The Chairman believed that what was desiderated was not any interference with their Omirc'v law respecting the class meet ing, but an improveinene in the method of conducting it. Ho adduced an instance in which a largo and well-attended class was conducted in so varied and interesting a manner as secured a growing interest in its meetings from week to week. Seeing that other Churches wore now looking with favor the class meeting, it. ill became them for one moment to entertain any ideas likely to loosen the hold it had hitherto had upon the members of the Methodist Church.

After further conversation, joined in by several ministers and laymen,

The Rev. J. B. Richardson moved— “ That as the Rev. J. H. Simmonds had made his circuit. members’ returns as fifteen ‘ meeting in class,’ instead of ac cording to the schedule heading of ‘ full and accredited church members that at his own request the returns be referred to him for rectification.” The Rev. W. H. Beck seconded the motion.

After some discussion, in which it was stated that the General Conference had declined to rule on the subject of superin tendents making their inember-ship re turns, the motion was lost. The session adjourned at 5 p.m. EVENING SESSION. The evening session commenced at 7.30. Mr. Turner informed the meeting that the balance-sheet of the book concern was in course of preparation, and would be presented to Conference. He might, however, state that the concern was pay ing ; the assets were more than the liabilities. He had a proposition to lay before the meeting, w hich had reference to the formation of a limited liability company, with a capital say of £2OOO, and believed there ‘would he no difficulty in floating it. He would move—“ That the book committee he requested to consider what, steps can ho taken to improve and consolidate the business of the book con cern, to report to conference.” Mr. Manchester seconded the motion. The Rev. Messrss Richardson, Smalley, Keall,.and Canned, and Messrs. J. W, Smith, Harris, Persian, and W. S. Smith supported the motion. The Chairman, hoped that if the pro posed alteration m their book concern were* inade it would not be regarded merely as a local establishment, but as a colonial one, and accordingly have given to it the support of the whole colony so far as possible. The motion was carried unanimously. The Home Mission accounts were gone through, and it was reported that £727 Bs. Bd. had been raised in the district for the Home Mission funds. Considering the very serious commercial depression of the last twelve months, it was deemed gratifying that the district had been able to raise the above sum. Votes were recommended from this fund for the next, year as follows :—Te muka, L 65 ; Ashburton, LIOO ; Amberly, L6O ; Rakaia, LSO. A communication from the committee appointed by last Conference to consider the propriety of forming a connexional loan fund branch of the home mission and church extension fund, was read, recom mending that at present the proposal be not carried out, but that its inauguration take place at the Conference of 1881. It was farther recommended that next Con ference appoint some person to collect in formation as to the amount of present debts,'rate of interest, and other informa tion deemed necessary, to report to the Conference of 1881. The meeting ap 2iroved the committee’s recomendations. The meeting adjourned at 11.45 p.m.

How French Matrimonial Law Works.

M. Naquet is still stumping France in favor of a law of divorce, and his pleading has been so warm, eloquent, and convinc ing, that he has either converted or silenced all his oponents. One of the last anecdotes he related in order to show the superiority of divorce over separation, which leaves the husband with full power over the wife, was this. Some years ago a man was tried for his life and condemned to death. The jury, contrary to custom, did not admit “extenuating circum stances,” which would have saved the man’s life. The fact was that this man had a wife, 20 years of age, and worthy of the deepest commiseration. Had her hus band been allowed to live she would have remained bound to him ; and the jury, in refusing to the convict a verdict which would have saved him from the guillotine, thought of the wife. “The Procurator General,” says M. Naquet, “after having admitted to me that the jury in this affair had acted with uncommon severity, added, ‘ i alight have signed a demand for pardon; but I did not do so. Why? Because this pardon, in saving the head of the guilty man, would have made a victim of his wife, who was a thousand times mare interest ing With this alternative before me— allow the law to take its courseor condemn an innocent woman to a horrible punish ment-—! chose the least evil; better that the man in mounting the scaffold should leave the wife free !’ ”

Murder In Italy.

At the Inst assizes ia Spoleto a trial for murder took place under the following cir cumstances ;—A certain Signor Marcucci, of Spoleto, a gentleman of good property 'and position, called in a physician of the place, one Dr. Domenicis, to attend his only son, who was seriously ill. If, said Marcucci, the young man recovered, Dr., Domenicis should receive 2000 francs ; if, on the other hand, the patient died, Dr. Domenicis should be killed ? It cannot be for a moment seriously contended that such an alternative was accepted in good faith by the doctor. Signor Marcucci, however, proved to be a man of his word, for the lad died* and Marcucci thereupon did kill DoinfenJotsi : He coolly murdered him, with apparently no attempt to con cert! 'th#*iici; J The unfortunate physician left.a widow and family behind him. But nd Compunction or pity availed to stay Marcilcei’s hand. And now what does the reader suppose was the sentence pro nounced on this barbarous ruffian in an Italian Court of Justice? He was con demned to five years’ imprisonment and the payment of a fine of 25,000 francs to be given as damages to the doctor’s wife. Does any rational human being believe thlit had Marcucci been well convinced that a shameful desth would be th e irtotnr able penalty of his .criihe the life of his •victim would not h»Yoj'; beetv sparefd “ Standard Correspondent,”

THE FARMER.

- AMONG THE FARMERS.

(by our special reporter).

As might be anticipated from the favor able reason wo are being blessed with, the crops are everything that could be wished, and the farms in the neighborhood of Chortsey are perhaps a greater contrast to what they were last 3’ear at this time, than elsewhere. Then, they had suffered for want of rain and from scorching nor’ westers : now, they have had all that could be desired in abundance of rain, alter nated by warm sunshine, making the ground like a hot-bed, and sending up the crops like magic ; and should the weather keep as favorable throughout, till harvest operations are complete, the yield of the Ashburton district will be such as to tax all the energies and appliances of ,the rail way department to cope with the quantity of grain forshipment. Leaving Chertsey, the first farm on the right-hand side of the Chertsey road is the block being culti vated by Messrs. Miles, Hassal, and Co. In all, 1643 acres have been operated on this season as follows :—560 acres in wheat, 315 in oats, 203 in barley, 300 in turnips and mangels, and 263 sown down in English grass. The land is of a light nature on the surface, with a good clay subsoil, and the season has been remark ably favorable to this description of land. The farm itself is divided into several paddocks, having live fences planted, which are promising well, the other im provements being more in the direc tion of utility than elegance. A well 230 feet deep, requires some courage even to look down, the water being raised by a windmill and force pump when the gentle zephyr supplies sufficient power, and by a windlass when otherwise ; a cottage and stable are erected for the farm servants anti horses, the whole being one of the estates under the management of. Mr. James Scott. Of the appearance of the crops themselves it is impossible to speak too highly, the wheat and oats doing splendidly, whilst the barley is a wonder, being fully two feet high ; until the shoots come out in earl do not intend to estimate the yield, and I leave -any surmises in that direction till a later date. On the opposite side of the Chertsey road is the farm of Mr. Aitken, who has COO acres of wheat and 100 of oats, looking equally as well as Miles, Hassal, and Co’s. Mr. Aitken has made a comfortable home, where three years ago a wilderness of tussocks was all that could be seen by the most powerful exercise of vision, and his large self-contained house, and exten sive stables show that the owner does not intend to neglect the comfort of either himself or his horses. The well herp is about the same depth as on his neighbors— and was the first put down in the locality. A promising plantation is a feature on the place, and altogether Mr. Aitken’s en deavors are likely to meet with the success they deserve, and having, the Chertsey Bail way Station- within a mile of him he possesses a great advantage in being able to get his grain readily transferred into the truck. Ad joining the latter farm is Mr, J. Murphy’s with 150 acres of wheat and 100 barley, and he has certainly no cause to complain of his prospects. Mr. J. Moore’s farm which is intersected by the railway line has 100 acres of oats and 190 of wheat in a very forward state ; Messrs. Conway Bros., on the Beach road, have 200 acres in wheat, 50 of barley and oats, and 50 laid down in permanent pasture, and can not be said to be behind any of the other crops Mr. P. Grant, near Miles, Hassals’ has 200 in wheat, and 200 in oats and barley, the latter being a remarkably forward crop, and already in ear. Close by, Mr. A. Buckley has 122 acres in wheat, and coming towards Ashburton, Mr. Quigley has 174 in wheat and 100 in oats, all doing first class. Mr. J. Gardiner has between 400 and 500 acres mostly in w.ieat, amongst it some pedigree wheat, which has a rather straggling look just now; but as I saw some on the same farm last year when ripe, I can say that it has a remarkably well filled head and large grain with thin husk and spiked like barley. I trust this year’s experiment with it will be successful, as I have great hopes of it. [To be Continued.] Rust in Wheat.

At a meeting of the Tasmanian Agricul tural and Pastoral Association held at Launceston recently, Mr Thomas Hogarth read a paper on red rust, from : which, we make the following extracts from the “Tasmanian Mail,” —If we refer to the component parts of wheat straw, separated by analysis, we find silicates to the in gredient which gives the hard, lustrous surface desired ; and I think . any means that can be adopted to cause the growing plant to assimilate a full complement of this substance is something attained. Silica is by far the largest constituent part of wheat straw, and is one of the in organic or incombustible parts. The in organic substances are all found in the ash of plants after burning ; 10001 b. of wheat straw contains, on an average, 501 b. of ash, and of this 501 b. 65 per cent is silica. The quantity of ash left from wheat straw varies greatly, the extremes of 351 b. and 1551 b. to the 1000 having been met with, and I think this ■ variation is strong presumptive evidence in favor of this proposed preventive of rust. An anatysis of rusted and clean straw would be useful, taken, of course, from crops similarly exposed to rust Influences. Ex periments have proved that the lowest portion «f a tall wheat straw contains less ash than the upper portion. When divided into five equal parts the propor tion has been found to be about 4,6, 7, 8 and 9 per cent. This also is evidence in our favors as the bottom of the straw is generally found to be the most rusted, and the leaf most of all, the leaf being less lustrous, and containing less silica than the stem. Unripe wheat straw contains less silica than when ripe, the difference being as 40 is to 55—another feature in our favor, as when the rust attacks a partially ripe crop the destruction is well known to be greater. Feeding off in spring, which has been asserted to be partially preventive, I think, can also be passed to the credit of our position, for, when any of the graminacious plants are cut off early, they send up a harder, rougher, wiry stem in the next*, growth. On the other, hand, feeding off' retards maturity, though only slightly, and early maturity has certainly much in its favor, as obviating, the liability; though last year this featuro was in a great mebs&jra. get aaidbi soma bf ihe earlier crops beihgi the Worn lusted.

This supposition <>f a lustrous straw, rich in silica, being admitted as preven tive, the question arises how arc we to produce such a straw '! Silica is what hint, quartz, &c., is composed of. Some soils are naturally rich in available silicates no doubt, and comparative analysis of soils from different localities for silica alone, would bo an easy and useful undertaking. We know that the lighter, poorer lands of the colony, such as about Cresay, though they produce the largest wheat crops, yet are less liable to rust than the binds to the eastward and westward, whore the soils are generally considered of a bettor class. It has been shown that 65 per cent, of the ashes of wheat straw is silica, and it has long been mv opinion that the reason Crossy and other light land localities are most free from rust is because the long stubble is invariably burned on the ground, and the silicates thereby returned and evenly distributed. The fact of the wheat being reaped high follows from these localities being unsnited for cattle, therefore the straw is not required. The other districts mentioned combine cattle with agriculture, and cut the stubble as low as possible for fodder, so low that it fails to burn, and though the little left is ploughed under,, it is years before the silica is rendered available for plant food. In February, 1876,1 had occasion to write a few lines for a local journal on reapers ; and the following appears as illustrative of that subject, which I hope you will ex cuse me repeating here ;—“ But there is another phase to the straw question—the loss to the laud where the grain is cut short to the ground, carried home to the stock-yard, and ultimately burned in a heap, is something of more moment than is generally understood, and is specially important and applicable to the present season, when rust is so prevalent. Every farmer of observation will have noticed that land which produces wheat with a clear, shiny, hard surface of straw is less susceptible to rust than where a soft spongy straw prevails. Silica is the ele ment which gives to the straw the rust resisting surface indicated, and by carting all the straw off a field and consuming it wo deprive the soil of a most important constituent for the production of grain ; whereas by leaving all the stubble where it grows on a field and burning there, the silicates are returned to the soil in the ashes, and so no loss of that ingredient is effected. ”

Salt, when applied to the land, is acted upon by the carbonate of lime contained in the soil, and produces carbonate of soda, although in very small quantity. Carbonate of soda is a solvent of silica, and thus suit indirectly assists the production of the kind of straw desired. The commercial value of carbonate of soda, I presume, is too high to admit of its being used. Salt is a cheap article,, and on some lands is very useful, as it not only has the effect indicated in producing silica, but is also a solvent for other constituents. Its affinity for moisture is also well known and of im portance to the agriculturist.

This, then, gentlemen, is the proposal I commend to your judgment as .a preven tative of rust to a great extent, that all lands prepared for wheat have a full allow ance of silica in a state available for plant food.

Capitation Grant for Fire Brigades.

Not the least important of all our colonial institutions are the Fire Brigades, and it is well that some means of securing their permanency and efficiency should be considered by Government, At present they are left, as in the case of the Ash burton Brigade, to the tender mercies of the Borough Council, not over well found in funds, or otherwise, they are dependent upon the subscriptions of the members themselves, the patriotic public, and the insurance companies. It is impossible that a Fire Brigade, with all its costly plant and accessories, can be maintained in a proper state of efficiency if the funds are not supplied to meet the frequent dis bursements necessary, and to do this, ap peals are made to tho general public for aid. These appeals are not infrequently responded to handsomely, but they are just as often not responded to at all, many people fancying that, paying their insurance premiums their duty in regard to fire prevention is discharged, and that the support of the Brigade ought naturally to devolve upon the insurance companies. These, again, while sub scribing to a certain amount towards Brigade support are not prepared to go to, the length of finding all, or even a large amount of the needful funds, but choose rather to protect themselves in other ways, which they apparently find more satisfactory and less costly. We do not blame the insurance companies. Were every owner of property compelled to in sure, and the whole possible insurance business of the colony made actual busi ness, then the companies may be naturally expected to provide Brigade protection for all and sundry, but as every man does not not insure, the com panies are perfectly justified in subscrib ing only to such extent as suits them. Still, fires are always a public loss, how ever small they may be, and when one occurs there is not always a limit to the danger. Fire, therefore, is a public enemy, calling for suppression when it lias the mastery just as loudly as do armed foes whom we might be asked to meet in battle, and the support of a volunteer Fire Brigade is thus as much a Govern ment’s duty, as is the support of a volunteer rifle corps. The riflemen meet for drill, to be sure, but their time fin action comes but seldom. The Brigade must drill to be proficient, and drill often, while at any ■ moment they may be sum moned to a post of danger, and to a duty just as noble as the country’s defence. It is with pleasure then that we learn tho Go vernment mean to consider the advisable nesa of placing firemen upon the same footing as volunteers, and giving them a similar capitation grant. This will be a guarantee for the future of Brigades’ efficiency, and an encouragement to mem bers that will go far to add to their efficiency.

THU OPERA IN ASHBURTON.

During repairs to the theatre in Christ church, the celebrated It, B’Orsay Ogdon will take his talented opera company tor a short local tour, and amongst the places visited will he Ashburton. The company comprise 24 of the best names in the colonies, and in their appearance on the Ashburton stage there is a treat m store for tuu people of the county n.w to no enjoyed once in many ye.as out oi tnc larger cities of the colony. The piece to bo given is the “Doctor of Alcantara, ’ and we quote too following resume of tne plot from the Ohr.stcharcii “Press”: — The performance will be given on Monday week, due notice and furl particulars of which will doubtless bo given. “ Carlos, the son of Honor Balthazar, lias fallen in love with Henorita Isabella, daughter of Dr. Paraceiaus. In the meanwhile, Isabella lias been betrothed to a young man, with whose name slie has not been made acquainted. Surprised by her mother in listening to a serenade given by Carlos, she confesses her love fur nim, and refuses to marry the unknown intended. Carlos contrives to have him self conveyed into the house in a basket, under cover of a present to Inez, the con fidante of Isabella. Carlos takes ad vantage of the absence of everybody to get out of the basket and conceal himself. The Dr. and Inez, in trying to hide the basket from the quarrelsome Lucrezia, drop it in the river, and afterwards learn that there was a man in it. Attracted by the despairing screams of Inez, the night watch appears, l e d by the aiguazil Bom poso, who informs them that they are under the surveillance of his nien as sus picious persons. After the departure of the night watch, the Doctor and Inez are left brooding in fear and dismay over their crime, when Carlo enters, to the great tenor of the Doctor and Inez, who im mediately suspect him to be a police spy. He discovers himself to them as the son of Honor Balthazar, being at the same time unaware that his lady-love and his intended are one and the same. Trans ported with joy, the Doctor asks him to take a glass of wine with him, which wine, brought by Inez, proving to be one of the Doctor’s poisonous 1 decoctions, plunges Carlos at once into a deathlike swoon. The Doctor, believing him dead, and afraid of being detected in this his second imaginary murder, conceals Carlos in a sofa, in which act he is disagreeably surprised by the sudden arrival of Honor Balthazar, who comes to conclude the arrangements for cho marriage of his son and Isabella. His presence being objectionable to them, they put every obstacle in his way, so that at length he is forced to pass the night on a sofa, beneath which his son’s body is concealed. When lie is asleep, the Doctor and Inez, fearful of discovery, enter to remove the holy from under Balthazar, who awakes, and start sup in fear. Carlos by this time recovering from the effects of the opiate, contrives to get out of the sofa, and his father, meeting with him in the dark, utters a cry of alarm, which terrifies the Doctor and Innez, and also attracts the neighbors. Mutual explanations take place, and Isabella and Carlos prove to have been loving at cross purposes, as they were, from the first, intended for each other by their respective parents.

REMINISCENCES OF A TOUR TO SOUTHLAND.

[contributed. J

When one has been suffering from in disposition and severe debility, medical men say there is nothing like a thorough change of scene, provided there is suffi cient stamina left to endure the fatigue of the journey. After weighing over the unplesantness likely to arise out of a long and wearisome tour from the Christchurch city to Southland by rail, I resolved, after considerable meditation, to make the attempt, being assumed that the result would have a restorative effect. The first resolution being surmounted, the neces sary preparations .were made, and this venturesome jour my commenced. Tlie railway horse left the great city of Canter bury Plains punctually to the time, 8.40 a. m., as advertised in the fairly compiled Smith’s Canterbuiy Bradshaw guide for railways, steamboats, and coaches. Being armed with the store of information in this creditable production, I made a start. The journey from Christchurch to the capital city of Southland—lnvercargill— is put down at 3G9 miles. The first class return fare for travelling this 738 miles is £6 18s. sd. ; while one can travel over land, by rail, from Sydney to Melbourne, and back (over 990 miles on the railway) for £4. The contrast is apalling never theless true. The progressive people of New Zealand have potent reasons to be proud of their position in many respects ; but in some they suffer oppression. They can fairly boast of one fact, namely, hav ing the longest railway from any two given centres, that is opened and running, than in any of the sister colonies. Upon this point New Zealand stands the foremost. But as to the direct profitable returns earned by these lines is ahorse quite of another color —despite the unparalleled out rageous high tariff rates imposed. At a time such as at present, when there is a strong political controversy going on, it may he highly interesting to place upon record a few undeniable facts, with refer ence to the comparative results, from the working of the railways in the other Australasian Colonics. It may bo a seasonable opportunity to make this start ling exhibition of results, with a view of in stigating some of the recently elected political aspirants to a course of wisdom, ijn carrying out a prudent system of rail way extension, but upon a common sense principle. Two objects should he clearly aimed at—developing the rich lands which are now in almost an unproductive state from want of railway communication, and carrying out such additional railway ex tensions upon a reproductive footing as to pay a reasonable interest upon the outlay, with a tariff rate for goods and passengers fully 50 per cent, loss than those now in vogue here. At present the rates imposed in New Zealand are more than double the tariff scale charges in the other colonies, while the cost of the railway lines in Victoria and New South Wales stand in over £14,000 per mile, and ours only cost £OOOO per mile. Up to the present the people’s' representatives, and the various political advisers have truly merited the charge of £Tosa] mismanage ment in the nialter,' and that to a mo. t unrighteous extent.

New South Wales stands first of all tlio Australian colonies, as showing prudence in making railways (o give profitable re turns, working upon a lower tariff rate than any of her neighbors. The whole of the railway linos opened in New South Wales—6BSl, miles, costing £14,212 per mile, including roiling stock and ma chinery, giving a net interest return, after paying working expenses, on the total capital invested, £4 4s 5.1 per £IOO nearly 4| per cent. The minimum rail way charge in New South Wales for carry ing one ton a distance of 150 miles to f.o.h. at an export port, is only 15s 2d, while in our adopted country of New Zea land, the lines only costing £OOOO per mile, the minimum railway charge for carrying one ton a distance of 150 miles to f. 0.1). at an export port, is 21s 3-id. The general outcome of the railway linos here is still more alarming. By the last pub lished railway returns, to earn £IOO it cost £B9. This is the general percentage of expenditure to the gross receipts on all (.he lines. On one line in particular, and the fact is worth chronicling, to earn £IOO it costs £126. In the latter case there is a positive loss in working expenses of 26 per cent, on the gross earnings. Thelines in the sister colonies cost, for working expenses, about 52 per cent of the gross earnings. The summary of this is that while New South Wales paj's on an outlay of £14,212 per mile with a tariff'rate nearly 60 per cent, less than ours, some 4.\ per cent interest on the gross outlay, New Zealand, with her railway lines only cost ing' £6OOO per mile, and her excessive tariff rate, is estimated not paying throe per cent, interest on the gross outlay, resulting in the difference of the rab* <u interest payable on cur debentures having to bo charged to the general revenue account. This is an unwholesome sMfce of affairs. The Now South Wales Kailway results reflect great credit on its govern ments, which have proved so beneficial to the tillers of the soil, while the reverse is the practical outcome of the deeds of our improperly named politicians. Tilers is now a howling cry for a "West Coast railway line, which, if carried out, may entail stationary engines being fixed, on account of the excessive gradients, with prospective results of not an encou raging nature, while other parts of New Zealand—Southland may be particularly instanced—with country unequalled for productiveness, are at present in a state of idleness. In Southland, lines could be made at a minimum cost, opening up agri cultural land for settlement, and coalfields of groat magnitude ; in fact, this part of New Zealand has a back bone, and is destined to support a large population of thrifty people. The railway particulars I have ventured to submit, the excessive tariff rates here, and the inference I have drawn, may bo pardonable on my part. They are sub stantial reasons why I have so fully entered into these details. The facts dis closed and the allusions made are, no doubt, unpleasant, but in the interest of the taxpayers, it would bo wise to have a commission of inquiry into the pre sent railway management, and also to take practical evidence as to the further exten sion of railways, with a view of redeem ing the present deplorable state of affairs. Profitable development of the land suit able for agriculture and settlement should be the order of the day.

Attached to the train in which wo left Christchurch was one of the newly im ported railway passenger cars. It was gorgeously got up, and was calculated to give extra comfoit and accommodation to travellers. It gave one the impression that it was well suited for a moving con cert room on a smalt scale. The first stoppage, according to the time-table, was at Rakaia, the distance being 35 miles. The rate of speed was 20 miles per hour. The dreary Canterbury Plains wore passed over with a disagreeable drizzling rain. The land, as a rule, has a barren formation of shingle, in many parts unpleasantly too near the surface t > render agricultural operations anything but uncertain ; the results must lie v ery precarious. The width of the noted Rakaia river, which in the old days lies daunted the courage of the bravest of the bushmen, is, according to the inquiry 7 i made, the major part of a mile ; it is now bridged over from bank to bank. Until Orari or Geraldine is reached, eighty miles from Christchurch, the land is m l high class. From Orari to Timaru, eighteen miles further south, the country hears unmistakable evidence of fertility.

The situation of Timaru and its sur roundings have a well-to-do appearance. The town is full of bustle. Unfortunately the drawbacks to shipping are almost in surmountable. The roadstead, as its is named, is open to the full force of the ocean from almost all points of the com pass, except west. With a reasonable land tariff rate, it is worthy 7 of the consi deration of our law makers whether it would not he more beneficial for the present to utilise the ports of Akaroa ami Oamaru, instead of trying to make a secure harbor in the open sea at an im mense expenditure of capital, without much show of justification. It is practicable to moderate the land carriage so as to afford the agriculturist in the Timaru vicinity substantial advantages—a course which seems sensible to many 7 men who have the credit of being considered thoughtful.

Oamaru is south of Timaru 52 miles. The country is mostly 7 well suited for car rying on corn cropping. Judging from the reported yields in unfavorable seasons, it is destined to bo a large pro ducing part of New Zealand. Although Oamaru is naturally 7 more sheltered than Timaru, it will no doubt be made a ship ping place, affording ordinary 7 facilities when the present breakwater is completed. With the port of Dunedin 79 miles dis tant, it is contended by some tint, wnh the cheaper freights available—and which could be offered at Port Chalmers —for the foreign markets, the shipping advantages at the port of the Otago capital would have been as great as those to be gained by attempting to make an artificial har bor at Oamaru ; that is, counting on the conveniences which are expected to be accomplished by a modern system of present railway management. The natural formation of the subsoil of the land in the Oamaru locality is admirably 7 suited for producing wheat of rmexcep tionally high quality for mixing pur poses. Its future cannot but be a noted wheat producing district. The shipping facilitiesofOiiiua.ru have been considerably improved since the breakwater has been extended. In moderate weather, vessels and steamers of light draught of water, can load and discharge cargo alongside. But even with this advantage there are

still further drawbacks of great commer cial hinderance, entailing greater uncer tainties, and risks of a highly objection able nature. It. is not an unusual oceur auco for vessels to bo ordered to haul away from the breakwater in bad weather ; woiso than this, when a .storm is threaten ing, with the wind and sea coining in from unfavorable points of the compass, into this open roadstead, vessels are signalled to run out to sea for safety, and this invariably happens at some busy part of the grain season. The vessels are fre quently driven away with less of gear and anchors, and have to seek safe ports of refuge. These (briic'ibies are trifles com pared with the. existing ones at Timavn. The romantic adventurers of landing and shipping cargo at Tna.tru occasionally one hears of, are seen hen., in a practical way.

i’ho charms of the savor's life in working tho surf boats, the tourist lias the opportu nity of witnessing, and how the people’s requirements are landed and the produce of the country shipped. The whole of this business is carried out in. the face of great natural obstructions of a most for midable character, • which would seem to tho generality of people almost hopeless to encounter. The vessel, for instance, is anchored in the open sea at some consider able distance from the mainland. In many places the sea lashes with immense force against tiie shore, which is protected seaward with a rocky toce of almost per re-.di-nlar height. It has a forbidding appearance, even in fine weather. In

stevi'iy weather the scene is wild and t;i i' 10. The surf boats are hauled up through the breakers considerably above bpg'i water mark, upon what tie skilled man •..■air? permanent ways, by a stationary me;,::i engine. The landing and shipping m go'bis and produce is performed in the s-.iia- way as a vessel is taken upon the ;■! ■;> iv.il launched therefrom. These

7i-.rnr.il obstructions incur heavy shipping ch.i-.p- 3, which have all to ho paid by pro ds, ms, i’csidcs all the risks, delays, and 1.1 her objectionable incidentals, which have to he encountered in attempting to carry out a shipping trade in such a road stead as Tiniarn, completely void of natural advantages. The difficulties which have to be got over artificially I am strongly of opunion may be likened unto burning the candle at both ends. The suggestion which seems feasible namely—under a modern system of rail way management—whether it would not be cheaper to utilise the port of Akaroa than to endeavor to light against nature, strikes one as a matter worthy of con sideration. The port of Akaroa is cer tainly unequalled as a port, possessing every natural advantage needed to secure the bulk of the shipping trade of the east coast, from the south of Canterbury to the Timaru district, once reasonable railway communication was opened up. lam in formed that Akaroa is not only one of the prettiest places in the whole of Now" Zea land, but, besides, possesses an historic.;! interest, as being the very spot where the British flag was first hoisted in the Middle Island. The Peninsula, as it is named, is well wooded, and. abounds in numberless picturesque bays. Providence has made this part of Now Zealand lit for the greatest shipping port of the south east part of the Province of Canterbury, with out expending enormous sums of momy, and heaping up interest in making an artificial port. It is said those who suc ceeded in planting the British flag were possessed of talent in making a landing at such a good port ; and it would have been well if the early pioneers, who subse quently followed, had displayed morn acuteness in following up and establishing the port of Aharon as the leading port in the Middle Island, in place of aiming at expending huge sums of .money in at tempting to ge t over difficulties which it would have been prudent to have left alone. It is within the bounds of possi bility that the rising generation will live to see Akaroa flourish as one of the fuie-

most shipping ports in Now Zealand. Before taking my leave of Oanraru, it will be well to notice the almost un bounded limit of white stone there is in that locality. It extends along the rail way lino, and will no doubt open up a l isting trade with other parts of the Aus r. a asiau colonies. This stone has been use.l for some year shack in the conspicuous |m.;s of the higher classic buildings in -. .rue m the larger cities. It is very suit ;J.io for tine and ornamental work. The .-/.■■ins cutlers speak highly of it, as it is easdv worked.

After leaving Oamaru, the country is first-class agricultural land ; some of the paddocks, in English grasses, look most luxuriant, and show evidence that a good system of husbandry has been followed. The sight of the eastern ocean is lost for a time until the 17oth mile post from Christchurch is reached, which is some where adjacent to Kartigi station. From here to J ort Chalmers the whole coast line is skirted through a somewhat unpro ductive part of the country ; in many places the moving train is in too close proximity to overhanging perpendicular dill’s, with the roaring sea heating below, to be pleasant —a nervous traveller would declare it dangerous. 'ln fact, for some miles before making Port Chalmers the gradients are steep, curves sharp, the cuttings deep, with costly tunnels made. One of my Dunedin acquaintances, who possessed intelligence of a practical kind, besides being desirous to be communica tive, informed mo that the first railway contract for making 2-i- miles from .Port Chalmers cost about E 48.000 ; the next c of a. mile cost about Lt>o,(*oo ; tiio th.vd, or Parakanui, contract, L!iS Ov'O for seven miles, to the Plneskin 1 think it was named. An engineering man he must he, for he was well up iu railway lino contracting. The conclusion 1 came to was that, according to his Incas, a. much better and cheaper line could have I.con made, ami opened up good country in place of, as he termed it, running against engineering diiiiculik-s. The evening of the arrival of the train in Dunedin was anything, 1 ut cheering, thick, drizzling rani falling. However, with mine Imst Watson I found comfort able and nice reared qua'tors, with, a capacioni: reading loom supplied villi a good collection of newt-papei s and periodi cals, all filed in peifoit order, which was quite relieving after being coeped up in a railway carriage from 8.40 a.m. to 7.35 p.m., travelling only 230 miles, barely averaging 21 miles per hour. It is con tended that the construction of these narrow gauged, light railway linos in New Zealand, will not admit of a much higher rale of speed being attained, so the tax payer will have to be satisfied with resales of a -'ineagre ■ kind, i-Dunedin, has .> Ihju. making of one of the fiKesi’-metropolitaiH cities ill New Zealand. The back hilly

ground is really magnificent. In approach ing the city it gives one an idea of terrace after terrace of splendid homely resi dences, the occupants of which seem to be in affluence. The discovery of the gold fields in the Otago province about the year 18(11, has been truly tlie making of this great city. There is an air of substance about the buildings ; the streets are well formed, the in,iking of which, with the water supply and the system of "drainage carried out, must have cost a large sum of money. The building of this fine city has been ac complished within the past 18 years. This progress Is truly marvellous, and creditable to the people. They seem to be full of .enterprise, Tho street steam tramways are in full swing, tho establishment of which have fairly run tho poor cabman otr.

[ TO U 3 OOXXTXUED.'I

A Second Dr. Carver.

According to the “Pacific Life,” of San Francisco, Oakland, of that State (Cali fornia) possesses, in the person of one of its residents, an equal to the now world celebrated Doctor, in many of the the latter’s well known ritle feats. The name of this gentleman is John Ruth, and he is destined to become as well known as either Dr. Carver or Pogarclus. The “Pacific Life” writes of Mr. Ruth as follows: “ Mr. John Ruth, of Oakland is destined to be one of the most noted marksmen in the world. Of late this distinguished gentleman has made some scores which will open the eyes of other crack shots. Recently at Piedmont Springs, Mr. Ruth, in shooting at glass balls, broke 48 and 49 out of 50, and 98 and 99 out of 100. He also broke 42 out of 50 by raising and firing the rifle with one hand. Prepara tions are being made for a match between Ruth and a noted shot of Utah, for a purse of 200dols. The gentlemen are to shoot at 500 glass balls, Mr. Ruth using a Brllard rifle and his opponent a shot-gun. Mr. Ruth opens a challenge to the world, not even excepting the great Dr. Carver. He proposes to beat the best record ever made by Carver, 885 out of 1,000 glass balls. Mr. Ruth’s fancy shots deserve especial mention. Recently he gave an exhibition of shooting at stationary glass balls, with his rifle held in different posi tions. 1. Holding rifle sideways. 2. Upside down, over his head, firing at the balls with the rifle thus held. 8. Shooting from hip without aim. 4. Holding head over back of chair. In firing in these fashions, Ruth did not fail in a single instance to hit his mark.

Reminiscence of Niagara.

( F rora the -Si'. Louis Globe Democrat. )

I remember when I was but a boy that a man got into the rapids here, having been curried down in a boat, which. was broken to pieces. He had the good for-' tune to be dashed on a rock, to which he dung. It was at the height of the. sea* son—August, if I recollect—and he clung there for fully 116 hours. Everybody streamed out of the hotels, and thgimis lago; the banks of the river, particu larly the west aide, were thronged with people anxious to do something to save him. Dozens of plans were suggested ; some attempted, but they all failed. Thousands of dollars were offered to any body who would rescue him. The des perate situation of the man had been tele graphed over the country, and every train brought crowds of passengers hither to witness it with their own eyes. He was then encouraged by shouts from the banks, but whether he could understand anything said it is doubtful. The world is said to be sympathetic. It is, pr.ap pears to be unsympathetic when the object for which sympathy is asked is abstract. When it is tangible, visible, all is changed.; , There was an exemplification. This poor wretch could be seen. He was an ordinary uneducated man ; but he was a man, and the brotherhood and sisterhood of hia race went out to him in pity, and intense eager ness to rescue him. Women of fashion, “blase” club men, selfish worldlings,, grew pale as they watched the unhappy wretch, so vivid was their sympathy. Many persons sat up all night looking, across the boiling, seething, roaring waterp at the small dark figure still clinging to the rock. The morning, came, renewed efforts were made, but they all miscarried. The crowd had increased; it was immense, Everybody was excited. Tears were in women’s eyes ; the palor gleamed through the rouge of some of their cheeks." Can't something be done? Must the poor fel low perish before our faces ? Is there no,; way to rescue him ? Such questions were incessantly asked; but alas; no reply, could be given. The man had good courage and great strength. He clung to the rock with the desperation of a dying soul. To lose his hold was to be dashed over the cataract. Appliances and con trivances ai rived from Buffalo. New ex periments and new failures,! Hoarse shouts still rang across the rapids to hold on, .to be of good heart. The heart that ever tlu-obbed could not fri that rock forever. It was wonderft 1 ow he had endured. A fresh, idea had come to the minds of half a dozen mechanics. They were laboring to throw a hawser; every muscle was strained ; every eye was bent upon their work. Suddenly the man slipped away. He was exhausted; ho threw up his arms ; he dashed toward the cataract. A low groan its from one breast quaked through the throng ; the thousands shivered with terror. A black object for a moment longer in the hell of waters, and then disappeared for ever. No one moved; no < -no spoke for a while. All looked in the direction where the figure had been swallowed up. It was the enc hantment of terror; it was the chill of tragedy distinctly wrought which froze e very one - for it moment to the spot. The old" resident —he has lived heie forty years says that on an average about six persons are carried over the falls every year, and ; that four of the six are wholly or partially intoxicated and lose their lives by care lessness or recklessness in lowing above the rapids, going beyond the line of dan-, gur. But for liquor, not more than two lives, he says, would he lost annually.

A RfIFUGB I'Oll TUI! UNFORTUNATE. The Aimed Constabulary seems to be a sort of Cave of Adullam for unfortunates., A William Robert Christie, described by! the Wellington papers as a “ gentleman," was had up for vagrancy. The R.M. said" he had made inquiries, and found that it was simply misfortune that had placed 1 prisoner in the position lie then occupied;'; The R.M. interested him Self iii the mattetl and found a place for the gentleman “ilk extremis'’ in the Armed Constabulary. 35

4

fHU ABUBuKTQN OUAfcUI'AN,

j S'?..VIV iU v '. N' OVfiAIOI'M jH>.- i



Cuke for “Drumc.” In the town of Paterson, New Jersey, every vagabond, loafer or drunkard, as often as he gets into the clutches of the law, is vaccinated, no matter how often he comes. The cure ia said to be complete. Teetotal pledges, imprisonment, lashing even, is as naught when vaccination is introduced. Moral for New .Zealand vaccinate your drunkards. But we kuow a little town in' Canterbury'that would soon want a relay of lymph.