LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue XXVI, 27 July 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Native Intelligence. — Ropata, we learn, is still out in pursuit of Te Kooti, in spite of the snow and ihe scarcity of provisions. Some of tho cake made of hino berries, on which he and his men aro at present subsisting, lias been shown to the " Havvko's Bay Herald." It certainly seems a very uninviting kind of provender. It is not unlike, in appearance, tho black rye bread in common use on tho continent.

Mb J. O. Hamlet.— The friends of Mr J. O. Hamley, who was for so many years in charge of tho Ordnance Store Department in Now Zealand, will be rery glad to learn that his name appears in the army list for June as an assistant controller, with tho rank of lieut.-colonel, and thab ho has been promoted to the charge of the gun wharf at Chatham, Mr Hamley has been also appointed a C.B. for his services in New Zealand.

The Peemissive Bill. — From the statements of a correspondent we learn t li at- the petition being prepared in Auckland for presentation (o the General Assembly is in snbsl;anco fcho same as that sent up by the City Council of Edinburgh to the British Parliament, in favor of Sir W. Lawson's Permissive Bill, and for which a majority of the Scotch M.P.'s voted. A really workable Permissive Bill is quite as much required for Auckland as fov Edinburgh. Tho London " Times" at last shows unmistakable indications of a disposition to advance towards tho Alliance platform. Hear what the Thunderer now siys of tho Allianco movement :— " Tho publicans must prepare themselves for the continuance, perhaps the increase, of an agitation ; aguinst which, in the long run, they will find it impossible to stand." May we not say the same of the publicans in this colony ? In the long run, though not now, tho New Zealand Alliance may prove too strong for the publican party. Gas Company. — A meeting of the shareholders of this company will be held at the company's offlco at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Benevolent Society. — At the meeting of this Society, held on Tuesday, the following sums were paid in : — By Mr Powles — Rev. H. W. St. Hill, £1 ; Mr Moore, £2. By Rev. T. Buddlo— Mr Edmcades, £1 Is. By Archdeacon Stock— A Friend, ss. Belief was granted in two cases of distress and sickness. Inspection Pabade. — The usual monthly inspection parade of all the corps took place last evening in Captain Pearce's new drill shed, the Highland Corps being put through by Sergeant Major Nelly. There was a very full muster, and it the conclusion of the inspection Colonel Reader intimated that Cap tain Pearce's cup would be presented at a parade to be held immediately after tho arrival of his Excellency the Governor, which he expected would be in a few days. The Baelow Tuoupe. — In consequence of a number of uuforscen circumstances, the appearance of tho Barlow troupe is further postponed till Friday next. The Hon. Ali?be» Domett's sale of furniture and part of his library takes placo tomorrow and Saturday. Friday's sale begins at 11 o'clock. Mr R. J". Duncan, the auctioneer, requests us to give the public intimation that the effects and books may be seen any time during this day between the hours of ten and four. Petboleum. — A bottle of petroleum from one of the springs near Poverty Bay has been exhibited in Napier. It is extremely clear, and paper or rag dipped into it burns with a white and brilliant flume. Plainness. — During tho course of his speech at the Social Gathering on the sth instant in Dunedin, held to celebrate the opening of the University, Professor Sale, the newly -appointed Professor of Classics, remarked, "I was glad to hear it stated, as the opinion of the ladies of Dunedin, that the three Professors were very plain-looking men. I was delighted with that plivaso. Ladies aud gentlemen, I sincerely hope that they will turn out to be as plain as they look !" Fijian Heboes.— The "Fiji Times" has tho following account of tho doings of a Fijian battalion of warriors : — " On Thursday evening, the 15th June, the Jenny Duncan arrived in Levuka, from Bau, with 600 warriors, destined to attack the rebellious Lovonis, a tribo inhabiting the interior of Ovalau, and for some time in opon rebellion with Thakombau. Tho attack took place on Friday, 16th, and tho firing and shouting could be oasily hoard from Levuka. On Saturday morning at 8 o'clock, .justastho/irtfoVHftjof Manton'sHotel were about sitting down to breakfast, a hoarse war wy of the King's soldiers was heard, evidently returning from a victory over the Lovonis. They appeared in a state of frantic excitement, gesticulating in a most extravagant manner, and brandishing a human arm and hand tied at the point of a bayonet. They then reported themselves at the native village as having killed ten raon and women. [The arm was subsequently presented to Mr W. C. Gardenshire, who placed it in ajar aud had it conveyed to Auckland in tho Merlin, as an addition to his extensive collection of Fijian curiosities.] Wo believe that preparations for the trial of the two murderers of the late Mr A, Underwood, of Kadavu, are being made. The court is to be a mixed one, and the jury to be composed of whites and natives. The mission barque John Wesley left port on Thursday morning on a cruise. She was to call at Kadava, Lakebo, and Loma Loma, leaving a missionary at each place. Thence she will proceed to Samoa, returning via Rotumah to Fiji, en route to Sydney,

Australian Muttoh. — At a recent weekly meeting of the Eothoram Board of Gruardians, a letter was read from Dr Hardwicke, who had been asked to give his opinion as to tho quality of a sample of Australian mutton, which food the Board appeared inclined to adopt for the consumption by tho paupers in tho house. Dr Hardwicke reported of the meat that, having tasted it, he considered it to be very good, and of satisfactory quality. It would, however, be necessary to uso tho moat when first opened, as it would nob keep long in a state of preservation after being exposed to the air. Tho Admiralty have, wo are informed, lately uurchased 200,000 pounds of preserved meats from tho Melbourne Presorved Meat Company, and it is expected that a furl her supply of 70,000 pounds will be required for the naval service.

It's an 111 Wind. — The " San Francisco Chronicle" of tho 22nd Juno says thoro was considerable talk and excitement of a " fishy" character among the traders and merchants on Davis street and other localities, where the fish trade is an important item. The temporary sensation was caused by tho telegraphic despatch of the morning, stating that tho French Government would transport 4000 of the Paris Communists, with their families, to New Caledonia. This latter is an island in the South Pacific Ocean, near Tahiti. Tho milk in the cocoa nut is hero : San Francisco is rapidly getting control of the trade of tho Fiji Islands, and tho increase of inhabitants by the arrival of tho Communists would throw into the commercial coffers of its merchants from 500,000d0l to 1,00P,000d0l per year, the principal items beiug codfish and salmon, of which they, tho Communists, are great consumers.

Dit Hooker.— Dr Hooker, the accomplished director of the Royal Gardens at Kow, has left England ou a botanical etpedition to tho interior of Morocco, accompanied by Mr R. Ball and one of tho gardeners from Kow, to assist in collecting plants. As tho party will penetrate on almost untried field, the result of their labors will be awaited with much interest.

Export op Gold. — The ship Wild Duck, which sailed from Auckland for London a few days ago, took away eleven boxes of gold, containing 17,3870z 6dwfc 13gr, -valued at £62,100. The total valuo of her cargo was £84,145 !

" Pjjnny" Acts op Parliament. — A sorieß of" Penny" Acts of Parliament for the people are being issued in London, the first two being the " Married Woman's Property Act," and the " Pedlar's Act."

A Valuable Prize.— The " Otago Daily Times" mentioned recently that the volunteer officers in Dunedin had resolved on procuring from Messrs Elkington, & Co, London, a Milton Shield, as the ' Ladies Prize.' Tho shield it is intended to secure is one which gained tho gold medal at the Paris Exhibition, and was subsequently sold for £2,000 to the Science and Art Department to bo placed in tho South Kensington Museum. The centre contains a representation of Adam and Eve sitting in a leafy bower in the Garden of Eden, and being addressed by an angel. Round tho sides of this centre piece, but not meeting either at (he top or bottom, are two large panels, on which are depicted scenes representing the war in Heaven, and the hurling of the wicked angels into Pandemonium. At the top is a piece of workmanship emblematic of the Godhead, and surrounded by tho heads of cherubs. At the foot is represented the Archangel Michael with uplifted sword, trampling on fcho prostrate form of Satan. Tho outer rim is filled with scroll- work and various emblematic figures, such a3 a harp, a crown, a serpent, a globe encircled by a ring, a sun, &c, the whole being surmounted with figures o( angels with outspread wings and hands pointing upward. Chauceb. — As Chaucer's works have been solectod by Professor Sale as a portion of his course at the Dunedin University, it may not be out of place to quote somo remarks made by Mr Justice Richmond in n recent lecturo on that poet : — " At no < ime," said the Judge, "not even among tho contemporaries of Chaucer, was the interest in his works deeper or more widely spread than at the present day. The study of his writings as an English olassb is beginning to form a regular part of liberal education." Odd Fellows' at Hobart Town. — The inauguration of the Odd Fellows' Hall at Hobarfc Town, last week, was attended by 600 visitors. A Diamond. — A diamond has been found on the Manumbar run, in the Burnett district, Queensland. Defksce of London. — Captain Dv Cane, surveyor-general of English prisons, proposes to establish, a lino of defences round tho metropolis, to construct an arsenal at Cannoek Chase, and fortified stations along the east and west coasts, particularly at Liverpool, entirely by means of the labor of convicts, who will, he represents, when certain works are finished, find themselves without anything useful to do. The Cabeeb of a Pabagbapii. — Once in a while a paragraph or an advertisement appears in some out of tho way newspaper that somohow or other seems to tickle tho American journalist, who se(3 it a-going in such a way that it speedily travels all over the country. For example : Some little time since a " brokeu-hoarted woman," as she calls herself, Mrs Laura Hunt, of Broiulalbin, Fulton County, New York, notified the public through the " Amsterdam Intelligencer" that her dear husband, Josiah Hunt, had left her bed and board, and strayed to parts unknown ; and sho forbid all girls, old maids, and widows to raeddlo with or marry him under penalty of the law. Sho earnestly entreated all editors " throughout the world" to lay this information beforo their readers. " Mrs Hunt will please to perceive that we have complied with her request." — " Courier." " And wo (two) too." — "Transcript" "And we three." — " Cincinnati Mirror." " Aud we four." —

"Standard." "And we five."— " Wostorn Methodist." " And wo six."—'' Zion's Herald." " And wo seven." — " Maiuo Free Press." "And wo eight."— " Mobile Free Press." "And wo nine." — "Woodstock Whig." " Leave her bed aud board, the villian ; And wo ten." — " National Eaglo." " And strayed to parts unknown, the vagabond ! And wo oleven."— " Daily Advortiser." "He loft her bed aud board, tho vagrum !" — "Statesman." "And wo start him again." — " Minor's Journal." " Break a woman's heart, tho fiend ! Take that !"— " Telegraph." "Go ahead, and haunt him, Laura." — " Sentinel." " Puss him aronnd, and start him again." — " Evor-so-Many ' ibids.' "

Tom Kino.— The "Argus" of tho 10th instant, says that tho thoroughbred entire horse Tom King, lately purchased by Mr Hunter, of Woodstock, arrived from New Zealand on Saturday last. Ho has taken up his quarters at Kirk's Bazar, where he will remain for a few days before proceeding to Woodstock. Yesterday tho horse had not sufficiently recovered from the effects of the sea voyage to bo shown, but by to-day he will doubtless be fit to be seen. This horse was imported when a yearling to Canterbury, N. Z , and has since grown into a niugn'ficienfc specimen of the English thoroughbred horse, standing fully sixteen and a half hands high, with substance enougli to carry fifteen atone to hounds j color, a rich dark ehesnut. Tom King is by King Tom, out of Deceopoia by Defence, and has in his pedigree somo of tho best and stoutest blood in tho Studbook.

Philosophical. —At a meeting of the Otngo branch of the New Zealand Institution, held on tho 18th inst, his Honor Mr Justice Chapman was elected President of tho Society. Among the new members is the name of Professor Sale, who was appointed a member of tho Council of the Society. Captain Hutton, of the geological stuff, Wellington, wa3 introduced, and made aomo very intorosting remarks upon the colloction of specimens in the Dunedin museum. He particularly commented upon the fact that some very rare birds wero to bo found in tho collection. He mentioned several species of procellaria (petrels), tho skew duck or sea hen, a largo penguin, aud the black waika. Ho ulso pointed out that four specimens wero wrongly named. The first important instalment of a library had arrived from home, and consists of tho following standard works: — Dana's Mineralogy, Osven's Anat. and Phys. of the Vortebrata and Invertobrata, and also his Paleontology ; Dieffenbftcli'a N.Z., Strezlocki's N.S.W., Bentham's Flora Au3tralionsis, Sir H. R. James' Instructions for taking Meteorological Observations ; and lastly, a perfect copy of that now oxtremoly rare work, Cuvier's Animal Kingdom, in xvi vols, with colored pates.

The Jauha.ii Timber, — As the jarrah timbei 1 i 9 now being imported into New Zealand, a shipment having recently arrived from Fromantlo at Christclnu'ch, we give tho following remarks on its qualities, contained in a letter addressed to the " Argus," in which the writer eajs : — "Sir, — Allow me to inform you that I havo had fourteen years bush life in Western Australia, and that I have a thorough knowledge of its different timbers ; therefore I can corroborate • Jarrah JarrahV statement that if jarrah and redgum are confounded one with the othor, it will lwvo a great tendency to spoil the trade which is just beginning to exist, for while jarrah is all that your correspondent states it to be, redgum will not stand the attack of insects. Posts of redgum put in tho ground for fencing or other purposes will not last abovo four or five yours unless tho bottoms of tho posts are charred ; they then will stand a considerable time longer, but jarrah posts will, to my certain knoivledgo stand, twonty years, and thon, to all appearances, bo as sound as tho day they wero put down. J. B."

Ocean Telegraphy. — The San Francisco " Commercial Horald" of June 23rd, says : ' The conduct of the Anglo-American Cablo Telegraph Company can only be proporly characterized by the term, monstrous. There was some ground of excuse for imposing double rates when one of the cables broke, and the means of telegraphic communication with Europo was reduced one-half; but now that has been repaired and placed in working condition, the demand for still higher rates is an imposition of gross character. Formerly tho charges were, for general press news, 37* cents a word ; commercial news, 75 cents : public plain message, 75 cents ; cipher niessagos, $1.50. Tho company after the Ist of July next, will charge for general press news §1 per word ; commercial news, §1.50 j public plain messages, 1.50, and cipher messages, §3. In 1870, at the lower rates specified above, tho company earned a net profit of $782,820— aboub one-tenth tho amount of its capital stock. We are now in direct telegraphic communication with China but tho news is

obliged to travel round three-quarters of the globe to reach us. California and China should bo connected by trans-Pacific cable, which will greatly advantago our commercial relations, and act as a check upon tho monopolizing tendencies of tho Anglo-American Telegraph Company. The Thames. — From a perusal of Mr D. J. O'Keefe's circular, we find the yiold of gold for tho month to be highly satisfactory, amounting in the aggregate to 40,0000zs from 8000 tons of stone, or an average of sozs to the ton. This yield marks .'New Zealand as pre-eminently ahead of any quartz mining goldfield in the Southern Hemisphere. We also find that the population for tho Thames proper is estimated at 8000, and to supply the adult portion of this number, 88 hotels, complying with tho very strict clause of tho recently passed Permi3sivo Bill, have been licensed, pitying to tho local revenue £3720, the buildings boing valued at about £30,000 sterling. All other branches for tho sale and supply of merchandise are reported to be well represented. The Vgndoite. — In allusion to the destruction of the Column Vondome, " tho Courrie* des Etats Unis" says : — ' The true significance of tins barbarous act is accurately expressed in a single word — the Place Tendomo will be called hereafter the Place Internationale. It was French, and is so no more ; just as Paris is no longer French, and as France has coa3ed to be France. Frenchmen have a country no longer.' BettinQ- ON TnE Wae.— The Rothschilds arc said to havo losb from fifty to seventytire million dollars by the result of the Franco-Qermau war. They all believed at at first that the French would be victorious ,- but two weeks after fcho Q-ermins had crossed the Rhino they saw their mistake, and made new investments, which prevented them from losing thrice as much as they would have done had they not corroctcd their blunder in good time.

M. TniERS and the Obleanists.— ln the Versailles Assembly on Juno 8, the debate on the removal of the political disabilities of tho Orleans Princo3, adjourned from Monday was resumed. The Committee reported in favor of abolishing the law of proscription, when Thiers rose and said he had opposed tho abrogation of the law, because he believed such actiou to bo dangerous. Ho only assented to the views of the Committee on tho Princes engoging not to sit in the Assembly, and not to enter into any intrigue against the Republic ; the safety of tho Republic had been confided to him, and he should not betray the trust. The Assembly then voted to abrogate tho law of proscription by 484 yeas to 113 nays; and proceeded to declare valid the elections of the Duke d'Aurnalo and the Prince d Joinville to sents in the Assembly by a vote of 448 to 113.

Quite Optional. — A committee of 150 ladies of North Attelboro', Massachusetts, having tried in vain to persuade the liquordealers of the place to abandon their business, now threaton to substitute violence for persuasion.

'The .Apparatus Can't Lie,'— An Ohio photographer presented a revolver at fcho head of a gentleman who wa9 sitting for his photograph, with the encouraging remark, 'My reputation a3 an artist is at stake. If you don't look smiling I'll blow your brains out.' He smiled a ghastly smile. A G-hoggy Shock. — A drunken man, sprawling on the ground in Patterson, the other night, anxiously wanted to know whether ' anybody clso had been struck by that earthquake' Convent Scandals. — The correspondent of the "Argus" writing from London, May 13, has the following paragraph under the above heading: — There is a powerful positivist element in Paris. The disciples of M. Comte are numbered by thousands, His biographer is a mombor of tho Commuue, and philosophical as woll as political influences have united with corrupt social manners in hostility to religion. But tho aotual effect of Materialism in loosening the bonds of society has made many of tho boldest thinkers pause. It is a singular sign of reaction — or, at least, of rural sympathies as opposed to city theories of lifa — that while the Commuue has been desecrating churches and imprisoning the priests, the National Assembly has adopted a motion in favor of public prayers, only throe voting against ifc. The notorious M. Langlois opposed it, on the ground that the state should not interfere in such matters, but, on the understanding that synagogues and Protestant churches should bo included, it wascarried. In the raids inside upon the religious houses several scandles have come to light, which will not help the priests to recover their influence. For example " the curiosity of the many- headed mob in Paris led them to knock at. the doors of the Jesuit establishment and the Convent of White Nuns, which lay conveniently adjacent, and surrounded by high walls, which have hitherto effectually preserved the privacy of tho iumut«j9. At the end of the nuns' gacdon were found three old women, who seemed to bo hopelessly iditioc, and caged in pens like chicken coops. The lady superior admitted that they had been confined in this frightful manner for nine years, her excuse being that thoy were idiots when admitted. But why brought there at all, and why bo bruitishly used ? In an isolated building were also a species of rack and other instruments apparently used for punishment or torture. The nuns have been taken to prison to undergo judicial examination. All may bo capable of explanation, but the nuns will find it difficult to dislodgo from tho public mind tho inferences which the existence of such objects instinctively suggests, • Tjie Suez Route. — News was received by | tho last Suez mail to the effect that Mr Ver- j don was busily engaged in pushing tho Cape route at home. Victoria will soon have to bestir herself as regards her position with the present mail service. Tho London correspondent of the " Ago" wrote positively that Mr Dutton, the Agent- G-enorai for South Australia, had given notice to the P. and O. Company in London of tho intention of that colony to discontinue their present subsidy. A telegram from Adelaide also gave an intimation to tho same effect. New Zealand, as we have already intimated, has declined to continue the present arrangement, and it is hardly to bo expected that New South Wales will continue her subsidy, with the Culiforniau routo open to her manifest advantage. Were it not for the diplomatic secrecy of Sir James M'Culloch, we might know how much has boon done, and how much remains to bo done, in providing the colony with an available route, should Victoria be compelled, by tho retirement of tha other colonies, to bear the major part of the cost of tho Suez mail.

The Daiuen Canal. — Reports have been received from tho Darien Canal Surveying Expedition up to March 19th j they are encouraging, it having been found that the Atrato and Thyra rivers' route is perfectly practical for a canal route. The distance from ocean to ocean is 125 miles, 75 miles of which is through navigable waters It has been determined to construct the required 50 miles of canal, 30 of which will be along ft level surface, and of tho remaining 20 tho highest elevation is reported at not over 150 feet.

The Construction of Animals. — Professor Huxley, in a recent lecture delivered at Liverpool, on the distribution of animals, said the doctrine of evolution was daiiy receiving more completeness of proof. Ho ascribed that diversity of animals to goologioal changes having isolated the original fauna in largß islands, where under tho influence of climate, departures from the original types took place, as the horse was a modification of the auehuherium.

Oarlme's Works.— The new "People'e Edition," of Ytr Carlyle's works is meeting with an astonishing success. The first volume, " Savtor Resartuß,' has been in such demand that tho press has been kept continually at work, and cannot keep pace with it.

BiBruT.ED Reconciliation. — A correspondence between the Bishop of Sb. David's, Dr Macleod Campbell, and the Bishop of Argyll, on tbo meaning and use of the word " Reconciliation," will shortly be published in London.

■ t ... I,- j#rf A Fabewjell. — Laura Fair was condemned to be hung on the 28th of July inst., her application for a new trial having been refused. The "New York Times," in commenting upon the Fair case, says : — There appears no way in which the California murderess, Mrs Laura D. Fair, can escape the penalty of her crime. The laws of that state do not permit the Governor to interfere in any other way than by granting an absolute pardon—a power which he will be loth to exercise in the 'present state of public feeling. Tho doomed woman, wo aye told, continues to receive demonstrations of sympathy from the "strong minded" of her sex, who protest in the most violent language against her execution. Therein, it appears to us, they are a little inconsistent. They aro continually boasting of their equality with men in all respects, and clamoring for the rights of men. Why, then, should they not be subject to the same penalty for their crimes ? There is certainly nothing in Mrs Fair's cas9 requiring that mercy should be strained in her favor. Even " strong minded women" could find no justification for the murder of her lover, however excusable she may have been in getting rid of two husbands.

Scales tbbsus Fug. — The account of the following extraordinary combat is taken from the " Alexandra Times":— As Mr H.Johnson, of Eglinton Station, was returning home from the head of the run a few doyß since, when near the homestead his attention was attracted by the peculiar movements of a very lai'ge opposum, who kept looking^in and out of a largo aperture in a fallen tree, and acting in a very excited manner. Mr Johnson ap- i proached the tree, when, to his surp?we Ki bj' saw a large carpet snake protruding from tht>log, and evidently at war with the opossum. Mr Johnson, having procured assistance, opened out the shell of the tree, when the opossum, which had not fled at the presence of tho men, at once r ushed the snake. The reptile retaliated by biting him on the eav. Tho opossum then firmly fixed his teeth in the centre of the snake's body, and then twisted and rolled some distance in a lite and death struggle ; but the poison operated at last, and at the end of five minutes the opposum rolled over dead. The snake, which measured 5 feet 6 inches, was immediately killed by one of the men present.

The Colonies in London. — The jointeditor of the " South Australian Register" (Mr Lawson) is? now in London, acting as special correspondent of that paper. An ENTißhiiY New View of the Uensus. — A motion has got abroad among the rural population of Ceylon that the object of the Government in taking the census is to ascertain how many unmarried men may bo spared to be husbands to French widows and spinsters. Singalese mothers have in consequence been sending their unmarried sons into the recesses of the jungle out of reach of the Government enumerators, in tho hope that they may thus escape the French connubial conscription.

The Fourth Estate in Hong Kong-.— Literary ventures do not appear to be very profitable in the Far East. The copyright of a paper started in Hong Kong in 1867, entitled *' Notes and Queries," was recently sold by auction and fetched one dollar !

Australian Butteb. — In a recent trade report, the " Grocer " alluded to tbo increasing imports of this article as the result of successful colonial enterprise, and, always mindful of the interests of our subscribers, we again reverb to the subject as one claiming their especial attention. The general arrivals from Australia have lately included a large portion of butter made in different parts of the colonies, which is mostly in good condition. Wo have already pointed out the advantages that would accrue, both to the colonists themselves and the poorer classes at home, from the importation of butter into this country becoming an established, almost overy-day fact. A Sectarian Print.— The "Sacristy," ia the title of a new quarterly which has just appeared in London ; it is wholly devoted to the interests of the elder children of the Anglican Church, and not only are the contents strictly ecclesiastical in character, but even the adyorlisements are confined to memorial brasses and works written on church principles. Freemasonry and Communism. — At the eighty-eighth annual convention of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in America, hold in New York on the 6th ult, the Grand Master delivered an able and eloquent address, in which he said : I have been compelled to file with the G-rand Secretary an order recalling the commission of our former representative to France. Thia wa3 required, perhaps, by the former resolution of non-intercourse ; but the present position of French Masonry, leagued with communism and atheism, and bearing the banner of masonry into the front rants of civil war, indicates too surely that until purified and reformed French Masonry differs so widely from our own that fraternal relations are impossible with it and other bodies sharing its errors.

The Roman Catholic Chuech and Republicanism.— Tho " New York Herald" of June 10, says:— "Still another difficulty may exist in tho Church or Catholic hierarchy of France. Though the Catholic Church has the facility of accommodating itself to the different institutions of the various countries where it exists, whether they be republican or monarchical, there is no doubt that in Europe it iavors more monarchy and absolutism than democracy. There, at least, it is the natural ally of monarchy, imperialism, and the priviledged orders of society. The Pope ia or was a monarch, and both he and the hierarchy of tke Church in the Old World cling to the old order of things. The ordinary priesta, in France, at least, may incline more to democracy, and might not offer serious resistance to the republic ; but this could hardly be expected of the chiefs of the Church, who, with the Pope, dread the progress of democratic ideas, and regard the restoration of the temporal power of the Papacy ns depondent mainly upon monarchical supremacy. It was no doubt tho impression on the minds of the Commune that the heaoVof tho Church were an obstacle to the establishment of the republic which led to the murder of the excellent Archbishop 'of Paria and the other priests. But should M. Thiers succeed in showing that republican liberty is compatible with order and progress the hierarchy of the Church in France may see the futility of the opposition.