LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2936, 1 January 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Arrival oe tiik English Mail.— Tho s.s. Omeo with tho English Mail on board loft Lyttollon at 4.15 p.m., and may bo expected in Weiington this morning about ten o'clock. Almanac. — We liavo to-diiy tho plcnsuro of presenting our readers wilh a large and carefully compiled Sheet Almanac, which we trust, will be found as useful as it has been our desire to make it. Pbize Firing.— Tho " General Government Gazctto" issued yesterday, contains tho regulations for tho Colonial Prize Firing for 1870 which is to take place in Dunodin on a day to bo hereafter named by the Government. Home-made Woollen Goods. — Tho Government has advertised for tenders for the supply of a large quantity of woollen goods to be manufactured in New Zealand for tho use of tho Constabulary. Twenty- five per cent of the quantity ordered is to be delivered to the Colonial Storekeeper, at Wellington, -within eighteen months from tho dale of the tender being accepted ; the remainder to be delivered at the same place and in similar quantities every six months until tlie contract is completed. R.M. Coubt. — At the Court on Wednesday morning a seaman named Robert "Vine Hall was charged by Captain Black, of tho Midas, with refusing to obey orders on board that vessel. It seems that on tho Midas approaching land on Christmas Day tho prisoner and another man were ordered to bend tho cable to the anchor, and this they refused to do. For this strict observance of Christmas Day his Worship sent tho prisoner to spend his New Year in Gaol, under a sentence of four weeks hard labor. Henry Marshall, another seaman on board the Midas, was sentenced to a similar punishment for an apparently unprovoked assault on tho second officer of the barque. Satnuol Erdis, proprietor of the Nelson Alehouse, was charged by tho polico with selling liquor on Sunday to persons not being lodgers in tho house. From the evidenco given it seemed that tho polico had found a man drinking boor in tho house on Sunday morning lust. His Worsnip inflicted a fine of £5, tho Licensing j Act leaving no discretion in tho matter, in his hands. Yesterday tho charge sheet only included tho name of one drunkard, who was dealt with in j the usual "way. The GABSBLO-WERS.—These very clever performera may, wo learn, be expected in Wellington in about threo weeks' time. For tho last two or three months they have been performing in the Southern provinces, and as usual have drawn excellent houses. Porietta Ferry School. — The annual public examination of this school was held on tho 24th instant, tho Rev. J. Moir kindly acting as examiner. Tho result of the examination wus excoedJingly satisfactory, and showed that tho pupils woro making rapid progress. At its close Mr Moir, on behalf of tho committee, distributed about twenty volumes of handsomely bound books, as prizos.for good conduct and general proficiency. Tho principal prizes were awarded as follows :— lst class boys— lst, W. Miller; 2nd, J. Ryan. Girls— lst, S. Taylor ; 2nd, J. Miller. 2nd class boys— lst, W. Gardner ; 2nd, H. Taylor. Girls— lst, E. Wngg; 2nd, J. Gardner. 3rd class boys -Ist, W. Taylor ; 2nd, A. Brown. Girla— let, L. Brown ; 2nd, C. Bromley. On the conclusion of tho examination a fortnight's vacation was announced, and then the children eat down to a feast of cakes and buns, which had been liberally provided for tho occasion. Tho meeting broko up by tho children giving three hearty cheers for tho committee. Kai-Warba-Warba School District.— Tho yearly general meeting of tho ratepayers of the ; above district was held in tho school house on j Thursday evening lust. After waiting till 8 p.m., and Mr White, the chairman of the School Committee, not having made his appearance, Mr S. Woodward proposed that Mr Schultze should take tho chair. Mr Schultze suggested that the chair should be taken by somo member of the | committee, conversant with tho accounts. Mr S. Woodward being then elected chairman, explained that owing to tho absence of tho chairman from a committee meeting to have been held that evening, tho committee had been unablo to audit tho accounts for tho past year for want of tho necessary papers, and as, therefore, it was impossible to lay them before tho ratepayers, ho would suggest that the present meeting should stand adjourned so far as tho accounts were concerned, and should proceed to tho other business of tho evening, Mr Schultze thought it advisable that the meeting should stand adjourned altogether ; and Mr Wyatt, to test the opinion of the meeting on tho subject, moved that tho present meeting stand adjourned for a week. This being carried, as also a vote of thanks to tho chairman, the meeting was adjournod till Thursday, 6th January, 1870, at 7.39 p.m. Porirua Kaoes. — We ore authorised to state that the settling for tho late Porirua Races will take place at tho Ferry Inn, Porirua, on Monday, tbolOth inst, at 8 p.m. All persons interested are requested to attend at tho abore timo and place.

Gas Compani.— The Registrar of Joint Stock Companies has given notice of his having registered a memorandum of association, with articles of association annexed, establishing a company, with limited liability of; the shareholders therein, intituled " Tho Wellington Gas Company, Limited." The objects for which the Company is established are expressed to be " the Manufacture and Supply of Gas for tho City of Wellington and vicinity." Tho certificate of incorporation bears date 22nd December. Presbsterian Cjitjroh, Willis Street. — We have been requested to remind memebrs of this Congregation that Divino Service will be performed this morning at 10 o'clock. The Census. — His Excellency the Governor has appointed the following persons to be Superintendent Collectors tinder " The Census Acts Amendment Act, 1867," viz., Thomas Kirk, Esq., for tho province of Auckland ; Edward L. Green, for Hawke's Bay ; Jonas Woodward, Esq., for Wellington ; Robert Pollock, Esq., for Nelson ; James Balfour Womyss, Esq., for Marlborough ; Thomas William Maude, Esq., for Canterbury j Thomas Broham, Esq., for Westland ; John Hislop, Esq., for Otago ; David Macrorie, Esq., for I Southland. These gentlemen are authorised to frank and receive letters on public eervice. Friendly Societies. — Tho Colonial Secretary has, in pursuanco of "Tho Friendly Societies Act, 1867," authorised the purposes following as purposes to which' the powers and facilities of tho eaid act ought to bo extended : — The frugal investment of the savings of the members for the hotter enabling them to provide for the education in science, literature and art, of themselvos, their children, and kindred, arid the purchase of books implements, and articles necessary or convenient for such purpose, and tho purchase, erection, or acquisition of suitable lecture room:?, class rooms, libraries, and reading rooms requisite for such purpose : Provided that the shares in any such aociety shall not bo transferable, and that the investment of each member shall accumulate ov be employed for fio solo benefit of the husband, wife, children, brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces of such member, and that no part thereof shall be appropriated to the relief, maintenance, or endowment of any other person whomsoever, and that the whole amount of the balance duo according to the rules of such society to such member shall be paid to him or her on withdrawing from such society. Arsenic in Suo-ar. — Tho following letter from Mr Skey, the Government analysist, has been published by direction of the Colonial Secretary : — "Colonial Laboratory, Wellington, 20th Dec.,. 1869. Sir, — In compliance with your directions, I have the honor to describe the simple process, referred to in my report upon tho poisoned sugar No. 634, for the detection of arsenic by water in certain sugars said to have been lately imported. For this it is first necessary to state that, of those sugars which are aresenical, tho more dangerous are in parts much discolored ; in such, there are a great many soft lumps of a much browner color, than the rest of the sample. In this process, a few of these brown lumps are picked out and put n a quantity of water, sufficient or nearly so to take up tho whole ; about three parts of sugar by weight, to one of water will do, but there is no necessity to weigh. The vessel containing the mixture ia shaken round to mis tho contents properly, and when all or tho greater part of the sugar disappears, tho solution of it is allowed to remain undisturbed a few minutes, and its state afterwards observed. If it has at all a clondod, turbid, or muddy appearance, like that of water containing wbito clay in suspension, tho sugar used is certain or almost certain to contain arsenic — at least a proper chemical examination is requi' site. What should be tho proper appearance of tho solution I need not deacribo, further than to state, that it should bo nearly or quite transparent, according to the quantity of dust that may have got in with the sugar ; but it is best in any doubtful case, or perhaps best at the outset, to prepare a solution of the same quality of sugar, known to be safe, for comparison. If arsenic is present to a dangerous extent in the sample being tested, tho contrast afforded by the appearance of the two solutions respectively will bo too striking to admit of its being overlooked. This mode of testing sugar for arsenic is of course only applicable when a part of the arsenio is in a condition to give this turpidity ; and as this is a condition which exists in all tho more dangerous samples of sugar I have hitherto tested, I thereforourge its employment by those who have sugars in their possession discolored and mottled in tho manner I have described. — W. Skey. Wang an hi Races. — Theso races came off on the 29th Dec. Tho following is a record of the events of the day :— Produce Stakes— Quicksilver, I ; Billy, 2 ; Prunella tvus scratched. Welter Stakes— litokowaru, 1 ; Myrtle, 2 ; Quicksilver, 3 ; P.D., 4. Wanganui Stakes— Creeping Jenny won eusily, Policy coming second. Tho Licensed Tictuullers' Purse was won by Fair Ellen. The Wanganui Times.— An announcement is made in tho " Wanganui Times" of the 30th Doc, of tho intention of Walter Taylor, Esq, to vacate tho editorial chair of that paper. Mr Taylor started tho "Wanganui Times" in tho year 1864, and has always been a staunch sup« porter of Dr. Featherston and Mr Fox. Wo shall miss the nervous ouorgy and bold outspoken language which has always characterised tho leading columns of the " Wanganui Times," and in Mr Taylor, tiio Wangauui people will lose one of tho most honest aud Btaunch advocates of that district whoever occupied an editorial chair. New Horse-shoeing Establishment. — We have been requested to draw attention to an advertisement in another 1 column which announces that Mr Hayes hag oponod his new Smithy, oppoeito Somervillo's Victoria Hotel. We understand that Mr Haj'os is well up in lub business, and, if so, ho will doubtless obtain plenty of work at the south end of the town, where a place of tho kind has been much needed for some timo past. Crew oj? the Mabje Gabrielle. — Tho French consul has taken up a J 'suggestion which appeared in tho " Age" a day or two ago, that it was eithor his duty or that of tho Government-to bring up the shipwrecked sailors of the Marie Gabriello from Cape Otway to Melbourne, and instructed tho captain of the Edina, coming here from Wurrnambool, to call at Apollo Bay, and bring tho sailors on with him. The Edina is telegraphed as hovering off Apolla Bay "waiting for daylight to enter tho bay and take the sailors / on board. No doubt the poor fellows will bo I glad to be released from their preseut quarters, as Jeo far they have been liviag on tho provisions of the lighthouse keepers, who aro only supplied by tho Government once a year. " Mel^ bourne Herald," ;

Ripj&b Shooting. — The following are the highest bcovcb made at the recent meeting of the Otago Bifle Association. Mayor's Gup. and money orizes. ;Ifive shots at each ranee : — '.'■

Caktjerbubt Jockey Club Handicap.— We ropubliah below, in a tabular form, tho weights for this race, together with the a»es of the horses and the names of thoir owners. The dute of the Christchurch race meeting is fixed for the 18th, 19th, and 20th Januury ; and the dates of general entries and acceptances for the Canterbury Cup, C.J.C. Handicap, and Derby, for tho lOtu

Shamefpl Hoax.— Our readors (says the Mai-lborough Express) will have noticed singular paragraphs in our last two papers, relating to a supposed insane woman "wandering about in the bush beyond Kaikoura in a nude state, with, an infant under one arm, and a variety of firearms under the other. Our Kaikourn correspondent has, by the last mail, given us some particulars which serve to show thut in all probability the wholo affair is a shameful hoax, having for its object the selling of a few extra nobblera, or a simi* lar unworthy reason. The following is a brief account of Constable Paap's efforts to discover the woman : Doc. 2. — Started for Boat harbor j on arriving there was informed by Mrs Monk that her eldest daughter, Louisa, had seen Mrs Clarke, tbo day before. December 4. — Not believing the story, went as far as the Waiau via Hawkeswood and Mount Parnnssuß, enquiring if a woman had been seen travelling in the direction of the Soak I harbor, or any other way, but found no person had seen or hoard of her. Dec. 4. — To Cheviot hills via Parnassus ; telegraphed thence to Commissioner Bhcarmari, Ohristohurch. Dec. 5. — Returned via Hawkeswood to Boat Harbor, every person he met disbelieved the story. Dec. 6. — Informed by Mrs Monk that on the oth, while tho men wore away, she, with her children, went on the beach. On returning, Louisa was first, and went in the back way, and saw Mrs Clark standing with a loaf of bread in one hand, and with the other elie snatched some butter off the plate. The girl told her to take the food. Slio said " No, no, no !" pub it down and ran away. She had a double-bairell gun with her, with zino on the stock and new caps on the nipples. She was quite naked, with the exception of n piece of white blanket, reaching from the shoulder to the hip. Mrs M. and her daughter Etnily, aged 11, came round the houeo and saw hm* running away with the gun on her shoulder. At 10 a.m., while at the house, I, with Dr Huast's man saw, what we believed to be the woman walking about the boat sheds, about half a mile off. We immediately ran down in the hope of cutching her, but when we got there we could sco nothing of her, but the marks of a woman's boots on the sand. Mrs M. said she had not been that way. On returning from searching the bush, I met Mr Haast'a man and MrsM. and children, who told me the woman had fired three shots at. the children. They then van into the house ; she followed, and throw a large knife at Louisa, inflicting a skin wound Hin. long below the right kneo She went to the cupboard and took an egg and sucked it. Haast's man and Mrs M. were about a quator of a mile from the house at the time. Tho children all ran to their mother, and appeared very frightened and excited. I went to Iluwkeswood about 5 p.m. to obtain assistnnco to search the bush. I gob three men there, nnd tlireo from Mt. Parnassus. I sunt a messenger with a telegram to A. Ingles, Esq. Dec. 7: — I returned to Boat Harbor, but could not find any trace of a woman. Deo. 8. — I started with ton -nen to search thoroughly but could not find her. On returning Louisa informed me that while Bhe and a boy was getting water at a creek in the bush, the woman came and sat down in a muslin dress with green Bpots, whito boots, a crinoline, and her hair put up. She told the children she was sorry she shot at them the other clay, but she was gone there (pointing to her fovohead) . Sho then wenb^way into tho bush. Dec. 9. 10. — I continued the search, but was unsuccessful. Dec. 11. — I returned to Kaikoura, and mot a special messenger with the following telegram : — l% Margaret Clark has not been away from Christchurch (Signed) Shearman." Isenrchod Monk's house to see whether they were concealing the. woman, but found nothing to excite my suspicion. The constablo adds that he cannot help believing thero is somo truth in the story, as tho children appeared very consistent in their remarks. Our correspondent adds that Mr Caverhill in writing to him alludes to this siory us that of " the woman in white" which he considers one of the tdoeb scandalous hoax over perpetrated upon the pub" lie, oncl remarks upon the singular circumstance thut two men should leave a woman and o number of children alone and unprotected day after day, if they believed the story thomselves. Tatjpo. — News from Taupo to tho 18th lias been received (says the "H. I*. Herald.") The weather for days had I been most severe; c.mtuut rain, and all the rivers aud creeks flooded. Tho inclemency of the 6eaeon hus increased throughout the great difficulties of the Taupo operations, and particularly tho delay caused by the weather to transport arrangements. Both Colonel M'Donnell and Major Koberts, with their respective fovoes, are occupying positions from which thoy hope to bo able to cut off Kootrs^ retreat, and keop him from escaping until the Wanganuis can come up ; but tho whole of the arrangements have been delayed by the state of tho roads and the woathor, and it is not likely anything can be effected until about the end oitho present week. ,

A Bright Meteob.-— The Meteor on Sunday night Beoms to have Been seen in various parts of the Colony.— The " Wairarapa Mercury" says : —One of the brightest Meteors it has been our lot to witness, was to be seen from Masterton i at twenty minutes to ten on Sunday night, lhe evening was peculiarly dark and cloudy, and a very heavy bank of dark clouds was in the N.W. part of the heavens, when suddenly ft brilliant flash of light illuminated the sky, and every one a eyes were turned towards the direction, when a meteor whoso appearance was more like a firework, composed of some hundreds of sty rockets foil with a shower of colored spark 9 whose splendour can hardly be described by words, xne " Wanganui Times" reports that on Sunday eveuing, at 9.45, a beautiful meteor was seen in the south part of the heavens. It was of unusual brightness, and seemed like a large ball of blue light, which, bursting, illumed tho tpwn lor about 15 seconds, making everything discernible as at noon-day, otherwise it was a calm and beautiful evening. , _ „„ I Dr HeoW— The « Hawke's Bay Herald states that it is known, via Harato, thot i'r f Hector was atTokanoon the 21st inst., and, m j company with Mr Bracken, the explorer, started | on that day for the Kaimanawa. The Doctor did not expect to reach Patea before the 27th. We understand that the late severe weather m the Taupo district has stopped, for the time, operations on the part of the various prospecting Specimens at Kereru.— The "Hawke's Bay Herald" states that Mr Tiffen and Mr Koch returned on Friday from Rereru, whither they had gone to examine the locality where Mr Lyon, a few days before, had found a spNMggiLefJdch auriferous qu"a'rtir The boulder from which tho specimen was taken proved, unfortunately, to be a detached piece of stone, originally embedded in a layer of ehingle drift, from seven to ten feet in thickness, deposited on tho edge of a deep ravine, eituate about a mile from tho Wakarara range, and probably six or seveD from the base of the Buahines. The boulder weighed about 21bs sozs, and ie now broken into many pieces in the possession of Mr Tiffen. It is evidently rich, as coiu'Bo gold is clearly visible in thirty different places. Mr Tiffen believes it to have come from the Ruahine range, either through a break in tho Wakarara in almost a direct linp, or round the southern point of the latter, through the country at the back of Captain Carlyon's run. This, however, is mere conjecture. The state of the weather and flooded state of the creeks prevented the party from following the latter to their source, ■with the view of ascertaining the existence of the reef from which it is assumed the boulder in question has been detached at some former period. There was nothing of the kind near the spot where the stone was found. The spirit of discovery is how, however, rife, and it is very likely indeed that the Wakarara and Euahine ranges will both be prospected before many weeks elapse. Accidents at Napier.— Accidents (says the " F. B. Herald") are not of frequent occurrence in this part of Her Majesty's dominions, but it bo happens that in this iesue, we are called upon to chronicle several— one, we regret to say, fatal in its results. Oa Monday at Waipukurau, a lad named Harry Hollis, son of tho late Bobert Hollis, was killed through a fall from his horse. He is supposed to have been racing, and the horse to have fallen and rolled over its rider, but no particulars are to hand. On the same day,asOobb'B coach was being driven down the steep cutting through the Te Aute bush, it narrowly escaped been precipitated into the steep gulley at tho side of the road. The horses were going at an ordinary rate, when just at the turn, about twenty yards in advance, the chief Te Hapuku was seen in a spring-cart, also going in the direction of town. In trying to get out of the way he seemed to have lost his presence of mind, or his horso became unmanageable, as it turned and stood nearly across the road. The driver of the coach could not pull up, but lie ran as near the gulley side of the road as possible, not, however without striking the spring cart and turning it right over on the hill side. The cart was smashed to pieces, but Hapuku, though much bruised, was able to get up and walk away, and is believed not to have been much injured. On the same day, while leaving the paddock at Waitangi in which the Sunday Bchool children were assembled, John Campbell, of the Hero schooner, and his wife who were driving in a pheaton, were upset through the horse shying, and precipitated into a ditch at the side of the road. The horse in struggling to get free, kicked Mr Campbell on his legs and arras and caused severe bruises. Mrs Campbell, fortunately, escaped with a slight injury. Yesterday morning Mrs Searles was found by Mr Miller, of H.M. gaol, lying on the beach near the Emigration barracks, by the new road in course of construction by prison labor. Although conscious, she was found in a sad state, ono of her logs being broken and her face and one of her arms greatly disfigured. "She states that some one ran out from the side of the hill and knocked her over the parapet, but it is generally believed that she fell over when in a state of intoxication. Fatal Boiler Explosion at Reynella, S.A. — We learn from the " South Australian Advertiser" the following particulars of a boiler explosion at Mrs Poole's Mill, Reynella, on Thursday last, by which a man named Edward Cosdy lost hi 3 life. It appears that the mill began operations on Thursday morning, the wholo of the machinery having previously been thoroughly overhauled by an engineer from Mr Jones' establishment in Adelaide. As far as could be learned from a minute inspection, the machinery was all in good working order. All wont on well until shortly before half-past 6 o'clock, when the clerk of the mill observed to the engineer, Edward Condy, that the engine appeared to be going rather quickly. Condy said it was all right. Just about hulf-pasb 6 a man and a boy being in the mill, and the clerk at the desk, the explosion took place. Condy was said to be standing on the top of the boiler when the accident occurred. Tho explosion threw the boiler, which weighed somewhere about seven tons out of its bed through the south end of the engine-room, and to a distance of about 140 yards. In its passage it went through, a garden, cutting the two fences clean through, and sweeping away everything that Btood in its course, including a gum tree some 9in. or 12in. in diameter. It must have travelled over the ground some distance from the surface, as the soil was ploughed up in two or three places where it touched, and some boys who were near the Beynella Inn said they saw it rushing apparently along the ground with a sort of whizzing noise. It was ultimately landed in a swamp, at the distance from tho mill stated above. The boiler was tubular, and the inner lining was i crumbled up like a sheet of brown paper. Of course there is no evidence to show whut occasioned the explosion, but the strong presumption is that the water had got too low in tho boiler and that tho sudden admission of cold water caused the catastrophe. Strangely enough, the engine was not at all injured beyond tho fact of the connecting pipe having been violently wronched asunder. Immediately after Ibo expplosion tho body of poor Condy was found in the debris doubled up amidst tho ruins. The sight it presented was frightful, being crushed and scalded to a fearful extent. Abrival op the English Pedestrians in Melbourne. — The clipper ship Lincolnshire, from London, arrived at Melbourne on the 17th inst,, after a splendid run of 75 days. By her have arrived the pedestrians from the home coud try— Messrs A. E. Bird, Frank Hewitt, Georgo Topley, and George Ledger, their trainer, under engagement to Mr Coppin. Mr Albert Edward Bird hails from Sheffield, and is known as the champion mile runner of England, and has been considered in the old country the best runner from one to ten miles. In a foot race hold in Hyde Park, Sheffield, some short time back he beat his opponent and follow-passenger, Hewitt, in a ono mile race. Time, 4min. 29£ sec. Mr Frank Hewitt, who will act as captain 'of the party, comes from Millwall, and is the recognised half-mile champion, and has never been beaten at leßser distances. In a half-mile race at Sheffield, with Mr Bird, he came ia an easy Tictor,

Time, lmin. 58sec. Mr George Topley is a native of London, and a champion walker both of England and America. It is stated that ha has done twenty-ono miles in three hours, and often eight miles in ono hour. Mr George Ledger is one of the best trainers in Great Britain. The Euglish sporting journals congratulate the party in having such a gentleman to look after them. Bird and Hewitt, in fact, have been under him for the last three years. Mr Shoosmith, who has acted for Mr Coppin at homo, states that " such is tho fear that professional men in England have of long sea voyages, that Hewitt and Bird seem to have made up thoir minds for the worst, for after signing the agreements, they both gave instructions to their lawyer j to make their respective wills." Cold Water. — The following recipe to always have cool water iv hot weather has been ! sent to the " Morning Star" by Henry Grafton, J C.E., of Tollington Park, London :— " In your I very temperate and reasonable article you tantalise us by telling us how the Americans enjoy cool drink by the addition of ice in their water. I have to inform you that very cold water for ' drinking may always bo obtained by filling porous pitches with ordinary water and placing these in tho sun. I am never without the luxury. The best description can be purchased under tho name of cooling-bottles, but any unglazed porous earthenware answers the purpjse nearly as well, provided the mouths are kept covered with a piece of moistened cloth. Those who are not accustomed to 6tudy temperature by means of a thermometor will be much interested with the following; experiment. Place a common glass bottle of water, and also a porous vessel, in the flun_fojia.j!ouple of hours, then place one hnnd upon each. The glass bottle will be disagreeably hot, the porous one delightfully cool. In our drinking fountains we studiously copy the ancients by ull sorts of representations of vases in hard granite and still harder cast-iron. My opinion is, that the vaso with them was a porous stone kept constantly filled by a head of water, while the sun's rays from rising to setting were ever upon its top and sides, so that' the stream which came out. was a cool drink. Wo have many varieties of sfcone well suited for the purpose — such, for instance, as the Yorkshire magnesian limestone, whose porosity and softness render it particularly suitable." The Count de la Roncikue. — The "Kb'lnische Zeitung states that Comte de la Bonciero. late French Commissioner at Tahiti, was recalled for having abused his authority. He had placed French soldiers at the disposal of one of the planters, with whom he had formed a friendship, in order to enforce attention to very barbarous regulations, such as the following : — For brawling, from two to eight days' imprisoment on bread and water ; for drunkenness, four days in irons ; two days in irons for such laborers as return home after eight o'clock in the evening ; eieht days in irons for laborers who leave the plantation without leave ; and one month's imprisonment, half the time in irons, and the whole time on bread and water, for every breach of subordination. Mining- Speculation in Victoria.— Le Flaneur in the Melbourne '• Herald" says ; — " There is a panic under the] verandah just at present, and mining men are grumbling vigorously at the hardness of tho times. Well, I canuot say that I pity them. 'Tis but the other day that I met little Promoter, the man who induced me to take shares in the Defaced Gold and Silver Coin Collecting Company, Limited, on the ground that it WO3 such a ' capital spec' ' a fortune in a few montliß.' and all that sorb of thing. My astonishment may be imagined when in answer to my enquiry as to the reason why they had called up a pound a share, ho burst out into a hoarse laugh and said : c Why my dear fellow you don't moan to say that you have stuck to your Defaced Coin ? Why, I sold out at a profit months ago. If you take my advice you will let them forfeit your Bhares ' But,' I remonstrated, ' you said it waß a good thing.' c Well, so it was, Shares went up • didn't they ? It is your own fault Why didn't you sell?' Nor are the Defaced Coins the only shares that are down in the market, The scrip of almost every mining company is more or less affected, and Promoter informs me that half the shares held in Melbourne are t registered in the name of a shoeblack in Elizabeth street. I think I shall step down aud ask this mining millionaire what will he take to accept the transfer of mine also. Horrible Fanaticism in Russia. — All the efforts of the Bussian Government have proved unavailing to put a stop to the extravagances of the Skopzi. The Don, a usually well-informed paper, gives an account of their last exploits. On the 13th inst., a party of 400 of these fanatics left tho town of Balatschow and proceeded to a neighboring wood to pray. The scene witnessed on their return was horrible. A madman named Wasiloff declared that he was the Son of God, and, aftor choosing twelve apostles from the party, called for a human sacrifice. Five victims were at once selected, placed on a number of waggons which had been piled up for the purpose, and, burnt alive. A woman who had distinguished herself by the violence of her religious paroxysms seized the shaft of the cart and beat two young girls to death ; while another female was first trodden under foot and then literally torn to pieces by the fanatical crowd. Other details are given of the horrors enacted, which are utterly unfit for publication. It is impossible to say what further excesses might not have been committed if tho governor of the town, being informed of thefacts, had not despatched a company of soldiers and arrested tho whole pavly, who are now in confinement pending the inquiries of a commission sent from St. Petersburg to report on the subject. Tke Bishop qv Auckland. — According to the " Southern Cross." The members of the Church of England are looking out with anxiety for the arrival of their new Bishop, who rony be expected early next month. It is the intention of the Standing Committee of tho diocese to present him with a congratulatory address, in the Cathedral Library, soon after his arrival. A choral service will bo held at St Paul's Church tho the oveninjj;, on ■which occasion the Anglican Bishop of Auckland will address the congregation. The Bishopric Endowment Fund is progressiog favorably ; the balance required, about £200, will no doubt bo subscribed, at once, when the members of the Church residing at the Thames are canvassed. We hear it is tho intention of Archdeacon Lloyd to call a meeting there early in January for the purpose of initiating the movement. Tutu. — A Dr. Richardson writing to the " Otogo Daily Times" expresses a hope of bringing what he terms the " much maligned" plant Tutu into better odour with Now Zealand colonists, "as tho grape of this country." It is tho only fruit I am acquainted with, except the grupe, which contains in itsulf all the essentials for spontaneous vinous fermentation. It has the advantage of nponing at Midsummer, so as to be out of tho reach of frost, and as this is an unusually warm fummor tho fruit should bo in high perfection. To those who have a knowledge of wine-making, I need only say that it requires to bo treated precisely the same as the grape ; to those who havo not, but who may wish to make tho experiment, I cannot do bettor than relate what I did in 1855. Tho fruit was gatherod and brought ;homo by a lad who got I sufficient in six hours to yield 14* gallons of pure wine. The berries were bruised, a bucketful at a time, and baled into a hogshead placed upon a tram, so that, after fermentation, the wine could be racked off into a bucket j in tho bottom of the hogshead about 6 inches of green fern was trampled down to act as a hop-back or filter j the seeds wore put in with the pulp. It was covorod over with a sack, and allowed to ferment 10 days, the weather being very hot ( longer time would be required in cool weather), care being taken not to break the " head,". or disturb it in anyjway : finding thejfermentation was subsiding— which can be ascertained by applying the ear to the outside of the vat — it was racked off into a clean cask, and tho bung put in lightly for three months, 'when it was made secure. Here it remained three years, only lifting the vent peg at spring and fall, It was then bottled, and in the

opinion of connoisseurs pronounced Al. The last was drunk in 1863, and it had gained rather than lost by keeping. A beautiful bouqet is developed in the fermentation, which is not to be detected in the fruit previously. The cost of this wine is almost nil —at most Is the gallon. Query? Why should not some inducement be offered for the production of this wine, as in the case of " flax," " beet sugar," woollen manufactures." Narrow Escape.— The " Marlborough Express" of the 25th inst., states that the previous day, Mr Ball, of the firm of Meßsrs Dodson and Ball, brewers, whilo engaged in pursuing his avocations at the mash tub', fell in, and but for the timely aid of some of the workmen, who rushed to his assistance, would have been scalded to death. On being withdrawn, it was found that one side of bis face and body were scalded. Wo are glad to hear, that notwithstanding his injuries, Mr Ball is about and attending to business almost as usual. The Poisoned Sugar. — Tha "Wairarapa Mercury" states that the Government have issued circulars to various lots of Maoris in the valley, warning them of the arsonio found in sugar, and of the necessity of exercising caution in buying it. Wo should imagine the best thing to be done, with the lot now in Mr Atchoson's possession, would bo to send it as a Christmas present to Titokownru. Harvest. — Haymaking which usually follows shearing, has now been nearly brought to a conclusion (says the "Wairarapa Mercury,") and farmers are looking at their oats, &c, which will soon be ripe. The largest piece of wheat in the valley, we believe, is that belonging t© Mr BannisteiylOO acres,- on the Opaki * near Masterton; and looks remarkably well. If it only yields 30 bushels to the acre— and to judge from its appearance it will be more likely to yield 40 — the produce will prevent the importation of a good deal from Wellington, and wo hope the enterprise of the proprietor will meet the reward it deserves. Latest From the Waikato. — A telegram received in Auckland from Alexnndra states that To Kooti had rpached Tuhua, distant about 18 miles from Tokangamutn, with about 60 followers and where he was intending to stay until his force has been strengthened. He has thus ventured to enter upon the King's country, but it is uncertain whether Tawhiao will carry out his threat of apprehending the murderer.

January, at 3 p.m. at. lbs Mr Studholuie's eh h Knottingley, 6yrs ... 9 7 Mr Stafford's eh g Magento, 6 yrs ... 8 10 Onpfcain Hutchison's bin Miss King, 5 yra 8 10 Mr Barnard's b g Scandal, 6 yrs ... 8 2 Mr Douglas's eh g Bobby Burna, 4 yra ... 8 0 Mr N. Maclean's bg, 6 yrs 8 0 Mr Morton's eh o Southern Chief, 4 yrs... 710 Mr Morten's b g Atlas, 6 yrs 7 8 Mr Stafford's eh f Lancofeed, 4 yrs ... 7 5 Mr Barnard's b g Foretop, 4 yrs ... ... 7 0, Ma Douglas's b g (by Malton) Chloe, 3 yrs 6 10 Mr Brabazon's br f Tuffrui), 3 yrs ... 610 Mr Redwood's b g Economy, 3 yrs ... 610

400 600 :600 Tl Capfc. Macfarland, Art. ... 17 18 17—52 Col.-Sgfc. Taylor, No. 2Co 16 18 17—51 Corp. M'Gregor, No ICo 36 17 16—49 Vol. J. Christie, E.T, ... 13 18 15—46 National Rifle Associations Medal and money prizes. Ten shots at each range : — 200 500 Tl Ensign Eichardson, W.T. .. 29 33—62 Col.-Sgt. Taylor, No. 2 ... 31 28—59 ' Gunner Begg, D;N.B. ... 29 29—58 Challenge Cup, presented by Wm. Mason, Esq., and money prizes. Five shots at each range : — 200 507 600 Tl L.-Cpl. D.Buchanan, W.T. 15 16 15—46 Sergt. Wilson, No. 1 ... 15 16 15—46 Corpl Tresseder, No. 1 ... 13 18 13— 44 Small bore match for money prizes. Seven shot* afc each range : — Eifle 700 800 Tl. Cpl. M'Gregor, No. 1 (Kerr) 21 24—45 Lieut. Dobbie, N.B. (Rigby) 23 22—45 Sergfc. Muir, Art. (Kcit) 23 15—38 P. O. Grant, N.B. (Whitworth) 19 17-36 Cpl. Eobertson, W.T. (Enfield) 16 19-35 Simultaneous match between country companies for money prizes. Seven shots at each range : — 200 400 500 Tl. Capt. Steward, No 8 vX 26 18 23-67 Col.-Sgt. Livingston, do ... 25 22 18—65 Vol.W.H.Richardson,W.T 19 20 22—61 Corporal Adam, Bruce ...20 20 21—61 Sergeant Scott, do ... 15 26 19—60 Vol. J. Buchanan; W.T. ... 19 21 18-58 Gun. Bennett, P.C.N.B. ... 21 21 16- 58 Corpl. Nichol, W.T. ... 19 19 19-57 Lieut. Pettit, Bruce ... 20 22 13—55 Provincial Government prizes : — 200 500 600 Tl. Vol. Bennett, P.C.N.B. ... 16 17 137-46 Lieut. W. Goldie, do , ... 14 19 13—46 Sgt.W. Taylor No2,Scottish 16 18 10—44