IN THE DOMINION,

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 19, 6 May 1908, Page 7

IN THE DOMINION,

Napier Master Bakers decided not to introduce the coupon system, but to eliminate bad debts as far as possible.

- The Hawke’s Bay Rifle Association has decided to enter a team for the Empire Cup Competition.

1 The Maori “prophet,” Rua, has abandoned the idea-of going to Wellington, and lias returned to Urewera.

A sum of over £200,000 has been spent in oil-prospecting in the Gisborne district.

Rabbits are spreading into parts of Poverty Bay district that were formerly free of the pest.

The turnip crops in Southland arc this season being destroyed by the dia mond black moth.

It is not considered likely in Dunedin that butter, during the winter months, will fall below its present price of 1/3 per lb.

John BarretU a Single man. aged 45. was killed on the railway near Paeroa on April 27th by being run over at a level crossing.

The chess championship of the Dominion has been won by Mr. A. W. O. Davies, a member of the Wellington Working Men‘s (flub.

A contribution of £5OO will be made by the Borough Council towards the establishment of a Technical School in AVaihi.

Last month the Dominion exported 138,317 ounces of silver of the value of l£ 14,246, as compared with 91,272 ounces, valued at £9317, in April of last year.

The s.s. Taviuni, which went ashore at Westport, has not been floated off. Iler damaged cargo is to be sold by auction. The Government has accepted the offer of ti e proprietor of the Kauroo Estate, near Oama.ru, comprising 19,000 acres, at a price of £7 per acre. Wellington bakers introduced the cash coupon system on Monday last; Bread is sold at 3id for cash, or twelve coupons are supplied for 3/4. At the election of school committees for Wellington city and suburbs, the general feeling was against Bible-reading in schools, and a majority of the candidates advocating it were rejected. Bricklayers at Gisborne have just gone on strike for an advance of wages from 12/- to 13/- per day. Yet there are people who say that labour is plentiful and wages low in New Zea la ml! A movement is on foot to form a company in Napier to erect an Opera House. An option over a very desirable property in the centre of the town has been obtained. The ‘Minister for Railways anticipates that at the present rate of progress an engine will be able to travel over the whole lengt h of the Maui Trunk Line three months before the end of the year. Among the wills lately proved was that of a Dunedin lady, who left personal estate valued at £1,586. The testatrix bequeathed one shilling to her husband, and the residue of her estate to an aunt. A decision of general importance has been given by Chief Jhdge Palmer in the Native Land Court. in effect he held that a European child adopted by an aboriginal native cannot- participate in any e late left by the native at death. The Government has accepted a tender for a monument to he erected over the grave of the late Mr. Seddon on Observatory Hill. Ihe work will probably take four months. The amount of the tender Is not disclosed. A brown trout, weighing 171 b, was caught recently at the outlet of the creek running down from tin* Fairy Spring, Lake Rotorua. The fish was presented to the Tourist Department by its captor (Mr. Campbell). There l isinow only a gap of nine miles interfering with the direct railway cominunication lietween Auckland and Wellington. This is covered by a coach drive through splendid forest scenery. Tliv game' shooting season opened on May Lst, bints being everywhere plentiful—the result, it is supposed, of the dry summer. Near Huntly there was an

unfortunate mishap —a young man named Charles Comins being accidentally shot by his brother, sustaining serious injury to his shoulder-blade. Mr. T. E. Donne, general manager of the Tourist Department, states that the tourist season just closed has been a “record” one for the Dominion. The majority of visitors had come from Aip*tralia. y Thc-\Labour Representative Committee has decided..to run four, candidates for the City seats at the general election. What action will bo taken regarding the suburban constituencies has not yet been decided. Of 382 immigrants who landed in Wellington last week by the steamers lonic and Devon, only 12 made application to the Labour Department for assistance, and of that number nine were found suitable positions without the least delay. About 25 miles of underground cable for the supply of electric light and power to consumers from the corporation electrical department, has been laid in Wellington during the past six months. The work, which is costing £3o.Cffd. is nearing completion. The Government has extended the fishing season at Rotorua to the end of May. An English sportsman (Mr. J. Bushley) has this year had a “record catch’’ of 2,6941 b. of fish, for 72 days, the fish numbering 904, and the best fish scaling All were caught with the fly. The Bank of New Zealand premises in Auckland are to be enlarged by the addition of a five-storey brick building. The additions will cost lietween £9,000 and £lO,OOO. Messrs. E. Mahoney and Sons are the architects. The other day a Waikato eel, desirous of making an overland journey, “stowed away” in a case of pictures that were being sent to the Auckland Art Society’s exhibition, which opens on the 20th inst. The eel, which was over 2ft. long, arrived in good condition, and has probably ere now made experimental acquaintance with the process of skinning. This year New Zealand exported 163,379 ounces of gold, valued at £627.828. being an increase of 18.291 ounces, valued at £ 61,801, compared with the figures for the corresponding period of List veir. 'lflie export of gold last month was 28.279 ounces, valued at £ 109,759, as against 25.969 ounces, valued at £102.555 in April. 1901. Two women were on May Ist convicted of shroplifting from Wellington business places, and were fined £3 each; in default seven days. Both were wives of respectable, hard-working men. The Chief Detective said' that a good deal of shoplifting had been done of late. Goods were not only taken from outside shops, but people went in and stole. Bro. C. A. C. Hardy. M.P.. of Rakaia, president of the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Masonic Lodge of New Zealand. leaves Christchurch toNew Zealand, left Christchurch last week for Auckland to attend the annual communication of the lodge, which opens on May 6th, and to take part in the installation of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, his Excellency the Governor, M.W. Bro. Lord Plunkct. •Tom Burrows lowered his own and the championship “record ' for club swinging by keeping -up a display of that exercise for 62 hours and two minutes at the Theatre Royal. Wellington. At the same time Chas. Parnell ‘‘broke record” by playing the pianoforte lor 36 continuous hours. Both champions received presentations from admirers. Public Service appointments confirmed by the Cabinet include the promotion of Air. W. S. Fisher (clerk in the Magistrate's Court at Christchurch), who had previously 18 years’ experience in an official assignee's office, to the position of Official Assignee in Dunedin; and Mr. J. Evans (clerk in the Official Assignee’s Office in Christchurch) to be Official Assignee in that city. The Wellington Education Board has resolved to inspect and report upon the means provided in the city schools tor the escape of children in case of fire. At a meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board-on Friday lust the engineer was instructed to prepare plans for a 506 ft. extension to the present wharf accommodation, the work being necessi-

tated bv an extensive development of the trade of the port. The Chairman mentioned, during the course of a discussion, that the trade of the port had more than doubled during the last 10 (’ears. The marble bust of the late Mr. Seddon, executed by Mr. Nelson Illingworth, was placed in the main entrance to the Government Buildings to-day. Its permanent home will be in ’lit* Parliamentary library. The bust stands upon a ped cstal of polished green granite, upon the front of which the name “ Seddon ” is inscribed in bronze. The height of the bust with its pedestal is Oft. Gin. An epidemic of scarlet fever is causing some concern in Wellington. During the past fortnight eight cases of scarlet fever were reported from Brooklyn and 21 from other parts of the city and Suburbs. There have been 21 cases reported from Brooklyn during the month of April. Nothing has been learned which throws any light on the origin of the epidemic. It has not been thought necessary to close the schools, as the epidemic is abating. An interesting illustration of the unabated power of old-time superstition upon the mind of the present-day Maori is afforded in the death of a young Maori at Whakahi. He was a strapping, stalwart young fellow, on a visit to Gisborne, having just finished a bushfelling contract. He unwittingly trespassed on a wahi tapu, or sacred ground, which means death to the trespasser. Tn a fortnight, influenced by his own fatalism, and the unconscious hypnotism of his friends, ho sure enough gave up the ghost. A meeting .will be held in Wellington* shortly in connection with the control of the national park at Tongariro, the boundaries of which were recently rectified. Instead of containing, as at first thought, 150,000 acres, there are nearly 300,000. Air McNab is hopeful that the park will become attractive to tourists, especially in view of the early completion of the trunk railway, which skirts its western borders. A botanical report by Dr Cockayne will be published i/i popular form. Parliament is likely to be asked to de-

fine the new boundaries of the park, and probably some- improved land adjoining the park will have to l*e taken in accordance with the rectified survey. A public meeting was held at Drury on Saturday night in the Drury Hall to further consider the Dixon case. Mr- -I. Flanagan, who was in the chair, reported that the deputation appointed had not been able to wait upon the Minister of Ju.-tice. as was proposed at the last meeting, owing to that gentleman leaving for Wellington before any time had been fixed) for receiving them. It was resolveci to forward the facts of the case and petition, which has been signed by about one thousand people, to the Minister at Wellington. The following resolution was also carried: “ In vknv of the Alagistrate having based his decision on the tin ling of the Arbitration Court, this meeting considers it futile for the Minister ot Justice to contend that Dixon’s imprisonment is not the outcome of the Arbitration Court's decision.’’ At the animal meeting of shareholders in the 'J'aupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., held at

Auckland on April 29th. the report showed a net profit for the year of £(♦.778 13s. sd. From this, it was re solved to pay a dividend of 9d. per share, which with an interim dividend of the same amount paid in October last, ab sorbed £(>.375. A balance of £3.742 17/2 was carried forward to new account, being about £4OO in excess of the balance brought forward from the previous year. The chairman. Air. E. \\ . Alison, said that the profits for the year had been considerably curtailed owing to the shortage of trucks and railway power on the State railway. Had railway trucks been available. 20.000 mon* tons of coal could have been put out last year. Messrs. E. W. Alison and Geo. Winstone, the retiring directors, were re-elected. and Mr. K. E. Isaacs was again appointed auditor. New Scenic Wonders. During the Easter holidays a party of Auckland excursionists proceeded on board Mr .Montgomery’s launch. Iviroro, to Hu* Poor Knights’ Islands, an isolated ami almost inact'e.ssible group sit anted Io the East of the W’hangarei Coast. Tlio travellers have, ns a result, returned to town enthusiastic with regard to the scenic wonders which have been ioiin I in this remote corner of the Dominion s territory. Mr I*. Leckie, clerk to the

Auckland Land Board, was one of the visitors, and gave a “Star” representative some of his impressions of the sights. • The islinls form a lighthouse reserve, and permission to land must be obtained from the Marine Department. The land, which is wholly of volcanic nature, is covered with a stunted growth of bush, manuka, ami flax, and the islands are the home of numerous birds, including bell birds, tuis. and parroquets, and, so it is stated, of goats ami pigs. On the south west side of the island the const was much too rough for landing, and it was in this direction that jiarty found a magnificent archway open ing in the solid wall of rock, ami showing a clear passage of 50 yards through, with a depth of water of from 25ft- to 30ft. The sides are perfectly sheer and the whole is said to present a most striking ami almost magnificent picture to the observer. “ 1 would say,” said Mr. Leckie, “ that a big tramp steamer could go right through it, and 1 really think even a ful rigged ship could negotiate it. Lhe sea in the vicinity is very deep, approximating 40 fathoms. We were very surprised and delighted to find the arch, having been previously totally unaware of its existence.” In another direction the party found a small hill, three or four hundred feet high, in the middle of which, low down on the water surface, was found a tunnel, 80 to 100 yards long, with wails falling slicer to tlic water surface, ami with huge buttresses, tho cavern measuring some 20 feet wide and about 40 feet high. The whole is said to present, a most curious appearance, precisely as if human hands had been responsible for its construction. Anol her cave near by was also visited by the party in a boat, and it was here that on*? of the finest pieces of Nature’s handiwork was r<* vealed. fl’his huge cavern was estimate- 1 at 300 feet in width. a:id about 509 feet deep, while the height, on an aver age, was not less than 59 feet. From tlie top, beautiful ferns c mid bo seen clustering and falling in twining masses around the rocky roof, 'traces of copper were evident in the rack, and the walls glistened with many shades of

green and chronic, adding a glorious touch of colour to tin* whole. Ihe end of this cave falls in a clear drop in just the same manner as the walls. Another cave, entered by a very narrow passage of water, boasted a tine domeshaped roofs. this cavern being a!.:.? lighted from the other side of the island. Yet another was visited, containing a rather shallow depth of water, in which disported a perfect shoal of fish. including schnapper. "yellow-t ail rock rod an t hapnka. “All were agreed." said Mr. Lockie,‘•that the scenic features of the islands were indeed wonderful, and even then we cannot be said to have landed an I really explored the group properly. W hat surprised us greatly was finding from settlers on the mainland near W’hangarej that never, by rumour or tradition, had they heard of these caves and archways. Never having heard of them our selves we wore unprepared for such sights, and were truly delighted with our The American Fleet. The secretary of the Wellington branch of the Naw League has been definitely advised that the American Hoot will not visit any other port in New Zealand but Auckland. It is understood that the Australian squadron is coming over to escort the Americans to Australia, and an effort. is being made to get it to come by way of Cook Strait ami call a* Wellington. The American Government has accept cd the invitation issued by the Government of I'iji for the American fleet to visit Suva on its voyage trom San 1 ran cisco to Auckland via Honolulu. Sydney Trades Hall Council has rcsoh ed, “That the proposed expenditure of £50.000 in entertaining the Am-ri m licet is a c riminal waste of money, while thousands in our midst ar 1 wanting work." The mover said that the nav> was :n existence for destructive purpose', only, and the crews were constitutional tenderers. A private cable message states that. Sydney will l»r the first port of call of the American fleet in the t'miimoiiwealth. The fleet is expected to rem h Auckland on August 15th, and, uitef i m.lining about a fortnight in New fttohin I w .<t 1 c proceeds direc t to Sydney.

The steamer Otterburn has arrived it Sydney from Magdalena Bay, where ihe assisted in the coaling of the American fleet. Il< r captain states that Admiral Evans, has been ailing ever since the fleet left New York. He became indisposed at Magdalena, and Tinder medical advice left the licet with the intention of entering a sanatorium at San Francisco. The senior officer. Admiral Thomas, assumed command of the fleet and hoisted his flag on the battleship Missouri. It is understood that Admiral Evans relinquished the command only temporarily. and intends rejoining the fleet as Soon as his health is restored. The crews had received the news of the visit to Australia and New Zealand, and it was received with much enthusiasm. Initial steps in the direction of providing an attractive football match in honour of the visit of the American fleet to Auckland in August next, were taken at the meeting of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union on April 29. The question was briefly referred to by the chairman (Mr. M. J. JSheahan) and others present, the consensus of opinion being that the sailors would probably appreciate a first-class game more than anything else. It was decided to instruct the Auckland delegates to the N.Z.R.U. to wait on the Wellington Rugby Union with a view to having the annual Auckland-Welling-ton match played; at Auckland during the stay of the American fleet at this port. It is possible that the visitors might be induced) to give an exhibition of the American game as a curtain raiser, and thereby lend an additional attraction to the gathering. The Chess Championship. The chess championship was won by A. W. <l. Davies, of the Wellington Working •Mon's the runner-up being A. E. Kelling, of Wellington. Davies lost but one game during the congress. He is considered by com potent players to have no equal in the Dominion for an attractive combination of dash and daring. He won the championship at Oamaru in .1905, and the prize for the most rapid play at the Auckland (’engross of 1906. The brilliancy prize lias to be adjudicated. on later. The following table shows the positions occupied by the various competitors at the close of the competition:—

ELEVENTH ROUND. Davies boat Connell. Kelling beat Stewart. Janies beat Mason. Kummer beat Freeman. Fox beat Barnes. Rutherford, a bye. Of the unfinished games which remained from earlier rounds, that of Kummer v. Mason was agreed upon as a draw. Connell fought (mt his game against Barnes, and won on the (»Xtli move. Connell fared not so well against .lames. In an effort to force an attack ho fell ino a trap', losing his queen for a knight, then losing a bishop and resigning. The Blackball Strike. There were great hopes of a settlement of the Blackball strike on Saturday, when a conference was held between the president and secretary of the union, the Hon. A. R. Guinness, and the mine manager. It had leaked out that the company were prepared to grant the half-hour crib-time, and from all appearances nothing remained to keep the men out on strike. At the conference the manager stated that he was prepared to grant the miners half an hour crib-time, provided the mi ip* was worked on the same conditions as before the strike. I’he union representative agreed to accept the manager's teTrns as far as tin half hour crib-time was concerned, but refused to allow the truckers to Work IB hours. They were prepared to allow two of the truckers, who had responsible positions, to put in the extra time, but wanted the miners to do the rest of the trucking. This the manager would not agree to, a- it meant reducing the output of the mine, and running a risk of accident owing to the men being allowed to undertake work they wire unaccuslonled to.

The manager's conditions were put before a meeting of the union, and it was decided, by 04 to 4, not to accept them, and to remain out on strike. The decision was arrived at by open voting.

Since the strike commenced, between 30 and 40 miners have left Blackball for fresh fields, consequently the strike fund

is only divided amongst those remaining. It is stated that the sum of .£8 10/ finds its way into one home weekly. The father gets £ 1 10/, mother 10/, four sons (strikers) £1 10/ each, and two children 5/ each. One miner gives it out that he is saving money out of his strike pay. Summonses having been served on about 120 members of the Blackball Union to appear before the Arbitration Court to show cause why they should not pay their proportion of the fine of £75 and costs inflicted on the union, the union held a meeting on Friday night and <lrafted the following telegram, which has been sent to Judge Sim, Messrs Brown and McCullough, of the Arbitration Court, by 11. J. Fox, the president of the union:— “As president of the Blackball Miners’ Union, on behalf of myself and other members of the union, we protest and object to an application made by the Inspector of Factories being heard at Auckland on Monday next, outside the Westland industrial district, for an order directing the payment by the individual members of the union of any portion of the fine of £75 levied on the union. My wish is to submit points showing that the Court has no jurisdiction to order individual members to pay any portion of the fine inflicted. The time allowed for appearing is insufficient, and we cannot afford the expense of travelling there.” Tire National Finances. Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of a speech in Wellington, on April 27th, said the financial position of the Dominion was highly satisfactory. The revenue of the year ended March 31 showed a record revenue of . £9,055,94(5. Other receipts that could not be called ordinary revenue amounted to £8043, making the total receipts for the year £9.063,989. At the beginning of the year, they had brought forward £717,825. The expenditure for the year amounted to £8,213,965, leaving an excess of receipts over expenditure of £850,024, thus the Government had a total ways and means for last year amounting to £ 1,567,849. They had transferred from the Consolidated Fund to the Public Works Fund £ 800,000. so that left a balance at the end of the year of £767,849 to commence the new year with. The revenue for the period just closed exceeded that of the previous year by ,£656,871. There were increases in all sources of revenue. Customs revenue showed an increase of £ 162,525, there had been an increase of £185,207 in post and telegraph receipts, and an advance of £90,504 in land tax received. The effect of the increased taxation on estates of over £40,000 was very much felt in this year's revenue. Income tax showed an increase of £27,038, beer duty had increased £6391, railways £143.999, registration, etc., £9722, marine £1326. cash land sales £7924. and pastoral rents £30,985. Miscellaneous revenue showed a fall of £8543. Comparing the total revenue with that of two years ago. it had risen by £ 1,471.587. There had been no booming. It was simply that the people of the Dominion were making a steady growth, and expansion in their trades, and there was a spirit of confidence widespread and diffused. Alleged Scarcity of Male Teachers, Certain statements which have recently been published in connection with the alleged “paucity of male teachers" in the service'of the Education Department, and the decreasing numbers of young men entering the teaching profession. were given a complete denial by the Chairman of .the Auckland Education Board (Mr. L. J. Bagnall) at tbeluat meeting of that body. “So far as Auckland is concerned,” said Mk Bagnajl, “this statement is not bornr out by the statistical facts in possession of the Board. In the year 1892 there wete 682 tvackers (exclusive of sewing teachers), and the number of males (272) was 39.8 per cent of the whole number. Since that time the pro-

portion of males has steadily increased, as shown by the following figures:—— 1902—total number 815, males (353) 43.3 per cent; 1903—total 813, males (356) 43.8 per cent; 1904—total 834, males (368) 44.1 per - cent; 1905—total 872, males (380) 43.6 per cent; 1906— total 912, males (400) 43.9 per cent; 1907—total 947, males (429) 45.3 per cent. This increase has taken place notwithstanding the fact that (I) at the adoption of the colonial scale in January, 1902, the salaries of female teachers were made equal to those of males; (2) that in the Auckland district the number of lucrative positions in the service is disproportionate to the number of schools (nearly 500) which have to be maintained.”

Continuing, Mr. Bagnall said that he did not consider that the payment of female teachers on the same basis as the males had had any tendency to increase the number of the latter, and he was of the opinion that it was yet a question whether such was a wise course to pursue. Election Incident. There was an immense crowd at the declaration of the result of the Mayoral election at Palmerston North on Wednesday evening last. There must have been fully 4000 people in attendance. Both candidates addressed the crowd, Mr. Essex (former Mayor), who was unsuccessful, making a very bitter speech. Mrs.- Essex also addressed the throng, her address being in marked) contrast to her husband’s. There. was much mterliiiption and laughter during the Mayor’s speech, hisses and cheers intermingling. There were loud calls for a speech from the editor of the “ Manawatu Times” (Mr. 12. D. Hoben), which paper had taken a decided stand in favour of Mr. Nash, and against which Mr. Essex a short time ago issued a writ for-alleged) libel. Mr. Hoben was repeatedly cheered as well as hissed, and! on going down into the crowd he was attacked by one man, while another seized him around the ankles, and pulled him to the ground, in response to someone’s call to get him down. Mr. Hoben, however, collared the man. who pulled him down, and, hauling him to the pavement, gave him in charge of the police, a number of gentlemen in the crowd preventing interference. At the Police Court on Thursday a man named John Flowers was charged with assaulting Mr. Hoben and was fined 20/. Bank-Notes and Disease. Complaint has not infrequently been made by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce as to the dirty condition of many bank notes in circulation in New Zealand. In a letter to the Chamber of Commerce on the subject, Dr. Mason, chief health officer, says that it seems a pity that the procedure followed at Home by the Bank of England cannot be followed here, that is that every dirty bank note, after being returned to the bank, is destroyed. He intimates his intention of drawing the attention of the bankers to the complaint, but he thinks much good would come from the Chamber of Commerce approaching the various banks direct. Dr. Mason points out that the Public Health Act has many drastic clauses, and the officers appointed under the Act have many powers, but the destruction of bank notes is not one of them. Sunday School Attendance. “Why boys do not go tp Sunday School,” seems likely to be added to the list of church problems of the day. Speaking at the annual meeting of the parishioners of All Saints’, Ponsonby, th® Sunday School superintendent, Mr Taylor, referred at some length to the subject. There hod been, he said, a very considerable falling-oil’ in the attendance of boyS at the school, and the year’s figures showed a decrease of 50. Parents hud been interviewed by teachers, and had in almost every ease expressed a wish that their boys should attend Sunday school. One of the most frequent answers given was “There is nothing 1 should like better than to see my son attending Sunday school* but I don't like to force him.” Parents would further state that they were "afraid,” but exactly what they were afraid of he could never find out. It seemed to him that the Isjys preferred yachting and other diversions while ho had also found that Sunday tram riding appealed more to the boys than the girls.

Public Works Authorised. The following votes have been author* ised by Cabinet: —Kawakawa-Graham-town railway, £2000; Gisborne-Rotorua railway, £1708; North island railway, £20,300; Auckland defence works, £1000; technical school, Whangarei, £296; Waihi-Tauranga railway, £500; Helens-ville-northwards railway, £4650.

It was decided to invite tenders for the erection of a courthouse at Whangarei, and for Agricultural Department offices at Auckland.

It has also been decided to establish telephone communication between Auckland and Morrinsville and Auckland and Kawakawa.

Restriction of Credits It is stated that the "coupon” system, brought into operation by the master bakers of Palmerston North a few weeks ago, lias not been nearly so satisfactory as the initiators of the scheme had hoped

for. Some members of the association have already found that "coupons” do not make for the general advancement of trade, and they now announce a reduction in the price of the 21b. loaf from 4d to 3d for cash. In some cases the bread is being delivered for 3d. There seems to be an inclination on the part of soma

of the bakers to abandon the “coupon, system” entirely in favour of “cash on the nail,” because housewives display decided disinclination to purchase . the little tickets, or, as they say, "pay for

their goods in advance.” Their argument is that their husbands are not paid in advance. In Gisborne the bakers find a combination of the coupon and eash systems to work satisfactorily; and the butchers of that district have also introduced a system of short credit. Minerals from Antarctica. A day or two ago the Museum authorities in Wellington received two interesting specimens of rock from the) Antarctic. Although it is not so stated it is surmised that they were sent by Professor David, of Sydney University, who is a member of the Shackleton expedition. One rock is a jet black chrysstalline lava from Mount Erebus, there being also a specimen of whitish granite broken from a large erratic block. A' full description of the rocks is forwarded, from which it appears that the Java is principally composed of silenium oxide, alum, calcium oxide, oxide of iron, oxide of soda, oxide of potassium, and Titanium oxide (a very rare element). The sample of granite is somewhat similar in appearance to Aberdeen granite. Though the exact localities o 4 the finds are not stated, a small sketch map which accompanies the specimens shows several! outcrops of granite in various places. The samples will be handed over to the Mines Department after being exhibited for a time in the Museum, that department now having control of the geological specimens.

Won. Lpst. A. W O. Davies (Wellington . o 1 F. R. Rolling (Wellington) 7 A O1. 11. L. James I Wellington W.M. 7 3 R. Mason (Auckland) 6i 3 J M. S. Stewart (Canterbury) ... . 54 44 F. Kummer (.Masterton) AL Freeman (Auckland W.M.) . 4 6 J. A. (’onnell (Wairoa) .. 31 (»i R. J. Barnes (Wellington W.M. 3 7 Rut licit <>rd (Wanganui 7 Rev. Fox (Tinwaid) 1 9