THE FARMER.

Liras as a Manure,

Mr. , Thomas .Weaver, bailiff, the Isle arm, Bictoii, Salop, writestothe “Shrews bury Chronicle “In the year 1800 I took tho management of a farm in Worces tershire, which had been farmed badly for a number.of years. The farm in question was one-half grass land and one-half arable, which land w;is in a foul, neglected state. The farm was a Michaelmas taking, but to get possession of the land to clean it was arranged to take the farm at Lady day, 18(50, by taking to all crops growing upon the farm by valuation. I may say that the crops of wheat, barley, beans, &c., did not amount to 12 bushel (im perial measure) to the acre through the whole, crop. One field of wheat, 12 acres, the valuers could riot agree upon as to quality, as it was mostly scutch, . .coltsfoot, and rubbish. (This field "was Upon limestone rock.) The wheat was harvested and threshed sepa rately, and the produce of the whole was 22 bags (imperial.) I had often noticed the good effect (>f lime upon different soils, and was induced tu try its effects upon this field. As soon as harvest was com pleted 1 ploughed up. the field deep and well, and let it lie in the whole furrow until the middle of March. I then cross ploughed the land ready for a good sum mer’s working in June ; I carted 42 tons of lime into heaps of three tons, and, after thoroughly cleansing the land, spread the slack lime over the field; at the end of August X ploughed it into the soil about four inches deep; iri October planted two bushels of wheat per acre, and the result at threshing day was just 13 bags of fine wheat per acre. 1 sowed upon the young wheat’plant Sutton’s permanent grass seeds,- anc( the field at the present time is in jcapital'; grass. I also used lime upoii 'otlieri* portions of the farm for barley,' swfedes, and peas,' at the rate of 3 ton to the acre, and the quality of com increase and clearness of the swedes was always to be plainly seen. About one half of the arable -land-was resting upon limestone, and the other portion was a red loam. I have used' lime upon marl land with equally good results! Upon the farm which T now manage, last spring, on a very keen gravel of 23 acres, after a swede crop waa . drawn off, I spread 80 ton: of;. , linie, ; slacked, ploughed in for barley, and afterwards sown with clovers for two or; more .years. Although the barley was planted rather late, it was very good, and now there is a famons stock of seeds upon the land. I also used, in March Last, upon a porti on of a field of young clovers, three ton of lime per acre, spread as a top dressing, and as far as the lime was put a groat, difieroucu was visible. I have during, the frost drawn 48 ton of lime for 12, acres of young clovers to spread on as a top dreasing as soon as the land will carry the carts ; and although I shall not be here to see it, I have no doubt as to the results; both upon the seeds and the suc ceeding wheat crop; and the after crop of roots; . My ! experience has been that upon sriffsoils lime, if not a direct manure, alters the stiff State of the soil, decomposes th® vegetable matters remaining in the soil-that future crops can feed upon; upon-sand and keen gravel soils it pre vent* ut burning up to a great extent in a, hotsummer, if regularly applied to the land at intervals of - about eight yefcrs. - I also think that , lime appliod upon young clovers in the spring intended .for grazing by sheep prevents the foot-rot to a great extent, so subject to sheep in Shropshire; As regards the ap plication ! of. lime- to grass land, lime spread upon sound land, a good dressing when in,a caustic state, renders the grass more palatable and finer; but _ I have generally used lime mixed up with road scrapings, ditchings, and odd soil, turned up together for six month or more, and theft put on the land as soon as the hay is drawn off, which answers very, well. Grass land that requires draining gene rally shows by the soft spongy tread, the coarse sour herbage, and the dislike of cattle or other stock to eat it down close.

CORRESPONDENCE.

WjSdo flot bpid ourselves responsible for the .opinions expressed by our correspondents.

FORKS PROTECTIVE WORKS.

i . To the Editor

• see from the report of the County Engineer on the Forks protective works 11 that- he does not consider any other jffiffita require' protecting than those altfeady tendered for, viz., between Goode’s ahd'Watkira*. Had the ratepayersunder- thib such was to be the result when they signed a petition to the County Cotiricil, offering to be taxed atone shil ling in-the pound; none but the three or fbnr to be benefited by the works would haYe sighed thattlotsmuent.. As an instance 1-htiy mention a ' farm on Greenstreet’s rah which waa bought by Mr. Tisch. On Mbuday lastthe small fresh then in the ilt'OTjoWfifiltmhd it for a width of about tSti chain?, and should Mr. Baxter ever ssifc this place in an ordinary fresh, he will have little trouble in finding the spot, aktbe river has broken over its banks and foUri'A* its outlet oil the Alfred Forest Kbhd i serin al times during the past two years: '’ThUre is also another point on the - South bianch which wants pro tective works ; that is near my own pro perty." I have had about a mile of fenc ing and twelve acres of the best of my lahd''Washed away, and some of the fane ing'ha’s beep erected three or four times. More- than' that, my land is made use of as a Messrs." Aitkeh, Corbett, ■andnthers are suffer eraas well as myself, ■idnd it is an undeniable fact that Mr. Cor bfetfaiid myself are heavier losers by the fibods than all the rest of the people in thd'Fbrka' put together. At the public Ploothig when the ratepayers expressed themselves favorable to a shilling rate, if ‘was v On the understanding . that the South branch was to be protected as well as the north, and it was upon this under standing tßSfthi petition'was signed so (jjjiJHiiipouely. If this understanding is out « J consider that those Jppd&iieti.' by the taxation have ’Ms Effect. right to withdraw their s * .ipova. the petition. The rate naypjii in thje [Forks have had sufficient done them in the matter of the % 'T>igby*a and the alteration in {ip'e ..<>£ She railway, without being ' )tqpc‘e4 .'for, : benefits which are only to be in,the ah&pe pf taxes.—l am, &c., ■■ SaBOIHT. _

REMINISCENCES OF A TONE TO SOUTHLAND.

[cOKTRIBUTHtI.J ( Continued I left the city of DujLedin for the South land capital punctually at 9 a.in., the ad vertised time. As the train started it ap peared predetermined that the journey would be a misty, if not a rainy one. Nothing transpired worthy of notice until tho town of Mosgicl was reached ; a place which is becoming more and more re nowned throughout New Zealand as the seat of an important woollen manufactory. The goods produced at this establishment are, I believe, so well known for their good qualities as to place the Mosgiel Woollen Manufactory upon the basis of a sound commercial footing, and its ener getic proprietors are all the more worthy of credit when it is considered that iri spite of the spoliation principle of pro tection to native industries the business has not only thriven, but bids fair, ultimately, to become a most formidable rival to home competitors. . The. materials used by the firm are of the very best kind, as there is no “shoddy” whatever worked up, so that wearers of the manu factured article may rest assured of their getting a bona fide fabric from this estab lishment. I most cordially wish the pro moters every success. * From Mosgiel the country is mostly of an unexceptionally high-class character, and to the mind of one practically versed in the qualities of good land, the re nowned Taieri Plains cannot be other wise than attractive. The only apparent cause for regret Is that the expanse is somewhat confined, and that owing to its naturally low situation the land must be occasionally subject to floods, and pro bably of a disastrous kind. There can be no doubt about the quality of the land, which is, indeed, of the very best description, having a rich and inexhaustible subsoil. The pio neers of tho soil in this part of New Zealand havo ; had to encounter difficulties of a moat formidable kind, but their in domitable perseverance lias deservedly won reward already. 1 The township of Milton is much to be admired. It has a well-to-do appearance, and an aspect of steady prosperity. All the way to Invercargill the country is most favorable for agricultural arid pas toral pursuits. The ’ crossing of the Molyneux vividly brought back to my mind early associations, which will never be forgotten. The land in this locality is, generally speaking, in the hands of large proprietors, and as the chief town of Southland is approached the evil deeds of the rabbit pest become unfortunately, only too perceptible; The owners of the land are however, evidently determined in taking the most stringent measures for the final extirpation of this offensive arid highly destructive’graminivorous and granivorous quadruped. It is the opinion of many people, however, that the complete sub version of this omnivorous animal will not be effected until the land is mure generally and permanently settled upon by an agricultural people. The city of Invercargill was reached precisely to the minute of the advertised time—3.3o. p.m. From the Scottish Emporium the distance is officially stated to be 139 miles. The average speed of the train was 21.38 miles per hour : cer tainly not very expeditious for an express mail train. Invercargill is Capaciously laid out, a great feature being the marked width of the principal; streets, which are much wider than those of Dunedin or Christchurch. Judging from the names of the streets one would be almost justi fied in asserting that their baptiaers must have originally hailed frdrii beyond the Dee, the Don, the Tay, the Esk; etc. They are all good names nevertheless. There are many evident signs of pro gression, notably the recently erected and substantial looking Banks which are very handsome and costly edifices, and worthy of the emulations of builders in other towns. The Athenaeum alone is a credit to the town. There are two daily newspapers, but it is deplorable to find that the same tyrannical system has been in force here as in other parts of New Zealand with respect to Government advertisements beirig confined to a few of its favored organs: The impotency of such an unconstitutional arid gagging policy is enough to condemn any Ministry, even though it succeeded ih, administering the business of the .country iri other respects satisfactorily. While at Inver cargill I was much impressed . with tha apparent inferiority of the meat displayed in the butchers’ shops, the mutton, in particular, not being' of a first-class character, from the absence of the fat so conspicuous in prime animals. My destination was still farther south, and so with the view of reaching the noted river Waio I bent ray way to the hospit able roof of a friend. After a most enjoy able night’s repose I booked for Winton. The Makarewa pottery vividly recalled many of rny exploitsin early colonial times, but more especially in regard to the bullock driving business. I certainly never ex pected to see, in these civilised times, one of these patient and useful animals doing duty at the clay-puddling trade. '■ The , one in question was working what is tech nically termed a “ horsepower,” and was under the control of a boy, who con tinually goaded the beast with a pointed stick. As they got through the work in this style, it struck me as being, at the best, a very primitive method of carrying on the manufacture of tiles, etc. The white elephant near Winton, in the shape of a defunct meat preserving factory showed signs of one of two things, viz;, that its construction was Originally a mis take in regard to its design, ' or that the supply of meat had diminished. I learned from a fellow passenger that the place had fallen into the hands of a proprietary of a similar factory at Woodlands. From Winton I patronised the coach as far as Wray’s Bush. After making a start I was much struck with the beauti ful view presented by the Eyre Moun tains. They are like a mass of pyramids, and their snow-capped covering showed to great advantage, extending to the Taka timo Mountains. On crossing the New River I concluded from the amount of debris left by recent floods that the stream must be both a dangerous and de structive one. The extensive area of land Sfeaward from the coach route is, _ in my opinion, capable of great productiveness. The land, at present, is almost in a state of nature, and the mail track in this part of the country "Wants looking after with the view of rectifying the present unsatis factory. submerged state of the road ; the

bottom of the coach was, for a consider able distance, Hi close proximity with the water.

In approaching the “ Jacobs,” or Apa vimi river there is strong evidence of the ravages of the afore-mentioned “ rabbit pest.” I was informed that n certain landed proprietor in this particular place, viz., on the Winton side of the river, was an outrageously obdurate man, and that the rabbit inspector had been compelled to employ men for the purpose of extir pating this unvelaonc intrusion of the rabbits. If a ■ proprietor can afford to make “ both oncls .icet” by encouraging such a ruinous peso he is truly a fortunate man, and the tact speaks volumes for the high class character of this land. The township of Wray’s Bush cannot yet boast of a Lord Mayor and municipal government. The business portion of the community appeared to comprise an hotel keeper, a shoemaker, two blacksmiths, and a few others. The land outside the boundaries of the township has been “ taken up ” at £3 per acre—upon the de ferred payment system. Some of the re cent selections bear ample evidence of the high producing power of the land which is particularly exemplified iii the large yields of corn, &c., represented to be 80 bushels of barley and (50 bushels of wheat per acre. Such results must be very en couraging. After crossing the Wairio creek, the renowned “ Gap coal ” bearing country evinces signs of an immense area of in expensive and easily workable coal fields. The undulating rises afforded unmistak able evidence of this from the seams which continually meet the eye of the tourist, and the Government has acted wisely in matting temporary reserves in this valuable tract of coal producing terri tory, especially as the coal is said to be good for all ordinary purposes. The mines once opened up will doubtless prove an in exhaustible source of wealth. The valleys of the Sharp Ridge and those through which the Ora win and Morley streams flow, possess all the high class qualifica tions absolutely necessary to‘an extensive agricultural district, and which this locality will probably become at no very distant date. The novel manner in which this large coal bearing area was originally discovered is so peculiar that it is worth . mentioning: The sod-wallers whilst at work came in contact with the ‘‘ black diamonds.” The measures now extend to the north of the Morley stream, and the thickness of one of the seams is re ported to bo groat and easily workable ; deep sinking and the aid of machinery being unnecessary. Having had some little practical ex perience in agricultural pursuits, I was much struck with the general adapta bility of the land for all kind of produce growing, .and more especially in regard to that situated in the valleys on the north and south sides of the Morley stream, and below the junction of the Orawia. In this isolated part of New Zealand the plough, during the past twelve months, has certainly been very effective in trans forming the wild aspect of this part of the country, and it wasquite cheering to notice the extent of the progression which has been made. There were three four horse teams with double-furrow ploughs engaged in breaking up the land. Also one three-horse team sowing and harrow ing ; che four-horse team and a two-horse team rolling, all at the same time on the Birchwood riin. The wisdom of this kind of enterprise bears evidence of its fruits in a very striking manner. The process followed is to burn and clear off the native tussock, and then to plough lightly aud leave the land exposed to the action of the frosts, which acts as a pulveriser. The virgin soil is afterwards sown with either oats or. turnips ; if the latter course is adopted oats follow with a mixture of English grasses for permanent pasture. The results are amazing. Although my observations only refer to the early part of last September, yet the English grass looked quite luxuriant, and was as much an object of interest to the traveller as a well-knoiyn land mark would be to the mariner. The verdant appearance was observable for miles. The turnip crops seemed to be unexceptionally good. Asa fortifier of the. best proof of the deductions I wish to make I may state that ! employed my holiday time at Birch wood in a sort of practical way, and en gaged in chaffcutting, corn-thrashing, seed mixing, land surveying, and even in. preparing ground and planting potatoes. Of this edible Greiit Britain and Ireland consumed in 1877 no leas than 557,000,000 ■ dwt., the money value being £17,400,000 sterling. While at Birchwood, I noticed that the chaff from oat-sheaves gaveevi ‘ deuce of a fertile soil. The straw was of an extreme length having stems of a robust nature, TKe corn was remarkably well ‘filled, Of the threshed oats the yield was estimated, by machine weights, to be eighty bushels per acre. En passant, I also partook of the prof fered hospitality of the proprietor of the Mount Linton station, and in proceeding thitherward, on “shanks’ pony ”.in company with two other invited guests discovered that I had to ford the Morley stream, I naturally interrogated niy companions as to how we were to cross it, and was handed a pair of what they designated “Gum Boots;” formid able looking things, putting me in mind of the old veteran—“ Jack the Giantkiller,” of boyhood days. I put them on however, taking slippers in my pocket in case of accidents. The fun of the thing was that although there were three of us yet we had to'cross the swift stream with only two pairs of the boots. This was another puzzler to me. After various suggestions it was finally arranged that myself and another should cany over the third party between us. No laughing was permitted for fear of dropping our friend and giving him a cold water bath. A start was made, *nd I speedily had an opportunity of testing my powers of resis tance against the rapidly running current. To my astonishment I experienced a feel ing as if ray feet were slipping from under mo, so that I was disposed to cry off the contract. It was clear, however, that my education in stream crossing had been neglected, and I was directed to avoid lift ing toy feet too high. Another attempt was made, and, after a great deal of floundering and splashing, with a success ful issue. The whole scene to an observer must have been highly ludicrous. I was most sumptuously entertained at Mount Linton, and did ample justice to to the cuisine skill of the Chinaman who officiated as cook. One of the courses that I was asked to partake of was a j mountain wild pig. Its flavor was | simply delicious. My host assured me 1

that the flavor of the fern «iamV ri gr.RU-fc.;" was far superior to flint of the s:-y ---fed one. Being credited by my i'riunds with being a connoisseur in regard to potatoes in all their stages of growth, I was induced to make a few inquiries rela tive to the fine ones then before m°, and was told that they had been grown on the land already described. Thu sysv-m for planting is a very simple one, merely con sisting in setting them after a double furrow plough, not a single thing in the way of good husbandry being done after wards to them. The yield was alleged to bo at the rate of, twelve tops per acre, and almost free from small ones. I naturally inquired whether I might inspect the sample in bulk, and . the request meeting with a ready response, I found them in all respects equal to the very best circular headed potatoes that I had ever seen. The samples shown were even in size, ob long shaped, smooth eyes, and possessing all the qualities of the best potatoes of the kind I had ever examined. The sight of the sample was confirmatory as to the yield being an exceedingly heavy one. Agriculture, except on a small scale, has not till recently been carried on at Mount Linton. I saw samples of very fine oats of a heavy kind, which it would be diffi cult to beat in any part of the world. The yield could not have been less than ninety bushels an acre, and I feel confident that had samples of these oats, potatoes, and turnips been forwarded to the Sydney Exhibition they would liave merited top places. The weight of the oats alone proved their quality ; they are known as the “ Sparrow-bill. ” . The implements and other machinery used on the above farm are all of the most approved type, and are from the manufactory of the renowned firm— Reid and Gray.

From the junction of the Morley and Orawia streams the valley is splendid agri cultural land.

Having partaken of the hospitality of the host and hostess of the Otahu station, I, as a stranger, tendered my feelings of acknowledgment, and with my friends turned “ right-about-face ” eastward. After spending a few more days in Southland my first impressions were con firmed, namely, that with an extension .of the railway through this part of South land, it is certainly destined to be, at no distant period, a great agricultural and coal producing district. During my journey back to the ‘ ‘ City of the Plains ” a fellow passenger gave me the history of the cause of the introduction of the “ rabbit pest ” referred to above. He assured me that it was a fact that they were protected, to the extent of £SO penalty against anyone found destroying one. The Australian Government has I notice spuit during the last ten months’ £9106, towards the extermination of the pest, and with the moat gratifying results. The following recipe has been tried with most marvellous effects. I commend it to the Southland land owners. POISON FOR RABBITS. Nine gallons water, 11b. sugar, lOOlbs. wheat, slightly crushed, and the flour sifted out, 11b. phosphorus, 1 fluid oz. of oil of rhodium. Heat the water to n boiling point, then add the sugar and wheat. Draw the fire to prevent train from burning. Dissolve the phosphorus in a saucepan, pour the boiling water on the wheat, and mix thorougnly, then cove’- close. Thirty hours afterwards add the rhodium in half a pint of cold water, and turn it about well. It is then fit for use. Doze : a small iron dessert-spoonful. There are 5000 doses in above quantity. It should be laid in their play places, and on camps and feeding grounds. The English invoice coFt of phosphorus is 2s 4d per lb., and the colonial cost about 12s per lb. Rhodium, English coat, Is 6d per lb. ; Colonial, 5s 6d per lb. If you think the few hurried reminis censes of my tour as a stranger to South land likely to afford interest to your readers you are at liberty to publish them.

New Steamship Propeller.

Recently a number of scientific gentlemen, including Rear-Admiral George Brooker, C. 8.. Capt. W. G. N. Burner, and others connected with the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine, attended at Gravesend for the purpose of taking a trial trip on boitrd the steam yacht Jo lair with the object of testing the advantages of a newly-invented propeller.called “ De Bays’ Patent Direct Acting Propeller,” with which it has been fitted. Its construction is of a very peculiar character, and consists of two screws of the same pitch, one, the larger, with four, and the other with five blades ; portions of the blades of each are cut out. The screws are fixed on two shafts, one tubular, the other solid and rotating within it, each screw being made to revolve in opposite directions, the solid por tions of each blade of one screw passing through the gaps cut in the other, and vice versa. The effect of this, in the first place, is to prevent the tremendous rush of water flying at a tangent in all directions from the ordinary screw, and drives the greatest weight of water astern in a line with the keel °f the ship, thus entirely ob viating that waste of power which is the con sequence of the effects of the ordinary screw. The influence of onescrew tending to deflect the water moving astern to the right is counteracted by the other screw, which .tends to send it to the left. The result is that the water can only be diiven direct astern by the screws, and moves very steadily in a right parallel with the keel, thus concentrating all the force of the water on the stern of the vessel. The company were met on board the Jolair by M. de Bays, ami having had the construction explained to them, the trial of the tests was made. In time the mile was run with the tide by the old pro peller in 6min. 325 C.; whilst the time occupied by the new propeller was smm. 30 sec. ; against tide, old propeller, pmin. 57sec.; new propeller, pmin. 32sec. The whole of the experiments took place passing down the river in.the direc tion of the Nore, and in making a complete Circle the time occupied was 2min. 3fisec. In order to test the powers of the new propeller, and its efficacy in reversing and going astern, some reed covers of wine bottles were thrown from the stern at a moment when the yacht was going at the rate of eleven kn ts an hour, with tide. The order was given to reverse the en gines, and the result was that the time occu pied in 'reaching the floating covers was but 52sec., and that straight astern, without any divergence of the head of the vessel. This is considered a most important feature in the avoidance of collisions on rocks or other impedi ments ahead. It was suggested by Admiral Brooker that the complex machinery of the screw might cause it to be damaged by ropes or other substances getting into it, and the test was applied by throwing out ropes, which for a long while were regulated by the screw, till at last one of the men called out that the rope had caught, but there was no jerk, and in an instant it was loose, when it was discovered that the rope was completely cut by the flanges of the screw, a result consideied most saiisntc tory. Another important feature connected with the test was to show that even in the smallest rivers and canals there was no side wash to destroy banks, &c.

UNKNOWN

N . org .11 in . >is ■> b vbv* o over worked as the heart When every other part of the body sleeps, it keeps on ts perpetual motion. Every increased effort of action demands from the heart more force. A man runs to catch a train, and his heart boats audibly. He drinks wine, and the blood rushes through its reservoir faster than over was intended by nature. His pulse rises after each course at dinner. A telegram arrives, and liis heart knocks at his side. And, when any one of these “excitements ” is over, lie is conscious of a corresponding depres sion—a sinking or emptiness as it is called. The healthy action of all the members of our frame depends upon the supply of blood received from the central fountain. When the heart’s action is ar rested, the stomach, which requires from it a large supply of blood, becomes en feebled. The brain, also waiting for the blood, is inactive. The heart is a w•' willing member, but if it be made to fetch and carry incessantly—if it be “ i«at upon,” as the unselfish member of a family often is, >t undergoes a disorganisation which is equivalent to its rupture. And this disorganisation begins too often now a days in the hearts of very young children. Parents know that if their sons are to succeed at any of these competitive examinations which have now become so exigent, high pressure is employed Hence young persons are stimulated to overwork by rewards and punishments. The sight of a clever boy who is being trained for competition is truly a sad one. The pre cocious coached up children are never well. Their mental excitement keeps up a flush which, like the- excitement caused by strong drink in older children, looks like health, but lias no relation to it; in a word, the intemperance of education is over straining and breaking their young hearts. If in the school-room some hearts are broken from mental strain, in the play ground and in the gymnasium others suc cumb to physical strain. “Itis no ob ject of mine,” says Dr. Richardson, “ to under rate the advantages of physical exercise for the young ; but I can scarcely over-rate the danger of those fierce com petitive exercises which the world in general seems determined to applaud. I had the opportunity once in my life of living near a rower. He was a patient of mine, suffering from the very form of. in duced heart disease of , which I am now speaking, and ho gave me ample means of studying the conditions of many of those whom he trained both for running and rowing, I found occasion certainly to ad mire the physique to which his trained men were brought; the strength of muscle they attained ; the force of their heart ; but the admiration was qualified ,by the stern fact of the results.” But, indeed, it is not by over-work so much as by worry and anxiety that om hearts are dis organised. “ Laborious mental exercise is healthy, unless it be made anxious by necessary or unnecessary difficulties. Re gular mental labor is best carried on by introducing into it some variety. ” Busi ness and professional men wear out their hearts by acquiring habits of express-train haste, which a little attention to method would render unnecessary.

The Maori Canoe.

We cull the following interesting par ticulars respecting Maori canoes from a paper on the subject by Mr. R. Barstow in the last volume of the “ Transactions of the New Zealand Institute” :—“ When a tree had been selected, either by an indivi dual rangitira or a hapu who had deter mined to build a war canoe, it was first necessary that a sufficient stock of food to supply the workmen employed upon it should be available. If the tree grew in a place distant from the pah, a special culti vation as near as possible to the modus operand! might be made for the purpose, otherwise a patch of kumara, or other esculent was planted and set aside. Then the future canoe had to he draughted ; certain naval architects were the Symons and Reeds of their day, and were fetched from a distance to design a craft which was required to possess extra speed, and many a the elders took place over the prepared model, ere the shape was finally settled. When stone axes and fire were the only means of felling the tree, the task of bringing down a totara four or five feet through must have been tedious. The first iron hatchets used were those procured from Captain Cook, and those obtained a century ago when Marion’s crew were ashore and slaughtered while getting out a spar. Probably it was not until 30 years later that iron axes became sufficiently abundant to supersede those of stone entirely. Some care was needed that the tree in falling should not be broken or shaken. An accident of this kind is by no means uncommon, and many fine spars are now lost in this way. The destruction of a specially large tree after the labor of felling it must have in deed been a calamity. When an outlying tree of sufficient scantling could be found, it was preferred to one forest grown, as Bri tish shipwrights consider hedge grown better than plantation oak ; yet in most instances the totara or kauri tree stood in the forest miles from the sea, and so far from cultiva tions that relays of women are needed to carry up provisions fpr the work people ; a road for hauling out by would also need preparing ; secrecy, too, was often needed, for a hostile tribe would be only too glad either to attack the pah weakened by the absence of many of its men, or to surround and cut off the party while engaged at wox-k. At last, however, incessant labor has felled the tree, cross-cut the log, and dubbed down the side to somewhat near its destined shape, and fire and adze have partially hollowed out the hold, dry rewarewa wood being used for charring ; the amount of charring done at this stage depending upon the distance to which the canoe has to be hauled and the danger of its splitting on its journey. In peacable times there is a great feast, and all the friendly neighboring tribes contribute hands to haul' out, by dint of vines over rollers or skids, the weighty mafia. The workmen pull together over the sleepers to the songs of the women. It is not always fated to reach the water. At the foot of Wairere Hill, in Wangaroa Harbor, there lay, some years ago two sides of a mighty canoe which had been fashioned on the elevated plateau above the bay. Whilst a party of some thirty slaves were engaged in lowering it down the steep hill-side, a vine broke, and the canoe rushed headlong to the bottom,

■; n ; i'roui end to end A cry of de»- r : ..! tiie slaves brought ,„• r 0 • .uid iusr.-v 11. ■ ..c ...1 : ilclcd > -•- ‘ <->.« _un.uc.-y slaves i c iLeir :w;le -i. or ..lisfutune.

A New Calculating Boy.

In the Baranyer district of the Kingdom of Hungary lies a little town called Fuufkirchen. In this place a grocery and general store is to Ik; found belonging to a cmT/i'viu Jacob Blanhorn. One afternoon, about a year and a half ago, a little boy appeared at the counter, asking slyly for a farthing’s worth of barley sugar. The shopman happened to have his hands full at the time, and paid but scanty at tention to the modest application. An order of uncommon magnitude had just been given out for the marriage of the local b liliif, and a sum as long as his big servant’s arm of all kind of foreign and colonial products had to be added up. This array of sugar and spice and other things nice possessed, however, small charms for our li bole four-and-a-half year old, who had by this time requested three tinu s vainly to be served. The bare footed customer stood fingering his kronicer, retorting with a vein of un conscious precocious sarcasm—“ If it was only the reckoning that stood in the way, so that I could come to my own mat ter, I would soon tell you how much it makes; it is just 200 gulden and 20 kreutzer.” “ Bassama teromtete !” burst forth the Hungarian clerk, “ does the urchin mean to best us like that; cut with you, and be quick about, too.” The assistant was about to suit the action to the word, and had stretched out a hand to seize the small child by the collar, when Herr Blanhorn cried “ Halt !” Step ping out of his private door, he peered curiously at this strange new customer. “ Just cast up the figures,” he said to the apprentice, “ it seems to me as if the boy was right—the mischief only knows how he lias come by it.” Grumbling at the interruption, the storeman returned to his desk, while little Moritz had the un wonted honor of being served by the principal himself. He was just walking : away, biting a bit off the candy, when the assistant called out, “ Yes, he has hit it exactly.” “Boy, how did you reckon this ?” inquired the puzzled pair in the same breath. “Just did it in my head,” was the careless answer, as the little fel low toddled away out into the street. “ That lad will do more than eat sweeties,” gasped the grocer’s young man, while his master, who plumed himself on having come into the world with a better know ledge of two and two than most of his follows in the trade, shook his grey hairs, muttering to himself, “ That’s a miracle child ; if only old Frankl knows how his Moritz can handle figures !” Papa Frankl, in truth, knew nothing of his offspring’s wondrons gift, and would hardly believe it when told. The child was summoned, and an examination began, and it turned out quite as had been reported. All Funfkirchen knew of it the same day, and the whole town was full of the prodigy—a child that could neither read nor write, but yet had such powers of calculation. The educational authority of the place took the matter up, and sifted the story, finding . things had not been exaggerated. The uncles and aunts thereupon pressed hither Frankl to send the child out into the world. The first public performance of his powers was given in Pesth, and others followed in Graz and Presburg. At Breslau the des cribe;-of this sketch saw the youthful prodigy. He confesses that opinion generally was sceptical as to the genuineness oi the child’s talent. Might not the whole affair be a cleverly contrived hum bug ? But the proceedings soon dismissed all possibility of deception. A board was placed over the orchestra, and just before the first row of stalls a table and chair were set for the performer ; his teacher stood behind on the stage near a black board, ready with chalk to work out the sums that might be put to the child as a check on his answer!. In the; mean time his mentor gave a short sketch of his history, how that he was bom on. the 22nd of October, 1873, and had without any teaching, without even knowing the signs of different figures, but merely operating through the sense of number, arrived at adding, subtracting, multiply ing, and dividing amounts of six to nine figures; extracting the square and cube roots of six and eight rows, and raising numbers to the third, fourth, and even fifth power. This little ready reckoner after making his bow, began by asking the audience to set him a sum. A prominent magnate of the Exchange happened to be present in a front box, and called out, “ I am 45 years old to-day ; how many seconds have I lived ?” Immediately the reply came back, the tutor following on the blackboard in the space of about two minutes. When the number proved to be the same loud applause broke out. The other questions, to the number of six, wereanswered with the same ease and rapidity. In the algebraic sums without the use of signs or formula;, the figures often running into billions, caused the performer some difficulty ; at times he would correct himself, and ask to have the last number repeated. Moritz Frankl went through this collossal brain-work without the least apparent effort; his manner was quiet and cheerful. Generally he counted half aloud, a,nd only rarely closed his eyes. The demonstrations of interest in nis favor only excited, a pleased smile, and a response of a hand kiss, withr 1 out any artificial character about it. There i was-no fear of injury to this little body becoming ns it were electrified by the tension of the brain. On the contrary the boy had the appearance of being per fectly passive throughout all’ this cerebral action ; and his teacher confirmed this by assuring apprehensive persona that after such a performance he would go and play; with other children, take a good supper, and sleep quietly till morning. The writer of this account in the Leipzig “lllustrirte Zeitung,” to which is appended a charming portrait of the infant wonder, states that he made a private examination of the boy, and found him in other rea ped s not beyond his years. Of a simple and happy disposition, he shows no sign of being spoiled by early notoriety. In eleven months he has grown 10 centimetres (nearly four inches), and increased 24 kilogrammes (541 b.) What may be the future of Moritz" Frankl no one can as yet predict.—Paris correspondent of “ Leeds Mercury. ”

The Longest Beard in the World.

-V -nond-.w. of the Detroit “ Post nd Tr >aae ” wri;es from Adrian, Mich.,

o; a certain Edwin Smith, who is the possessor of a remarkable beard. The correspondent says: Ordinarily Mr. Snath and his beard would .not attract especial attention. Ho does not let it sway at its own free will at all times, but keeps it tied in a compact bunch under his chin, holding it fast with thread and hairpin*. When thus “ done up ”it does not appear to be of unusual length.* unless the observation is close. So while it has come to be generally known in the vicinity of Mr. Smith's residence that his beard is unusually long, but few people liave seen . it in all its enormous length except as herein after stated. He is 47 3’ ears of age. He is about six feet high, and weighs 145 pounds. His hair and beard are sandy and tinged with grey. He has a pale face, blue eyes, high forehead, and an intel ligent and pleasant appearance. At 13 years of age he begari ’tcrraise a beard, and while yet a young school-boy was possessed of a light silken covering to face' and neck, rivalling in length that" of many of his seniors. Bnt he became tired of this, and shaved almost daily for. several years, keeping his face smooth and beardless. He continued to attend school in what is known as the Sherman district, Huron country. The growth of his beard was not, however, sufficiently rapid to attract any especial notice. In 1858 he came to Michigan, where . he married. His. health from boyhood . has not been of the best, bilious, and lung troubles being most common. In 1861 his health faded, and he went to: Cali fornia in the hope of regaining it. It waa the fashion among miners of those..days to allow their beards to grow. It was agreed among several of them,Mr. Smith among the number, that they would allow their beardsto growfot six months, and see which could, at the end of that time, boast of the longest. Mr. : Smith out- , stripped all rivals, and allowed hia beafd . t<> grow from than on. The natpre of.the miner’s work made it Convenient to tie or fasten the beard under the ehifai . In this ’ way Mr. Smith becaind accustomed to wearing it long, with the superfluous length tied up out of the way. “ .And now,” said he, “ you see wbat it! has . grown to.” And as your correspondent looked from,the smiling dace of the man, and then turned to go oil a search for the other end of the beard, he thought of the story of the steeple which was so tall that you had to look twice to see the top of it. There could be no mistake about it. ; Each individual hair stretched its silken, wavy, length from face to floor. “Now 1 will show you how long it is,” said Mr. Smith, and he stepped upon a chair and stood erect. Still its length .was so great that foot could be placed on the ends, which touched on the floor. The beard has been carefully trimmed, so that it is <of even, weight and size to the very end. Unrolling a little paper which was laid away in. a drawer, he said,' “Thais its length'last winter. ” and unwound a seemingly endless hair. When measursd-ltfc-'is .found to be seven feet four inches long, 'hjfowwe will measure the beard as it ierto day ,he said, and looked for the tftick, Seven feet six inches and a half was the length.

Extraordinary Case of Sex.

i While such great interest exists in Con*' : ’ nection with the sensational case of' Die 1 Lacy Evans, the following, startling states ment of alleged fact from a New York paper, which has taken it from the La Crosse Democrat,” will doubtless prove ! interesting to our readers coiret-.-' pondent writes us from Waterloo,, lowa,, asking if we know one Edgar Burnham,: and of his history. We do and it, is .a strange true tale, known to hundreds. Wo give it in the ‘‘ Democrat " as it. if, and we may correct some errors those who ■ speak of him have fallen into. Eight years since, when ,we were engaged as city editor of a Milwaukee paper, there lived in this State an editor named Powell, now - connected with a Ohicargo we think. In 1862 Powell was marriedtoa, Miss Ellen, Burnham, Wls' : con sin, after a' courtship of some months.” : Miss Burnhath’s patents' white residents of Brodhead, and of!.’ highrespectability. The daughter taught mUwe', ‘ had ! a large number of pupils,' and Vefcy Powell lived with her as a husbandfor two years, she being all that : tiiiie a good ivife ( in all respects—presenting ‘ him with ;: But ! one child. At the expiration of ab'orit two ’ years, Mrs. Powell’s voice Was changed, 1 she grew light whiskers ' arid gradually changed her sex, developing!nto a mart in all respects. The husband and wife separated when thewifo became a man, and Mrs. Ellen Powell took the name' of Edward Burnhairi, dorined male attirt) sought and' obtained employment clerk in Ohicargo, arid lived a single IlllA for one year. During this time he fell in love with a neico of Senator Morgan,.of New York, but did .not marry her; for reasons not pertinent to this article. ■ But about the end of tlie year he did marry a young lady of Brodhead, Wisconsin-—a Miss Gerta Everett, who whs a music pupil of his when he was Miss Ellen Burnham, over three years previous to the marriage. This second marriage was about' two years ago. Soon after this rixarriage ‘Edgar’ Burnhairi and wife removed to Waterloo,-; lowa, where they now reside, or’did not long sincte. 1 ' The former gild is now a man, the ‘former wife is now a husband, the former toother is now. a father the former young lady teacher of a young lady is now that young lady’s husband. Truth is indeed Stranger than fiction, arid the above simple"state men t of facts borders so upon the marvel lous, we could not believe it, did we riot personally know all the parties, . Any one can be convinced by writing to the parties in either of the places we havo named of the full and entire truth of 'this most wonderful transformation, which puzzles not only the medical but the wh<&A scientific world, and which fact now for the first tima in print, though the particulars have been long known toils and to many other newspapermen • arid prominent citizens of .this State, as' to nealy all the citizens of Brodhead, the parties so long resided.” ’ We that Mr. James Ross, of Melbourne, writes to the “Herald” confirming tha truth of the above story. iHe sajs h* knew Mrs. Powell as a woman and after wards as a man, A

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

j Tbl'-j-LiAv, UIi.CE MBit A 48^9,