Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1129, 21 March 1885, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

- > ;.- /•-.!_: ufti, : "• GIBHANY has subsidised la line of steamers to Australia, and Samoa and Tonga are included .in the ports of call, -

Ths Minister of Mines has arrived in Dune* din, and in the course of a few days will com-mence-his tour of the Otago goldfields. It is stated that Mr'Larnach will be accompanied by Mr Pyke. Thh Waitahuoa West dummyism inquiry was ' resumed before the Land Board on Wednesday. Some important evidence was elicited from Gladstone Robinson, formerly a .cadet at .Greenfield ; but as three witnesses— ■M'lntosb, Ball, and Reid— who are wanted to give evidence cannot be found, the inquiry was adjourned until the 31st inst.

'Financial affairs in Egypt, which have been in a somewhat involved state for some time, : are on the fair way to be placed on a more favorable footing; A European-Conven-tion for' the settlement of Egyptian ■ finances has been- formed by the delegates of the Powers concerned.-so that there is a chance, at least, of some sort of settlement being,arrived at. THB " Illustrated New Zealand News " still keeps up its presentable appearance, , The current: number has some excellent views of New Zealand. On the title page there is one of St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, wbich is a faithful representation of that handsome building. Several scenes of the Cootamuadra railway accident are shown, and there are two nice pictures of Auckland city — one showing the Albert Park, and' the other Mechanics Bay. near the railway station.

Ths Baldwins opened their Dunedin cam* paign in the Lyceum .on Tuesday evening, and were favored with a full house. After performing s the usual cabinet tricks, Professor Baldwin astonished the audience by his wonder* ful thought-reading. Mrs Baldwin answered the usual round of questions, stating again that an elderly bachelor would marry in January a widow with six.children. There is no get. away from the thought-reading of Professor Bald win j but the marvellouft mental feats of Airs Baldwin are easily-enough to be accounted for.

ODE Roxburgh correspondent writes :— A fire broke out in the stable at Teviot Station about 12.30/ a.m. on Friday, 13lh inst., destroying the principal part of the stable and three horses. The groom was the first to discover the fire, being awakened by the horses making a noise. All hands about the premises were immediately called .out, of their beds, and there being plenty of water at hand, the fire was prevented from spreading to the adjoining premises. Two of the horses were burned to death, and the other had 'to be shot. The fire is supposed to have been caused by some grass igniting which had lain, in the loose-box for a considerable time.

THB latest in reference to the spiritualists is to the effect that Mr G. Dimiani challenges Mr Labouchere in the Bum' of £1000 (to be given to a charity), and undertakes " to prove that the forms of those we call dead do return among us, temporarily clothed in flesh and decked in beautiful garments ; that they shake hands and. familiarly convene with- an assembled company, uuder certain conditions, and that, moreover, they sit for and- have their photographs taken." The challenge is addressed to " one and all of the 7,000.000 of Agnostics in. this country who look upon Mr Lab'ouchVre' as a mentor and an oracle." It may be added ttiat owing to Mr Labouchere having made it an essential part of his challenge that the test should be submitted to a jury of conjurers, Mr Damiani has declined to have anything'furttier 'fo-iay^ or do in th 9 matter.

MONDAY next, being the anniversary of the Province of Otago, the railway authorities have decided to lay on .a special -train to Lawrence, The last special train walso well patronised that it was considered advisable to make Lawrence the terminus for the excursion on this occasion, and 1 should the weather be favorable a large number of visitors may be expected on Monday. General complaints were made on the occasion of the previous excursion at the exorbitant prices charged for refreshments} therefore, it is to be hoped that better arrangements will be made for attending to the creature comforts of the visitors. An excursion train from Clinton and intermediate stations, including the Outram branch line,' .was put on yesterday, to give country , people an opportunity of see* Ing the ShawT gaville, and Albion Comipany's splendid new steamer Tainui •at Port Chalmers. Lawrence has been left but, as we are !promised a special excursion train to the Port, when most convenient for the majority. As soon as the bustle of harvest is over, Mr Thompson will arrango the matter with tht Traffic Mjawr.

The Assessment d>urt for the Bnrouah of Roxburgh was held before J. S. Hickson, Esq., Judge, on Wednesday last. There were no objections lodged to the valuation-list; which was certified to as correct.

Captain Edwin has grown weary of running . New Zealand weather, and has turned his attention to something more tangible. Imbued with the warlike spirit of his fellowrpoloriisiß, he advocates the starting of a patriotic' fund to help the sister Colony in sending troops to the' Soudan, and leads the way himself by making a donation for that purpose. Perhaps, for a respectable consideration, Captain Edwin might be induced to lead a New Zealand contingent to the Soudan. He could still hold his grip. of the weather, and from the sunny skies of Egypt he might send us a better article. -- The " Mat&ura Ensign " says :— We regret to learn that in consequence of some scandalous remarks made or reported as having been made respecting a local lady, there was a hostile meeting at the back of the Gore Town Hall last Saturday afternoon between two well-known residents. Happily, however, for the preservation of the peace, when it came to the point of fighting, neither of the intending combatants cared to strike the first blow, and thus neither the threatened horsewhipping nor the imminent head-punching had come off at the time of our latest advices.

While it would be criminal to rejoice at the adverse circumstances of a sister Colony, yet the fact remains that the loss of stock by drought in Australia has left" the market open for New Zealand meat. The Minister of Mines,-speak-iug at Hay, in New South Wales, recently, said that owing to the terrible drought last season the numher of »heeo io that Colony this year was only 31,517,984, showipg a decrease of 5,816 465. Altogether the loss of stock in the one year, including loss in weight and quantity of clip, reached £4,242.791. which has prejudicially affected the whole Colony. Partt Government gives rise to many different phases -of political expression, but a recent development in South Australia quite eclipses all preceding moves of , the party in opposition to the Government of the day. Mr J. M'Laren waited on the Government, and presented a petition adopted at a recent openair meeting praying his Excellency to convene Parliament in order that the present Government; tnißbfc be turned oat and another substituted more able to deal with the unemployed difficulty. His Excellency promised his consideration. The petition has excited more amusement than serious attention.

THE loading and discharging of the Union Company's steamer at Dunedin wharf marks a new era in the history of the city, and speaks well for the work done by the Otago Harbor Board. The " big ditch," so often mentioned in sarcastic speech, has been so far deepened that large steamers like the Rotomahana can now come right up to Dunedio. The Port Chalmers railway will now have a formidable rivalry to contend against; and if all the Union Company's fleet load and discharge at Dunedin, the effect will' be felt at the Port. However, as water-carriage is cheaper than railage, the merchants of Dunedin are to be congratulated on the success of their harbor scheme.

AN important discovery of a silver lode has been made at Brisbane. The " Leader " says : — The Mines Department received a telegram from Warden Archibald at Ravenswood to the effect that the Great Extended Ravenswood Silver, mine had struck a lode at 600 feet, in which they have sunk fully two feet without cutting through. Silver veins intersect the formation in every direction, the veins varying in thickness from the 16th of an inch to l£in. One assay gives 53 percent of lead and 106 >z of silver ; and another gives 35 per cent of lead and 140oz of silver. The discovery is valuable as showing the continuance of the lodes of the district to a great depth.

A Society, under the loud-sounding title of the "National Patriotic Party of New Zealand," has been organized in Christchurch. The ostentatious purpose of the Society is to effect the political education of the industrial classes, and to foster a " truly national, patriotic, and selfreliant spirit in New Zealand." It is evidently intended to keep, the Society select, as no " immoral or licentious" person, drunkard or debauchee," is lo be allowed within its ranks ; neither is anyone holding any Imperial title or anyone whose position is subject to Government influence, nor a member of any " banking, monopolising, or importing concern.' 1 The originators of the Society mean to be nothing if they are not thorough.

The Taieri "Advocate" is not at one with the detractors of Burns. It says :— A Taieri ■minister in the course of a sermon referred to the movement in Dunedin for erecting a statue to Robert Burns, and expressed his surprise that people should devote their money to perpetuating the memory of a drunken rhymster. Lord Byron was of opinion that Barns, as a poet, was the " very first of his art," and we imagine Byrou should be considered an authority on the subject. Lord Rosebery, when unveiling a statue of Robert Burns in London, said that he was the greatest Scotsman that ever lived. He may not have been the first of his art, nor the greatest Scotsman that ever lived, but he wrote the Cotter's Saturday Night, and that is sufficient for us. Tha ?' drunken rhymster" will be spoken, of with affection for ages after his .detractors have been forgotten and have mouldered into dust. It seems strange to us that any person of intelligence could apply such a harsh epithet to poor Robby— but, as the bard dang, " Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn."

A CERTAIN Dr Stark prepared elaborate statistics to prove that the death-rate among bachelors was very much higher than that ruling among the more favored benedicts ; and so general was the credence given to his deductions, that Herbert Spencer thought it necessary to expose their fallacy. Another ingenious mortal has proved, by statistics also, that the cholera attacks bachelors more readily than married men. A report has been published on the recent cholera epidemic in Paris, from which it appears that the deaths of unmarried men were 836, against only 402 married men. From the a<->e of 25 to 50 years, the rates were 422 against 170, and between the ages of 50 and 75 years the relations were 232 to 414. The most notable differences were in the ages of 40 to 45 years and 50 to 55 years, when the deaths showed 40 to 150 and 37 to 167. Thus it would appear that the position of the bachelor is becoming critical, aud the sooner he takes serious thought of correcting the error of his way the better. The dull monotony of the bachelor's life leads to enervation of his tissues; while the married man has all his functions in full training under the continuous stimulus of midnight waitings and curtain lectures. Hence it is that the bachelor falls a ready victim to any disease that happens to be sailing round in quest of prey. Young men, take warning ; for the dangers are greatest when the fortieth birthday still finds the bachelor unrepentant.

A MEETING of the newly-constituted Domain Board was held in the Lawrence Courthouse on Weduesday afternoon. The members present were— Messrs Revell (chair), Brown, Miller, Thompson, Docherty, and Harrop. The Chairman read the circular calling the meeting, and stated that the first duty of the Board was to appoint a permanent Chairman. Mr Revell declined to accept the office, and proposed Mr J. C. Brown; Mr Thompson seconded the motion, which waa carried unanimously. Mr Brown then took the chair. The appointment of a Secretary and Treasurer was the next consideration. It was decided that one person should act in both capacities, and, on the motion of Mr Docherty, seconded by Mr Revell, Mr Harrop was appointed to apt, as Secretary and Treasurer to the Board. The Chairman pro. mised to get a copy of the Domains Act for each of the members. He read a portion of the Act referring to the constitution and 'duties of Domain Boards. The case of Messrs Lawrence and TTergusaon, who are.at present occupying a part of the reserve, was considered, and it was I agreed to allow 'them' to 'continue in occupation [, on "easy terms. It was resolved to lease 'sections 35 and 15, town of Lawrence, and sections 30 (20 acres) and 20 (46 acres) for a term of seven years; the leases to be sold by auction, which will be duly advertised. The Secretary was instructed to write to several Boards for oopieß of bye-laws. Messrs Brown and Revell were appointed a sub-Committee to prepare a draft of bye-laws to be submitted at next meeting. Jt was decided to hold the regular meetings of the Board in the Courthouse on the second Friday of each month, at two p.m., the next meeting to be held in May. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Corporation re dosing part of two streets crossing the Domain. A letter Was received from the <aoler asking for a movable- shelter-shed for the use of the prisoners employed upon the reserve. The application was approved. Several small accounts were passed for payment. The Bank of New Zealand was appointed the Board's bank, ana the Chairman and Treasurer were authorised to sign cheques, Ibis was all the busmen, '

Mr C. VailLE'B proposal to oarry passenger at rates equal to so much per ton reminds us of the good old days when the only available means of transit was by waggon or bullock* dray.'* Some of the carriers charged their passengers according to their weight, and the Story is told of a Queenstown resident whose better-half turned the scales at sixteen stone protesting against the rather expensive luxury of transplanting his spouse to the wilds of Otago. If Mr Yaille's idea is ever carried nut by the Government, some ready means of weighiug ths passengers will have to be provided at the several railway stations ; for it would be manifestly unfair to charge a seven-stone man the same fare as one standing at eighteen stone in his" stockinged feet. -" ' The following is the result of the play in the second drawing for the President and VicePresident's presentation bowls in connection with the Lawrence Bowling Clnb :— TJren (211 beat Tnrobnll (9); Robertson (21), Chalmers (19); Harrop (21), M'Lean (17); Abel (21), Dodds (7); Allnutt(2l), Smaill (12); Jefferyl Taylor (bye) ; M'Coy (21), Sutherland (8); Tanton (21), Barren (5) ; Capes (21), Fraer [A). Iv the third drawing Allnutt plays Harrop ; Robertson, Capes ; Abel, Tauton ; M'Coy, TJren ; '' Jeffery, M 'Donald. A challenge has been received and accepted from the Rnslyo Club. The match will be played on the Law* rence green on Monday. Messrs Smaill, Woods, and M' Donald have been chosen skips for the match.

The question of holidays came before the Education Board on Thursday last. The inspectors complained that they often fonnd tha schools closed when they visited them, and the Board resolved to instruct the Committees and teachers in future to send the Board a week's notice when it is iutended to have holidays. We wonder what department of the School Committees' functions the Board will usurp next ? The already limited duties of the Com* mittees are becoming so curtailed that soon they will have nothing left to do but sit with their arms folded till instructions come from Dunedio. ,If the winds nnroof a school or an earthquake turns it on end, the teachers must go on keeping school for a week after the notice has been sent.

An obstreperous Chinaman from Tuapeka Flat gave the police some trouble to arrest him on (Tuesday. The Chinaman (Low Sam) baa been for some time a source of annoyance to his neighbors, and complaints were made to the police of his strange conduct. It appears that he. chased a daughter of Mr Michael O'Donnell's wiih a shovel, and that when her father went to Low Sum to remonstrate with him the latter attacked him with a tomahawk. Constable Daubney went to Tuapeka Fiat on Tuesday to inquire into the matter, when Low Sum used abusive and obscene language, and on the policeman alighting from his horse to arrest him, the Chinaman at once attacked him, and had it not been for O'Donnell'a help he would have had considerable difficulty in haodcuffinsf his man. Low Sum was brought before Mr Revell on Wednesday, and sentenced to Bix months' imprisonment for his riotous conduct. But this was not enough to settle him ; for on Thursday morning he made an attack upon the gaoler, who bad to call in assistance. Low Sum was brought up the same day before Messrs Brown aud Harrop, J.P.s, and sentenced to an extra month's imprisonment for an aggravated assault, uuder the Police Offences Act.

The spirit of invention which characterises the United States seems to be taking root in New Zealand, as every issue of the " Gazette" contains numerous applications for patents. In a recent issue the following patents were applied for :— Economising material in the construction of tins or cans for containing preserved meats, jams, &c., and other articles of food, and also for saving space in packing the said tins or cans for transit, by Thomas Edward Merritt, of Wellington, artist; improvements in Baddies, to be called "Thomson's Patent Pilch Saddles," by James Thomson, of Wellington, saddler; non-flexible eccentric piano-wire-spoked . racing bicycle wheel, by Robert Henry Martin, of' Dunedin, pianoforte -tuner; improvements in chaffcutters, by William Andrews and Arthur Ward Beaven, engineers, of Christchurch ; automatic feed-gear standard puncher, by George Dalgeißh, of Oamaru, timber merchant ; improve* merits in wheels for drays, carts, and other vehicles, by James Keir, of Asbburton, black* smith ; telephone companion, to be attached to the telephone for the purpose of conveniently writing down messages received or to be transmitted through the ' telephone, and called "Welch's Patent Telephone Companion," by Herbert Llewelyn Welch, of Christchurch.

Tee adjourned meeting of the Tuapeka Milling Co. for the purpose of receiving tenders for the e-eotion of a kiln and milling machinery was held on Thursday evening, and was attended by Messrs Browne (chair), Bulfin, Heron, M'lntosb, and Thompson (Treasurer). Three tenders were reoeived, and that of Messrs Johnstone and Wilson (£1222) , being the lowest, was accepted. The Treasurer and Manager were empowered to appoint a competent person to inspect the erection of the mill buildings, a tender for which was accepted by the Directors a few days ago.

A iittlh boy named Long, whose parents reside ah Tuapeka Flat, came near receiving serious injury by having his leg entangled in a dray-wheel yesterday. As the dray was passing along Ross Place in front i Mr Morrison's shop, the lad attempted to jump up, when he slipped and one of his leg* passed between the body of the dray and the wheel. His foot passed between the spokes, and as the wheel turned round his leg would have been torn off if the horse had not beea promptly stopped. As it was, his leg was badly bruised. The dangerous practice, too common among boys, of attempting to jump into vehicles in motion shoulu be put down by drivers, as serious accidents are liable to occur.

At the regular meeting of the Education Board on Thursday, the following business of local interest was transneted : -The Fi >anc« Committee recommended the enlargement of the teacher's residence at Beaumont, and (he erection- of a combined school and residence at Waitabuna West. Mr A. W. Tindall was appointed bead • teacher at -Evans Flat, and Mr Philip Bremner head* teacher at Tuipeka Fiat. In reply to applies* tions from the Co>< mitiees, the names of Heriot and Swift Creek schools were changed to Dunrobin and Heriot, respectively. The teacher at Waitahuca Gully wrote protesting against the election of the School Committee ; but the Board having already decided the matter, the letter was minuted as " received."

Me D. H. Mbbvtn's Blackboy, carrying 7&t 21b and beating a field of three others, won the Autumn Handicap (of 60sovs) at the Oamaru Jockey Club's race-meeting on Wednesday. Blackboy was shut out of the principal event at Oamaru through an us* fortunate mistake by the Telegraph Department. It seems (says " Beacon," the sporting writer or the ".Witness") that Mr Mervya's trainer a little while before the meeting handed to the telegraph office a message tohU employer to this effect : " Blackboy very fit." The message when delivered to Mr Mervyn was as follows : " Blackboy very sick." Much to the trainer's astonishment he quickly received a telegram from Mr Mervyn, instructing him not to acoept with the horse, and both were much disgusted when they dis* covered the error that, had been'riiade, t ; _, r j

The Nihilists in Russia are still active, though the Russian Press is almost silent on the matter. The Gear is said to be- growing quite grey,, and to bear on his face the wrinkles of premature old age, induced by worry and anxiety. The secret Press of the revolutionary party still continues to issue' its threatening manifestoes; and the: internal political situation of the Russian Empire it undermined by dangerous intrigue. The revolutionary movement pervades every rank of society, inoluding the highest officials and the presumed personal friends of the Czar. This dangerous state of Russian society, is said to be the chief reason whj war with England is risked by the Russian Government. It is considered that unless the attention of the discontent* is diverted by the tremendous issues which would be at stake in such a war, that revolution is inevitable. If the Nihilistic movement is as serious as it is supposed to be, then the position of Russia is not to bo envied.

jrrTST^Mla^er^clifhstiltatioii TffiCKrist-. "church Autumn Handicap rapidly filling. Barly application necessaryl-^^ZrftJi.] Thb first quarterly Government inspection nf jheJWwUuuna Rifles takes place on TuesJj^lft^ at« ij pjn?j »t which a full muster is requested^ Therb Were eleven patients in the Hospital list evening) v»nd of these nine were males »nd two females. Three pttients wen. ad> mitted during the, week and a like number discharged. - ; <^HKJEA«3H-MATCm between tides chosen* on the ground from members of the Lawrence ; Cricket Club will be played on Monday afternoon on the looal recreation ground, play commencing" at two o'clock. Mrs Suk announces that the has made •>rran|ementt to provide meals in the Town Htll^on Monday for the convenience of the excursionist! { and the prioe is such as no one can complain of. Mrs Silk deserves ere lit for Her enterprise, and we have no doubt but that her efforts to minister to the creature comfort of the visitors will be fully appreciated., „ Thb last.-hat not yet been heard of the election petition asking for an inquiry into the validity of cortain.votet in conntystido with the election, lor Teviot Biding, The matter hai been 1 placed. in Mr Haggitt's <lgaq<li| and a mandamus will- shortly be ap for front {fie Supreme 1 Court to compel the Magistrate to enter into a scrutiny of the votet challenged. At the last meeting 9f the Land Board, Mr John Thompson! (on hihalf of John Brown), ■sktd that the upset prices of sections 165, . 16«, 167, andl6B. bloqk I. 1 , W*it*huna.West, "be' fixed »t ao.'per' acre,' and offered at neit ; Crown lands sale »t . 'L«wre6ce. i -The •pplication wat declined, but the Board tteeidtd'thafc t|| land jr^ujdJbe offered at the previous upset prioe of £3 if desired; -~\ ■ ' ■_ Taß Surgeon's residence in connection wjfch the Tu*pekt> Hospital it now completed, outhouiiea Jind ill. The grounds are beginning, to look very tidy under the new management, and the interior of ! the Hospital bears evidence of contiderable improvement. The wardtmtißi.lhas/been\ >usy. paipting . and whitewashing till the wards and rooms look, bright tnd newf The Hospital, and its surroundings are now creditable to the Committee* of Management,, „_ ._[, s ; ,v, v .j, j■Wl have to look further back than yesterd»y, it »ppe*rs,,for the : origin, of the nice little embroglio with Russia which looms op ominously in the distance. As far back ■t November last, the G.O.M. demanded of Russia, to withdraw h«r troops from Afghan territory; the Russians refused, and then, we suppose, Gladstone sat smoking in hit easy chair, as "Punch" pictures him, and tang " Wait till the clouds roll by." Instead of that, however, J,h«, clouds are gathering thicker tnd darker as the days speed on. A MONSTBE meeting of natives was held at Parihaka on Tuesday ; but, as several Europeans were present, Te Whiti refrained from giving t>n address. Having had a good taste of Pakeha power, he is unwilling to place himself within reach of the law again ; consequently the meeting resolved itself into a great feasting establishment, and the waiters were dressed in livery. , As the Maoris still make use of the primitive " aids to eating," which were fashionable in the household of mother Eve, the liveried waiters would appear odd by contrast. Th* " Rangiora Standard" has discovered e> " mare's nest." It' says : — " A gentleman from the country went to one of the Napier churches a few Sundays ago, and seeing no usher to escort him to a seat chose one for himself ia • vacant pew. Very soon after the Christian teatholder came in, eyed the visitor MTBgely, and, probably paralysed by his audacity, handed him a prayer-book, upon the fly-leaf of which was written in pencil, ' This is my pew.' The stranger read the message, and tmiling a beautiful smile handed the book back with the following remarks inscribed underneath, 'Very nice pew; how much do yon pay; for it per annum ?' " When we were Id New York the witticism was fathered upon *n Ohio man who had sauntered into one of the fashionable churches of the gay metropolis, only that the reply was qualified with an adjective not generally found in dictionaries. Thb Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of all England, has an annual income of £15,000 in addition to Lambeth Place, his London or city residenoe. The Archbishop of York, the Primate of England, receives £10,000 a year, betides two residences and a large Household of officials. The tithes of iom« of the other bishops are : London, £10,000; Durham, £7000; Winchester, £7100 ; : Ely, £5500; and Bath, Lincoln, Oxford, Salisbury, and Worchester, £5000 -each. Ihe Bishop of Sodor and Man, who has neither cathedral nor dean, gets £2000 a year for doing nothing.— And jet these men are supposed to be the lineal descendants of the fisher disciples who were ordered by their Matter to carry neither purse nor scrip. Priests in ancient times worshipped the hosts of hmted and' the' Hom£nß ' worshipped the o*fle, but our modern priesthood fixes its •yei upon the almighty dollar. The iingling of coin touches a deeper chord* than the song of the angelt ; and the worship of Mammon take* precedence to that of Jehovah; ' Whik the market for grain it so dull, and with no immediate prospect of any material rite, it would be to the interest of landholders W particular »nd the Colony in general to contldeVthe advantages of growing other products than grain. New Zealand possesses within her borders inch a variety of climate •that all the productt of both temperate and tub'tropical countries oan be grown. Mr Federli stated, in his Dunedin address, that ia the extreme north of the Colony be had picked and eaten banana*, and in the tame garden there were growing oranges, lemons, fin, limes, citrons, grapes, apples, and pears. In the North Island he considered they would yet be able to grow their own tea, and the whole Island was suited for olive culture. The Inspector of the New Zealand Tobacco Co., who hat been inspecting the growing crops in Hawkes Bay, declares that it is a teconl Connecticut in toil and -climate, and that ie never taw- purer leaf or larger crops in tb States. ; Why send out of the Coloiy for ihete products, wben everything is to favoftble to their growth ? With the South devoUl to grain and gracing, and the North to tUJ-tropical productt, New Zealand might tupprt a ittrge and prosperous population. ; SS JULIAS Vpftßli addressed his constituent at Christchurch on Monday evening. The speech traversed pretty much the same Mffgromd as formerly trenched upon, by Sir r ~"*Julnt, though one or two important new fetVee have been introduced. A very able defince of the present Government is given, | and a tolerably clear outline of the policy - the) are tryiug to carry out. In reply to a auction, he said that he had been elected on proaipiog to support a national system of ledcbtion, and had he changed hit views \ theeon he would have told hit electors to, and Mfcet them whether they ttill wished him t$ irepraent them. Still lie thought it wat a taueifon whether it might not be desirable in vtaefiture to consider if there was any danger of a Ace of children growing up without any belief h religion. Differences between sects prffrmM religious teaching in the State •cfctolt ifc pretent, but it would be a bad thing if ptople of do religion crept in between (he .quarrtlt of the sects, and children grew np. believng in no religion. If the future ipopulatioi of New Zealand wat to be like itwmld b« a very unhappy population. «ft>%ould tt better for Ihe European population of th« Colony to become extinct aud give placi agaji; to the Maoris than for it to grow up' beUeviif in no God and no religion. — (Loud api^upe.) Those who had the in4erettaof Hifioa at heart, no-matter what tktircretd, tbould not let dwpntei between

pthemsßlves: interfere" witK tl^'e^lfflßßßHEE! [ If children were taught religion at horde, that was the best plan ; bul if that were not done it might be necessary to reconsider ths subject in the future. Sir Julius also stated that he was in favor of giving compensation to publicans who might be deprived of thejr I licenses by the local option vote, and that he* was in favor of extending the franchise to* women. Referring to the queition of local, government^ he said that he was working out the financial details of the iclwme, while Mn Stout was considering th«i bringing of the diitricti into homogeneous, relatiotfi-v. f