News of the Week.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 28, 31 October 1884, Page 13

News of the Week.

Fhidat.

i» tae House of Representatives yesterday, Sir G. Gray moved the Sder S?«iw lf^H e^ 11W f withdra ™ Government would conaider tbe subject during the reces*. and brine down next sessfcion some proposals for the reduction on this duty. gg T he biS waTwiS During the debate in the Legislative Council this (yesterday} wS?w UU ° n thC Baßt and W «* Coast Railway Bill, (writes the WelUngton correspondent of the BcMy Tikes) some of the 35f™f2 a^ a^ *«toe»aeiaed on the subject of alleged « intimiSS^ *— M} 00 * 1111 * 1 Secretary stated that the Hon. Mr. Pbaraavn 2S«S£ m thC ***? aDd declared he would vote against US Government measure because some petition in which he waqintarested had not been attended to. The Hon. G. M. WaLhousSed that such statements should not be taken too seriously? and caS some amusement by humorously describing how the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, after the division on the District Railways Bill, met him in the lobbies, shook his fist in his face, and said : « I will tell you what SS-J-f."* 1 " y° u B * all ™ ♦>* bill, whether you like it or not » H!K m^ h u be ta^.a? 3 distinct act of intimidation. He (the speaker) knew that his hon. friend did not mean it as such! He knew that when he was shaking hi, fist in his face it was only for the sake of oratorical emphasis, because he had seen him shake it at thq Legialatnre, and even at the Speaker himself. 18th ft* Ar ° ha g ° ld letam i 8 80 ° OZ ' fOT the montb endin S th e

The infant daughter of Henry Sargeant, of the Auckland Hotel Uining-Tooms, has been poisoned through eating lucifer matches Mr. Dobson, civil engineer, of Cbristchurch, and Mr. Bewe?, town engineer, have furnished a report re the means of procuring a water supply for the borough of Invercargill. They recommend a trial of underground sources by sinking a well on tbe Town Belt, at an estimated cost of £500; if successful in procuring quantity and 'ded* reßer7Oir and P am P m g machinery, at a cost of 4,000, to be

The Gold-duty Abolition Bill (says the Mount Ida Chronicle) w« on T6T 6 me i ag ? paßSed tbe Lower Hoaße b y a majority of twelve, ™?i riiTT ay V •' ! ht r? Out in the Couacil b 7 a majority of one. Inis Bill has ce.tamly had a chequered career, this being the fourth time ithas been presented to the Council and rejected by that body. The majority against it is certainly reducing every year, and has now arrived at a point below which it can no further fall. Success will, no nmS il attained " ext y ear . ar «* there isnothing for it but that the Goldfields members should go at their rather weary Bill again and put as much heart mit as possible. We admit at once that the question is surrounded with difficulties, owing to the importance of tile goldduty ; but at the same time if we can remit £131,008 of pro-pers-tax, we can certainly spare the £24,000 levied on the mineral «. /* ameetin g° f . citizens of Invercargill on Wednesday night the following resolutions were passed :-« That this meeting strongly •prefcs on Government tbe desirableness of the speeedy completion of the authorised portion of the Seaward Bush and Toi-ton railway as the work is equally important to the town of Invercargill and the agricultural and saw-milling district that it is intended to open up " ; lhat this meeting regards the large area of 17.500 acres of bush dand reserved in view of the constrnction of the railway as a legitimate source form which funds for its prosecution should be obtained, and would respectfully urge upon the Minister of Lands to order a survey of the reserve in suitable blocks lor sale ; That Government be respectfully requested to take Bteps to have the district between the terminus and tbe twelve miles authorised of the railway to Toi-tois surveyed, with a view of releasing four thousand acres of land reserved from purchase and settlement pending such ; » " That the members oE the Assembly for the district be requested to do their utmost to secure the authorisation and survey of the remaining ten miles, or thereabouts, neceesary to carry the railway to and across the Mataura river, so as to tan the Toi-tois district." Copies of the resolutions will be forwarded to the district members with a request that they should lay them before Government. J

A Nihilist plot to murdt-r the Czar has been discovered at St letersburg, and numerous arrests have been made of persons believed to be implicated. The following forecast of the Queen's Rpeech, to be delivered at the opening of Parliament to-day, for the autumn session has been obtained .-—Allusion will be made to the continued friendliness of the relations with Foreign Powers ; regret -will be expressed at the iailure of the Conference which recently sat to discuss the Egyptian •question, and also at the necessity which has arisen for the Soudan campaign ; reference will be made to Lord Northbrook's mission to j&gypt, and a hope expressed that it may conduce to the welfare of that country : an expectation of the peaceful settlement of the difficulty which had arisen in Africa will be expressed, but the importance of enforcing the Transvaal Convention will nevertheless be fully recognised. The Speech will allude to the Franchise Bill trusting that themeanire will be prom pt !y sanctioned by both Houses •of Parliament.

Saturday.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, the Hon. Mr Richardson delivered the Public Works Statement. He said that on March 31st. Im-i <?-?*L ydv d A 40i mileß of railwa y opened for traffic, on which *n,Jol,6«Jd,had been expended, and 234 miles were being constructed. A. large amount of the work executed on the open lines had been done earlier than necessary, and this unnecessarily increased accommodation causes pressure to be put on Government for similar expenditure •elsewhere. Tbe lines are of a higher class tban was proposed in 1870, and can carry at greater speed a larger traffic. The management ■of the railways js^n.an unsatisfactory state, and the change to boards

of management cannot be made too soon. It will be desirable to reduce the passenger faras,and roles generally most be thoroughly revised and goods classified. For the future the two points to be kept in mind are the task of colonising and the system to be pursued. The expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund will be brought within the means of that fund by shifting to local expenditure present charges, amounting to about £100,000 a year, which will be provided for either by a property or land tax. Other revenue will also ba supplied to local bodies so as to avoid by degrees making and maintaining roads and bridges by means of borrowed money. To meet, without increased taxation, the additional annual charges on money borrowed for colonising purposes, there are three sources — (1) the natural net increases of yearly revenue ; (2) the increase of revenue from new railways, and from railways fed by new railways, roads, and bridges ; (3) the annual saving from reduction of interest on loans converted. All this should give an increased revenue of £95,000, which justifies the borrowing of a million and a half during next year, which will cover expenditure up to the end ot March, 1886. Government propose to take authority for a loan of a million, and a half, which added to available balance at end of March and to the third million of the loan of 1882, will give a total available for expenditure from April Ist of £3,377,912, or deducting liabilities to ths end of August, of £1,549,996, there will be left for new works £1,827,910. The Minister asks the House to vote, for liabilities and new undertaking*, £2,810,280, made up as follows : for immigration, with liabilities at end of August amounting to £62,280, £100,000 ; for general departmental expenses, with liabilities of £12,759, £30,057; for railways, £1,567,516 ; for roads, with liabilities of £95,464, £737,008 ; for waterworks on goldfields, with liabilities £7663, £12,857 ; for purchase of Native lands North Island, £90,000 ; for telegraphjextension, with liabilities of £20,423, £29,322 ; for public buildings, with liabilities of £54,526, £171,104 ; for lighthouse and harbour works, with liabilities of £26,983, £55,916 ; for charges and expenses of raising loan?, £16,500. The railways whose liabilities or completion the votes proposed are sufficient to cover are the following ; — Whangarei-Kamo, HamiltonCambridge, Hamilton- Te Aroha and Grahanistown-Kopua, Napier to Woodville and Bunnythrope (so far as it can be let by contract befoie next session), Wellington- Woodville (as regards section now in hand), New Plymouth,-Foxton, Wai-iti section of Nelson- Roundbill, section under contract between Hurunui and the Bed Post, HurunuiWai para, Upper Ashburton Branch to Mount Somers townfeb.it>, Lincoln — Little River Albury Branch as far as already completed, Oxford Sheffield and White Cliffs Extension, Palmerston Waihemo, Catlins Biver Branch, Edendale Toi-Tois, Lumsden Mararoa to end of present formation, Waimea Switzers to end of seventh mile, Seaward Bush, ftiverton Orepuki to present terminus. Kawakawa. — The vote set down for this work is merely sufficient to cover existing liabilities, but it is proposed to have plans prepared so as to enable tne Government to put the extension of line towards Eamo in hand early next year. Wellington-Foxton. — In this case the vote is merely to cover exisdng liabilities on account of land purchases originally undertaken by Government. Main Trunk Railway, North Island. — The Government has on more than one occasion expressed its conviction of the expediency of hastening forward to the utmost the work of constructing the North Island Main Trunk railway, and the route of the line having now been decided, the Minister had been enabled to issue instructions for surveys to be proceeded with for the first section south of Te Awamutu, and hoped in a few weeks to be prepared to call for tenders for the work. GreymouthReefton.— For this railway it was only proposed to vote sufficient to cover existing liabilities and a few contingencies which might be anticipated, as its construction was expected to be undertaken by private enterprise as portion of railway from Nelson to B runnei ton. Greymouth-Hokitika. — For this railway it wasproposed to take a vote this year sufficient to cover the cost oi the completion of the four miles from Hokitika to Arahura, and it was iuteuded to continue its construction from year to year until Hokitika is connected by rail with the port of Greymouth. ±slenheim, southwards. — Tbis railway would be completed as rapidly as possible to the Awatere, and the vote proposed would cover another contract which it is intended to let this year in addition to the existing one. Livingstone Branch. — This lailway was commenced and partly formed throughout its whole length of 12 miles as far back as live years ago, and the £40,000 odd expended upon it up to March last hud been lying waste for several years. It was now thought, therefore, that it is time that some return should be got for all this expenditure, and therefore it was proposed to vote this year a sufficient sum to complete the line throughout Otago Central Railway.—As already stated, the Hindon section of this railway should have been more rapidly pushed ahead, and it would be bis endeavour to further this end during the current year by all means in his power, and also to push forward the construction of the line generally as rapidly as it is at all possible, in order to utilise as soon as possible the large expenditure of close upon £200,000 already spent upon it. "With this view it was proposed to ask this year for a vote which would be sufficient to enable all the work to be put in hand which can be reasonably got at without entailing a heavy loss for carriage of material. Gore-Kelso. — It was not intended to continue this line at present, so the vote proposed was merely sufficient to cover the cost of working survey and land plans. Government will aUo inquire into the appeal ot suul.rs in the North of Auckland for the construct ion of railways in tbeir district. The Hon. Mr. Stout said the Government wished the House distinctly to understand that all the proposals and intentions stated by his colleague in regard to railways in both Islauds stand together, and stand, moreover, connected with tbe bills which had passed this House, to wbich Government have already attached paramount importance. The Government were uot inclined to take too local a view of railways, and to say, We cannot make a railway to this town because we cannot make it to another. Patieuce muse be exercised by localities, so that railways might be carried on with some regard to speedily obtaining a return from the works in progress. But whilst not taking a contractedly narrow view of local c aims, the Government had no notion of seeing one Island raised to a proa

peroni condition nnd tbe other plunged into gloomy depression. Ha would go indeed further, and state that since there appeared an inclination to bring about such a result, the Government would be no party to it, nor would they suffer it. ' They would sooner that this session should be entirely barren, and that another session should immediately follow, with or without an appeal to tho constituencies. Mr. Decimus Atkinson, brother of Major Atkinson, went out sailing on Tuesday at Pahia, K%ipara, in company with Mr. H. Metcalfe and family. When just opposite the township, a heavy squall struck the boat, which capsized and sank immediately. Mr. Metcalfe at once went to the assistance of his wife, who had a baby in her arms, and supported them both until the boat reached thjm. It would appear that Mr. Atkinson attempted to help the two children, bet for some reason suddenly left them and disappeared, as when the boat arrived five minutes after the accident he could not be seen, though every effort w.is made to find him. Mr. Metcalfe, with wonderful pluck and presence of mind, kept both his wife's and baby's heads out of the water until rescued. The other two children were picked up by the boat, and they have all new recovered from the effects of their temporary immersion. Boats were dragging from the time of^ the accident until dark yesterday, but only succeeded in recovering the boat. They are now nsing every means to recover the body. Mr. Atkinson's sad accident has cast quite a gloom over the settlement. Great sy ra pathy is expressed towards Mrs. Atki nson and family in their berea\ em °nt.

The ImperialjParliament was opened on Tuesday by conomision. The Speech from the Throne stated that the House had been summoned to further consider the question of the representation of the people. The position of affairs in the Soudan was one of painful uncertainty. Her Majesty warmly recognised the energy, courage, and resource of General Gordon in the defence of Khartoum, and thHt he was doing his best to promote the improvement of affairs in the Soudan. The Egyptian Government wtre supporting her Majesty's Advisers in the difficult fina cial position arising out of tbe failure of the Conference. Regret was ex pressed at recent events on the Transvaal frontier, and the Speech announced that, conjointly with the Government of Cape Colony, Her Majesty's Gevernment will consider the best means to *ecure the faithful observance of tbe Transvaal Convention. The Franchise Bill is the only measure the introduction of which is promised by the Speech. The Address-in-Reply was voted in the House of Lords by a substantial majority. In the House of Commons on Thursday night Mr. Gladstone was questioned regarding the state of the navy, and in reply announced that fora long time past the Admiralty had been engaged examining the condition of the navy, and that a statement would be made during the month of November. Cholera has made its appearance at Yport, a town near Rouen. The Duke of Cumberland has issued a proclamation claiming the succession to the Dukedom of Brunswick. The reduction of the Egyptian army recorameuded by Lord Nortlibrook, it carried out, will have the effect of largely reducing the number of British officers employed by the Khedive. With the exception of 10, all of them will resign their present appointments. In the House of Representatives yesterday, on the question being put that the report on the North Island Trunk central line be adop'ed, the Hon. Mr. Richardson briefly replied to some of the objections urged against the central route. Tbe original motion for the adoption of the central route was then put and carried on the voices.— The Police Offences Bill was further considered in Committee. In Clause 13 (penalty for trading on Sunday), Mr. Lcvestam moved that the words •< or plays at any game or pastime in any public place be omitted. The words were struck out on division, the ayes being 23, and the nosa 35. Mr. Gri?g;moved a further amendment in the same clause to strike out the words •• for every such Offence,' and this amendment was carried on the voices. Mr. Downie Stewart moved that the words '' ten pounds " be struck out as the penalty, and that one pound be inserted, which was agreed to. The Hon. Mr. Stout then moved a new sub-clause, that the peDa'ty should not apply to works of necessity or charity, or to the sale of medicines or to hairdressers and barbers, persons driving public or private carriages, or employed in working tramcars or boats, or for the delivery of milk, etc. Mr. O'Co^or moved to imeit the words •religion or amusement," but this amendment was negatived on the voices. Mr. Seddon moved a further amendment to insert the words i "or gold-mining or pastoral or agricultural operations." This amendment was negatived on a division of— ayes, 24 ; noes, 28. Mr. Steward moved, as a further amendment, " or 'livery-stable keepers or postal and telegraph officials," which was agreed to. He moved the addition of the words " or any morning newspaper," but this amendment was negatived on tho voices— The clause, as amended, was anally put, and carried on a division by 33 to 20.

Monday.

We (Tcmuka Leader) have been shown some fine specimens of gold-bearing quartz by Mr. W. Coltman, Geraldine, who at tha present time appsars to be very reticent as to the locality in which it was found. There is a great speculation rife that it has been obtained in the Geraldine district (South Canterbury, about 24 miles from Timaru). ThcTaupo correspondent of the Napier Herald writes that a gold prospector seeking for the yellow metal near Ruapehu has found indications of what promises to be a good coal seam at a place about six miles from the Marton line of railway. A fish, believed to be a salmon, 2ft. long, was caught at Lyttelton yesterday.

We {Mount Ida, Chronicle) learn that a small rush has set in to German Hill, Ida Valley, about 10 miles from Blacks No. 3. Two Bough Ridge, resideuts visited the place last week, and found that there were about 12 or 15 miners on the ground. German Hill was worked about 17 or 18 years since. Very coarse gold was obtained, and several persons made large sums of money. At that time but very little was known of the various washes or driftp, and the drift that carried tbe gieater quantity of gold was untouched, because it was thought to be unremuneiative and' profitless. The granite wash,

which is now bcinjr worked, was worked dowu to, an-t then left, for the reason already given. The chief drawback of the field, however, is the extraordinary scircity of water. Tbe quantity obtainable ocilly is very small, and the streams only run full in wet weather, such as ihat which has prevailed of late. These will, should fine weather continue for any length of time, soon become dry, and operations will, probably, have to be suspsnded. The water running to waste in Ida Valley could be brought on to the field, bat at a cost of several thousand pound?. A grant to do this waa made by Warden Bobinson about tbe yeir 1866, but the gentleman who applied for it had to throw it up, because he discovered that the cost at that time to construct a race would have come to between £8,000 and £10,000. We understand, however, thac the richness of the field would justify this expenditure, ani we trust some enterprising party of miners or capitalists will undertake the work. The party appointed by 11. Smith an 1 Co. to visit and report upon claims held by them in tho gorge of the Selwyn, which is now bring prospected for payable copper, have returned, btinging samples of very ricb stone, the copper showing freely, and their report is highly satisfactory. It is stated that mining operations on an extensive scale are to be commenced at once, and tendeis for driving a tunnel to cut the lode will be called for a few diys. Should they be successful in their operations, of which they seem confident, it will prove a valuable discovery, and be the means of opening up a rich country.

A greater amount of distress prevails in Wellington than is generally supposed to exist (says the Post), and the tax made oa the funds of the charitable institutions of the city is something considerable. The majority of persons relieved appear to be those who have not resided in the district for any length of time, many of them being what is penerelly known as " new chums " from great Britain, who have reached these shore-! with a little money in their pockets and great esp ctations as to the future. Quite a large proportion of those who come out from England now-a-days are totally unlit for colonial work, and as" they find employment in their special line of business exceedingly scarce, the little money which they have brought out with them soon melts away, and they find themselves in a new land with few or no friends and no means of livelihood. Tbe Benevolent Institution never refuses to assist persons placed in such a predicament by supplying them with rations and house-rent until " something turns up "; but it can be easily understood that in many cases such help is not applied for until people are driven to the verge of starvation, and instances have come under notice in which persons in •a terribly destitute condition are too proud to apply for charity, and might have died from starvation and exposure but for the intervention of benevolent persons. A largely-attended meeting of farmers and others was held at the Corn Exchange, Christchurch, on Saturday afternoon, when it was decided to petition Parliament against the duty on reaper-and-binder twine. At a meeting of the Farmers' Club held at Oamaru, the following resolution was carried unauiniously :— That this meeting protest against the imposition of the duty on binder twine, and that tbe members for the district be communicated with and asked to take steps to have the same removed forthwith."

In the House of Commons ■ the Hon. Evelyn Ashley was questioned regarding the nature of the annexation of New Guinea, and in reply stated that it would be impossible at the present time to define the limits of territory over which the protection of Biitish authority was about to be placed, but that the limits would be extended as far as local circumstances might demand. The Undersecretary for the Colonies further stated that settlement in New Guinea was at present prohibited, and with regard to the north portion of the island, which is claimed by Holland, tbat no agreement had been come to with the German Government as to its occupation by European Powers.

The Franchise Bill will be coming on for its second reading on Thursday next.

Tbe French Senate by an immense majority have approved of the principle of the relegation of criminals, but they| refused to define the places to which they should be relegated. M. Favre considers tbat the Governor of New Cal°donia will "-oon request am increase in the number of convict artisans sent to that island. M. Favre also maintains that a fifth of the recidivistes should be sent to that island.

Prince Bismarck proposes to subsidise for a period of 15 years* a Gorman line of steamers to the Australian capitals, with branches to Tonga, Samoa, and Brisbane.

Lord Perby considers that it is belter tbat England should lisk the jealousy of the Powers than incur the resentment of Australia respecting: New Guinea. The victory of the Belgian Liberals in the Communal election which has recently taken place, having provoked a political crisis, the Clerical Ministry formed by M. Malou in June last has resigned, and a new Ministry, which it is believed will be strong enough to work, bas since been formed.

Tuesday.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, the Hon. Mr. Stout introduced a bill to unite certain city electorates — Sir G. Grey moved the adjournment vt the House in order to bring up the subject of the Ministerial statement by the Premier on Friday night. He said that statement was totally uncalled for, and calculated to interfere with the freedom of debate. He referred to the matter to elicit some expression of opinion on it. The Hon Mr. Stout said he could not understand why the matter had been referred to. The Government were not going t • remaiu on the benches merely for the sake of passing the Appropriation Act, and if their policy bills were to be interfered with in the other House the Government must take a definite course in the matter. There was a large preponderance of North Island members in the Legislative Council. The Government did not intend to carry measures for the benefit of one portion of the Colony only, find if they could not pass other measures they would mpt remain on the benches. He thought other Governments would Have put the matter far more strongly than the present one had done.

He did not think any other explanation as to the statement he made on Friday night was necessary. Mr. Pyke thought that the idea of asking for a dissolution in order to punish the other House was a curious way out of the difficulty. He said an early prorogation and another Bhort session would be a wise and statesmanlike course to puTsue in the present instance. Sir J. Vogel said the remarks made by the Premier on Friday were so easy to be understood tbat he could not see how they were liable to misconstructiou. The Govern, ment found that the session might end, and it would be found that nothing was done for the Middle Island and everything for the North Island. That was a state of things which would not be allowed. The Government did not take office without intending to do justice to ibemselves and to all parts of the country. They would not consider this a satisfactory session if one Island could say it bal everything done for it whilst the other one had nothing. They felt it would be necessary to pursue the policy they had brought down this session even if it entailed the cost of another session or of .another dissolution. The motion for the adjournment of the House was then put and negatived.— Mr. Seddon moved the recommittal of the Police Offences Bill, with a view to reconsider clause 13. providing penalties tor Sunday trading. Mr. Downie Stewart thought it was not very liberal to take away the privileges of the Sunday from the J working man. He hoped the Elouse would stand to the clause. The Hon. Mr. Stout hoped the House would not agree to the recommittal. He pointed out that the bill only prevented people from working in view of the public, or to the annoyance of others. Another recommendation of the bill was that under its provisions no bar would be open on Bundays, and there would be no more " bona fide " travellers. The recommittal was negatived on a division — ayes, 59 ; noes, 16. The bill was then read a third time and passed. The Ross Mercury gays :— " The contractor for the Donnelly's Creek tunnel tail-race, Mr. Maher, has found that it is impossible to drive the tunnel by deviation into the hill, and has therefore come back and started a new face s^me distance from the one he first opened out. He is now going to deviate into the creek, and see whether it is possible to get through by taking this route." While the Triumph was off Rangitoto on a pleasure- trip on Saturday, with Fraser and Co. 'a workmen, Mrs. Wharton, whose husband is a fireman, went into the forecastle peak, and, mistaking it for a lavatory, fell down a ventilator hatchway. She was killed instanlaneously. The Agents-general express the greatest indignation at England truckling to Germany in the matter of the reported Anglo-German convention for the apportionment of NewjGuinea and other islands of the Pacific between the two Empires. It is anticipated that, Bhoull the report prove correct, the Agents-general will advise their several Governments to refuse to piy any subsidy towards the cost of maintaining the New Guinea protectorate. The Emperor William rejects the claim of the Duke of Cumberland to the succession to the throne of Brunswick. The French Government have decided to despatch without delay strong reinforcements to Tonquin and Formosa. A great demonstration has takeu place at Hyde Park in connection with the Franchise Bill. There were about 80,000 people present, and the House of Lords was strongly denounced by various speakers.

Wednesday.

Id the House of Representatives yesterday, on the question being put that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the East and West Coast Railway Bill be agreed to, the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said that the alterations made in the bill constituted the turning point between success and failure. He hoped a company would be found to make it a success, but be begged to say tbat if the alterations should prove the cause of making it impossible to obtain responsible persons to carry out the work, it must not be understood that the Government guaran teed to make the undertaking a success. The people of Canterbury were determined that the work should be cairied out, and if it should turn out that the bill as it now stood was not a success, they would not be contented till another measure was passed. He made these remarks so that it should be understood that Government were not to be charged with failure if the measure proved ineffective. There was no use in fighting any further questions, and the Government would accept the measure as it now stood, with the earnest desire to give effect to it. In answerto a question as to what amendments had been made in the Council, Sir J. Vogel said that clause 5 had been struck out, which practically emasculated the measure. After a short debate the amendments were agreed to. The commencement of the sea on's operations at the Ashburton Cheese Factory has been delayed owing to the farmers who supply milk refusing to accept the directors' offer of 3d instead of 3£i per gallon. A conference was held at the factor / on Monday when the farmers decided to give way, with the understanding that should any profit accrue they would be given the price they had asked for.

Dr. Leggatt, captain of the Nelson Artillery, while engaged superintending the firing of his company at the rifle butts yesterday morning, was shot through the palm of his left hand through the accidental discharge of a carbine. The injuries received were of such a nature that amputation at the wrist was found necessary. 'ihe French Senate modified the Recidivi&te Bill so as to leave to the Government the choice of the settlements to which the criminals i-hall be transported. The Times to-day approves of tha action and expresses the hope that the Government will see their way to exempt New Caledonia from the list of places to which criminals shall continue to be sent.

An immense demonstration took place on Monday in Hyde Park on the Reform question, when a resolution was passed in favour of the abolition ofthe House of Lord*. Fully 100,000 persons were present. The proceedings passed off in an orderly manner. 'lhe papers in regard to the Soudan laid before Parliament show that General Gordon contiders it possible to leave Khartoum ungoverned, and that Lord Wolseley'a instructions are to bring away General Gordon and Colonel Stewart from Khartoum, and that he is

forbidden to undertake any other ulterior operation. The Parliamentary papers also show that England and Egypt have decided to refuse to govern the territory in the Soudan lying sjuth of Wa&yHaifa. Thuhbday. In the House of Representatives yesterday, replying to Mr. Pyke, as to what course Government will pursue in reference to the recommendations of the Golifielda and Mines Committee in regard to the proposals for utilising the services of Professors Black and Ulrich, the Hon. Mr. Ballance said the Government would place a sum on the Supplementary Estimates for the purpose required.— The Hon. Sir J. Vogel moved the second reading of the Beetroob Suear Bill. He said that the value of the sugar imported into New Zeala"nd was £500,000, and during the year 1883 it amounted to £600,000. Besides keeping in the Colony the large amount that was sent oat of it for this purpose, they had to consider the importance of the industry in other ways, such as by the employment of labour that would be required. The bill provided that for the first 1000 tons of sugar produced in the Colony a bonus would be given of a halfpenny per pound, and it also provided that for 15 years there should be no excise duty to the extent of one halfpenny in the pound. He thought they would make no sacrifice in passing the bill, but, on. the contrary, they would be establishing a very important industry in the Colony. An enormous quantity of beet sugar was at present consumed in the United Kingdom. He trusted the measure would not lie under the ban of those who thought it was one of the schemed brought down foe the benefit of differe-it parts of the Colony. It had merely been submitted by the Government with. 1 the view of developing a very important industry. The motion for the second reading was put, and carried ou the voices. The question whether the Cjnvent and other Roman Catholk? Church properties, Chriatchurch, are liable to be rated by tbe Drainage Board will be heard tomorrow. Tne Board insists on rating them notwithstanding that the Property Tax Commissioner desired to remove these properties f rum its valuation roll. A correspondent of the evening paper asserts that several cases of highway robbery, one with violence, have occurred in Invercargill during the last few weeks, and further hints that the police are aware of these and appear desirous of hushing them up. The police deny all knowledge of such occurences. -^£News has been received that the members of the Anglo-Bussiana Commission appointed to settle the demarcation of the northern frontier of Afghanistan have crossed the river Helmund into that country, and were met by a Urge body of Afghans, who are now acting as escort.

I'ersistent reports have been received stating that Khartoum ha* fallen, but they lack official confirmation. It is currently rep irted here that Lord Wolseley has been empowered to appoint the Mudir of Dongola temporary governer of the province which is to be created in the Soudan. The German elections are favourable to the Tories.