d ; Messrs B. Craigie and Sons (ftiverbink), 6 heifers at £5 17s 6d to £4 7s 6d ; Mr William Kirk (East Tai«ri), 4 bullocks at £9 12* 6d to £G 12s 6d ; Mr Geo Fisher (Outram), I cow at £5, 1 heifer at £3 10) ; M-ssrs A. St«wa»t and others, 14 head at quotatiohs. — The New Zealand Loan and Merc »ntilb Agency Company (Limited) sold : For Mr William Kirk (Ea«t Taieri), 1 bullock at £7 12s 6d, 2 do at £6 12s 6d, 1 heifer at £5 155 ; Mr James Wyli*- (Outram), 2 bullocks at £7 10a and 2 at £6 7s 6d. -The' Farmers' Agency Company (Limited) yarded and sold as follows : For Mr H Baxter (Patearoa), 4 steers at £5 7s 6 1 to i 6 12s 6d, 8 tmfera at £4 7s 6d to £6 2s 6d ; Mr Robert Rohinson, jun.. 3 cows at £3 12s 6d, 39 bullocks to £6 17s 6d ; Mr A. M'Kay, 3 heifers at £4 ; Mr A. Campbell, £3 do £3 15s ; Mr Samuel Inder, 10 do £1— Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold 56 h;ad a-? follows: For Mr Robert Allison (Mataura), 7 prime steers at from £6 15s to £8 17» 6d ; MiEdward Menlove (Windsor Park), 7 Bteew at from £6 17s 6d to £8 ss ; Mr George Greeuwood ( Heath - cote farm), 7 prime bullocks at from £8 12s 6 1 to £9 12s 6d ; Mr James M'Bride (Tenmka.). 7 snisdl steers at from £4 17s 6d to £5 12s 6d ; Messrs Alexander Ford. John Faulds, John Hauua, J. H." Lambert, Wm. Lecfey, James Wylie, John Sidey, Wm. Townley, and others, 27 at quotation?. — Dalgety and Company (Limited) yarded 39 head aHd sold : For urJohn Bruce (Allanton), 21 bullocks at £5 17s 6d, 7 heifers to £5 12s 6d ; Mr James Wylie (Outram), 4 bullocks ht £5 17s fad; Messrs R. Craigie and Sons, 9 heifers to £5 17s fid; Mr Wm Faulds, 4 heifera at £5 15s Messrs James Thomson, J. Townloy, and others, 13 head at quotations. Fat Sheep —2627 were penned,, including 240 light-weight meririos. The bulk of the entiy was made up of ewes, a good few pens of which were very fine quality. Crossbred wethers were in good demand, best pens realising up to 16s. The market all round was about equal to last week's quotations.— The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) penned 402, and sold as follow* : For Mr J. Dove (Titri, per Otago Farmera* Co-operative Association), 43 fii-e crossbred wci hew at 149 and 33 crossbred wethers (rather lighter) at 12s 9d ; Messrs Anderson Bros. (Waiwera), 22 crossbred wethers at 11s and id old crossbred ewes at 6s ; Mr A. Bannatyne (Matan. aka), 29 aged crossbred ewes at 7s fid ; Mr Barney Fritzsr, 42 prime crossbred ewes at 11s 3d, 33 crossbred ewes at lls ; 25 crossbred ewes at 103 9d ; Mr Thomis Richards, 22 merino wethers at a satisfactory price ; Mr J Flanagan, 33 halfbred ewes and 25 lambs at a satisfactory prif c.— Donald Reid and Co. yarded 46(5, and sold : For Mr J. Milne (.Kelso), 55 prime crossbred wethers at 14s to 13s ; Messrs Q. and J. Cumming (Arthurton), 28 crossbred ewes At lla 8d ; Mr J,

F. Brown (WaiholaX 33 crossbred wethers aird ewes at 10s 6i j Mr A. Kitchehor (The Grange), 44 crossbred wethers at 10s 3d to 8> 9d, 30 Southdown wethers and ewes at 9s to 8a ; Messrs A. and J. Boyd (North -IVieri), 124 crossbred wethera at 14s to 9s ; Mr D. J. Heenan (Owaka), 69 oros>bred wethers and ewes at 10a to 83 9d ; Mr D. Reid (Salisbury), 78 crossbred ewes at 10s 6 I to 10s 3d ; Air W. Lobb (Otakia), 4 crossbred ewes at 7s.— The New Zkala«d Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. (Limited) sold: 1 For Mr Godfrey Foster (Mil burn), 1 pan crossbred ewes at lla ; Mr A. Koir (Charlton), 35 crossbred ewes at lls 3d, and 16 do at 9s 9d.— The Faumers' Agency Company (Limited) penned 759, and sold aa follows : For Mr Johu Ross (Waitshuna), 62 crossbied wethers to 13s 9d;,Mr John Carrick (Otautau), 121 do ewes to IU 3d •, Mr Johu M*yor (Inrhkeith), 60 do at 8s 9d to 10j (id ; Mes»rs John Smith and Sons, 242 do at 7s 6d to 9s 6d, 37 merino wetheis at 9i 3d; Mr Watson Sheunan (Conical Hills), 60 crotabred ewes at Sa 3d to 10a 6d ; Mr D. A. Drinnan (Milburn), 32 do at 7s 9d ; Mr R. Cupples, 6 wethers at 12s 93, 30 crosjbred ewea at ll» 3d ; Messrs Murray and M'Ritchie, 60 do at 9s 6d to 10s 6d •, Mr Barney Fritzer, <9 do at 10d 9d. Wright, Stephenson, and Co sold H3B as foll^wa : For Messrs Muir Bros. (Fortross), 35 ' exlv> prime crossbred wethers, heavy weights, at J6s (Messrs T. Smith and Co South n-tusdin, purchasers)^ 36 crossbrtd do at 15s 9d anil 29 do at 15c, also 57 crossbreds at from 8* to 9j 6 1 ; Mr A. MrDiarmid (Inchclutha) 40 extra prime crosubred ewes at 13i, and 20 smaller do at lOi 9d ; the NZ. and Australian Land Conip*ny (Clydevale), 109 prime do at from lfls 3d to 12- 3d ; Mes3is Murray, Robeits, and (Jo (Gladbrook station), 122 crossbred ewes at from 9s 3d to 10s 9d ; Messrs Diekaon Bros. (Belmont).'3s do at 11b 3d ; the N.Z Agricultural Company (W.aimea), 110 do at from 9s to 10s 6d ; Mr Kobert Log«n Maritanga), 135 h»lfbred wethers at up to 10s 9d ; Mr F F Neill (Tumai), 130 do and maiden ewes at quotations ; Messrs Muir Broß. (Waihemo Mains, Palmevston). 60 crossbred ewes at from 9s 9d to 10s 6d ; Mr Arch. Farquharson (Kpkbank), 105 prime do at from 10s 3d to 10a 9d ; Mrs A Semple(Waitati), 44 crossbreds at from 6s to 9s 3d ; Mr James Black, 60 do ewes at 9s 6d.— Dabsety and Co. (Limited) yarded 131 ami sold : Fo'Mr James S. Spratt (Lithgow), 64 piime crossbred ewes at Us to 9a 3d ; Mr A. D. Bell (Shag Vall»y sUtion), 70 prims halfbred maiden ewes at 9i 6d. Lambs.- 258 penned, only a few of which were really prime, and these brought a fair average price, but all of the entry was sold, prices being on a pay with la»t week's market.— Donald Reid and Co yaid d 97, and sold : For Mensrs G. and J dimming (Artburton), 31 at 10s 3d : Mr W. Peterson (Fairbank), 20 at 8s 9d ; Mr D. Reid (Salisbury), 39 at 9< ; Mr W. Lobb (Otakia), 4at 9s\3d —The New Zem,and Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) sold : For Mr Godfrey Foster (Milburn), 30 at 8) 9d : Mr John Smith (Green Park), 36 at 7s 6d — WrigU r, Stephenson, and Co. sold 98 (small) for Messrs Dic<cson Bros. (Rtlmont), at from 7s 9d to 8s Pigs.— ls2 of all descriptions penned Uompstition was not animated, and prices were low accordingly Suckers fetched from 3» to 6?, slips from 7s- to lls, stores 13s to 15s, porkers 19s to 24k 6d, light baconers 25i to 29s 6,1, heavy baconers 31s to 375, extra heavy to 40a.— The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) penned and sold 51 nice quality light- weight baconern for a northern client up to £1 83 — Donald Re d and Co. yarded 16 and sold : For Mr i Hollands (Allanton), 4at 25s to 20a 6d ; Mr J H. Allan (Holme*), 2 at 37s ; Mr W. C. Todd (Islington), 10 at 7s 6d to 4s 6d.— The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) sold : For Mr T. Sproul (Highcliff), 1 pen suckers at 6s 6d.— Wright, Stephenson, and Co sold 83 at quotations.— Dalgety and Co. •(Limited) sold 1 pen at quotations. Store Cattle.— A very fair demand exis^ for all sorts mOre especially for grown steers in forward condition for finishing off on turnips. . Store Bbeep.— A very good demand exists for good crossbred wethers and lambs, but for aged crossbred and merino sheep the price is not very satisfactory, though a good number are changing owners. — Thr Farmers' Agency Company (Limited) report having sold by auction and privately during the past week aa follows :—620: — 620 crossbred ewea (»ged) at 5s 6d, 200 wethers at 9s 6d, 150 lambs at 7s 6d 251 crossbred ewea at 7s 2d» 115 cros'bro'i wetherK atss lid, 75 croa bred ewes at Bs, 166 crosibred wethers at 8s 4d, 168 crossbred ewes (ased) at 4* 2d, 170 joung ewes (small) at 8s 3d, 243 Umbs at 6a 6d, 206 wethers at 93, 700 crossbred lambs at Bs. Country Salrs —The New Zealand. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) report having held their foitnightly auction sale at Milton on Tue 'lay, 19th inst , when th»re was a very fair attei.dance, comprised chiefly of farmers, who competed sphit«dly for aheep fit for finishing off on the turnip, such fetching very fair prices, good cros*br#d lamb? also had a moderately fair demand, but the entry was not extra extensive.— The Farmers' Agency Company of New Zealand (Limitkd) report having held a clearing sale of live and dead at .ck (on behalf of ths executors of the late Mr O. Gerkinn), at the Lander, on Friday la«t. There was an immense attendance, including visitors from Wakatipu, Hnwea, West Coast, and other outlying dis'ricts. The sale went off well, everything bsina; sold at satisfactory prices. Draught horses brought up io £20, cattle to £5 7s 6d, shtep to 8s 8<), lambs 6« 6d, implements, Ac, at full value.

Wool.— There is no i uprovement to note in the Homo market. Good quality keeps firm, but inferior seems to have a downward tendency. In the local market business is cowfiiied to odd lnts, which are always well competed for. Sheep-kins.— The weekly sales are well attended, and competition is fairly brisk. Best green crossbred bring 2i lOd to 3s ; extra heavy, 33 3d to 3a 4d ; medium 2s 3d t 2s 8d ; best lambdciuo, 2s lOd to 3s 4d ; be 4. dry cros«breds, 4s to 5s 6d ; medium, 2s 6d to 3s 6i ; inferior, Is 5.1 to 2s 3d ; best dry merinos, 2s 3d to 3s 9d ; medium, la 2d to 2s 2d ; dry pelts, 2s to 1». Rabbitskins. — The market is still scantily supplied, but the buyers compete freely for all sorts. Early winters, Bjd to lOJd ; medium, 5Jd to 7§d ; suckers, Id to2JJ ; late autumn black, lOJd to 11 Jd per lb. > Hides.— Market remains the same, prices for best beiug 2d to 2£d ; extra heavy, 3d ; light, IJd to 1-Jd ; inferior, Id to IJU perlb. Fat and Tallow, — Market very dull. Best rendered mutton, 16s 6d to 17sv6d ; medium to good, 14s 6d to l«s 6d ; inferio. to 1 medium. 10s 6d to 13? 6d ; best mutton caul, lln to lls 6d ; medium to good, lOnto 10s 6d ; inferior to medium, Ss 6d to 9s 6d p«r cwt (ex store. Grain.— Wheat : The market improved fully IJd per bus»hel for velvet and other sorts Id par bushel since last week. Quotations : Fine velvet, 3s 8d to 3s 9J'l ; medium, 3s 7d to 3a 8d ; Tuscan 3s 6d to 3s 74d ; medium, 3i 4d to 3s 5d ; fowl feed, 3s to 3d 3ti p«r bushel (sacks in.) Outs : The demand for these has steadily increased, and prices hitve riseu in consequence fully Id per bu»hel during the week. Quotations . Long Tartars, 2s 2d to 2s 5J ; Sutherlarids 2s to 2s 3d ; sparrowbills (best feel), Is 10} dto Is lid ; medium to good, Is OJd to Is lOJd per bushel (sacks extra). Barley : Market still very dull, and sales are hard to effect, except iv prime malting which is worth 3s to 3s 9d ; medium, to good, 2s 6d to 3s ; feed and milling sorts, 2s to 2s 5d per bushel (sacks extra). Grass Seeds. — Ryegrass meets with little or no demand and quotations remain the same ss last week, viz. :— Best dre3»ed, 3< 3d to 3a 6d ; extra, 3s 9d to 4s (ex store, sacks extra). Cock*foot brings a readier sale— best dressed is wotth 4d to 4Jd ; medium, 2Jd to 3£d per lb. Potatoes.— The market shows an upward tendency, prime Derwents (aorthirn) fetching £2 12i 6d to £2 17s 6d; medium, £2 7b 6d to £2 10s (sacks in).

Hiaff —Although market is fairly well supplied prices show an improvement. Best oaten sheaf, £2 15* to £3 ; m^ium, £i 10^ to £2 12s 6d (sacks extra).

[The individual reports of Wool, Ra)>bitskin, or Grain Btoktrt can be inserted in the Daily Time* and Otago Witness at special Hates.]

Messrs William E. Bevnolds and Co., Bond street, report for the week ending 20th May as follow^ :—

Wheat.— This maiket has firmed somewhat, and to-day higher prices aie being p*id than for some weeks past. We predict a firm tone must

continue in this grain throughout the yew, We quote : Prime velvet, 3a 04 ( 'Pg«oan, }fe M j fid sorts, 3s 6d to 3s 7d j and fowl feed, & )Hih 3s 2jl (usual terms). Onto : A further c4yM(f'S [wik place towards the end of Uut v/^ek, qn4 #a ?/f#t< &B 2s Id was paid for p>lin« H\it\wUn>h ("i\ti>, prime, for seel, 2» 2d) ; rind Is iJiji fttf reed ; good sound food, 1h IOJd to |g }\A j (wlU>Hfy t 1b 9J to Is 9id. To-d»y de»7miid hsuuh U* h*yn slackened somevrhut owing to tbo Sffi!4ii HWWIit of freight offering, and we advlflo fmiii^is »i//t to push sales meantime, but to cloai 1 Unas judieiwilsiy, If this is done we see no reu»on why lil«(» \>r\tm should uot continue to rule throughout tliw your, Barley is very dull, and (low of giUfl, and lino* *r« hard to place, even at a reduction on Into (lUotntions. We quote : Prime f/ako«, 3n o>i j ollior dibtricts up to 3j 3d ; medium, 2h Oil to '22 [ < 10<l. Seeds are not moving at all. i'otutuoH arc llrinir and inclined to advance, and we look for higher prices. Prime Derwe»tß aro worth £'l 17(* fld : good, £2 10a to £2 15s. Chaff has advunoed. ana is in good demand at quotations. Prices of this are likely to go higher. Prime oaten ehoaf up to £Z. Good, £2 12) 6d to £2- 17s Bd. SKINS Sheepskins are very scarce and in good demand, and 41l 'flVrhg meet with ready aala. Rabbitskin« ar<s comi'ig in more freely, and aro also in good denial, (l. We hold regular ealea of these, and intend pushing this business this season, and our clients can rest assured their consignments will have every attention. Our new store (attached to offices) is very suitably adapted for this class of business. The large store will be used entirely for wool and grain. Note Addies*. Opposite new Agricultural Hall.

Messrs Moritzson and Hopkin, Dunedin, report (wholesale) as follows for week ending May 20, 1896. All quotations subject to market fluctuations :— Busim ss during the week has been very good. Oats continue brisk, and we can hardly supi-ly demand, and can place all coming forward. We have also inquiry for Danish and lung Tartarians for seed purposes. We would also ask farmers whon sending samples always to put a piica on them, aa buyers do not feel inclined to make off c is. Wheat is getting firmer and rising in the north, which is reacting here now by good demand. We quote best velvet 3s 7«l to 3s 8d ; best Tuscans, 3i 6d to 3* 7d ; red chaff, 3s 4d to 3s 5d ; fowls' wheat, 2s lOd to 3s. Oats : Prime milling, up to 2s 2Jd; bright^short feed, Is 1(M tola lid ; ordinary feed, la 9d. Barley : Feed aorts are quoted 2a 2d to 2s 4d ; malting, from 3s 6d to 4s. Rye corn, 2s 3d to 2s 9d. Flour: We quote £9 10s. Oatmeal in 25's, £11. Pearl barley, £12 103. Bran, £3 10s. Pollard, £4 10s. Nelson hop 3: ' New season's on the market, and are quoted at 9£d to lOd. We just landed 20 bales from _Nelso~n. Potatoes : Derwents, ' si» to 57s 6d ; extra prime, £3. Chaff : Prime quality, weli-cut oaten sheaf, B2< 6d to 55s ; extra good, £3. Itj egrass : Farmers' lbts, 2s to 2s lOd ; machined, 3a 3d to 4s. Cocksfoot, 3d to 3Jd for .'Mb teed. We have a big demand, and did large business during the week. Linteud : New crop not to hand yet. Pressed straw, 32s 6d. Clover hay, £3. We receive rabbitskins, hides, sheepskins, and tallow, and return highest market values. Hides wanted, at 2Jtl to 3i per lb for good quality." We have sold this week a large quantity of hides and skins at satisfactory price?, and have a good demand to supply for orders. We hold weekly sales. -

Cornsacks, seedsacks, wool packs, and seaming twine at market rates.

Crown sheep dip, in sgal drums, 63 6d per gallon ; in larger quantities, 5s per gallon. Rabbitskins.— We have to report having held our weekly sale on Monday, when we submitted a fair 'catalogue. Eany winters are coming in fr-ely now, and the competition for all lots is keen. We would strongly advise our clients to thoroughly dry their skins before sending in for * sale, so as to ensure getting top price for them. We quote : Best springs, 7d to 9Jd ; fullgiovvn summers, 53d to 63; autumns, 7d to 9|d ; winters, lOJd ; silver greys and fawns, up to lOd.

Sheepskins.— There were very few skins in the market this week. We have no alteration to quote in prices. We quote fullwoolled mci iuo, 4id to 5Jd per lb ; ' halfwoolled merino, 3|d to 4Jd ; piime full wpollei cio>Bbred, 5Jd to 6id; half- woolled crossbred, 4d to sd ; green lamb skins, best, 2s 9d to 3s ; medium, 1* 91 to 2« b'd ; short and pelts, 2fd to 4d. Butcher skins : Full-woolled, 3s 6d to 63 ; short and pelts, 7d to Is 6d.

Hovelmir, loto Js 2Ji< We hava much pleasure again this .year to thi w our premises open for fanners to inspect out seed-cleaning plant in full working order during the winter show. FRUIT AND PRODUCE REPORT. Butter : Salt— Good quality is taleable at 8d per lb. Wo have good inquiry for prime quality. Cheese : Good Akaroa, 3Jd. Figs : 3d for good quality. Beeswax wait ted, Is to Is Id per lb. Ppultry received for sale any days but Saturdays.

May 21, 1896. Eggs (slow sale). Is 6d. Buttbr, 7Jd to 81.8 1. P«,s 12010t01601b,3d. Poultry. D^maud fairly good, especially for ducks The following prices were'rea)i-.ed at laat week's sale :— Young cocks, 2s fid to 3a 3d ; hena and old cocks, 2s Id to 2a 6d ; cockerel" , Is 7d to Is 9d. Ducks, 53. No geete or turkeys to hand. Fruit.— Arrivals during the week heavier than usual, owing to shipments of Island fruit oming to hand. The market is f till bare of apples and better sorts of pears. Prices realised last week are as follow* :— Banana", lid per lb ; oransts, 33 to 4s 6il ; tomtit, 'es, 4s 9d ; apples (dessert), 8n 3d ; cookers, 6s 9d ; ' pears (inferior), 4s Bd to 5s 6d ; onions, 7s ver cwt. Business continues brisk. The cold weather having set in there is a good demand for woollen goods. We have just opened up a special line of blankets, which will be found worthy of inspection ; intending purchasers should see them at once. O.ur iv<ssm*king department has turned out a yre'at I>.><ui to our customer?, who have taken full advantage of the liberwl ternis offered. We have a large stock of furniture, .ill new, and of tUe latest designs. We invite inspection. Our couuiry customers can have prices of any article forwarded on application

Messrs Thomas Paterson and Co., fruit and produce agents, Manse street, report for the week ending Maj 20 :—

Fruit.— There is no change in the market this week. Supplies are very bare, and high prices are obtained for xny choice apples and pears that come forward. Apples : Local cooking, 6- 6d to 7s od ; des«ert, 8s 6d to 10s; Taamani»D, 12* (few only forward, heavy duty practically stopping importation of these. Our New Zealand growers are now shaking hnuds with themselves). Or.nges : DE. Tahiti, 6i to 6s 6d ; Mand, 4s toss Cd. Lemons : Italian, 30s. Ban*nai : Green, 2d; ripe, 2id. Cocoanuts, 11s pur sack. Peanuts, 3R Tomatoes, 5d to 6J. Grapes : Beit, Is ; iuferior, 8d to lOd. Dates, figs, Bucelona nuts &c. in stock. Produce.— Frtsh eggs very scar»e. Butter has expi-rienced a sh»rp rise this week, and prime fre3h is wanted. Salt butter has demand at 8d to 9d. Cheese: Factory, 4id to 4Jd Ak»roa,3idto4jd ; farmers', 3d to 4d. Bacon : Roll, sid.to 5Jd ; sides, 6d. Hams, 6Jd to 7d. '.Honey (white granulated) wanted at 4d ; inferior, 3£d. JJ;e3vrax, Is Id Potatoes: Derwents, £2 10, to £2 17s 6d ; northern kidney seed wanted. Oni->n<i, £8 103 to £9. Poultry in good demand.

Messrs Remshardt and Co. report as follows :—

Supplies are still considerably below requirements, anii price* have consequently again hardened this week, reaching to llfd for early winters in the open market. Privat-ly we have paid more than that for some extra choice mountain skins, but as these are as yet scarce we refrain from quoting such selected parcels for fear of mis-

leading our clients, who are accustomed to depend upon our quotations as being th« prices we ftctuftl'y pay /or the respective qualities.

Mrt sra Kdward Thomas and Co., woof, sheep* «Hr>, rabbHukin, hide, tallow, and hair nwr'jbjtntfl, Bond street, report us follows :— V/n i*ro glfcd to report that we are in receipt of tftmh order* by cable, and are now in a position to rffttil v/lth ft by quantity at increased prices, which we eti»r»nt«e to be the best in tht colony. Early v/iuwn *ro now beginning to arrive, and we have i\%t ?hf 9 in cl ** r P elt «d lot « in good condition »fc \m to lzjd pw lb net. Autumns and summers are wanted by u» at priced fully up to last week to <**» advance for fcood, well aave.i parc-ls. JUbMtflr* ,hmild bear in mind that akina K\r>MM<\ ta.ll on the wire aro wt.nh Id to Id pet lb more than those stretched with tail between tlio w1r«», ami as many still stand in' their own light by adoption the latter practice we take this opportunity of pointing out the mistake. Gr«a* caie Hhould alxo ba taken not to stretch the skin* beyond fhe natural size. Horn-hair is wanted at 13J.1 to 14Jd, be«sw»x In. hidea 2-1 to 3J'l p»r lb, free of all cUr#w. We post account s*les and proceeds the same day an the t'oodn rtach us without any clur«e to the Heller except carringo.

CimrsTCfiUßCii, May 20. There were moderate entriea at Addington today and business all through was fairly brisk. The entries for the day cornprissd 12,102 sheep, 3fi3 cattle, and 609 pigs.

I'ftt Cattle.— KO head of ruixid quality were yardod. • BiddiDg was more free than of late, but no alteration in last week's prices can be quoted.' Dairy Cattle.— Best cows, j£7 to j29 : medium kinds £1103- to £6 10s; inferior and aged, £2 to

Store Cattle.— There was a fair yarding, but nearly all the business was done privately, , s Fat Sheep —There was a large yarding, and all really good butchers' sheep sold at up to last week's quotations, but freezers were if anything slightly easier. Second-rate ewe mutton was not sought after. Prime heavy weight crossbred wethers, 15s 6d to 17s ; prime freezing wetkeis, 14s to 15s ; medium do and piime mixed sexep, 12s 9d to 14* 6d ; maid n ewes, 13s, and up to 16j for extra good ; heavy we'ght ewes, 11s to 14s 6d ; medium trade ewe>, 8s 6^ to 103 9d ; merino wethers, 6°) to 8s 6d : ew-s, 515 1 - S>d to 9*. ■ Fat Lambs.— A small siii-p'y csuised a slight improvement in the better dosses, which brought 9a tid to 1 2s 2d ; others, Us to 83 9d. Store Sheep.— The. entry showed a slight improvement in quality, and turnip sheep were in htroog demand. Croasbred wethers and maiden ewes brought up to 11s 8d ; crossbred breeding ewes, 5s 6d to 84 7d ; good forward lambs, 7s to 83 3d ; others, from 5s to 6a 6d ; merino wethere, 5s 6d to 6s ; merino ewes in lamb, 3s Id. Pigs —The yarding was of good quality. Baconers and porkeis averaged 3d per Ib.

Freas Association— By Telegraph— Copyright. Sydney, May 20. Wheat : Chink, 3s 3d to 3a 6d ; milling, nominal. Flour : .Roller brand", £10 5< to £10 10a ; New Zealand, £9 ss. Oafs: and firm; good fecdi"tr, 2-» 3d; bo panic itvuilable. Maize t Prime, 2s Id. Barley: Hipe, 2s 9-1 to 2s lid. Pollard, 9id. Bran, 9id. Peas : Prussian blue, 3s 9d to 4h. Potatoes : Circular Heads, £3 to £3 6s; New Zealand,. £2 10s. Onions: Plentiful, dull; Victorian, £8 to £6 ss; New Zealand (prime), £tf ls3 to £7. Butter : Factory, lid to la ; dairy, lOd to lid. Cheese : New Zealand, 6d ta 6}d. Bacon, sid to Bd. Melbohrms. May 20. WVat (quiet), 5s Id to 5s 3}d Flour : Boiler, £12 103 O^ts (slightly weaker) : Algerian, 2a lOd to 3» 3id ; stout white, 3s Id to :■»» 2Jd ; Tartarian, 3s Id. Maize, 3s 4id to 3s* 6Jd. Burley : Cape, 2s 3Jd. Bran, Is o}d. Pollard, Is 3d. Adelaide, May 20. Wheat, 4s id. Flour : Roller brands, £10 si. Oats : Algerian, 3s Od to 4« ; stout white, 3s Bd. Bailey : Cape, feeding, 2s 6^ to 3a ;.seed, 3s 6d to ;- B 9d. Bran, IOJd. Pollard Is.

Mcsvs James Samson and Co. report having sold by auction at their rooms sectio*s numbered 61 nud 63 respectively, c»r-tsumng 30 acres, with buildings theroi n, nituated at Pine Hill, known as the late Mr George Findhy'a property, to Mr W. Wood, for £760. Messrs W. Philp and Co., of Gore, report th#sale of the Criterion Hotel, Mai" street, Gore, the property of Mrs Watson, to Mr J*me- KnigWt, the present licensee, at a kat'afac^ory pric They also report having Bold the business, lea>e, stock, &a. of the same house on account of Mr Knight to Mr Laurenson, lately of Ou train.