THE FARMER.

Breeds and Varieties of Sheep.

From May's Handy Hook

1) LrfTING U[S UIN'G FEATURES Of Breeds of Sheep, both Native and Foreign, found in Great Britain.

Cl VSS I. — Sheep Without Horns.

1. Dishley or New Leicester : —Head clean, straight, and broad ; body round, or barrel shaped ; eyes fine and lively ; body fine and small ; pelt thin ; wool long and fine, well calculated for combing, and weighing upon an average 8 lbs per fleece when killed at two years old. Fatten kin<Uy and early, being admirably calculated for the market, thriving on pastures that will scarcely keep other sheep, and requiring loss food than others. Tolerably hard and vigorous. Are found chiefly in Leicestershire and the neighbor ing counties, whence this breed is gradually dispersing through the kingdom. 2. Lincolns;—Face white; bones large; legs white, thick, and rough ; carcass long, thin, and weak ; wool fine and long, from tm to fifteen inches, weighing per fleece, when killed at three years, an average of ll lbs; flesh coarse-grained ; slow feeders, calculated only for the richest pastures ; constitutions tender : are found in Lincoln shire, whence they receive their name, and other rich grazing districts.—Variety 1. Teeswater (freed : Bones finer ; legs longer; carcass more heavy and firm ; back and sides wider than in the original breed; wool not so long as that of the preceding sort, weighing about 9 lbs when killed at two years old ; flesh finer grained and fatter ; female singularly prolific, generally producing two, and often three lambs each; constitution weak; slow feeders, suited only for the finest pastures, consequently lass profitable than the smaller-sized, but quicker feeding sorts of sheep; capable of great improvement by crossing with New Leicester or Dishley rams ; are found in the extensive, fertile, sheltered and inclosed tracts of pasture watered by (he river Tees, in Yorkshire. Variety 2. Cotswold or improved Glouces ter Breed : In most respects resembling the parent breed, but superior ; wool not so long as that of the.original sort; mutton fine-grained, and full-sized; capable of greal improvement by proper crossing; are found chiefly in Gloucestershire. 3. Dartmoor or Devonshire Natts : Face and legs white ; neck thick ; bones large; back narrow, but backbone high ; sides good ; wool long, weighing upon an average 91bs when killed at about two years and a half ; improves materially by crossing with the Dishley breed; are chiefly founc on the moors in Devonshire, whence they derive their name. 4. Hereford :—Face and legs white ; size small; carcass well shaped; wool very fine and short, growing close to their eyes, and weighing, when killed at four years and a half old, upon an average 21bs per fleece; patient of hunger ; flesh fine grained ; constitution tender, requiring shelter in winter ; very profitable, no breed being supposed capable of subsisting on so small a quantity of pasture as this sort requires ; are found in the county of Hereford, where thi Archenfield or true breed is known by the name of “ Ryelands.” 5. Southdown ;—Face and legs grey ; bones fine; neck long and small; low before : shoulder high; light in the fore quarter; sides' good; loin tolerably broad ; backbone rather too high ; thigh full; and twist good ; wool very fine and short (the staple being from two to three inches in length) weighing an average of 2£lbs per fleece when killed at two years old ; flesh fine grained, and of excellent flavor ; quick feeders ; constitution hardy and vigorous ; capable of great improve ment ; are found on the dry chalky downs of Sussex, whence this valuable breed is being gradually introduced into the various districts. Variety 2. Cannock Heath; In most points resembling the South down race ; wool fine and soft; flesh fine and sweet; greatly improvable by crossing with Herefordshire rams ; are found on Cannock Heath, in the county of Stafford, which gives this breed its name. G. Romney Marsh :—Faco white ; legs white, and rather long; bones rather large; body round or barrel shaped; size good; wool fine, long, and white, weighing, when killed at two years and a half old. about Mbs per fleece ; flesh ex cellent and fine-grained ; fatten early and kindly, but calculated only for rich marsh or pasture grounds, where this breed is very profitable; are found on Romney Marsh, whence this valuable sort is denominated, and on the rich marsh-lands of Sussex.

7. Herdwick :—Face speckled with black and white ; legs of the same colour, small, fine, and clean ; wool short and matted in the fleece, each fleece averaging 21bs when killed at four and a half years old; constitution very hardy and vigorous, requiring only a little hay during intense winters ; are found on the mountainous tract at the head of the rivers Esk and Dudden, in Cumberland, where they are farmed out to herds, from which circumstance they derive their name.

8. Cheviot :—Face and legs chiefly white ; body long; eyes lively and prominent; forequarters deficient in depth on the breast, which is narrow, as also is the cliine ; pelt thin ; bones fine, clean, and small; wool partly fine, and in pai’t of a coarse quality, each fleece averaging about 4|lbs when killed at four years and a half hold ; a very hardy mountain breed, well calculated for exposed situa tions ; fattening kindly ; are found in the mountain tract termed Cheviot Hills, whence they have been introduced into most northern districts. 9. Dun-Faced:—Face of a dun or tawny color; small size; tail short; wool of various streaks, black, red, brown, or dun, and partly of a fine texture, weighing about l|lbs per fleece when killed at four years and a half years old ; flesh finely grained, aud of excellent flavor; not so hardy as the preceding uort; are found in exposed northern dis tricts.' 10. Shetland Very small in size, and

of various colors. Variety 1. has coarse Wool above, and fine wool below, being supplied with long hairs, termed fors and scudda, which protect the animals from the intense cold of winter. Variety 2. has a soft cottony fleece, and is less hardy than the preceding variety, the wool being short and open. W 00l very fine and soft, fit for the finest manufactures, the fleece weighing from 1 to Slbsj very

hardy, but too wild to be confined ; are found in the islands whence this breed is named.

CLASS II. —Horned sheep.

11. Exmore :—Face and legs white ; bone, neck, and head peculiarly delicate ; wool tine and long, averaging about 41bs per fleece ; very hardy ; are found chiefly on and in the vicinity of Exmore, in the northern part of the county of Devon. 12. —Dorsetshire :—Face white ; legs long, small, and white ; ewes singularly prolific, bringing lambs twice, and at any time of the year ; wool fine and short, tue fleece averaging about 3ilbs when killed at three years and a half old ; are found in the county from which the name is de rived, and in the adjacent districts. 13. Norfolk ;—Horns large and spiral; faco black ; body long, thin, and weak ; neck long ; legs long, black or grey ; wool short and fine, weighing about 21bs per fleece at three years and a half, which is the chief quality of this breed, whoso flesh is well-flavored and of a fine grain ; kept chiefly for the convenience of folding ; are found in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, where it is native ; but is giv ing way to the more profitable Southdown breed.

14. Heath :—Horns like those of the preceding sort ; face and legs black; eyes wild and tierce ; carcass short and firm ; wool long, open, coarse, and shaggy, fleece averaging about 3|dbs at four years and a half old ; constitution hardy, and superior to that of the Cheviot breed ; ad mirably calculated for elevated, healthy, and exposed districts ; good feeders ; flesh excellent ; are found in the north-western parts of Yorkshire, the north-eistem counties of England, and thence forward to Scotland ; it appears to be the same breed which is known in the district of Linton by the various names of Linton, Short, or Forest sheep. 15. Merino, or Spanish Sheep : —Horns of middle size, of which the ewes are some time destitute ; face white ; legs of the same hue, and rather long; shape not very perfect, having a piece of loose skin depending form the neck; bone fine ; pelt fine and clear; wool uncommonly tine, weighing upon an average about 3£lbs ; constitution pretty hardy; fatten kindly ; are found in Spain, whence two flocks were imported into England; the first in or about 1802, for His Majesty George 111 , the other by Lord Somer ville, at an immense expense ; great bene fit has been derived by crossing this sort with the best British sheep. The Age of a Sheep. The second year they have two broad teeth ; the third year four broad teeth ; the fourth year six broad teeth ; the fifth year eight broad teeth before. About the end of one year rams, wethers, and all young sheep lose the two fore-teeth, and the incisive teeth of the lower jaw ; at eighteen months the two teeth joining to the former also fall out ; and at three years, being all replaced, they are oven and pretty : as these animals advance in age, the teeth become loose, blunt, and finally black. The age of horned sheep may be known by their horns, which show themselves in the first year, and continue to grow, forming one ring each year. A Spurious Shorthorn.

An interesting case, bearing upon the shorthorn mania has just been tried at Gloucester Assizes. A bull was exhibited at the annual shorthorn show at Birming ham, in 1875, as by Grand Patriot out of Graceful The animal was, of course, supposed to he of this most distinguished parentage on both sides, and skilled judges awarded it the first prize. Mr Henry Allsopp saw the bull, and bought it for the sum of 115 guineas. So far, however, from the bull having the five successive crosses necessary to entitle him to be considered a bull of high degree, it was proved conclusively that this prize-winner, Grand Patriot 11., was only by a pedigree bull by an ordinary cow. Mr Allsopp, however, was quite satisfied with his purchase, and the bull became part of his herd. As a result he is now the happy possessor of some 70 calves, whose grandmother is an ordinary cow, and is likely to add another 58 to the number of these low-caste beasts, thus lowering the whole character of his herd. The jury came to the conclusion that Mr Allsopp had been imposed upon, and awarded him the sum of £750 damages.

Nothing was heard during the trial of the judges at the Birmingham annual show ; but it would be curious to learn how they come to award the first prize in the shorthorn class to a half-bred bull whose pedigree they had not investigated.

Fortifications.

From the Echo. Probably few people are aware of the amount of money England has spent during the last few years in the construc tion of fortifications for the defence of our principal seaports and dockyards. We used to be told that “ Britanni a needs no bulwarks, no towers along the steepbut this age of steam and iron has apparently falsified that statement. During the last eighteen years no, less than £7,397,241 has been expended in this manner, according to a return just issued. Portsmouth has consumed the lion’s share of this sum, no less than £3,033,419 having been expended on the forts which encircle the land side of our great seaport, and on those which stud the waters in its neighborhood. 1 ly mouth, with its magnificent harbor, has cost £1,478,409 for defences, a sum which would have somewhat startled Sir Francis Drake, when he built the first battery on the island in the harbor which now bears his name. Pembroke Dock figures for rather more than £300,000; Portland for £457,000; Gravesend and its adjacent forts for £320,000; while Chatham and Sheerness bring up the cost of defending the Thames to £975,000. Dover has run us into an expenditure of nearly £300,000, and Cork nearly £200,000. In addition to this, nearly half a million has been spent in providing and fixing iron shields for fortifications. Experiments in the great case of Gun v. Ar mour have cost £15,000; while surveys, incidental expenses, and law costs amount to over £200,000 more. The only glimpse of sunshine in the. whole matter is that the amount author ised to be expended by the Fortifications Act is very nearly finished, only £35,000 more remaining to be raised.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

THE EARTH’S INTERNAL HEAT.

To the Editor. Sir, —In the short article of Oct. 18, on the earth’s internal heat, as suggested by the thermometer’s registration of the temperature in the shaft of the Magdala Quartz Company, Victoria, the statement is made that “ Science will have to con siderably modify her interpretation of the great heat at the bottom of many Euro pean mines of no greater depth. ” If none else have done so I would ask you to find room foe a few lines expressive of doubt as to the correctness of the above statement.

In the first place, it may be presumed that the thermometer used in the Magdala shaft was a very good one of the ordinary kind, but it is doubtful, I think, whether the measurements were made by the aid of one of those exceedingly delicate self registering instruments which are used by men of science to obtain measurements of the most perfect accuracy. Secondly, the measurements were not taken by experts for the purpose of scientific investigation, and it may there fore be supposed that there was not observed that perfect precision and exact attention to minutiae which characterises the experiments and observations of scientific men.

Thirdly, when measurements are made for the purpose of determining the heat of the interior of the earth it is not (as appears to be the case in the Magdala mine) the atmospheric temperatuie which is measured ; but the temperature of the rocks. Now, the registration given in the article referred to is that of the tempera ture of the mine office, and with the thermometer suspended 17ft. from the bottom, compared with that in the office on the surface of the ground. Fourthly, in ascertaining the tempera ture of the rocks, those only which are uniform in substance and form are con sidered to give data of importance as it is found that the nature of the rock, the dip of the strata, the quantity of contained water and other circumstances will con siderably modify the temperature of the rocks in the same locality.

Fifthly, in the article referred to, the temperature at the bottom of the Magdala shaft (83 deg.) is com pared with the temperature in the office on the surface of the ground (80 deg.) This, 1 think, shows that the investigation was not carried on by experts, as 1 just now hinted, because it is known that the earth is affected appreciably by the heat of summer and the cold of winter to a depth of 100 ft from the surface, at which depth the temperature is about that of the mean annual temperature of the locality, and it is only the registration of the thermometer below this limit which should be compared, as it is evident that the registration in the office would vary with the seasons ; so that science will not have to considerably modify her views, notwithstanding the manager of Magdala mine. When I began I intended to refer to the terms molten and vaporised as applied to the interior of the earth in the article referred to, with a view to show that the earth is not molten, as used to be sup posed, but rigid to the centre ; but I am afraid that I have now made the letter too long. If you find a corner for this, I may trouble you again. The article, which is somewhat misleading, got into your valuable columns, no doubt, inadvertently, and I thought you would be glad to have it corrected. I am, &c., B. J. Wbstbkooke.

Another Spiritualistic Swindle.

Mrs Hatch has for many years been a conspicuous spiritual medium in Boston. Her specialty is the production of flowers from spirit sources. She gave a seance a few evenings ago at a private residence. The lights were extinguished, as usual, and the persons in the circle were enjoined to hold fast to each other’s hands. All the gas burners in the room ’had been con nected with an electric lighting apparatus, and suddenly the apartment was brightly illuminated. The medium was completely exposed. In her lap was a pile of flowers, and she was caught in the act of tossing them into the air.

Shocking Tragedy at Plymouth.

Plymouth has been the scene of a mur der and a suicide of a peculiarly startling and horrible character. The facts for some hours remained obscure, but the coroner’s inquest held the same evening elicited them. They are these : —Harriet Marker, the daughter of a Plymouth lithographer, 12 years ago—being 18— married a naval petty officer named Law rence. He went to sea for several years, allowing her no maintenance. After the first few months she lived as a dressmaker at Manchester, Liverpool, and latterly at Chester. She had two children, one by the officer ; the other is called by her maiden name. For a few years past she had lived at Chester, at a Mr M'Clean’s, passing as Mrs Gregory, of the Mews, Queen’s Hotel, Chester. Lately her husband returned, came to Plymouth, and was reconciled to his wife at her father’s house, promising to support her. Last week he returned to Portsmouth, his wife remaining at her father’s, engaged by day at a draper’s. On Sunday morning Gregory, who left Ches ter on the previous night, arrived at Ply mouth, went to her house, and she went out with him for the day. The morning of the tragedy she started for business as usual, but was met by Gregory, who per suaded her to go with him to an hotel, and there, he cut her throat and his own. The noise of her falling elicited help, when Gregory was seen cutting his own throat, which he succeeded in doing after a struggle with a porter, who had rushed into the room. The coroner’s jury re turned a verdict of wilful murder against Gregory finding also that he committed suicide while of unsound mind.

A Plague of Beetles.

The “ Sydney Morning Herald’s ” pur veyor of “European news” writes that Russia is terrified at the dreadful ravages of a corn beetle, of the Cleonus class, which are assuming such serious propox-- tions that the Government has ap pointed a committee of landowners, naturalists, and officials to report on the best method of promoting the destruction of the new enemy. These creatures swarm in such masses that the peasants of Bohroosty, in the Khazkoti district, took no fewer than 14,000 of them, a few days ago, from a muddy hole in a field, in which they had been dx-owned by a shower of rain. The field was literally covered by them. The corn-beetle has travelled as far as Jassy, and appears to be ap proaching Austria. In the Province of Odessa the sea incessantly throws up whole masses of these beetles, which rapidly spread over the fields and devour everything on their way. Forced labor against the common enemy has been es tablished by the authorities. But this is so little to the tastes of the peasants that many of them ax - e throwing up agriculture and betaking themselves to other pursuits. A commission of functionaries and profes sors has set out for Otchakoff to decide on measures to be adopted against the corn beetle arriving by the sea. Public trials with a new corn-beetle killing apparatus are taking place all over Central Asia, and communes are purchasing beforehand a stock of these useful instruments, in an ticipation of the arrival of the dreaded pest. Another species of beetle, the “ Anisophlia Austriaca,” is ravaging the Province of Pullava. At Lublin, in Poland, a species of locust had made its appearance, and has destroyed the crops at various points. The destruction of corn in the regions of Russia that have long been the principal granary of Europe must exercise a most untoward influence on the supplies of breadstuff’s for this hemisphere.

The Late Mr Lewes and George Eliot.

{London Correspondent PPew York Times.) The recent death of George Henry Lewes is recorded in all the journals, hut not a word is said about Miss Evans (George Eliot), who has lived with him for so many years. It had been given out long ago that the distinguished novelist was Mrs Lewes, but the real wife still lives. Miss Evans always claimed for her relationship with Lewes a Platonic friend ship. She had an intense admiration for his ability, his scholarship, and his well stored mind. He was certainly nothing to look at from a woman’s point of view, and Miss Evans herself never was beautiful. They were a well-matched pair, two sym pathetic companions treading the same art path and rich in a high intellectual inter course. The one who is left behind feels deeply the loss she has sustained, and the whole world will be sorry for her, apart from any narrow social considerations. Some readers may blame me for mention ing the true relationship of this illustrious couple, but it is so well known, and biographers will deal so freely and so fairly with it, that I do not hesitate to ful fil my duty of current historian, and fill in the hiatus which the discretion of local reporters have made conspicuous in their biographical reviews. There is, indeed, it seems to me, far more unkindness in ex cluding Miss Evans (known as Mrs Lewes in all art and literary society) from the public sympathy by not referring to her in notices of her companion’s death, and in honestly recording a relationship of which the great novelist is not ashamed.

A Lunatic Asylum Scandal.

A case attracting attention at present recalls the iniquities exposed in the novels by which Mr Charles Reade made his name. A Dr. Nowell, in good practice in London, and with a moderate independent income, was dilatory in making certain proposed settlements on his wife. To expedite matters, she and her brothers resolved to have recourse to a method disgracefully simple. They easily found two doctors venal enough and culpable enough to sign a certificate of lunacy. Their unhappy victim was surprised in a garden, and forcibly removed to the con veyance of the asylum. Tins is a speci men of the coachbuilders’ art which should attract the attention of the Government. The unfortunate Mr Nowell, naturally objecting to his capture, struggled to resist being placed therein ; immediately the assistants locked the normal side doors, opened a kind of trap in the top, and dropped their prisoner in. Lord Coleridge, the presiding judge, expressed a hope that full shorthand notes were being taken, as he should send them to the Home Secretary. The man was no more mad than the right honorable gen tleman is, but for years he has been confined in a private madhouse, with all its indignities, solely on the certificate, of two doctors, wliose motives seem to have been none of the purest. It is the fact that the same horrible fate may be inflicted on anybody with such shameless facility that gives the case its exceptional interest. After long discussion, it has been postponed to the November sessions, and, meanwhile, will be brought before tiro Government. Readers of Mr Reade’s novels hardly believe that what seem to be his sensational and highly-colered pic tures are only the reflections of what really takes place in London, perhaps many times a year, at the present day.

An Elephant in the Witness Box.

If any of our readers, says the “ Irish Law Times,” are as much addicted to novel reading as some of the ablest judges who have adorned the bench have been, they may remember to have read in Chas. Roade's “Jack of all Trades” fa story which, we believe, was strictly founded on fact) a very bad character of the full-grown elephant, as the “ cunningest, most treacherous, and blood-thirsty beast that ever played the butcher among mankind. ” Baby elephants, however, appear to have possessed more genial dispositions. A baby elephant under 10 years old—they grow till they are 43, and live till they are 100 or 150—may even be induced to appear as a witness in the court of justice, and submit to cross-examination without losing his temper. Thurman versus Bertram and Roberts, heard before Pollock, 8., and a jury, on July 18, is a case in point. The action was brought by a lady to recover damages for personal injuries, received through the alleged negligence of the defendants’ servants. She had gone in a wagonette to the Alexandra Palace, where the Nubian encampment, with camels, elephants, &c., was then attract ing crowds, and at the conclusion of the performance a certain quadruped, to wit, a baby elephant, came out with his keeper and frightened the plaintiffs pony. The pony bolted, and the plaintiff was thrown out of the wagonette, and fractured her ccllar-bone. Mr Salter, for the defence, intimated that the elephant himself had no objection to get in the witness box ; and Baron Pollock observed, obiter, that if it was so very desirable that the Court should improve the occasion. The baby accordingly walked in with the bolls on his head, and threaded his way through the “ mazes of the law” in the body of a crowded court, without so much as crush ing a Q.C. or munching two or three juniors. Mr Edwin Jones, for the plain tiff had no questions to ask. An arrange was come to. A juror was withdrawn. And Pollock, 8., held that this happy ending was highly proper, as the elephant had come to offer his apology in person.

Wreck of an Ocean Steamer.

A wreck, which threatened to be of a most disastrous character, occurred on Saturday evening, September 6th, near the Lizard. The steamship Brest, of Glasgow, Captain Elder, left Havre on Friday at midnight, bound for Liverpool, with a general cargo, 130 passengers, and a crew consisting of thirty hands all told. The weather across the channel was thick and foggy, but nothing particular occurred until soon after eight on Saturday even ing, when the Brest struck on the rocks at Polberro Point. Just before striking, and at the time of striking, she was going at full speed, nearly eleven knots an hour, and had foretopsail and fore and aft mainsails set. The wind was fresh from the south-west. The master, who was in charge of the deck, was under the im pression that the vessel was some miles west of the Lizard, and sr, notwithstand ing the state of the weather, the greatest speed of engine and pressure of canvass was kept on her. The force of her pas sage through the water may be imagined when it is said the rocks were broken by the blow she gave them, and the noise of the contact first drew the attention of the Coastguard and others, although nothing could be seen. Soon after, a blue light was observed coming from her. Com missioned boatman Lucas and four men went off in their boat to ascertain par ticulars, and to render assistance. When they got on deck there was a scene of the wildest confusion. The passengers, who appear to be all of the lowest classes, and natives of Italy, Germany, and Switzer land, and who could not speak a word of English, were rushing about like madmen. Other boats were soon got to the scene, and the whole of the passengers, except ing four—one child and three adults, who are reported as missing—were got on shore. The work of taking them out of the wreck was very difficult. As the boats were alongside the passengers came down by ropes, so fast, one after the other, that the greatest risk was run of the boats being swamped. When they were all got on shore they were made as comfortable as circumstances permitted at the village of Cadgwith. The Brest was an iron screw steamer, built at Glasgow in 1874. She was owned by Messrs J. Burns and Co., of Glasgow.

A New Fire Escape.

{From the Pall Mall Gazette.)

A new fire escape has just been invented and patented by a colored man from Vir ginia in New York. Some of the engi neers of the fire department in that city are emphatic in their approval of tins invention, which has attracted more than usual attention, as being the first on which a colored man has secured letters patent in the United States. The main points in the invention are that the ladder itself are of the ordinary trestle or zigzag lattice work, such as may be seen in children’s toys for moving the figures of soldiers. This ladder, when not in use, shuts down very compactly upon the car which carries it. A steel or iron bar rest ing upon spiral springs prevents any harsh shock in the letting down of the ladder, which is raised by a very simple shaftinr and gearing. The foot of the ladder is worked by a very powerful screw turned forward or backward by wheels with simple gearings, operated through cranks by two or three men. Another simple device in the way of shafting and gearing provides for the thrusting of the top of the ladder against the wall. If the heat in case of a fire proves too intense this mechanical contrivance permits the ladder to bo thrown back from the building many feet. It is asserted that the ladder can be thrown thirty feet forward from the perpendicular line. The ladder, when rising by the power of the screw, can lift with ease the firemen and hose necessary. Provision is made for a car supported by ropes attached to the ascending ladder, for the relies of persons and property en dangered by fire. The ladder can not only be used as a fire escape, but also as a pike to throw threatening walls inward ; the leverage is said to be tremendous. The weight of an eight-foot ladder will not be more than ten or twelve hundred pounds. A machine of this pattern is, it is stated, in successful operation at Cham bersburg, Pennsylvania. There is plenty of room for improvement in fire escapes ; but the best fire escape that can be in vented will be behind the requirements of such machines unless it can be moved rapidly to the place where it is wanted.

Technical Education in New Zealand.

From the Scientific American.

The ‘‘ Scientific American ” has been asked to solicit the kind offices of Ameri can inventors, manufacturers, and other friends of industrial education on behalf of a worthy institution in far away New Zealand.

To provide “ all classes and denomina tions ” of the New Zealand population with facilities for pursuing a regular and liberal course of education, Canterbury College has been established at Christ church, the principal town of the province of Canterbury, and is now in good work ing condition. In connection with this College there has been founded a scientific musuem, housed in a handsome stone building, erected at a cost of upward of lOOjOOOdols , and comprising a valuable collection of specimens of natural history, and type collections of minerals and fossils. An effort is being made to establish hi this museum a department of technical science, for which contributions of models of machinery, implements, and the like are now solicited. The reception of such contributions, and their shipment to New Zealand (freight charges to be paid there), will bo undertaken by the publishers of this paper. So much for the message committed to us. A word or trvo with respect to the reasons why the request should be cheerfully .and abundantly met. New Zealand is one of the most worthy and promising of the younger members of the Greater Britain made up of all the English speaking countries of the globe. As the youngest, bo, among the rising nations allied to us by blood, and bound to us by rapidly strengthening commercial ties, New Zealand is in every way deserving of all the educational assistance we can give her ; and it can be safely promised that her people will be duly grateful for anything wo may do in this way.

There is a lower (possibly to some a more cogent) reason why this request should be granted ; it will pay commer cially. Already New Zealand is one of the most inviting of foreign markets for American manufactured products ; and there is no way by which American manu facturers can place their machines, imple ments, and other wares more effectively before the New Zealanders than by having them thus favorably placed on perpetual exhibition at tho chief centre of intelligence in the colony. It is not yet forty years since the first white settlors landed in New Zealand, and already the popnlation numbers something like half a million of wide awake, active, and intelligent English people. The islands have an area of over 100,000 square miles ; a trifle less than that of Great Britain and Ireland, and something more than twice tnat of the State of New York. About 12,000,000 acres are fit for agriculture ; 50,000,000 acres are suitable for pasturage ; 20,000,000 are forest lands. The climate is much like that of England, but more equable. There is more sun shine and a smaller range of temperature. The annual mean for tho North Island is 57degs.,' that of the South Island is 52degs. The mean annual tefftperature of London and New York is 51degs. The country is rich in minerals, and its resources are being developed rapidly. In 1870 the foreign commerce of New Zealand was equal to that of Norway. It was more than that of any of the Souch American states except Brazil ; more than that of any African states except Egypt and Algeria ; greater than that of Japan; and was exceeded in Asia only by China, Java, and the Straits Settlements. It was exceeded in Austra lasia only by Victoria and New South Wales. In 1875 its trade with the United States exceeded 10,000,000c1015. In 1870 the colony had GOO miles of railway, and in 1878 something like 1000 miles. In 1875 there were in operation over 3000 miles of telegraph lines, with a mileage of telegraph wire exceeding 7000 miles. These are the latest statistics at hand ; and the rate of progress is such that they must be largely increased to bring ibom up to the probable figures required to indicate the present condition of the colony. It is to a country possessing such no table capacities for commercial develop ments, and offering so many inducements for the cultivation of friendly relations, that the asked for models and specimens of machinery and industrial appliances are to go, to be placed on view, as already said, under the most favorable conditions possible. in very many instances doubtless the most efficient as well as most economical representation to send will be a perfect machine or implement of regular make. The photographs of the museum rooms— which may be seen at this office by any one who is interested —show an abundance of space for the proper display of contri butions ; and as the museum is a place of popular resort, not only for tho people of Christchurch, but for all visitors to that capital, a more attractive mode of exhibit ing matters suitable for the markets of the colony could not be devised. We sincerely i rust that our energetic, generous, and far-seeing manufacturers will take the matter in hand earnestly, and that while Canterbury College is enriched by specimens of high educational value, the industries of the United States will have in them a full and honorable presentation before the students of the institution and the public at large. It may properly be suggested here that contributors should affix to each specimen a special tablet bearing the inscription— “ Presented to the Technological Collec tion of Canterbury College Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand, by, etc., etc.,” giving the donor’s name .and post office addreas.

Sad Bridal Romance.

From the Pittsburgh Chronicle, Aug. 16th. The following story comes over the hills from Ebensburg. Cambria county: The lady was an accomplished girl of twenty - two years, daughter of George M. Eead, a prominent attorney of the Cambria county bar ; the husband, a young man named T. H. Stopbell, of Strongtown, Indiana county. He hud been attentive to Miss Read for some time, but her fattier, a widower, and her brother, objected, and the meetings of the jrair were recently carried on secretly. During the absence of the father a month or more ago the two were married by Rev Mr Thomas a country clergyman. The announcement,

however, was not made public, andithe man and wife continued to meet cloSes tinely as before, as opportunity presented. Why Stopbell did not manfully claim his bride does not appear. On Saturday last he arrived in Edensburg and put up at the Blair House, with the intention, it is said, to remedy this defect in his married life and carry Mrs Stopbell off to John stown. The lady was in a high state’of ex citement on reaching the hotel, which in creased as time passed, notwithstanding the efforts of her husband and his friends to soothe her. While thus engaged, they were surprised by the abrupt entrance into the room of Mathiot Read, the only brother of the distracted bride, who flourished a loaded revolver and seemed intent on making short work of the man who had the temerity to become his brother-in-law without his sanction or consent. Seeing the peril of her husband, Mrs Stopbell excitedly interposed herself between him and harm, and a moment later j'oung Head was disarmed through tlie united efforts of Mr Stopbell and Mr Blair, son of the landlord, who chanced to be present. In the meantime the foolish precipitancy of young Read resulted in throwing his sister into a state of hysteria, and she was taken to a room in the hotel in a raving condition, hysterical coma intervening by Sunday dawn and death from brain fever at one o’clock yesterday morning.

Diphtheria and Religion.

(Montreal Witness.)

It is a romarkabe fact that, according to the statistics of the health department, diphtheria is more prevaileat among the Protestant section of the community than among the Catholics, and the fact is as difficult to account for as it is remarkable. As far as our.reporter can learn, no theory has ever been promulgated by the medical profession to account for it, and yet the question is one well worth consideration of the doctors. It is not a mere coincidence, nor is it of a temporary character. A study of the health statistics of Montreal for several years past reveals the same state of things. It is the more peculiar inasmuch as the general death-rate is much higher with the Catholics, particu larly so in contagious diseases, and con spicuously so in the case of small-pox. But these admit of explantion. The only solution of the problem we have seen of fered does not come from the medical pro fession, but from a layman, Aid. Childs, who suggests that the bulk of the Protes tant community reside in the upper part of the town, where the drainage is leas perfect than in the lower town. The sub ject, like the drains, will bear ventilating.

The Thames Seat.

The candidates who retired from the contest for the Thames seat put their treasure in an earthen vessel indeed when they trusted to any promise, agreement, or arrangement made by the Hon.. John Sheehan. Messrs Fraser, Rowe, Brodie, and Ehrenfried, local men, —believing, im the innocence of their hearts, that th£fr were doing tho colony a great service by retiring from the field and allowing the Hon. John Sheehan and the great leader of the Liberal party a walk over for the Thames seat, —trustingly accepted from tho late Native Minister an assurance that “ if Sir George Grey elects to sit for the Thames (having been returned for Christchurch) lie (Mr Sheehan) will resign, and thereby create a vacancy for a local man, in terms of an arrangement come to this day with the retiring candidates.” This assurance bears the signature of “John Sheehan,” and the date August 27, 1879. It is upon the strength of this assurance that Mr Rowe now calls upon Mr Sheehan to resign his seat in the House, and make room, as he promisee, for a local candidate. Mr Rowe is per fectly justified in holding Mr Sheehan to . his promise ; and had the assurance been , given by any other than John Sheehan, we would have expected a resignation of the seat to follow at once. But Mr Sheehan is different from other men, and if ho consents to withdraw in response to the request of Mr Rowe or any one else, we shall feel that we have done him great injustice and injury, and that the honor able gentleman has been untrue to the character he has acquired in the past, and to the instincts with which he has been accredited. We have no idea he will respect the pledge he has given, and are fully prepared to hear that the Hon. John Sheehan, maugre the plain and definite terms of the assurance given to the men who retired to make room for him and Sir George Grey for the time being, has snapped his fingers at Mr Rowe, and will continue to hold the seat.

An Eye for Business.

Mr. J. C. Uhthoff, second house surgeon at Guy’s Hospital, was waited upon the other clay by a well-dressed and ladylike female, with a strong jfyeftcb accent, who requested a private interview, as the subject on which she wished to speak was, to use her own words, “ a delicate ” one. A young woman, a relative or friend of hers, she said, was entitled to inherit some property, if married ; but being single, there was a prospect of her losing it. As no suitable husband seemed likely to appear, she was desirous of find ing some “ dying ” man, of what position it mattered not, to whom she may be formally married, and so obtain the pro perty ; while at the same time the link might be a slender one and soon broken. This they had not been able to manage in Franco, whore she lived, and they had accordingly sent over to a London hospital, where they hoped for success. Mr. Uhthoff was requested to find such a dying man suitable for the object. If lie were a widower and had children they would make provision for the children. The answer given to the young lady by Mp Uhthoff can be easily guessed, Of course lie could not supply her want, and she left rather more vexed than pleased.

4

THE ASHBURTOiN GUARDIAN

[Thu

ksdav October 30, 1879



Mr F. W. Brearey, the hon. secretary of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, recently stated, in a paper on “ The Present State of the Science of Aeronautics,” that the conditions of flight by means of aerial machines were pretty well understood; there now remained only the mechanical difficulties, and how far those difficulties could be minimised could only be determined by experiment.



Exciting Scene at a Horse Show. —The Birmingham Midland Counties Horse and Hound Show was brought to a close on August 15th, when there was a large attendance to witness the jumping competitions. During a contest Erin, a remarkably bold fencer, after cleverly clearing the water jump, took the fencing at the end of the ground, clearing the spectators, who were standing five or six deep at the spot. No one was seriously injured by this somewhat astonishing leap, although one gentleman received a slight kick on the back part of his head. The rider, a young lad, was quite unable to control his horse, which subsequently manifested an inclination to repeat the performance. It is estimated that the animal must have cleared a distance of about 37 feet. i



Maoei Seeks.— The Maoris living in the Clyde district have prophesied by means of signs and signfications known only to themselves, that the coming har vests will be more abundant than any of those that have been g.athered during the last four or five years.