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Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 20, 20 November 1878, Page 3

A Literary Maori.—A native, resident in the vicinity of Gisborne, states an exchange, intends writing a pamphlet in the English language on how, in his opinion, tlie native lands of this island should be dealt with. The writer will also attempt to shadow forth how a Native Lands Act should be framed that would be best suited to the interests of both races. To t!le best of our recollection this is the first literary venture of the kind in our New Zealand colonial history. Flattering to tiie Volunteers. —The Dunedin Star says:—“The lion. Colonel Whitmore does not seem to view with alarm the prospect of a visit of a Russian cruiser to our shores. At the volunteer dinner on Saturday night, when speaking of the bravery of our volunteers, lie asked whether they meant to tell him that if a Russian gunboat were to drop its anchor in the Bay that night, he could not, l»y sending round a bugler, have every one of the Russians on board of her safely lock-d up in gaol by the morning. This brief I ut truly warlike speech of the lion, gentleman was received with loud applause. A Proposed Female M.P.— A section of the Southwark Liberals have decided to nr!; Mis? lid n T-.vlor to contest that hoiougli at the next Parliamentary election. The originators state that if elected Miss Taylor can follow the example of Mr Salmons, when elected for Greenwich before the disabilities of the Jews were removed. She can make frequent attempts to take her seat and though she would doubtless be as often removed 1 y the Sergeant-at-Arms, it would enable her to make a strong protest against tinexclusion of women from Parliament. Tiie* Late Session. The Wanganui Herald says :—Now that the worthv representatives of the people have returned i to their homes to enjoy the rest denied thorn in Wellington, it may be as well to glance back at the session and see the result of their labors. They met on 64 days lor an average of seven hours per ‘lay, 380 hours being spent before midnight and 70 after that hour; 113 Acts passed through both Houses represent the labors of the session. Most of these are those known as “ Private Bills'.” Drying Timber. —A building in which timber is to be dried in the American fashion is being erected for Messrs Guthrie and Larnacli’s Company in Dunedin. The building is a continuation of their present premises, and will he 60 feet by 75 feet, and have a height of 20 feet. The timber will be dried by currents of hot air, and the heat will lie generated by utilising for the purpose the exhaust steam of the engine. 70,000 cubic feet i*f timber will be able to undergo tin* process at one time; and working the stock by rotation, 10,000 feet day will be turned out. The timber will be stacked on cars, and while at the first stage the air will be comparatively cool, the seventh temperature will he about 130 degrees. No handling of the timber will be required, each car simply being moved forward every day. Mr Minto, who is superintending the erection of the interior arrangement!’, is agent for the patent rights, and Mr E. M. Roach is architect for the building. Dunedin II erald

A Jolly Tar —At the recent meeting of the British Association in Dublin, after Dr. Skae had read a paper on the best route to the Pole, and Dr. Moss on North Sea polar ice, the assembled philosophers were astonished by a performance as unusual as unexpected. The London Times says : —“Captain Dyer, R.N., turned the thoughts-of the section into a less frigid current by his early recollections of Greenwich Hospital, in which he was born, concluding with a stave of a song, which he sang in the tones of a true British sailor, to the wonder and amusement of all present.”

We (New Zealander) do not profess to be acquainted with the mysteries of professional etiquette, or the rules .which guide medical men in attending or refusing to attend urgent cases. In the case of the attempted suicide, Sarali Ann Jacobs, heard yesterday in the R. M. Court, Wellington, the husband stated in his evidence that finding his wife had taken poison he hastened for a doctor. He says :—“ I first went to Dr. Tripe, but he told me it would be useless for him to come, as he hail no stomach pump ! I then went to Dr. Harding, but he refused to come, as he had been up all night; he, however, referred me to Dr. Kesteven.” If Dr. Kesteven had only pleaded some excuse, Sarah Ann Jacobs would have given the undertaker instead of the R.M. a job.