LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2590, 29 October 1867, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Court or Appeal. — The further hearing of the case of Cameron and Cameron has boon postponed till Thursday, in order to allow the case to be amended. The case now being argued before the Court is that ef Kebbelland Jaeka and Black. All tho business will probably bo concluded by tho end of the week.

JumciAL Changes. — Changes have been made in the judicial districts of the colony. The middlo district has now been divided into tho " Wellington" and "Nelson" districts; tho former comprising tho provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay ; the hitter, tho provinces of Nelson and Marlborough, excepting that part of the former province, comprised within the Westlund District. The Wellington District has been assigned to Mr Justice Johnston, and Circuit Courts will bo held within it at the same times and places as hitherto. The Nolson District is placed under the jurisdiction of Mr Justice Richmond, who will hold Circuit Courts in the town of Nelson on tho Ist March, Ist July, and the 16th November. His Honor will also hold Circuit Courts for the Westland District at Hokitika on the 10th May, 10th Septomber, and the 10th January, or as soon after these days aa is con*

voniont

Waste Land Boaud.— -A meeting of the Waste Land .Board will be held at the Crown Lands Oflice, nt one o'clock to-day.

Mr Balk)UK.— Mr Balfour, Marino Engineer, left for Canterbury by the s.B. Airedale on Saturday lust.

Solicitor G-eneraii. — The Hon. J. Hyde Harris has been gazetted Solioitor-&onoral of the colony.

No, i Company "WELtiNGTotf Eiple VoitfNTEEES.—^A meeting of the members of this corps was held at Barrett's Hotel yesterday evening. Mr Gillon was elected chairman pro tern. The first business transacted was the swearing in of a number of new members, making the total strength of the company over 50 men. The' Secretary pro tern, then announced that, in accordance with a resolution passed last meeting, the Committee had made a formal offer of the command of the corps to Capt. Mcßarnett, who had acceptod it. On the motion of Mr Kenny, Capt Mcßarnett was then elected captain, and amidst loud applause, took the chair, which had been vacated for the purpose by Mr Gillon. Captain Mcßarnett having, in a few appropriate words, returned thanks for the honor which had been conferred upon him, the meeting proceeded to elect Mr F. A. Stevens to fill the office of Secretary and Treasurer. The pro tern, committee was also elected to sorve permanently. A code of rules which had been drawn up by the committee was considered and adopted. Amongst other things the rules provide that admission to the corps shall be gained by election ; that the admission fee for enrolled members shall bo 2s 6d, and the annual subscription 125.. Some discussion took place upon the question of uniform, Mr Stevens informing the meeting that the Government would, in a few days, issue regulations making it compulsory upon volunteers to wear a certain kind of uniform. This announcement seemed to arouse a good deal of dissatisfaction. Mr Stevens further stated that the Committee had made enquirie 8

and found that the regulation uniform could be purchased for the amount of the capitation grunt } j £2, 10s. It was finally resolved to refer the matter to the Committee, for further consideration. Resolutions relative to drill were passed, and it was decided that during the first xnonfch of the corps' existence, there shall be five drill parades a week — three compulsory and two voluntary. After passing a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting broke up. On Monday evening next, the first annual general meeting of members will be held at Barrett's Hotel.

Vetkkan Company. — The intending members of the Veteran Volunteer Company met at the Commercial Hotel yesterday evening, when the report of the Clothing Committee was brought up aud adopted. It recommended the acceptance of the regulation uniform. Mr H. C. H. Hastings was elected Secretary. The meeting, upon breaking up, adjourned till Friday evening at 8 o'clock) when tho election ef officers, adoption of rules' &c, will take place.

New Volunteer Uniform. — Fresh volunteer regulations will shortly be isaued from the Defence office. In accordance with these, the regulation uniform for Volunteers will be — Cavalry : Scarlet serge Garibaldi jacket, or jumper, patterns to be decided by the several militia officers j Bedford cord pants and Napoleon boots, or blue cloth trousers with two stripes of silver or white cloth with white space between ; J blue k cloth forage cap, without peak, red cloth band with silver lace. Artillery : Blue Garibaldi or jumper, with scarlet braid ; blue cloth trousers, with silver or white cloth stripe ; forage cap of blue cloth with a peak and a band of silver lace or white cloth. Rifle Volunteers : Scarlet serge Garibaldi jacket, or jumper, the same as the cavalry, with any colored braid ; blue trousers with red stripe quarter of an inch in width ; blue cloth forage cap, with French peak, and encircled with a colored band one and three quarter inches wide, bearing the initial number of the corps. .Naval Volunteers : Same uniform as Her Majesty's navy, with the substitution of silver for gold lace. The adoption of this uniform will be compulsory upon all volunteer corps.

Curious Result of the Prince's Visit. — One consequence of the approaching visit of Prince Alfred has been that all the red cloth ,in this and the neighboring colonies has been bought up by different volunteer companies, anxious to appear in the national color, nnd our embryo volunteer companies will have to content themselves with a less valuable material for thoir

jackets.

Inspector of Customs. — Mr Seed, Inspector of Customs, sailed for Melbourne by the Omeo yesterday. Ho will visit both Victoria and New South Wales with the object of making inquiries into the working of the distillation laws in those colonies.

Customs' Duties. — Tho amount of Customs duties collected at Wellington, for the quarters ending respectively 30th September, 1866, and 30th September, 1867, was as follows :— 1866 quarter, £18,433 5a lid ; 1867 quarter, £16,129 10d 3d. This shows a decrease of £2,303 los Bd. The comparative shipping returns for .September quarters, 1866 and 18G7, give the following results:—For the 1866 quarter, there arrived at Wellington 162 ships, representing 40,500 tons : and departed from Wellington, 147 ships, representing 34,507 tons. For the 1867 quarter, the arrivals were 143 ships, representing 37,3lo tons; and the departures 139 ships, representing 36,611 tons.

Postmasters. — Seventy persons have just been gazetted postmasters in the various provinces of the colony. Four appointments have been made in the province, viz. :

— F. Dnighton, to bo postmastor at Tutaenui, from Ist June, 1867 ; Samuel Moles, to be postmaster at Grey town, from Ist July, 1867 ; Thomas Wilton to be postmaster at Taratahi Plains, from September, 1867; Stophon Bellvo, to be postmaster at Turakina, from Ist August, 1867.

The Whabf Dispute. — Yesterday morning in the Court of Appeal, Mr Borlase drew the Judges' attention to the fact that the taxingmaster, in the caso of Kennard and Feathorston, had only allowed one day's "refresher" to the counsel for that party in whose favor the decision of the Court had been given, while the caso had extended over three days, and asked their Honors' opinion on tho matter. The Court dooided that tho taxing-master had acted rightly.

Amusement. — Mr W. H. Foley left by the Eangitoto on Thursday for Melbourne, whither he has gone for thp purpose of engaging a. company to perform here during the Christmas holidays.

Native Land Stjbvexor. — Mavsden Clarke,Eeq.) has been licensed to act as a surveyor under the Native Lands Act.

Goldfields Wabden. — Joseph Giles, Esq., has been appointed a Warden of all Wardenß Courts now or^ hereafter to be constituted within the Kelson South-West GtaltLßelds.

The CeMvb.— A proclamation by theGovflttior, published in yesterday's Gazette, announces that a census will be taken on tbe 20th December, the forms of returns to be delivered between tbe 2nd and 19th of that month, inclusive. R. B. Lusk, Esq., of Auckland; T. Kolly, Esq., of Taranaki j E. L. Green, Esq., of Hawke's Bay ; J. Woodward, Esq., of Wellington ; J. Sharp, Esq., o£ Nelson ; Gh L. Mellish, Esq., of Marlborough j T. W. Maude, Esq., of Canterbury ; J. Hislop, Esq., of Otago ; I. N. Watt, Esq., of Southland ; W. E. Thomas, Esq., of the Chatham Islands have been appointed enumerators under the Census Acts. Attempted Suicide on Boabd the Bakaia. —The Bakaia brought from Opara one of the natives, who wished to visit Sydney, a powerful athletic man, who made himself very useful and became a great favorito amongst the crew. ■ This man had been reading hie Bible (in native language), and was observed to be in a melanoholy state of mind during the afternoon of the 24th October ; at 11 o'clock p.m. he was seen to take alighted lamp away, which soon after felt on deck, and after a lapse of a few seconds one of the watch went to pick it up and see what had happened to the native, when he could not be found, search was made, and after ten minutes not finding him the ship was put found and steered on the opposite course for the lapse of time the man had been in the water, viz, ten minutes, when the engineo we» stopped, and then immediately the mana voice was heard. A boat was lowered and pulled in the direction of the voice, but instead of trying to save himself, he evaded the boat by diving underneath it. He was at length secured, and is now on board the Bakaia.

Chatham Islands. — Captain Fox, of the St. Eilda, has kindly favored us with a file of the Chatham Island Chronicle, a weekly periodical published in manuscript on a half sheet of- foolscap, and combining the tranquil charms of a magazine with the more exciting attractions of a newspaper. A late number states that measles has been very prevalent amongst the natiteg during the last three months, and S3 Maori inhabitants and 16 Mariori have been carried off by it. 25 prisoners were attacked by the disea«e, but in only two cases did it prove fatal, in each of which the natives refused to obey the.instructions of the medical officer. The disease is supposed to hare been introduced into the island by Wiremu Thompson, who was a passenger by the St. Kilda the last trip but one. The Ngatimuhunga chief, Tangari te Umu, died at Mangape oa the 14th ulfc. The Chronicle announces, as a remarkable event, that the first "bell-topper" was worn in the Chathams on the 25th August last.

Tenders.— The tender of Mr John Till, for forming eighty chains of road in the Mungaroa district for £350 has been accepted. The tender of Mr C. White for forming three miles of the Groy town district road for £252 has been accepted. L. Flannelly is the successful tenderer for repair* ing 114 chains of cart road from Government Domain, Lowry Bay, to Mr William Brown's Okiwi.

Elections. — Mr Armond Bennett has been elected Collector to the Board of Wardens for the Carterton district. Mr Samuel Oates, Ml? John Bynels, Mr Moritz Hirchberg, Mr Burton Boyß, Mr Hart Udy, and Mr B. P. Perry, chairman, having been elected members of the Board of Wardens for the Taratahi road district. Mr Thomas Moore, Mr James Peters, Mr James Hannah, Mr Richard Davies, Mr William Viokerstafe, Mr Thomas Bennett, chairman, have been elected a board of wardens for the Carterton high* way district. Mr Edward Lockyer Ingpen, has# been elected Collector to the Pahautanui Common School. Mr Thomas Braggins has been appointed Collector of the Greytown school rate. Mr Samuel Woodward has been appointed collector of rates for the Ehodes highway district. Mr J. Hooper, Mr C. Harrispn, Mr W. B. Khodes, Mr A. Knowies, Mr W. P. Eobins, Mr S. Woodward, chairman, hare been elected wardens for the same district. Mr S. Olliver, Mr E. Gray, Mr B. T. Shield, Mr H. Williamson, Mr H. Sergeant and Mr IT. It. Jackson, chairman, have been elected wardenß for the Mataonguonga road district. Mr I. E. Boys has been appoiuleed to be keeper of fche pound at Q-rrytown. f Medical Practitioneb. — It has been notified to the Provincial Secretary's office, by th« Honorary Secretary to the Medical Board, that the qualifications of George Ernest Martindale have been examined and found correct. Slavghtkk-Housic Eetduns. — The number of cattle, &c, slaughtered in the Wellington district for the month of August, 1867, wa9 as follows ;— Beeves, 111; sheep, 1139; calves, 26; swine, 137.

Telegraphic. — The telegraph office at Feather* Bton is completed, and the station will shortly be

opened

"Fatal Accident. — On Saturday last, two men employed ut the saw mill, Porirua Bay, were re» turning from Pahautanui on horseback, when one of them was thrown iwd fractured his skull. He was conveyed to Mr Henry London's, and mcdi* cal assistance sent for, but before it could arrive nnd shortly after the accident, he expired. An inquest was to be held by Dr Enox, coroner for the district, yesterday. Mr Carter. — Mr Carter addressed a public meeting at Carterton on Satnrday, when resolutions were passed similar to those at the meetings he lately addressed. The Telegraph in the WArRABAFA.--Th« wires are stretched so far as Grey town, which- is now in communication with Southland and all other portions of the Middle Island. v Ma Btjnny and his Constituents. — Mr Bunny is to address the eleotors of Wairarapa at the school-house, Greytown, on Thursday evening next, the 31st inst., and at the School-house, Feather? ton, on Monday, Not. 4 ; at the Schoolhouse, Masterton, on Tuesday, Nov. 5 j and at the School-house, Carterton, on Wednesday, Nor. 6.

A Pkohfio Cow. — A cow belonging to Mr Hirßoliberg, was safely delivered of three find calvea on Friday, the 18th inst. The cow and her interesting progeny are all doing well. County of Westland.— The Lyttelton Times says that Messrs F. E. Stewart and J. S. Williams left Ohrißtchurcli on Tuesday morning by GoWu ' coach, in company with the Hon. Mr John Hall, en route for Hokitika. We presume the business which takes Messrs Stewart and Williams to Hokitika is in connention with the transfer of the Government to the Central authorities. Washed Wool — The London correspondent of one of the leading houses of Christohuroh strongly recommends those who have the neee*« Bary appliances, to wash their wool, as the differ* ence in price is something appreciable in favor o£ washod over greasy wools.

PETROr/KUAr IX THE AYUAItEAMA DISTKUT.— A correspondent writes to tho Wrimnipa JlUrcan, m follows :-" Tim public may bo intoivsted to know that several moiv e-uipe a of riis in one continuous line have U-mi bioly disc^vored in this district, There emu L- now uo doubt th.it petroleum underlies a lar^o avoa of country hereabouts."

C.VXTETJUURY WIIKAT TX EXULAND.— Tho Lj/t---iclton Times publishes the following lottcr on this subject addressed by Mr J. S. White, of Kaiapoi, to Mr Gh G-ould :— " London, August 26.— Dear B ir _-[ have been several times on board the Mfttoaka, to examine the grain, &c. It has nearly all arrived in first-class condition; your wheat was discharged this morning ; it looked well and smelt well. The flour shipped by Wood, of Riocarton, turned out of the hold the same as it had just been bagged. I thought you would be pleased to know the condition, and as I had room in a letter I am sending to Kaiapoi, I availed myself of the opportunity. Your wheat ought to bring here in July, I am sure six shillings to eight shillings per quarter more could have been. 68s per quarter. If the cargoes could have been got. I was surprised to find the Matoaka's hold so clean and dry, as she had a very bad name m in New Zealand. Birch and Co. shipped some medium white wheat in the tanks of the Mermaid ; it realised some GSs per quarter, at least 1 think that is tho price Redferu, Alexander, and Co. stated it brought.— l am, yours truly, J. b. White.

Canterbury.— last Saturday's Lyitelton Times' in its commercial report says :— The accounts received from England by the Suez mail regarding recent shipments of grain are attracting a considerable amount of attention ; and, were tonnage available, large consignments would no doubt be made to the United Kingdom. Freight, on the small shipments being made, is 3d per bushel higher than it was last year. A requisition has been presented to tho Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, asking him to convene a meeting for tho purpose of considering what steps shall be taken with a view to obtain a drawback on cornsacks used for the export of grain.

Acclimatisation. — A curious instance of acclimatisation is narrated in the Melbourne papers. When Mr Coppin was proprietor of Creraornc Gardens, he brought from England a number of gold and silver fish, and placed them in the ponds in the gardens. There they multiplied ;' but, in the great Hood of December, 18G3, tho Yarra devastated the gardens, overflowed into the ponds, and washed out many of the fish. They have, evidently increased greatly in number since, for on the subsidence of tho overflow of the river a short time since, the small water-holes in the swamp between Prince's Bridge and Emerald Hill, and the new open drain which communicates with tho river, were found to be full of young gold and silver fish, varying from'threequarters of an inch to a couple of inches in length. These have given employment to the boys of the hill, who fish for them with little nets ; and almost evory house on the hill has now its little palo or yellow prisoners, in all sorts of crystal prisons, from the open tumbler or tho ne'cldess brandy-bottle to the legitimate globe.

CnmsT's College. — The new chapel attached to Christ's College, Christchurch, was opened for divine worship last Wednesday. It will be consecrated by the Bishop of the diocese as soon as he returns to town.

Funny Legal Case. — "A rather remarkable case," says the Geelong Register, " was brought before his Honor Judge Brewer, at the County Court at Colac, on Saturday last. A man named [Thomas Kettle, in his public capacity as one of the managers of the Birregurra Farmers 1 Common, sued himself, in his private capacity, for £11 Ba, for depasturing cattle on the aaid common. He employed two lawyers, one for the plaint and another for the defence. Of course, he might have made short work of the case by giving himself a receipt for the amount, or he might have sworn, as defendant, that he had paid the money ; but. query, if he had done so, and then, as plaintiff, sworn that he had never received it, could he have prosecuted himself for perjury ? The solicitors were by far the greatest gainers in this action ?"

O.<urARU. — From the Oamarn Times, wo learn that tho jetty is now completed. That paper thus describes the erection :— " It appears to be ■well-constructed, and will we hope be ultimately of great service to the port. It is, however, at present very much like a saddle without a horse, iilfemuch as until we have a breakwater there will. bo no certainty of its being put to practical use, as it will bo only during exceptionally fine weather that vessels can be moored alongside. We -understand that some hitch has oceured between the Provincial G-overnuienfc avid the contractor, the former refusiug to take delivery of the work until a certain quantity of rock is removed from the boat harbor, unless at a reduction from the sum pdid to the contractor, which Mr Calder thinks too great. The approach to the jettr was, in consequence stopped by the contractor yesterday. We trust that there will be no delay in arranging the matter, and in putting down safe and permanent moorings, so that the wool sent down to this port, during the approaching season may be shipped with tho expedition and safety from the jetty head."

The TicnBOHNM Baronetcy. — This case came before Mr Edwards, the chief clerk, on August 13, at Vice-Chnncellor Malms' chambers, in reference to the pending suits " Tichborne u Tichborne" and "Tichborne «. Mostyn," in which the question of title was raise and also the right of possession of the estates. The summonses ■wore taken out on the part of the defendants, who required further time to answer the bill. The ir.tcrrogatives were stated to be of considerable length and the proceeding very voluminous. It was also stated that counsel had the document before him, and it ■would take some time to prepare the answer, and there was -no urgent necessity in the long vacation to urge on the matter. It was suggested that one month's time would do, and it was opposed as useless, it, being ruled that it would take counsel that time to wade through the document. It was raled thai, plaintiff had had eight months to prepare his case and could not easily object to ! two months' time in the long vacation. The ehiof clerk granted six weeks, and should it bo necessary a further application for time could be made. Attacks upon the Quern. — A satirical paper called fch c Tomaliawh, published in London, has j lately boen attacking Her Majesty, and it; socms that curious stories have been flouting about the lowei' clashes aft home relative to her Majesty and a certain Scotchman named John Brown, who is said to bear a striking resemblance- to Princo Albert. Tho Sunday Times, in defending her Majesty from |lhcsc imputations, indulges in this rhapsodical laugunge: — "At this momont — this, which might work a mystery of awe in even savage breasts — comes forth the Red Indian of the preßS, to flaunt before the public eye a monstrous imputation — a damnable calumny. Tho heart of England docs not shriek out disgust or surprize ; it is tranquil in sublime contempt." Eaittii quake at Java. — Java papors of tho 14th June give full particulars of tho dreadful earthquake which occurred i;n the island on the morning of the 10th June. It was very destructive in" tho districts of Cheribon, Peknlongan, Banjoemas, Bagelon, Samarang, Pjodjilokartu, and Sourakarta. The greater part of tho indigo and sugar manufactories, private houses, and military establishments aro destroyed at Djokdo, but in "the other districts the damage was not so extensive. The losses, however, aro incalculable. The sugar crop, which had just been brought into tho barns, is totally lost. A large number of Europeans and natives perished— tho report says as many as three hundred. It was feared a,lso that other parts of Java might be visited by earthquakes; even nt Batavia shocks were felt on the day tho mail started. The accounts of tho rinderpest in Java arc most distressing. In some districts the whole stock of buffaloes has died out, and great destitution and misery prevail ; indeed, the general effect of the news received by this mail is very painful.

Ike TiMAiitr ann Gladstone Act. — It seems that the Timaru and Gladstone Local Board Act, alboifc framed by Solons, contains certain imperfections which have- aroused the ire of some of those who have the supreme felicity of living under its apis. The Waimato is one of the Road Board districts, brought under the provisions of the act ; but the people of Wai mate, at a public meeting held on Saturday evening last, adopted thia resolution :— <; That tins meeting, having had under consideration tho Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works Act, are of opinion— (l) Tliut while approving generally of the Local Government Act introduced into the House of Representatives, the Timavuand Gladstone Act now passed is of so different a character, that instead of being a benefit to this district it will prove disadvantageous to the interests of the inhabitants. (2)^ That in specific appropriation of the proceeds of tho debentures to be made over by tin's act, the important claims of the Wnimate District have been completely ignored. (3) That this meeting also desires to record its protest against the injustice of the Wnimate Road Board being forced to come under this act, without its being optional on the part of a majority of the ratepayers to join or not." This was carried by thirty-one votes to fourteen; and the following was negatived by fourteen to thirteen; — "This meeting thanlja our member, Mr Jollie, for his attention to our interests at Wellington, and also for his action with Mr Cox in the matter of this bill." The Timaru Herald concludes a leading article on the subject of the meeting with these remarks : — " We learn that several gentlemen in the district have drawn 'up a petition to Mi* Jollie, their member,expressing themselvos satisfied with his action in tho matter, and reversing the opinion expressed at the public meeting on the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works Act ! We have above declined to accept tho conclusion arrived at as the opinion of the community, and already our predictions are

in course of verification, for the tide has turned, and tho people generally have taken up the ques-

ion."

Extension of the Panama Batlroad Chatitetc. — The Panama Star and Herald of Sept. 24i jays : — "Abill extending the charter of the Panama Railroad passed the National Congress at Bogota on the 15th nil,., and was signed by the Executive on the 17th. Tho full details of the contract we are unable to give afc present, but the principal

items are : — The Grovernment of Colombia, in consideration of the sum of one million dollars to be paid by the Railroad Company on the signing of the contract, and two hundred and lifty thousand 1 dollars to be paid annually, twenty-fire thousand of which goes direct to the state of Panama, grants to the Company an extension of their charter for ninety-nine years from (he present time, together with the use of the Tsland of Manzanillo and other lands which the Company may require during that term to carry on their work, and make the improvements which they have had for some time past in contemplation. The above news, we need hardly say, has been received with great satisfaction by everyone on

;ho Istlvmus, and we are sure the same will be

the case all along the coast, as no corporation has over attained greater or more well deserved popularity in the- Pacific than the- Panama Railroad Company "

Pcn ebbed Shekp. — A Melbourne paper states jhat a Ilock of about thirty purebred' Negretti rams, imported by J. Kat/.ensteiu & Go, a few months since nve likely to bo sent to this colony. They nve of immcnso size, and somo have been found to weigh 1751 b each, the wool being extraordinary fine and close, and voiy longin staple. Tliey wore bought in Germany at high prices to suit the requirements of tlio Australian colonies, and arrived here in excellent condition, but the law prohibiting their transport over the border to Riverina or Queensland has prevented a ready sale at prices which would remunerate the importers for their outlay and risk. The rams have been greatly admired, and as much as £100 was offered for one of them and refused. Failing a reasonable oiler in Victoria, J. Katzensteiu & Co are about- to send the sheep to New Zealand, placing them in the hands of Driver, McLean and Co, for sale-

Nitko-G-lyceuijte Subpassed. — The Alta Callfornian, of August 10, gives the following account of a remarkably explosive compound recently discovered : — " Yesterday a gentleman connected with n company engaged in this city in tho manufacture of an explosive compound, of which we have not been informed its name, requested permission of A. J. Moyors, acting superintendent of the Potrero and Bay View Railroad, to illustrate the power and certainty of the explosions which followed the use of this hitherto unheard of composition. Permission was granted, and tho operator drilled holes, an inch deep aad half an inch in diameter, in hard trap rock and all the varieties of rock to be obtained in the Deep Cut. These holes were filled with a coarse groined powder, in color and size of particles resembling sawdust. Ho used no tamping, and only a short fuse. One or two little holes, as above described, contained sufficient of this fearful explosivo to blow a piece of tho hardest rock into smithereens. A very little laid on an inch board was exploded, splitting the board in every direction and blowing a- hole in it as large as a man's hand. At noon to-day it is to be tested on a more ext ensive scale, at Rocky Cut, this side of Bay View Park. To prove the compound perfectly harmless he placed ii small portion on a sheet of paper and set fire to the paper, holding it on his hand. The whole was consumed without making any explosion. The experiments to-day will be highly interesting and no doubt witnessed by many persons." Matrimonial. — A marriage between a Chinaman and a British which took place on Sunday morning, at the Chinese town, Smythcsdale, is described by the Ballarat Star : — " The ceremony performed was according to tho rites of the Church of England. The clergyman engaged on the occasion was the Rev S. Walker. Six British residents of tho locality and an equal number of Chinese witnessed the ceremony. The latter, who were all neatly attired, appeared to take a deep interest in every particular: connected with iho British custom of uniting sexes ' for bettor or for worse.' The bride and bridesmaid were gorgeously dressed, and the bridegroom as wall presented himself in neat European costume. Some timo during the da}', wo aro informed, there was a dinner, in which about forty Chinese participated, and as each retired ho tendered a present in money to tho bride. From what we have heard, we should say that the takings by tho bride from this Chinese usage must have been somewhat handsome, though it would bo understood by the donors that the persona in question were not so circumstanced as to requiro charitable giftH. This, wo are informed, is but one of a scries of similar mixed marriages shortly to tako place."