News of the Week.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 4, 18 May 1883, Page 9

News of the Week.

Friday. In giving judgment in the case of the barque Monarch yesterday, Mr. Carew, 8.M., said : The finding of the Court was that the loss or damage appears to have been caused by the Monarch striking the bar heavily with her bow and stern in consequence of meeting with heavy rollers while passing through the usual channel ; that the damage was not caused by the default of any person, but by the dangers and accidents of the seas. The evidence showed that had not the rollers set in unexpectedly, in all probability, no damage would have occurred. Pilot Kelly had taken all due means to ascertain the state of the bar, and although Pilot Paton had expressed tome doubts, they had not been of a decided character. It was recommended that the costs of the enquiry should be paid by Government. M. S. Thomson, charged with larceny as a bailee at Wellington, was arrested yesterday on board the Rotomahana at Port Chalmers. A dairy factory company, of 1500 shares of £2 each, is about to be formed at Wanganui. A provisional directory ban been formed, a site selected, and extensive promises of support secured in the district, i The company expect to start operations in September. J. and H. Barber's boiling-down and slaughter yards at Nahauranga were burned down on Wednesday night— the plant and about 10 tons of tallow being destroyed. The damage is estimated at £1000 ; the property being insured for £1500. A subscription is being made at Wellington for the widow of Captain Murphy, lost from the Huia on Wednesday. The Pacific Mai 1 Company have accepted the proposals of the New South Wales Government with regard to the San Francisco mail service. Champion Copper-lode Company's shares (7s. 6d. paid up) changed hands at Nelson yesterday at £2. F. N. Robinson, of Christchurch, is the winner of the Champion Cup at the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club's sports this year. A man named James Penny has been killed at Roe's sawmills, Onehunga. He leaves a wife and five children. The Onehunga Ironworks Company have applied to the Waste Lands Board for an extension of their lease of the ironsand at Manukau Beach from 21 to 60 years, as the works will cost from £80,000 to £100,000. The Board agreed to recommend that a right of renewal or extension of lease be granted on such terms as may be arranged between the Government and the promoters of the industry. Cornelius Bigley, a single man, who was crushed by a fall of earth at the Parnell drainage works, died at the Auckland Hospital shortly after admission. The Tonga Government have purchased H.M. gunboat Sandfly, in order to carry goods and dispatches between Tonga and Auckland and vice versa, also to convey the Premier of Tonga to and fro among the various islands he has to visit. Professor Sample, the American horse-trainer, has given some extraordinary illustrations of hi* power over hor6es. His exhibition in that respect is quite equal to Rarey's. The s.s. Fenstanton left Port Chalmers yesterday for London, having on board 7840 carcases frDzen at the New Zealand Refrigerating Company's works. In the case of 200 carcases of sheep, the saddles and legs only have been sent Home, leaving the forequarters and flanks to be disposed of here. The average weight of the sheep on board is 6 7 Alb. Timothy Kelly has been found guilty on his second trial and sentenced to death. Joseph Brady's brother has been summoned on a charge of sending threatening letters to the foreman of the jury by which Brady was found guilty. Tenders for the Queensland loan of two and a-half millions were opened to-day. The total amount of the tenders received was £2,630,000. Tenders at 97 will receive 93 per cent., and above that in full. Mr. Bradl"ugh has announced his intention at a crowded meeting of his Northampton constituents to persist in trying to take his seat in Parliament. A dispatch has been sent to the regent of Anam from President Grevy declaring that the impotence of the Government, which has been displayed by the regent, constrains France to adopt measures to secure a better administration of the kingdom, and with this view the French Government have definitely decided to occupy the provenceof Tonquin, and to assume control of the Anamese foreign relations, and to collect custom duties and taxes. M. Grevy offers to grant an annual subsidy to the king as compensation if these terms are accepted. David Stranaghan wa9 brought up yesterday at Christchurch on a Charge of arson. The total insurance on his premises being £1150. He had sent in a proof of loss of stock to the value of £1497 19s. Bd. but a witness who had been in his employ stated that the total value Oi the stock destroyed was only about £700. While this witness was giving his evidence the accused fell in a fainting fit. The further bearing of the case was adjourned to Tuesday next. There were 164 tenders for the Queensland loan, amounting in the aggregate to £2,634,800. The exact average was £97 Is. 2d. Westgrath's firm have taken a million and a-half of the loan. The cargo of frozen meat by tho Dunedin has realised an average of 6sd. General Grant urges foreigners not to abuse the protection of the American flag. Admiral Mentir has been instructed to prevent Chinese troops entering Tonquin. An attack by the local forces at Anam on Honoi has been severely repulsed. The French Government has determined to insist on a French protectorate at Anam.

At the Second Newmarket Spring meeting Splendor, the property of Mr. G. O. Stead, of Cnriatchurcb, won the Champagne Stakes. Kingston, an Irish " Invincible," who was recently arrested in Cumberland, and Devine, another of the Fenians charged with conspiring to murder, have made important disclosures to the authorities. They allege that besides the Assassination Committee other secret societies existed in Ireland, the object for which they were organised being the murder of prominent officials. They bare given full particulars to the police, and several additional arrests will probably follow. It is reported that a crisis in Egypt is eminent, the Khedive having refused to accept the reforms proposed by Lord Dufferin. At a meeting of the Otago Harbour Board yesterday, dissatisfaction was expressed at the work done by the big dredge. A return of the work done, and the expense of the dredge was mored by Mr. Ross. The opinion was expressed that the New Zealand Shipping Company, in asking for a tug to take the Fenstanton across the bar, showed an inclination to disfavour this port if possible, and that had the tug been given it would have telegraphed everywhere that the Board deemed the bar unsafe. The recent conduct of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce with respect to the constitution of the Board, was compared to that of the " three tailors of Tooley street," and was pronounced eminently ridiculous. The Works Committee recommended that Captain Thompson's resignation be accepted, to take effect in six months, and a retiring allowance of £300 to be paid to him was agreed to. With respect tn the affair of the Monarch, the Board expressed an opinion that the pilot service was disorganised. A serious fire occurred at Riverton this morning, breaking out in a stable attached to Morgan Hayes's Caledonian Hotel. The following buildings were destroyed : — Caledonian Hotel, Bacon's (shoemaker), Campbell's butchery, Pattison's Olobe Hotel, Scobie's (draper), Hancock's (shoemaker), Willett's (storekeeper), Price and Bullied'a (drapers). The estimated damage is £10,000. The insurances, as far as known, are :— Hayes, £300 in the New Zealand and £150 in the Victoria; loss? £1,400. Pattison, £700 in the New Zealand and Union ; Price and Bullied, £700 in the South British ; Willett, £600 in the Victoria ; Hancock (£600) and Campbell (£125), both in the Union ; Scobie, £400. Bacon was not insured. The loss is estimated at £2,500 above insurance. The strike at the Walton Park Coal Mine has come to an end, an arrangement having been made with the miners. The dynamite conspirators were brought up again at Bow street yesterday, and further remanded. BtepB are being taken by the London shipowners to promote the construction of a second Suez canal — a work declared by M. de Lesseps to be impossible. The Duntroon Cup was won to-day by Magician. Mr. Stead's horse Splendor, which won the Payne stakes at Newmarket, was purchased by him two years ago, for 420 guineas. The stakes won by him are worth about £1100. Mr. Leadon, whilst working at his brewery at Waitara, fell into a vat of boiling liquid and was fearfully scalded about the shoulders. Twenty-four Chinamen were arrested at Greymouth last night for playing fan-tan, Saturday. In reference to a letter written to the Dunedin Star by the local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, the Harbour-master sends a memo to the Secretary of the Board explaining that there is 22ft. of water at low tide in the berth occupied by the Fenstanton, j but the vessel was put down to 23ft. by the bead, at the same time drawing only 16ft. at the stern, and on touching the ground with her forefoot, the. moorings not being attended to (which ought to have been done under the circumstances), the strain put upon them slightly started the pipe through which they pass. The vessel never grounded after she was brought to proper trim, and sailed drawing 20ft. 6in. The body of Alison, a busbman, has been found at the foot of a cliff near Mechanics' Bay, Auckland. The deceased, who had been in town for a month, drinking heavily, had evidently fallen over the cliff. Two uninsured stacks of grain were burned at Waiareka on Thursday night, and incendiarism is suspected. A fatal accident occurred at Garden Gully mine, Sandhurst, yesterday afternoon. Two men were ascending the shaft, when the bucket jerked, and both were thrown out and fell to the bottom of the shaft — a distance of 170 ft. Both bodies were terribly mutilated. The Canterbury Industrial Association have resolved : " That this Association believe that an exhibition of New Zealand products in London would be conducive to the establishment of new industries in the Colony, and, therefore, respectfully request the Government to communicate with the Governments of tha Australian colonies with the view to holding an exhibition of colonial produce in London in 1885." The freehold portion of the Costley estate, valued at £30,000, will be sold at once. The Tvapeha Times reports a suspicious case of the poisoning of six pigs belonging to Mr. R. Grieve, of Blue Spur. The Standard Oil Works, in Jersey city (U. S.), have been struck by lightning, and 500,000 barrels of oil were burned. Six lives were lost in the conflagration. Sixty thousand troops are now assembled in Moscow for the Czar's coronation. The Right Hon. J. G. Dodso&'s new Bill compels landlords to pay out-going tenants the value of their improvements in order to encourage tenants. Mr. Howard, M.P. for Bedfordshire, will move the rejection of the Bill. A lad named Charles 6traehan bad hit hand cut to pieces this morning, in a planing Machine, at Mean. B. Gutbxie and Co.'s factory, Cumberland •toast, Dmnedin, The accident occurred ia consequence of the lad't standing or the wrong tide of the machine. A quantity of frozen flounders, •cunapper, and gurnet are to be shipped at Auckland by the Matauxa for tin London feaiket,

the f rospectus of the Auckland farmers' Co-operative Association is published, the capital is £100,000. it is proposed to erect flour mills and stores in the city, and supply bakers, storekeepers, etc. One object of the new venture is to make advances to farmers at the beginning of the season. Pome ostriches are coming out by the s.s. Wefttmeatb, to stock a farm at Bombay settlement, near Drury. the Government have been advised that when no fresh election of members of road boards hns taken place, the old members retain their positions until such time as tbeir successors (if any) are appoinied. The elections which have already taken place are perfectly legal. the Governor has made an exception to the ordinary rule in receiving a petition from Natives praying for a commutation of sentence in the case of Mikaere te Papa, and which his Excellency will lay before his Council in Wellington. the Bruce Herald mentions a case in which a man has had to pay heavy damages because of his dogs worrying sheep. In another case a compromise was made on the payment of £4 by the owner of the dogs. . the Government auditor objects strongly against the South Canterbury Education Board's creating a bookselling and stationery establishment as part of its functions. Be considers the step of questionable legality. the timaru tradesman's Racing Club will hold their first annual meeting on December 17, They have selected a racecourse and elected their officers. m The Bruce Herald says :— So far as Tokomairiro plains are concejtid, it may be said that the threshing season will come to a close at the end of this week — a few farms on the ranges around will require the services of the mills. The yields have been in excess of farmers' expectations, especially at Lovell's Flat and neighbourhood. About eight or nine mills have found employment in the Tokomairiro district up to the present time. Frederick King has been.committed for trial at Christchurch, on a charge of setting fire to his boarding-house on April 23, with intent to defraud the Scottish Imperial Insurance Company, in which his furniture was insured for £100. The Northern express train ran into a flock of 600 sheep, near Chertsey, on Thursday, and killed nearly 40. Judge Richmond, this morning at Wellington, gave his decision in the action brought by Messrs. Griffin and Co, of London, to restrain Mr. J. Guilford from fraudulently imitating their label. He held that it was not necessary the plaintiff's label should be registered under " the Trade-marks Act, 1866," he considered that defendant's label was a fraudulent imitation of plaintiff's label, and granted an injunction against the use of such label till judgment or further order. Twenty-three Chinamen have been fined 10s. each, or 48 houro imprisonment, at Greymouth, for playing fan-tan. The keeper of the gambling house was fined £10, or one month's imprisonment— all the gambling implements also being confiscated. The Lyttelton Times reports that Mr. J. B. Armstrong, with a Christchurch nurseryman, has collected 2,000 specimens of plants — some new, many rare, and all interesting, in the Bollestone ranges for the Domain Gardens. The Mataura Ensign says that the Railway Department now seem quite unable to cope with the grain traffic, albeit they do the best with the material at tbeir command. Grain now arrives at Gore in large quantities in covered and uncovered railway trucks from the Waimea Plains, and long lines of settlers' teams daily reach the town on both sides of the river. A strange animal has been seen near Masterton. The local paper says the persons who saw it "describe it to be about the size of a dog, with short legs, and long hair curled at the ends, large eyes and jaws, and broad muzzle. The dogs pursued it, but one returned nearly flayed alive, and the others would hunt no longer. A Maori, hearing the animal described, at once declared it to be a ' taniwa ' — a sacred animal of amphibious habits, in which the spirit of the rivers and waters is said to reside." James Mullett has been sentenced to penal servitude for life for attempting to assassinate Field. Mr. Gladstone's Government have been defeated on one of the clauses of the Inland Revenue Bill. Monday. The Lyttelton Times describes some frozen meat exhibited in a Christchurch butcher's shop, as in excellent condition and free from the least appearance of- taint or decay. In some instances, however, the carcases had been pressed out of shape, and were not at all sightly-looking. A man named Draper has been fined at Balclutha for shooting a wild duck out of season at Catlin's River. The fine was £1, but costs were added, amounting to £9 Is. O'Brien and Doyle have pleaded guilty of complicity in the Phoenix Park murders. The dynamite conspirators in London have been committed for trial. the Ameer of Cabul has defeated a large force of rebels, and rebels at Hay ti have blown up a bridge with dynamite. Mr. Niccol, of North Shore, Auckland, has received an order from the Tongaa Government to build a Bchooner at a cost of seiooo. The Auckland police are sampling liquors at public house bars, and handing the samples to the Provincial Analyst to test for adulteration. At Coimandel three men were capsized in a punt. A man named Bamford, who was in liquor, was drowned. He was a native of Canterbury, and a baker by trade. The Wellington Pott hails the renewal of the mail contrast by the Pacific Mail Company on the terms proposed by the New South Wales Government, as a saving to this Colony of £1250. Next year, our contemporary adds, the net expense of the mail service will be under £2000, and if the United States bear their share

there is a prospect of oar deriving a direct income from this source. Besides this, there is the advantage of continued communication and profitable trade with 60,000,000 American people, and the possession of a mail route not so likely to be interrupted by the chances ot war as the Sues route. About 4000 bags of grain, uninsured, were burned on Wednesday on the farm of Mr. J. Bradshaw, Spy law Greek. the Mount Ida Chronicle records the rescue from drowning ol Master James Kirby, who was washed from his horse in attempting to cross the Taieri River at Hyde, on Sunday- week. Mr. Joseph Salmon, who was in his company, bravely followed him down the river, and, at extreme risk of hie own life, brought him safely to the bank. The Winton correspondent of the Southland Time* writes that a destructive fire took place at Mr. Tbo«. M'Lean's farm, forest Bill, on Thursday night, by which a valuable bam, containing 300 bags of oats, two reapers-and-binders, farm harness, and the usual sundries were totally destroyed. A small amount of insurance was on the building, but the contents were uninsured. The Dunttan Time* reports a serious accident which occurred to a man named M'Gregor some days ago. He, with two other men, were bringing a mob of sheep up country, and had reached somewhere about the top of Nobby Range, where they made their camp for the night. About midnight the sheep broke camp, and in the excitement of rounding them up M'Gregor fell over a precipice of rocks some 60ft. deep — having his pelvis smashed, and his right thigh broken in two places, besides receiving other injuries. The Railway Commissioners arrived at Westport on Friday night, they were to leave for Reefton on Saturday morning. The Government have informed the Christcburch Chamber of Commerce that it would be best not to take any responsibility in connection with the Boston Exhibition, as the time available would not give New Zealand an opportunity of being satisfactorily represented. Samuel Chesson, railway fireman killed on Tuesday last, was buried at Timaru yesterday with military honours, having belonged to the Artillery Band. The funeral was largely attended. Two gentlemen from Otago propose to take up land at Mongonui, Auckland, for the purpose of fruit cultivation. The Waste Land Boaid has agreed to offer for sale certain sections which they wish to acquire. The Omaru Mail contradicts the report that the late Mr. Costley had a wife living at Christchurch. — He had, however, a brother there owning a large family, some of whom are married. A meeting was held in Dunedin on Saturday to consider how aid might be given to the passengers lately wrecked in the Wild Beer and now on their way to Port Chalmers in the Caroline. The immigration agent, who was present, said that some help would be necesBary for the married people who had lost their luggage, and he thought £70 or £100 would be sufficient. It was resolved that the Mayor should publicly invite subscriptions. The Mount Ida Chronicle says it is the intention of our Kyeburn friends to construct a pond for. curling purposes, and we understand they have in view one or two sites wholly in shade, and sheltered from all prevailing winds. With such a pond ice can be relied upon for a certainty, no matter how " open " the winter is. Mr. Redmond lectured at Sydney on Saturday evening, and referred to the Irish grievances in temperate language. He leaves for New Zealand shortly. An amiable youth named Adensen has been arrested at Christchurch for pouring a quantity of boiling tea down the back of one Mary Sheedy, with whom he had quarrelled. Archbishop Croke has made a promise to the Pope that he will conform to the attitude which has been adopted by Cardinal M'Cabe in connection with the state of affairs in Ireland. — We give this as it reaches us, but we by no means vouch for its truth. The International Fisheries Exhibition was opened on Saturday by the Prince of Wales in the presence of a large concourse of people. The Australian section is in a very forward state, and makes a good display. By the outgoing mail the Immigration Officer in Dunedin forwarded applications under the nominated system for 104 souls, equal to 86& statute adults. The nationalities are : English, 20 ; Irish, 19 ; Scotch, 65. Adamant is the favourite for the principal handicap at the Forbury Races on the 24th. The Christchurch Prets ridicules the idea that the New Zealand Shipping Company would damage its business in favour of Port Lyttelton. It adds : " The truth of the matter is that the people i who appear to be most active in the work of discrediting the port of Otago are the members of the Harbour Board themselves. It is notoriously the case that a very large amount of dissatisfaction prevails even in Dunedin on account of the manner in which the affairs of the port are administered." A cleanly gentleman named Leask, and his cleanly wife, objected to kiss the Bible at the Dunedin R.M. Court this morning because it was too dirty. They could not even find a spot among the leaves suitable to their lips.— Hia Worship thought intoxication only could account for the daintiness of Mr. Leask, but apologised on being told that gentleman did not drink, and seemed to accept his conduct as inexplicably odd. Tuesday. The Oamaru Mail reports that four specs of gold, each larger than a pin's head, were taken the other day from the gizzard of a wild duck shot at the Waimate Gorge. At a meeting held in the Melbourne Town Hall to promote the opening of the Public Library and Museum on Sundays, the Rev. Dr. Bromby, Anglican, the Rev. C. Strong, Presbyterian, and the Rev. Father Cahill, 8.J., spoke in favour cf the movement. A man named Edward Burling was killed at Glencoe on Saturday by a fall of earth. The Christchurch diamonds, tent to be tested at Auckland, have been rubbed away like glass on the lapidary's dead lap.

Detective Tuohy has been removed from Wellington to Auckland.—Detect iye Brennan goes from Dunedin to Wellington, and Detective Strathearne comes from Auckland to Dunedin. Detective Sullivan has resigned. The . police in Christchurch appear to bs as cleanly as certain witnesses in Dnnedin. They scrubbed down, with a long-handled broom, a youth named Thomas Allen, arrested for vagrancy the other ' day. The youth, who is 21 years of age and had been well off, ruined himself by gambling and drinking. The Blue Bibbon movement was successfully inaugurated last night, A meeting in the Oddfellows' Hall was attended by 700 persons, 115 of whom signed the pledge. Some passengers suffering from a mild form of measles, brought to Wellington in the British Queen, have been landed at the Quarantine Station. Hearn, the sculler, will row Harrington, of Biverton, allowing him 420 to come to Wellington or taking £20 himself to go to Biverton. A petition to Parliament for an amendment of the Education Act will be signed also by the Catholics of Auckland. ' The indications of the Gisborne oil springs are encouraging. The new bore is down 120 feet. Shifts of men are working day and night. The butcher's boat, getting aleng side the British Queen at Wellington on Sunday night, swamped and was capsized. The occupants were rescued in an exhausted condition. A man named Matthew Clough was drowned in Wanganui river on Sunday. An inquest on the fire at Henui has been held, and a verdict of " Wilfully set on fire by some persons unknown " was found. Joseph Brady's brother has been committed for trial on a charge of Bending threatening letters to the foreman of the jury in his brother's case. It has been decided by the Khedive's lawyers that Baron de Lesseps has an exclusive right to the Sues Canal, of which there can therefore be no duplication. The Pope condemns the collection of money to further the ends of the rebellion in Ireland. — This is evidently a telegram invented to damage Mr. Bedmond's mission — in doing which it will prove a decided failure. Germany has concluded a commercial treaty with Madagascar. Mr. Bradlaugh denounces the House of Commons as guilty of treason to the Constitution. The New South Wales Government are treating with the Orient Steamship Company for a fortnightly mail to the United Kingdom, alternately with the P. and O. Company's Service, and in order to establish a weekly postal service. The Intercolonial Conference at Sydney has agreed to favour a system of federal quarantine. The results of the proceedings of the Conference are generally considered satisfactory. The whole of the Dublin tradesmen have received circulars warning them against having dealings with jurors who have been engaged at the trials of the prisoners who have .been convicted of the murders of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr. Burke. From whom have the circulars come ? The Castle, par exemple ? The execution of Joseph Brady was to take place yesterday. There is a movement on foot to invite Mr. Gladstone to visit Invercargill — in order to recruit his health, and advertise the Colony ! Scarlet fever broke out on board the ship Allanshaw, from London to Sydney, when the vessel was 74 days out. This long interval (says a Sydney paper) is proof of two significant facts — one that the germs of the fever must have been taken on board in clothes, or boxes not unpacked until months after departure ; the other that any ordinary steam servica would have landed the immigrants in New South Wales before a single case of scarlet fever appeared. Mr Feldwick addressed a small meeting of his constituents at Invercargill last night. At the conclusion a vote of thanks and con-" fidence was proposed, but an amendment thanking him' for the address, but declining to accept his explanation of his views re the education question, was carried. The Inangabua election has resulted in the return of Mr. Shaw, Tfra*mfijbriiyo£46. The collection in the London Exhibition of Fisheries is very complete in all respects, and there is an unequalled display of life-saving apparatus. Canada is the best colonial court. The British, Swedish, and Dutch courts are 'all excellent.* The case of D. Stranaghan brought up for arson at the Christchurch Police Court has been dismissed. Joseph Brady was hanged yesterday at Kilmainham gaol. The proceedings passed off without disturbance. Fully 10,000 persons were outside the gaol, and when the black flag was hoisted they all uncovered their heads. Intelligence is to hand from the West Coast of Africa that De Brazza landed with a large party at Baboon on the 21st April. Stanley has not yet made a move with his party. Mr. J. Aspinal, while sluicing at Skippers, slipped, and was thrown by the water a distance of about 30 feet, sustaining severe njuries. Some of his ribs and his pelvis were broken, and he was also hurt internally. Three young men were fined this morning £1 each and costs for trespassing in pursuit of game, to wit a hare, at Halfway Bußh, near Dunedin, where, it seems, the farmers complain that the dogs of tiespassers do them more harm than the rabbits. — A fine of £20 can be imposed in cases of this kind. Wednesday. The Christchurch Press reports that a large stone, supposed to be a white topaz, as well as a number of small rubies and garnets have been found by Mr. William Smart, of the White Cliffs Colliery. The Alexandrian Indemnity Commission recommend that a sum of £645,000 be voted to meet the claims of people whose property was damaged in the bombardment,

The French Minister for Foreign Affairs has admitted that an alliance hostile to France has been entered into between Germany, Austria, and Italy. The French Government do not, however, consider that the interests of France will be injuriously affected by it. Patrick Delaney, one of the men connected with the Phoenix Park murder, will probably be reprieved. On the 2nd inst. he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to death. The whole of the single women who arrived at Wellington by the Britisn Queen have been engaged at wages from 10s. per week to £40 a year. y The pope has written an encyclical letter to the Irish bishops having reference to the present state of affairs in Ireland and the attitude of the Roman Catholic clergy. His Holiness insists upon a complete abstention from politics on the part of the bishops and clergy.— This report has come by the cable, and we give it for what it is worth. The Times says that the Imperial Government will not undertake personal charge of- New Guinea, and it advises that the Australian Colonies should annex New Guinea and undertake the administration of its affairs instead of Queensland alone. - ' The Pope has prohibited the Irish clergy from promoting the proposed testimonial to Mr. Parnell. Mr. Smith, station-master at Tapanui, and formerly at Gore, has been arrested on a charge of embezzling from £200 to £300 belonging to the Railway Department. Mr. MacDermott, solicitor, late of Dunedin, has given offence by remarking in connection with a decision of the Brunswick Bench, g " Yes, and a more disgraceful decision I never heard ; but* what' can 1 you expect when a felon from Pentridge is allowed to sit on the Bench?" George Sweeney, said to have been' imprisoned for burglary in this Colony, has been arrested at Sydney, charged with the robbery of £600 from the Colonial Bank of Brunswick, near Melbourne, last month. The New Zealand Government were invited to acquiesce in joining the Postal Union, but have declined. Messrs. Hamilton Bros., of Riversdale, have threshed 83 bushels' to the acre from 13£ acres of red straw wheat — 80 bushels were firsts. At a meeting on Monday night, at South Invercargill, a vote of confidence was passed by his constituents in Mr. Joyce, M.H.R. There were a few dissentients, on the ground of Mr. Joyce's vote and views on the education question, he having supported Mr. Pyke's bill last session. Mr. W. Beard's store at Nightcaps was burned down yesterday morning. The funeral of the late Sir John O'Shannassy took place on the 7th inst. A Solemn Office for the Dead, and High Mass of Requiem were celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The Rev. Father Cahill, ' S. J., preached the sermon. The funeral was attended by most of the Ministry, the heads of departments, and a large number of representative citizens. The public offices were closed at noon as a mark of respect. A meeting has been held in London to protest against State aid to religion. The Right Hon. John Bright presided, and delivered a stirring address. All sorts of reports as to " Number One " appear to be the order of the day at Home. — That he has turned Queen's evidence ; that he • has been arrested ; that he has promised a full confession ; that he has done nothing of the kind, etc. At a meeting of the City Council yesterday, the Health Officer reported that scarlet fever had been prevalent since March Ist. The Hospital refused to admit such cases, and he recommended that a cottage should be taken in the suburbs for their isolation. The councillors a'terwards agreed to a resolution dispensing with the Health Officer's services, and Cr. Barnes, in the course of the discussion made the remarkable statement that, in his opinion, the councillors themselves frightened the disease into half the families in town. If they only let people alone they would fight with their own families, and get through with their own doctors. This councillor further announced his intention of resigning, as sure as his name was John Barnes, if a resolution were passed increasing the auditors' salaries by £10. But, fortunately, the resolution was not carried. At an indignation meeting of the ratepayers of South Dunedin, held last evening, the following resolution was passed :—": — " That ' this meeting disapproves of the Council granting a monopoly to any gas company, but requests, in the interests of the ratepayers, that permission be given to all companies to supply the borough with gas or other light who are disposed to lay down their mains upon their own responsibility, and agreeing to repair the roads to the satisfaction of the Council." The indignation of the meeting seems to have also been pretty fully expressed, as we learn from the parentheses of the various reports, by commotion, laughter, interruption, cries, yells, and general disorder. A new and more effectual process of extracting gold from stone has been patented in Adelaide by Captain Osborne, late superintendent of the Kapunda mine, and Andrew Thomas. The Ormond Road Board can neither collect nor levy rates because the Returning Officer, by mistake, sealed up the rate rolls with the ballot papers, whose seals cannot be broken under a penalty of £50. The Otago Land Board refused, to-day, to issue licenses to Messrs. D. E. Fisher, Joseph M'Caw, T. Johnson, and C. Webb. A letter was received from Mr. Henry Lamb, Warden, Clarence, Tasmania, testifying to the good faith of the Messrs. Young Bros., and stating their father to be a gentleman on whose word implicit reliance may be placed. Patrick Ryan has -been sentenced, at Timaru, to eight months' imprisonment with hard labour, from March last, for fraudulent bankruptcy. A Scandinavian named Madson has committed suicide by cutting his throat, at Wbare Head, Waingawa. 11l health and depressed spirits are suppssed to have caused the act.

Tito Kpwara and about 150 natives passed through Opunako yesterday, on their way to Parihaka. A boy, shooting at a tin can in a yard, at Christchurcti, aimed too high, and shot Mrs. Fanny Holden, who was washing clothes near at hand, in the arm, but fortunately very slightly. ' Thursday. Tawhiao. with a hundred followers, has gone to Tauranga. A boy has had his hand cut off at Roe's Sawmills, Onehunga, and the engine-driver has been badly scalded by an escape of steam. The City Council have decided to purchase the Army and Navy Hotel, and adjoining allotments, for a site for a town hall. Mr. Berry will come to Wellington to explain to Government the advantages of their joining the Postal Union, which they have refused to do. A five-roomed house was burnt yesterday morning at Eaiapbi. The insurances were : South British,. £225 ; Australian Mercantile, £50. In consequence of the recent action of the Pope, the supporters of Archbishop Croke threaten to withhold their Peter's pence. — They could not possibly have had time to do so yet. Our telegraph clerk is rather too fast. The dynamite faction in New York have threatened the Go-vernor-General and Premier of Canada. Tenders are called for the formation and fencing of seven miles, or about one-half of the Riversdale-Switzera line— a branch line from the Waimea Plains railway. The vote of £5000 is expected to cover all expenses. Mi. Gladstone has declined to accede to the Canadian Land Company's scheme for assisting Irish immigration to that country. The body of a man, with the head chopped off, and with marks of an attempt to bum it, has been found at Wart Hill Creek, some miles from Roxburgh. It is not thought to bethe body of the mining man Coulter. The Golden Fleece claim at Wetherstones is still idle, but as good gold is known to exist there, there is a general desire for the resuming of the work. A recent prospect showed a return of 10 ozs. 4 dwts. to the dish. The Tuapeka Times reports that another very noe prospect was got in the Gabriel's Tailings Company's claim last week — viz., about 2 ozs. of gold from about a couple of handfuls of wash. This claim continues to give signs of encouragement for the future. The Auckland Herald twits Dunedin with desiring that Government should build her a dock, and points out how Auckland, out of her own pocket, has already built a small dock costing £70,000 or £80,000, and is now building a large one. The Herald says the rents of southern pastoral lands are needed for the ordinary expenditure of the Colony, and it is absurd to think Otago is wronged because they are not taken to construct railways that would never pay. Otago ought to be ashamed of itself, in declaring that only Government can get the wheel out of the rut in which it has stuck fast. v At the Cantarbury Jockey Club's annual meeting, held on Tuesday, the treasurer's statement showed that £6676 was paid-in stakes this year, as against £4974 last year. The condition of the Club is improving. The liability to the Bank has been reduced from £4388 to £2188. The New Year's Day meeting was so successful that it should be a regular fixture. The proposal to fix the minimum weight in handicaps at 6st 71b was lost. The rule fixing the top weight at Sat 101 b was struck out. The plans for the proposed works on the Otago Harbour Bar' have been approved of by Government, but they have suggested that they should be referred to Sir John Coode for his opinion before final approval. " TheMataura Ensign complains that settlers are heavily handicapped by the increased tariff on the Waimea Plains railway, and ' that they hear with anxiety that the directory are about to rate the settlers in the neighbourhood of the line. Mr. James Rutherfoid, M.H.R. for Bruce, died yesterday at his residence, Summerbill, Kaitangata, aged 58. Messrs. Birchall and Twinning have perfected a method of saving "float" gold from tailings. Their invention will effect a saving of 90 per cent., and has been devised especially for beach workings. The Palmerston correspondent of the Otago Daily Times illus trates the growth of larrikinism in his district by a gathering' of six or eight youngsters, aged from eight to fourteen, and who amused themselves last Saturday by stabbing pigs with knives in a butcher's slaughter-yard. --—————■— __