Tuesday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 45, 27 February 1885, Page 11

Tuesday.

On Saturday a man was nearly burnt in a bush fire, near New Plymouth. In stating a burn he remained too long, and being enveloped in the smoke, did not know which way to get away from the fire. Being nearly suffocated, he cried for help, and was rescued by another man going among the burning trees and dragging him out in an insensible condition.

Since the offer made by Captain Hamersley for service in the Soudan, he has received offers from nearly every man who went to Parihaka with him. The Volunteers at Timaru are very anxious lo hear the result of the decision of Government on the matter, and trust that ia any case the Imperial Government will be communicated with.

The weather has been glorious here for weeks past (writes a Nelson correspondent of the Tuapeka Times). The crops are all in, and the yield has been an abundant one. The hop yield will also be very heavy, but prices will hardly pay for picking— viz., 6d per lb. Two years ago the hopgrowers got from 2s 6d to 3s per lb, so the great fall in price will seriously affect the whole district. It is estimated that there are 1000 acres under hops this season. — In the Marlborough province the crops are all in the stack, and threshing is proceeding in all directions. The yield per acre is the heaviest ever known there.

An inquest on the remains of Mrs. Prendergast, murdered by her husband, took place at Pokeno on Saturday. Prendergast was present, and manifested great unconcern, frequently ejaculating " I did it." On one occasion, when impatient at the length of time taken by the clerk to write down the evidence, he remarked with a chuckle, '• You might hang half-a-dozen of us in the time you take." Prendergast has been brought to town and lodges in Mount Eden Gaol. He still continues in the best of spirits. The funeral of the late Mrs. Prendergast took place at the Pmbyteiian cemetery, Pokeoo, on Monday afternoon, the procession being fully a quarter of a mile long.

Captain Edwin suggests starting a patriotic fund in New Zealand to help the Sister Colony in sending her troops to the Soudan, and has forwarded a donation as the nucleus of the fund.

Nearly the whole of the crops in the Pukeuri, Papakaio, Awamoko, Duntroon, and Maraewhenua districts have been cut (says the North Otago Times) and stacking is being pushed ahead while the fine weather lasts. The yield of both wheat and oats will be without doubt very much above the average, and in some instances the crops of these cereals are remarkably heavy. Very little barley has been grown in the above-mentioned districts, wheat being the principal crop.

Mr. A. D. Bennett (late captain of Auckland Naval contingent on service), in company with tbe Mayor, waited yesterday upon Sir Julius Vogel and represented to him that he had been solicited by a large number of men who have had military experience to raise a corps for service in the Soudan. He was prepared to form such a corps at once if the proposal should meet with the approval of the Government. The Colonial Treasurer replied that several applications had come in from various parts of the Colony. They would come up for consideration at the Cabinet meeting this week. Mr. Bennett might submit his offer formally. Acting upon these suggestions, a telegram was despatched to tbe Hon. the Defence Minister at Wellington, offering to raise a force of 300, all hardy and experienced men, and each company of 100 men under a lieutenant who had previously seen service, within six weeks ; and Mr. Bennett, as a guarantee, offers to start a subscription with £25. News is to hand from Central Asia that a Russian force is advancing from Turkestan towards Panjedh, a town on the river Murghab, about 50 miles to the south of the present Afghan-Turkestan frontier line. In consequence of this step, Sir Peter Lumsden and the British members of the Anglo-Russian Commission have retired from Sarakhs to Herat, fearing that a collision will take palce between the Afghans and Russians owing to the encroachment of the latter on Afghan territory.

An engagement has taken place ia the neighbourhood of El Metemneh between the friendly Arabs and tbe tribe of rebel Hadendowas, when 2000 of the latter were killed. There is an enormous gathering of the rebels under Osman Digma at Tamai. The European Conference agreed to the neutrality of the Congo River. The Conference will close on Thursday next.

It is believed that the acceptance of the Sydney offer for the Soudan will promote federation of the Colonies. In an article on the refusal of the Imperial Government to accept additional Colonial troops, the Times states that tbe reply is ungrateful, and it further expresses the opinion that the aid of Colonial troops will be needed. The Standard says the refusal is a distinct blunder, and characterises the reasons given for not accepting the troops as weak.