PUBLIC MEETING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3097, 12 January 1871, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

* A large public meeting was held at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Tuesday evening to hear Messrs Taylor and Borlaso, representatives for the city, gave an account of their action during the last session. The body and gallery of the hall were woll filled. His Worship the Mayor took the chair. Mr W. W. Taylor then addressed the meeting. He said that Mr Borlase and himself, as representatives for the city, had felt it their duty to invite tho eloctora to meet thorn that evening in order that they might give them some expla. nation of their proceedings during the last session of the Assembly, it being, as they were aware, the last session prior to a general election ; but before doing so, he begged to express his gratification at seeing such a large number of his fellow -settlers before him. It reminded him of old times ; and he was glad to see that there waa still a little of their old leaven left amongst them; It seemed like an acknowledgment that each and every elector present had a duty to perform, and was there that night to play his part. For his own part he could assure them of his earnest desire to co-ope-rate with them in the advancement of the town, and province, and of tho colony of which they formod a part. He felt that there was somo explanation due to the meeting for having allowed so long a time to elapae before calling them together to give the customary explanation at the ondofthe session. Ho spoke only for himself, but ho believed that his colleague Mr Borluso would bo prepared to endorse what he was going to say. The solo reason why the meeting had been deferred so long wna owing to the absence of his Honor Dr Featherston from the colony. They wero aware that since they had enjoyed representation Dr Featherßton had been their member, and lie had felt that it would be unfair towards Him to ignore him so far as to call that meeting in his absence. He trusted they would accept that explaaation in tho spirit in which it wos given and not attribute any reticence on his part to want of sympathy in those objects in which they were all equally interested. To an old representative man like hiaisolf, who had been for the past ten years one of their representatives in tho General Assembly, it might very fairly be asked what ho had done to Bhow he had been worthy of tho confidence reposed in him, and what wero his opinions on those great political questions that at present occupied tho public attention from one end of New Zealand to the other. These were questions they had a right to ask, to which thoy had aright to domand a reply ; and no ono who had assumed, as he had done, the position of a representative man, could hesitate for a moment in giving a full and frank explanation on every proper occasion. Among the many questions of tho day, one of the greatest interest, and on the .favorable solution of which he might aay depended the very existence of the North Island as a colony, waa the question of the native war. Since tho time when tho active assistance of the Imperial troops had been withdrawn from the colony, we had poured out blood and treasure like water in our efforts to put down the insurrectionary n»ovements of small sections of the native race,— we had spent millions in our attempts and hundreds of our best and bravest settlors had laid down their lives in the cause. He admit that it was an exceedingly difficult question to grapple with— a very bard nut to crack. A question upon whioh somo of the ablest statesmen of New Zealand had shipwrecked their reputations; which General Cameron, with 10,000 troops at his back, had been unable to solve ; and tho difficulties of which were so groat as to have induced the Imperial Government to adopt what many of us deemed tho harsh and enrol policy of withholding from us all military assistance whatsoever. He might, therefore, well bo excused if ho failed to meet with tho sympathy of ovory one in tho opinions which had influenced his conduct ; but he would briefly state what these opinions woro. j First and foremost, he wanted to know how it was possible to treat with natives at open war with us— savages with their hands on tho tomahawks ? He said that as a preliminary to negotiations of any, kind, you mußt thrash them. He held that it was tho duty of the Government to maintain the peace of tho colony — to meeb armed aggression with force whenever and wherever it might arise ; and at whatever cost, to exterminate or bring'to justice such armed bands of miscreants a3 had latterly infested the country under Titokowaru and Te Kooti. A very largo amount of suooess had attended our military operations during tho last eighteen months or two years ; hut they must not on that account suppose they had dono with native wars. His conviction was that as long as the same relative proportion existed between tho two races as did at the present tirao in the North Island of New Zealand, we should have a chronic state of war. He did not wish to be understood as meaning a continuous war, but that wo should have intervals of war with 'intervals of peace. To enable a Government to meet that state of things, ifc was absolutely essential that a considerable military force should be placed at their disposal ; and to secure efficiency in such a force it must not consist of levies hast ly got together to meet an emergency, but must be somewhat permanent in its character. . He was happy to say that tho Assembly Jiad at length opened its eyes to this necessity, and ono, not tho least important of the many bills passed during the session, was an act to enable the Government to raise tho necessity amount for defrayiug tho coat of maintaining such a force for a period of five years, estimated at a charge of from £150,000 to £180,000 per annum. His conviction was, if that measure had been adopted by tho Assembly years ago, when they abandoned tho self-reliant policy and rofused to vote the necessary supplies for tho defence of the country, we should not now have to regret those disgraceful defeats— those horrible acts of atrocity committed upon defenceless women and children — which would remain a blot upon our history so long as we wore a colony. There wore, however, other sections of tho nativo race with which' wo had to deal — tribes not actually at war with us, but maintaining a sulky and armed neutrality. He said it was the bounden duty of the Government to make every possible effort, so far as wa3 consistent with the honor of the country, to maintain peaceful relations with these tribes. The time had gone past for talking nonsense about making the Queen's writ run through the length and breadth of the land, until we were sufficiently powerful to enforce our threats. Our policy with respect to these neutral tribes should be a policy of pjocrastination ; our object should be to gain time, knowing, as wo did, that wo wero continually increasing in numbers and Btrength, and they as oertainly getting weaker. It was because he held these views that two years ago he did his best to assist in turning out the Government of tho day, convinced'that tho policy they were pursuing would plunge the colony into a war with the whole native race. If, however, one measure more than another was caloulatfid to give peace to the country, it was involved in tho Publio Works and Immigration Asb of last session. He did nob know whether those whom he was addressing wore much in the habit of reading Acts of Parliament or not; but he could assure them such things were by no means light literaature, nor were thoy always easily understood. However, for the benefit of such as might not have chanced to givo their attention to this particular act, he would briefly state a few of its principal provisions. Tho Publio Works and Immigration Act was the most important act of the session ; tho avowed object of the bill was to substitute road making and immigration for war, and by the expenditure of large sutnß of money on tho two objects, to givo us peaceful possession of the country. The amount of money proposed to bo spent under the bill would amount to something like £12,000,000 sterling. Of this amount Government had the sanction of Parliament to tho borrowing of £4,000,000. A portion of the works intended to be constructed were to be paid for in land to the extent of two and a half millions of acres, the balance being found by coil tractors, thoy receiving a guaranteed rate of interest on the amount of capital oxpendod. Oi this amount £400,000 was appropriated for tlu construction of roads in the North Island of New Zealand, with a provisionary clause to the effeel that not more than £100,000 should be spent k any one year ; £200,000 was allocated to the pur

chase of native lands by the Grown 5 £300,000 for waterworks on the goldfieldß; £1,000,000 sterling for immigration, and tho balance for the construction of lines of railway throughout the colony. There was also a clause providing that no particular line of railway should bo constructed without the express sauotion of Parliament being first obtained. He thought it would be admitted that those were sufficiently large proposals to be submitted to a Legislature representing a colony ' with a population which did not exceed, if it abtually attained to, a population of 250,000 souls, and already burdened with a large publio debt; and he confessed that when the measure was first submitted to the House by the Q-ovornment it took away the breath of many honorable members, some of whom never recovered from their surprise, but continued to vote against the bill through all its stages. It was an old saying, " That fools rush in whore angels fear to tread." He would not say to which of these two classes the representatives of tho province of Wellington belonged, but, if his memory served him aright, they had voted to a maa in favor of that bill. Speaking for himself, he said that the measure met with his most cordial support and approval, and he firmly believed it was requisite for the prosperity of tho country, only two things being requisite to ensure its success. Tho first, that we should bo able to borrow the money ; the second, that wo should secure a wise and honest expenditure of the funds. (Hear, hear.) And he | would say that that country was not deserving to have the control and management of its own affairs which could not from amongst the number of its citizens select men of sufficient probity and honor to entrust with the control and carrying out of those affairs which were essential to its welfare. Ho had not come there that night to gloss over the proceedings of the session ; or in any manner to hide from them the fact that in many instances the results of its legislation were antagonistic to the interests of this province, and notably so was that tho case in the instance of the Railway Bill. If any reason could have been assigned as a justification for the introduction of a Eailway Bill at all last session, it would have been found in the assurance that tho lines of railway proposed to be constructed wore intended to run through those parts of the North Island which had been the hotbed of native disturbances, that by their construction wo might hope to increase our hold upon the country and lesson the risk of future wars. But in the bill introduced by the Government all such considerations were utterly ignored ; the greater part of that portion of tho loan which had received the Imperial guarantee, and which there was every prospect of our being able to raise, was appropriated for the construction of lines in the Middle Island, where there never had been, and never by any possibility would be, any native disturbances, and the construction of those lines in the North Island which wero most essontial wero left entirely to the chapter of accidents. He need not remind them what that meant, standing face to face as wo wero with a European war 5 in fact ho fancied he could hoar some of them sayiug " and what were our representatives doing to permit this?" All he oould Bay was, that he know of no process by which two and two could be made to add up to more than four, and unless their representatives wore backed by the necessary voting power their hands wore tied, and they wero poworless to insist on -those measures which they believed best for the interests of their constituents. He would however toll them what their representatives did. Wellington had heard something of deputations lately. Well, in concert with the members of both houses for Wellington, Hawkos Bay, and Taranaki, they formed themselves into a deputation and waited upon the Government, and they urged upon the Government as far as they were capable (and ho might say that they wero an influential deputation), that if thoy insisted upon proceeding with the Railway Bill at all during the session, thoy should agree to introduce into the first schedule of the bill the construction of a line from Wellington to Hawke's Bay with a branch lino to Taranaki. Woll the Government took time to consider their proposals, — they took advantage of that time to take stock, — they found they wero sufficiently powerful to carry their bill, and, as a matter of course, tho deputation were kept out in the cold. The fate of the Railway Bill was .settled at that interview. What he might term an outside demonstration was afterwards mado on the floor of the House, when sundry amendments were moved in tho schedules — a demonstration which Berved to Bhow the zeal of some of x our members, but which had not tho slightest effect on tho ultimate fate of the bill. He should not refer to everyone of the bills passed during the session : bills upwards of 100 in number, and tho names of many of whioh ho confessed ho had absolutely forgotten ; what he bad rather wished to do, was to glance at those questions which from their magnitude possessed a colonial significance, or woro from local circumstances deserving of notice at hia hands, and amongst theso ho might class tho Representation Readjustment Bill. He could only characterise tho passing of that measure, inasmuch nsit affected their interests, as a high crime committed by tho Legislature, depriving them as it did of a third of their representation, and for no other reason, for no other offence, committed on their part than this, that since tho time when three members wero given to the city it had doubled its population, and ho might say quadrupled its wealth. Some semblance of reason might have been given for this act of spoliation if the representative of which thoy had been deprived had been given to somo of those large contres of population at present almost entirely unrepresented ; but the political nature of the arrangement waa made sufficiently manifest to him. Th« member of which they had been deprived waa given to tho Wairarapa, which at the 3resent time was more over-represented, both in proportion to population and wealth, than was the city of Wellington before tho alteration was made. However, there was a bright side to every picture— bright spots in every Bky, however davk ; and he might very fairly refer with pleasure to the Land Transfer Aeb as one of tho redeeming features of the session. Tho general object of that act was sufficiently well known to all of them not to require any explanation at his hands. He knew that the legal pi-ofessioa claimed that question as their own poouliar property, and scouted the idea of any one but a lawyer venturing an opinion upon it; but he could see no reason why the transfer of acres of land Bhould not be acoomplished with the same ease and simplicity as bank stock, tons of flour, or any ether commodity ; and with the experience they had had of the working of a similar act in Australia, they had every reason to anticipate lasting and beneficial results from the operation of this moasure. The thanks of tho colony wore duo to the Government, and especially to the Premier, for the introduction and passing of tho bill.- Another mutter to which ho would refer, because silence on his part might be construed into an intentional omission, was the question of the San Franoisoo mail service. They wero well aware of the efforts mado by many of them to induce the Government to make Wellington the port of call, and of the want of succesß which attended those efforts j and there was a strong impression on tho minds of many that if their labors had been properly followed up by their representatives they would have had a different roßiilt. He could only say that that question had been made a matter of tho most soriouß consideration by their representatives, and that they held frequent meetings among themselves to consider it. He did not refer to the city representatives alone, but to the representatives of the province — and if nothing more had been done by them it was because nothing more was possible. They were aware that by the original contract the steamers called at Auckland and made Sydney their terminus; but by tho new arrangement, sanctioned by tho Assembly, they call in the first instance at Auckland, and in coasting down the islands, call at Wellington, Lyttelton, and Otago. With the exception of that modification he confessed that they had had to submit to a defeat— • and to submit gracefully to a defeat is sometimes one of the most difficult tasks a politician has £0 learn. There were many other subjects to whioh he should like to refer, but he was not muoh in the habit of speaking aloud, and must confess to being physically unable to talk to thorn much longer. Still, there waa one other matter to which he would rofer. He alluded to the probable changes -which, consequent on recent events, were likely to take place in the relations between tho General and Provincial Governments, a question whioh, he believed, was at the present time

engaging the attention of every thinking man in the community. He bad never been one oi those who clamored to have provincialism hissed off the stage before knowing what was to take its place. But he said that theit public men inuafc accept the logic of facts and not lay down cast iron rules for their guidance which admitted of no alteration for the altered cirourastances in which we found ourselves. Without indicating the direction which he thought changes were likely to take, he would remind them that the duties for which the provinces were originally formed they had "to o great extent been incapacitated from performing by the aots of the General Assembly, which had first clipped their wings and then taunted them with riot being able to fly. The Assembly, by direct legislation had deprived them of their land fund, and the necessities of this wretched war had compelled them to appropriate the greater part of their ordinary revenues. He should, however, fail in his duty to that meeting if he did not tell them plainly his conviction that the sweeping away of provincial institutions was but the stepping stone to separation, and the prelude to depriving them of that political status and thoso advantages which it had cost them ten years of strife to attain. He was aware that he had very feebly performed the task which he had allotted to himself, and could only say that if there was any question to which ho had not referred, he was ready to supply any information to the best of his ability, and hs far as his memory served him. It only then rested with him to publioly state to the meeting, what doubtless everyone was well aware of, that it was not his intention to again solicit their suffrages or seek a seat in the Assembly. Before thanking them, he wished to say that he trusted they would not atlribute that conduct to any want of sympathy op want of interest in the welfare of Wellington, as he had too much at stake, in common with them all, not to save him from such a charge as that. He begged to thank the meeting for the patient manner in which they had listened to him on that occasion, and for the uniform courtesy and forbearance he had invariably experienced at their hands during the years he had had the honor of representing them, a fact which would always be remembered by him with peculiar gratification and satisfaction. (Loud applause.) Mr BokIiABE then uose to address the meeting. He said that as regarded the action taken by himself and his colleagues, they had always acted unitedly. There were of course exceptional occasions on which they held different opinions ; but that was only on minor matters. Mr Borlase then referred to the attack that had been made on him in the "Post," charging him with neglecting his duties, saying that he seldom deigned to notice those anonymous nttacks. He liked to settle such disptes openly and above board, and would always bo most happy to answer Buch ac» cusations ou a public platform, before the people of Wellington (Great noise and uproar here took place, which was caused by the antics of a famous j dealer in greenstone, and a forthcoming candidate for the next election.) The best way in which the citizens could judge of Mr Borlase's labors during the session, and how far he had neglected his duties, would be to refer to his speeches in Hansard, which, if they chose, he would road to them, if it took until tomorrow; or they could satisfy themselves in another way : they might refer to the person who took down the names of members as they entered the House. If they examined the records they would find that out of ninety sittings during the session ho had only been absent from two. That was a positive statement that could not be contradicted, He believed there was some slight feeling of animosity against him in the community, and he was at a loss to account for it (as he was not conscious of entertaining a similar feeling towards anybody), unless it was because he had supportod the Fox Ministry. Ho supposed that the person who wrote for the paper that had abused him had some grudge against Mr Fox, probably because he said hard things at times — such as calling a man an unmitigated scoundrel ; and though he did not believe in using such terms himself, it was not to be expected that human nature could quietly tolerate misrepresentation. Fair and legitimate hitting ho did not object to, no matter how hard it might be ; but he protested against this secret work. He was not there as a new and untried man, to tell them that his opinions were so and so, like a young gentleman on his right, who had come forward for the country districts ; and in case any ono might suppose that the ideas put forward by that person were new, he could say that he had advocated them years ago — they wore stolen from him (loud applause). They had been urged and advocated by him ever since he had represented the town in 184-7, and he was sorry to see that so many earnest workers of those cai'ly days had dropped out of sight or passed away — such tnen as Gibbon and Jerningham'Wakofleld, men true and tried, and who with himself had used their utmost efforts to preserve the land for the people. He was sorry to say they were beaten — beaten by the country 5 and yet these ideas, which they had advocated during the best part of their lives, were now brought forward ns new. It was well known that what he and his party desired was that each district of the province should have local self-government, and the management of their own affairs, and that the General Government should have control over general matters. Therefore sweeping away proj vincialism could not be a new idea. To speak of the native policy of the Government, he, like his friend and colleague Mr Taylor, had always snid that it was merely a matter of time. Until we wero strong enough to put down those outbreaks effectually we should bo chary of risking the lives of our wives and children. Let us get along quietly at first by all meaus ; still if they tho natives would be unruly, bring the law down on them sharp. He did not like to see settlers driven from their homes. He might refer the ! meeting to his speech on the financial statement for an embodiment of his political opinions generally, and if he could afford it he would have it printed, as it contained pretty nearly the whole of his opinions on the leading questions of the day. He considered the financial policy of the Government embraced everything that was most essential to New Zealand, as, after all, the sole want of the colony was money — money to make public works in order to open up the country, and if we had not the money ourselves we must borrow it elsowhero. The opposition were at first aghast at the proposals, and Rsked " how are we to repay it ?" but they soon thought of their constituencies, and voted for it to a mun, perha-ps against their consciences, but in accordance with the wish of their constituencies. He would ask those present why was depression everywhere to be seen in the colony. It was because there was no labor. Why had we no dock ? Because their was no money. Why no railways ? Again want of money. We should not lie quiet when a chance presented itself of obtaining money, afraid of not being able to pay the interest. There could be nothing to fear if the money was properly spent. The mainspring of business was laying out money profitably, and that was the Government scheme. Ho did not, however, believe in immigration. He was opposed to sending money out of the country to bving paupers into it. It should he spent on public works ; then good wages could be paid, people in the place would be benefited, and the money would circulate and all reap the advantage. He could refer t& v Hanßard" as proof of what he said on this subject if it was necessary. (Considerable interruption ber*e ensued.) Beturniug to the financial policy of the Government, ho might say that he was very strongly of tho opinion that the Government would bo able to raise all the money that was required. He believed that the European war was causing a large amount of money to be hoarded up, that would naturally create a desire for investment. Upon the subject of. the Imperial polioy, he had Been, as well as others, that the troops must go, although he had warned them o1 what would surely follow. We were not able then, nor wero wo now, to defend ourselves ; and though confident that we were able to lick the natives when it came to the test, he did not thinli it was wise or politic to attempt it until it oame to be a question of whether we were to be turned out or tbe natives were to bo killed. In that case the probability was that the natives would be killed. (More uproar, and cries of "Fire avray, Borlase.") He learned from, the remarks of one of his friends, or so-called friends, the other day, that many people were under tbe impression that he received payment for hia attendance at the House 3 but he could assure them

i that wa9 not so, as Wellington city members re* f ceived nothing. as far. as he was con* i corned, he had never received a farthing from the ; General Government in his life. Therefore, if ? his attendance at committees was not bo regular i as that of those members who received their ■ guinea a day, and who frequently were in the )' House from ten o'clock on one morning until two > the next, it must be remembered that his guinea i had first to be earned. 4 He need not tell them I that ha was not a rich man, and ,hia only reason ■ for coming forward was beoause he felt an mii teresb in the wisheß and. desires of the people. ; During one part of the session he had, through I ill health, been compelled to absent himself a i good deal ; but at all other times ho took an ' active part in the businesa of the House,; and at I all times the Government could calculate upon > bis vote while thoir policy was under conßidera- • tion, and he believed that was the head and front . of his offending, Mr Bdrlase then referred to ; the Manawatu purohase, to account for the back- ; ward state of the colony, and qtioted from .Judge Mailing to] Bhow that in the case of the Mana> watu natives we Bhould not allow our rights to i be trampled upon, as the settlers of that district ■ wore quite strong enough to put an end to the whole thing. On the distribution of representation, he said thatMr Taylor,Mr Harrison, andhimself had stood out against all the others — against Buuny, Fox and Fitzherbert, Ludlam and Brandon ; out it was a futile effort, and the province was chißilled out of its representatation. No one could have fought harder against the. injustice than Mr Taylor and Himself. A most important question, as being one that would intimately affeot the growing future of the country, was education j and he did not think that was a subject to be dabbled in by every local board. It was manifestly the duty of the General Government to give to the whole colony a comprehensive scheme. Ifc did not necessarily follow that we required Buch a scheme as that working in England, as the circumstances of the two countries were totally deverse. It was not essential that the Government should interfere with existing denominational sohools working well, unless to give them a little pecuniary assistance bo as to increase their efficiency ; but in the outside country districts some comprehensive scheme was necessary. There were perhaps many other things he might have touched upon, but in what he had said he thought he referred to the principle subjeots of interest, and aa plainly as he could, with regard to bis action during the last session. He opposed to the duty Bought to be imposed upon corn and flour, because he could not see the justice of the people of Wellington paying the people of Ohristchurch a premium to grow the bread we eat. It was a sound principle that they should have free trade in all articles of consumption, but he did not mean to say that in New Zealand he could be an absolute freetrader, as the circumstances of the colony wore altogether different to those of England. However true in the abstraot free trade might be, all must admit that it was imperative on us to foster those industries that our natural advantages enabled us to dovelope. It should be a recognised truth that the luxuries of life should be the first things to tax, such aa silks, tobacco, and to* defer taxing the food of the people as long aB possible. Not to do this would soon result moat probably in the population floating away instead. of flocking in. From his position as a lawyer, he might say a word on the Torren's Act, and contrary to the action of the lawyers, ho had supported the matter thoroughly ; he had even offered the Government all the assistance in his power so to shape the measure aB to make the transfer of landed property as cheap and as easy 08 the passing of a ship in tb.e Custom House. He therefore had shown on that measure that he was prepared to sacrifice personal interests to publio , wants. (Mr Bi'ady again bursting in, considerable uproar ensued). Mr Borlase then informed the electors that Bs.the meeting in no way affected the future, he would olobo his remarks by thanking them for the manner in which they had listened to himself and his colleague. Mr M'Kenzie Baid the meeting, had heard the explanation given by both their members. He thought that made by Mr Taylor was a clear etraigbtforward statements, and he thought everyone was satisfied that he had done his best. He had served them now for ten yearn, and as he told them that he intended to retire, he thought the leaßt they could do, after he had devoted so muoh of his time_ to their sorvioe, was to pass him a hearty vote of thanks. Seconded by Mr Hood, and carried with acclamation. The business of the meeting being now over, the assemblage cast their eyes round in search of a little relaxation and amusement, and Beeing a venerable figure occupying a conspicuous position on the stage, loud cries of " Plimmer, Plime-e-e-r" resounded from all parts of the hall. Seeing that the sweet voice of the people was for him, Mr Plimmer answered the call ; but the capricious crowd had altered their mind during that walk from a back seat to the front of the stage, and though, the apostle of the Reform Association claimed their tongue louder than ever, it was* the moat horribly discordant ovation that ever greeted a reform champion in Wellington. The articulations were some of the choioeßt specimens of the shriek, yoll, groan, hiss, hallo, whoop, bark, howl, ; and bellow that were ever mixed up together. His Worßhip the Mayor besought the meeting not to be~in such rude haste: to listen to Mr Plimmer first and, having heard what he had to Bay, mark their approval afterwards; The meeting, however^ could not be patient, and again addressed their infernal music to the benignant and helpless-looking figure who .stood at the foot lights patiently awaiting bis turn ; but the fates would not hear his solo, and the last our reporter heard from him was the apologotic words, " I haven't a word to say." The meeting then .broke up after the usual vote of thanks had been given.

Sham ANTiQurriEß.--The traveller in Egypt sees a sepulohral figure in glaced porcelain dug from the ground, and eagerly buys it, only to find when he sots home that it was made in England and sent out to be buried, that he, or some one else, and it might be Bold altogether. This is a favorite trick with Belgian guides on Waterloo. The plough tears up a sword-hilt that is competed for by the visitors, and bought dearly because of its obvious genuineness. Bless the innocent buyer's heart, it was made at Nistnea a month beforo. Did you ever know earthworks to go on in London without a find of wenpons, op pottery, or coins, or something kindred ? The next time you see suoh works in progress ask an excavator if ho has got any curiosities ; ten to one ho will show you some: if not, hewiiltell you some will surely turn up by to-morrow. Go the nfcxt day, and it' the articles produced do not exactly accord with your knowledge of Englaud'a ancient history, be not surprised, The lake* dwellings of Switzerland, the gravel-beds of Suffolk, Amiens, and Ablevilla have been Tom Tiddler's grounds in their time and will be again. " The Gentleman' b Magazine." Power of Song in Bibds. — A knowledge of the meohanioism of their mode of respiration will" likewise enablo us to explain another remarkable , feature in the history of the feathered tribeß, namely their powor of song. Who that haa listened to the prolonged warblings of the linnet, ' the flood of melody poured forth from the little ' throat of the canary' the " lengthened sweetness long drawn out" which almost pains the ear as | we listen to tho song of the nightingale, but ha* , wondered how suoh tiny birdß can ever flncl , sufficient breath for the utterance of suoh long* , maintained, suoh interminable notes? ."What 1 would our priinma donnas at the opera give &x> ! but the tithe of the capaoity of these favoured little songsters ? No human breast could ever ( hold sufficient breath for suoh a performance. f We now see, however, that the vocal organs of a bird are exactly adapted to the nature of thei* i music Their whole body is a bellows," as lavgft 5 in proportion to their size as the bellowa of an organ is in relation to the pipes into wbioh it haA to pour tho sound. The little bird is, ; in faot» a I living harmonium—its singing . apparatus i» not situated at the top of its throat* but is, implanted I in the interior termination of the windpipe j and , just as tho tongue of the harmonium is thrown , into vibration by tha issuing burrenfc of air caused by pressure upon the bellows; b.q are the , vocal chords of the feathered songster rendered '. sonorous as the air passes over them»~ < '-.oa(Mell'4 , Book of Birds." '