bnpioMa to take a few Igfspns insword •Mediae before , haying another ‘combat. . af che second villain yaa tpqa loutare, and the history pf past duels. Thp finish pf the prorounme was the best* ,vrfthave seen in,Ashburton. “ The Fairy Tableau " exceeded tire expectations of tile patrons by its grandeur, and thecur-’ tain had to be again lifted to satisfy the - audience. We. trust that the public will L linin have an opportunity of witnessing tffij*scene, and or judging of the capabili ' ties Of local actors* abilities in this line. The wind up of the play was the best part ofit, therO being a tableau of some seven or eight pretty faces lit up with various colored lights, which made the several ac tresses look more like angels than we ever saw any actresses on the stage. We must compliment our local actors and actresses, on tile, matmei in which they have carried puA their programme and hope they will givens a similar treat at an early date. A Delicate Scavenger.—The “ N. Z. ThaOS ” says“ The latest from Sleepy Hollow! Last week a gentleman from Wellington paid a visit to Nelson, and— trill it be believed I —he informs us that, bn found one of the Corporation . laborers sweeping the streets in carpet ; Zulu Beauties.—Wo were talking a'writer in the “Court Journal’; ths other day to a friend of ours who re. sided for some time at Natal. He tells us that the Zulu men are good-natured, cheerful beings, and. that the Zulu girls are excessively pretty, most decorous in tiuir behaviour, but addicted to flirt and joke, . If you. wish to marry them you nave ti> pay ths fCithST about L4O. Should you desert your wife her relations assegai jpdll, byt if she misbehaves herself, the re lations,’ as part of the bargain, kill her. The girla.go about in lands j when they see a-young Zulu Warrior they sujTovmo make him tell them which of them be the most beautify '7 ‘A “ DiBBtwELL ” Incident. —ln Bow lem’r’ there was LIOOO for the whiliihg notsi) (Bayß the “ Australasian ”). The neglifeted Damwell’s name was on the ticket by four ladies, who had clubbeartogether bs. each for the pound it bosk ■ -Immediately after the.racg was r«n . the; quartette presented’ themselves at Bowlem’s and demanded LIOOO. Bowlem, of course, informed them that they must wait till settling day. They waited. Early on that morning they streamed into =liULhotel,Jind were tendered a cheque fop LIOOO.. • at each other, and' general dissatisfaction at only one ohequa beipg offered, Then in chorus,' • would prefer, sir, four Cheques of L 260 each," Bowlem at once accommo them,V; Then one, with nose tip- I -tintedufcethe petal of a fewer, to the amazement of the rest ordered one bottle of lemonade for the refreshment of the party., The elfera inspected some sinister intention, - and forthwith quitting tfe ; J>oteli ’started for the -bank, instantly nmosd fy their generous entertainer, ' f foaming beaker untasted, ladies chased other to the bank counter in obvious fear that the first [■. funds left for the others. Their faith was weak, but they left tile bank smiling, and i ' parted on the doorstep. -CARDINAL WISEMAN ON FANCY BaEAARS. vw.'wf-rTh® following is from a letter of the late Wiseman, recently published in _:.-«I;go in with.LlO t«y. I might stalk up to kind- Lady Bountiful’s —stall,day- down my-money, desire, it .to be , the account -of the charity, , out.' again without deigning to - ’ look at the vanity fair bii either side, nor at the cheerful yet modest vestals who are tiysngto palm its goods or its evils’on mo, This would be, to my mind, «K rf| hwoio. and possibly real pferisateftV Instead of thatr l walh thrqugh the bazaar, go from staff to stoU, protend to let myself be j taken- inaJwt ctohe for by tbe kind-hearieu saleswomen, whoknow I have gone there for no other purpose, and whose extrava gant-prices only mean the highest alms . you will give; sow my ten pounds in fractions over the various counters, and retreat without anyone theleast knowing., what I have given, though the fractions of it .will join, together 4*> form the stated. figure. Igo outj Covering my charity, not indeed wi& v roses (unless in Berlin wool), but with 'tiippei»v ; T , “i®dßhina, most use less baby things, lucifer boxes, and very -coarse Homan collars, five shillings’ worth .of tire yeriesltrash, for which I have given 110. Yetjf do not grudge it. They - , were; .'th«~ roses which concealed rny - * cbfirfiyf - J lh' the meantime, I have passed ' :■ an htnbt of ’ London weather in a bright hall.juid have met and talked with scores ~ ; -pf Charitable loungers like myself, whom I not otherwise have met without a formabvisit, who arealso going off with and arms full of equally useless iirji opd flimsy arises, which will be very much .valued- ,-at, Uie. dijstribution bf prizes in thrir poor sohools, or at the next bazaar. Hoove Lawyers.—Sir William Fox ‘ s to-rthe- “ Bangitikei Herald-”- - as ; -.follows: in-'reference to: a leading article Which 'lately appeared- in- that journal i “As one of -the oldest ;members- of the ’ i'rlMSbl prefeSsjon'in New Zealand, and a the Bangitikei district, I am sfe-uhwilliDg toallow the very sweeping and i .formidable-indictment preferred by you ' /: against.the profession to pass unnoticed. PtfHiough, riot .myself in practice,. I am . jealous of the Honor and character of the ■profession. There is no doubt that if the charges mado bv-you.be true, the profes sion -wiinte n purging. You say that “ almostdjaify eases come under notice,” in which the offenders ought to be struck y / off the roll. ■ Do-you apply, this to the, . practitiohera in.this. district ? If they do ..' • such things as' you describe; there is no i r-.j doubt they such punishment, and the puttie has a right to be protected from - -them. If these cases are so common and ; sG notorioußf Why d<«s nobody move In . tfematter?.'Thereia a Law Society in. Wellington, and I have no doubt wha k .- ; - ;;ever; th«t il any-p. . .» who has been in — juredJiy b in the manner you as .il 'SS rt address that society, and furnish sufficient' proof, itr will 'bring the, case . •,. under the notice .of the Supreme Court. .‘ I a'm wtill aware- that private persons will often submit to very great’.wrongs at the [bands of a lawyer rather than run the -: risk'Of defeat in an- encounter with him, . 7 followed by heavy costs.- But if the case ■ lApbi'-info-tbe hands of the Law Society, ' and it Considers it to be based on suffi- J ‘<Jient grounds, if will take the whole res- J " ponmbility of- applying to the Supreme Court, and protect the injured party from " the*-consequence of failure. With such macliinery to help him, no man need be afraid of challenging a lawyer before the tribunal which has the power topunish him.

Tjib.Native Bif^votv. —We are all at the height of expectation, writes the Hawera correspondent of the “ Wanganui Chronicle,” to know what the Govern ment intend doing j'egarding the Waimate Plains and the native question generally on this coast. All sorts of rumors are flying about, and mysterious hints given as to the movements of the A.C’s. I hear on good authority that as soon as Parlia ment prorogues Mr. Bryce and Major Atkinson will visit the district preparatory to taking action. There are great differ ences of opinion with reference to the ultithate outcome of again taking posses sion of the Plains. Some persons con sider they can be taken possession of with out much difficulty. Others are of opinion that too much time has been lost, and that since the turning off of the surveyors, nine months ago, the natives have been syste matically preparing to resist the occupa tion of these lands. Fires have for some months past been seen in various directions in the interior skirting the foot of the mountain and among the mountain spurs. These it is supposed are food cultivations, possible scattered in the more ragged portions of the back country that they may be difficult to discover, easily protected, and so rendered difficult to destroy. On the coast and at Parihaka potatoes are now very scarce. This may be accounted for by the probability that large quantities have been taken into the interior during last winter, to plant where they could not be easily destroyed. Very few natives have of late been observed on this coast, and these few have for some months past been constantly catching and carting pigs to Parihaka. Some have been sold in Hawera, but very little of the proceeds spent. It all goes to their prophet chief. It is thought by some that if a move is made on the Plains that instead of re lating W they wtU make a counter move against Stpatford and Inglewood, by a track round the foot of the mountain that comes out about Stratford, To he fore warned is to be forearmed, and although 1 do not myself think they will make such a move, it behoves the settlers on the Mountain road to thoroughly organise themselves into a good bushranging corps, in case any such catastrophe may happen,

Railway Carriage Lighting.— Tlie lighting of .railway carriages by the gas made from shale oil is making steady pro- and unless something better is dis covered, all the English lines will before long adept Pintsch’s process. The gas is forced into strong iron cylinders beneath tile carriages, and sufficient for a journey to Glasgow- and back can be readily stored. One .can now ride from Calais to St. Petersburg in a carriage lighted with gas, and:reed'a paper in comfort—a feat which was impossible with the old oil lamps. The whole rolling stock of the under-: ground lines of London is to be fitted with the requisite appliances fqr burning Pintich’s gas, and the Post Office sorting vans on all lines are to be fitted as soon as possible. A Cry from Purgatory. The “Poverty Bay H« raid’’thus discoursed In one of its late issues .• —“ In the day of our triumphs, in the hour of onr affliction, and in all times our trouble we have always taken our readers into our con fidence. We have opened our hearts to them and disclosed its innermost secrets. We do so at this moment. The “ Stan dard ” has had to lower its colors, shall the “ Herald,” then, from similar causes cease to blow its trumpet ? We hear our readers exclaim, ‘Forbid it, Heaven! Well, then, we ask, why do re fuse to square their aqonqnts with us 7 People will advgvMto and won’t pay their acQQunla i Dfih »?td our paper* but won’t pw shhßcppticina \ nnd we swmV wy-

Wouldn't Pay*—At th© late Troubador entertainment in Maaterton (says local paper journal), an actor was offended by thegods,”' and told them that if they did. not approve of what was put before them, they could gi-t their money- back and go out. Several of the occupants of the gallery accordingly applied for their money to the agent in charge. The latter dryly remarked, “ You must not take any notice of what that man says,” and the gods returned to their exalted position, and behaved themselves better for the re= mainder of the performance.

Scholastic Discipline.— The “Auck land Free Lance,” in an article on “Scholastic Discipline,” says :—“ln all schools or places of training the juvenile human being, it is necessary to carry into effect a strict system of discipline. Morality must be inculcated ; and in a place to which waifs and strays are consigned in order that they may be rescued from the contaminating influence of the streets, no doubt much trouble is caused to the teachers by the unruly habits, or rather the want of habits of the unfortunate boys. -But all the trouble imaginable could not for one instant justify the school authorities in publicly branding a lad with infamy because he had been guilty, in his juvenile want of morality, with some petty infringement of the laws of meam and tumn. It is clearly the duty of the teachers, when they under, stand the idiosyncrasies of the various lads, to treat each in such manner as to drive out the old ‘ City Arab ’ principles ; and this not by using harsh and unwar rantable measures, but by the gradual substitution of a better perception of the meaning of the moral for the dark mean derings of neglected and partially in formed minds. All this means that, going down the wharf two or three days ago, we fell in with a boat’s crew of -youngsters from the Naval Training School. On the back of the shirt of one of these boys there was planted in large charactois tho word * thief*.’ Give a dog a bad name and you may as well hang him ! Call a man a thief in public, and ten to one you will goad or force him into be coming one ! Why, the pillory—that dis gusting punishment used in a former ago, the wooden collar of the Chinese, the ear-hanging of the Mussulmans, were not worse than this, and indeed not so bad, for they were not thought so much of, being matters of everyday ocurrence. But here in a sort of Christian country, we have R bit of a boy worse than pilloried, and quite likely ruined for life, by reason of the inevitably hardening effect of his ill-judged punishment.”

The Profits on Whiskey.— The “Belfast News Letter” states that the firm of Dunville and Co., the celebrated whisky distillers, made a lodgment in the Ulster bank lately in cheques amounting to L 182,000, being very close on half a million of money. This is the largest lodgment ever made by one firm in Bel fast.

Good Shooting, - A Sydney volunteer named Keating, when firing at a 400yds range, made the highest possible score, 36. He made nine consecutive bulls’ eyes; that is, his two sighting shots as well as his seven competing shots were bull’s-eyes.

A Poem by Richaud Cosur de Lion. At the recent meetLig of the Society of German Philogists an ’ School masters held in Trevea, it was announced that among the manuscripts in the municipal library of that city a fragment of an old French poem had been discovered. It had been prepared for the Press and annotated by Her Kaufler, teacher in the Real-schule. This interesting fragment consists of seventy-eight verses. The editor, who describes it as part of a poem on St. Nonna and her son, St. Devy, attributes the work to Richard 1., or Coaur de Lion, of England.

Entertainment. On Wednesday night the members of the Ever Faithful and Sunbeam Juvenile ’/'cmplars, entertained the inmates of the Old Men’s Home with songs, recitations, Ac., which were highly appreciated. The following pro gramme was gone through very creditably, and our young friends deserve praise for their efforts in thus ministering to the enjoyment ot the old men :—Overture, Sister A. Pennain ; song and chorus, Juvenile Templars ; recitation, Bro. Fel ton ; piano duet, Sisters A. Andrews and Clark ; recitation, Sister Hepburn; dialogue, Bro. and Sister Hardley ; cornet solo, Bro. Savage ; recitation, Sister Lewis ; song, Sister C. Andrews ; recita tion, Bro. Ross ; piano duet, Sisters Clark and Permain ; dialogue, Bros. Corrigan and Leask ; song, Sister Permain ; recita tion, Bro. G. Hardley; song, Sister Savage ; recitation, Bro. Lewis; duet, Sisters A. Permain and Savage ; dialogue, Bro. and Sister Felton ; song, Sister Clark; song; Bro. and Sister Hurst; recitation, Bro. Leach; piano duet, Sisters A. Andrews and Permain; recitation, Bro. Corrigan ; song, Sister Quartermain; song, Bro. Escot; song, Sister Gotten ; Temperance song and chorus, Juvenile Tgmplitfft- The national anthem concluded the entertainment.

The Holidays. —Thursday and Friday were fully taken advantage of by both townspeople and country-people, and many reunions of old friends took place. Little knots of pic-nic parties started to wards every point of the compass on Thursday, by road and rail, but perhaps the most attractive spot to most was the beach, where in one gully could have been counted at one time about a hundred people, while quite a string of parties could be seen along the sea side. Friday, of couraq, being the Caledonian sports day, supplied its own entertainment, and we heard more of the Northern accent, in town yesterday than we ever heard before—sure proof that the meetings of the Caledonian Society can call out at least Caledonians. Tea Meeting at Sbafield. — On Christ mas evening the annual tea meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Church, Seafield was held in the school. In being the annual holiday a large crowd of people were picnicing at the beach and numbers stayed to tea. About 200 persons were entertained by the ladies who had tl\q management of the affair, arid WC must certainly compliment thwn on the ex pedition and huaineas like way in which they wont through their work, while at the sanie time they succeeded JO pn.ttifig everyorip. in the of ferqctf. One par ticulWffy jdUy (dAtore w ibeir manage might safely, he taken note of by nvmy tsa meeting purveyors in tho town —the people were called in to tea when tea was ready, and it was therefore partaken of while it w«- ; n season . j t i s a very Cijlmuon complaint at meetings of this kind that the bohea has either never been hot or has taken a very short time to cool, But no fault whatever could be found with the Seafield ladies’ brew. We have pleasure in chronicling the names of the fair dames who showed themselves so well up to their work, and are only sorry that we did not scare up the patronymics of the modest gentlemen who kept the kettles boiling, no unimportant part of the work. The ladies who presided were Mesdames Oollison, Jones, Bayliss, Hard wicke, Lawry, Brake, and Brown. After tea a few games were enjoyed at the rear of tho school, and then an open air meet ing was held, addressed by the Rev. Mr. Keall, who stated there was still a debt of LIOO on the Seafield Wesleyan Church, more, however, owing to tho hard times just past (let us hope) and many re movals than to unwillingness or re missness on the part of the people, but he trusted next harvest would wipe off the incubus. The Rev. Mr. Smith also spoke, as did Mr Jouea, Home Mis sionary, Rakftia, and Mr, H odder, of Ashburton. Several hymns were sung during tho evening, and after a vote of thanks had been enthusiastically ac corded to the ladies, who had arranged the meeting, the 'assemblage dispersed in time to get home before daylight had wholly gone—a very sensible arrange: ment indeed.

Rakaia Sports. —The usual Boxing Day Sports were held at Rakaia yesterday, and it being a popular and populous district for such enjoyment, a largo number of the residents assembled. By noon it was calculated that fully 1200 people were on the ground. In the Hack race, Mr. Lake, jun., was thrown, and dangerously hurt, and about the same time our reporter was also damaged, and any further proceedings at the Rakaia sports will have to be reported at a future date.

The. SPORTS, —The crowd at the sports yesterday were not very observant of the barriers the Committee had set up to keep them out of the way of the competitors. We fancy the Committee were as much to blame for this as the crowd. The cards of membership admit “to all parts of the course and to the grand stand,” and when a roving commission like this is given, even to all individual members of so strong an Association as the Caledonian, it is scarcely to be growled at when tho crowd, cannot understand apparently Tom, Dick, and Harry being admitted to the course, while Harry, D.ck, and Tom are kept outside. It was in vain to try ex planation on the ground, but we hope that by next year the Society will have secured a permanent right to some piece of ground in the near vicinity of the town, and erect a grand stand upon it, if it have not one already, so that some elevation may be available for ladies to witness any event in

which they may take an interest, without being ground to a jelly by hob-nailed “elevens,” or sqeezed to a pancake by the loutish owners of the high sizes.

Spiritualism and the Racecourse. — If the following yarn is true the totalisator may close its carreer, and the bookmakers will at once cultivate mediums. The Avens and Murray Advertiser is respon sible for the story. It says : —“ We have been told it by a gentleman on whose truthfulness we implicitly rely. Some five or six weeks ago Mr. Francis Romero, the well-known contractor, with Mr. Paton, formerly of Beech worth, called on Mr. Atkinson, who at one time carried on business as a coachbuilder there, but who is now living at Fitzroy, Melbourne. It appears the wife of Mr. Atkinson is a spiritualist ; and after having placed her self in a trance, she was asked the winner of the then forthcoming Melbourne Cup, when she wrote down the name of Dam well most distinctly. A t the time those present did not give much, heed to her prognostication. When Mr. Romero was recently in Melbourne he mot Mr. Paton, who remarked to Mr. Romero that Mrs. Atkinson -was right. When his memory was jogged, he remembered the name of Darriwell perfectly. On the morning of the race Mr Atkinson said his wife bad received a communication from the spirit world to the effect to advise her husband to bet all his available money on Darri well. This she told-Mr. Atkinson, who also told his shopmates, but they all ignored the message from the land of spirits, as they did not think it trust worthy. ” Divorce in America.— The figures given in this paragraph shows to what extent divorce in cold blood is carried by our American cousins :—The “ Vermont Chronicle ” has collected some startling facts concerning divorce in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and Ver mont. For the last few years the ratio of divorces to marriage in these four States is Itol6 in Vermont, Ito 23 - 7 in Massa chussetts, 1 to 13 in Rhode Island, 1 to 10 - 4 in Connecticut. In the year 1877 there was granted 1331 divorces in these States. If Maine and New Hampshire have a like record of temporary marriages, not far from 1800 divorces are granted annually in New England.

New Zealand as a Brewing Country. —ln a notice of the New Zealand court at the Sydney Exhibition the “ Morning Herald says :—“An examination of the hops and the barley in the New Zealand court suggests the thought that that country is destined to excel in the pro duotion of beer, ami further acquaintance with the number and the nature of the exhibits clearly indicates that the brewing industry has obtained a prodigious de velopment in New Zealand.”

Tall Cricket A Tasmanian team wfas sent over from the “ tight little island ” to do battle against the -East Melbourne cricketers, but bad to go back again without even obtaining an innings. The total scored by the East Melbourne Eleven was 742, out of which 250 had to be placed to the credit of Horan, who carried his bat out. This splendid bats man was one of the Austrahen team sent to England, and played in a match in the Ba.sjp deserve ngainst our own cricketers, l\ut the weather proved so inauspicious on that occasion that we had not a favorable opportunity of seeing him at his best.— “N.Z. Times-.’*

TELEGRAPHIC.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

( Reuter’s Telegrams.) London, Dec. 23. News from Afghanistan states that Sherpar defences have been rendered im pregnable. General Gough, with a convoy of provisions and ammunition, reached Lulubank Pass. The revolted tribes lave proclamed Mala Khan Ameei of Afghanis tan. The spread of plenro-pneumonia among the cattle is creating alarm in England, Paris, Dec. 23, M. Freycinet has declined the formation of the new ministry, M, Waddington has been charged with its formation. Calcutta, Dec. 23, General Roberts reports on Deo, 19 that a slight skirmish took place on Dec, 18. The losses were trifling. (Argus special.) London, Dec. 23. Edison claims the discovery of a simple electric household lamp, consisting of charred paper placed on a glass globe, costing a shilling. This simple machine supples 50 lamps.

AUSTRALIAN.

( Special, j Melbourne, Dec, 24. Sugars are brisk- Ten thousand packages have been sold privately at L 39 10s to L 43, Wheat has declined to 4s lid, prime new. (Reuter's Telegram.) Melbourne, Dec, 94. There were six passengers by the Suez boat at Albany for Port Chalmers, includ ing R. Mayne. Sailed—Claud Hamilton for Sydney. Sydney, Dec. 21. The Executive Council has decided that Williams and Bennet shall be imprisoned for life, three years in irons. The others will be hanged on Jan. 2Q.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, Dec. 25. A number of the unempl iyed have left for the Northern Gumfields. At some of the City Churches flower services were held. Bouquets were subse quently distributed to the hospital and other institutions. Grahamstown, Dec. 24. The Thames Land Association have ap plied for a block of 20,000 acres at Wairoa for the purpose of forming a settlement. Already the residents have signified their willingness to take over 10,000 acres. Napiek, Dec. 24. The Freemasons of Napier, instead of holding a banquet on St. John’s Day, will attend church on Sunday, when each member is expected to put into the offer tory the guinea ordinarily spent on the dinner. The money is to bo devoted to the Hospital. The schooner Enterprise was to-day righted and brought into harbor, much less damaged than was expected.

The L 30,000 to be divided amongst tho ! Omahu natives far the land near Rangi- ! tiki will be'distributed next month. ; Rust lias shown itself unmistakably 1 among tho wheat cropsat Patangat-a, which j were looking very promising. Tho crops : on the property of Mr. J. Collins have been destroyed by it. Oamaru, Dec. 24. A poll was taken respecting the pro posal to borrow L 50,000 for the completion of the water works, which resulted in a majority of 143. For, 147 : against, 4.

LATEST.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

( Reuter’s ) London, Dec. 24. Three per cent, consols, 97$ ; New Zea land, 10-40 ; 5 per cent. Loan. The liquidators of the City of Glasgow Bank notify that the balance of dividend will ho paid shortly, but without interest,. Later news from the Cape states that Secocooni was taken prisoner. The Recorder of Leeds has been ap pointed Prosecutor.

Jhe Canada steamer from Liverpool to Orleans was lost in a heavy tempest, and there were 25 persons drowned from her.

General Roberts reports heavy fighting on the 18th, but losses trifling Heavy figting near Cabul. General Gough close to Lataband. He is expected to arrive to-day.

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, Doc. 2G Arrived —Ro tor ua.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Per our Special Wire. Auckland. Dec. 2(1. The Rev. Joseph Berry, and Messrs. Foster and Grant, the Lincolnshire depu tations, visit Waikato early ntxt week to inspect land suitable for Lincolnshire far mers. Arrived—lnglewood, from London, with 32 passengers ; 5 bulls, 1 cow, shorthorn stock. Arrived safely. It has rained all night and rp to noon, spoiling the holidays, and will greatly affect the attendance at the races. New Plymouth, Dec. 2G. A meeting of Mr. Courtney’s creditors was held on W ednesday, when it was decided to accept deed of assignment as filed. The liabilities show secured creditors L30,09ii ; unsecured, L 11.517. A woman named Henrietta M'Donald was found dead in Waitara river yester day morning. It is supposed she walked into the river and was too intoxicated to get out. At the inquest, to-day, a ver dict of “ found drowned ” was returned. A man was cut on the head with a quoit yesterday, and is not out of danger. A native chief named Pamariki, who was taken to the hospital on Monday dangerously ill, succumbed to the malady on Tuesday morning. He was suffering from fever similar to that prevalent at Pavdiaka, but lie caught it from the natives who visited the prophet. Wellington, Dec. 20. Wet weather completely spoil-d the holiday. An atheletic contest between Wellington and Wanganui took place, and the former won by one event. Arrived—Barque Leith worth, from London, with I)ss statute adults. She left on Sept, 13, and had an uneventful passage. No deaths occurred during the passage. The barque Hawthorpe, from Boston, arrived this afternoon.

Blenheim, Dec. 26. A horrible death by burning occurred at Para during Wednesday night. Deceased was named Thos. Gardner, one of Hornby's mill hands. He lived in a cottage by himself, and was scon going home the worse of liquor. Yesterday morning it was noticed his house was burnt down, and inspection discovered h'a charred remains. At the inquest a verdict of “accidental death,’* was re turned.

Nelson, Dec. 26. The Interprovincial Cricket Match commenced at 11 o’clock to-day. The weather was splendid, and there was some good cricket. Nelson went in first, and were disposed of at one o’clock far 49. Christchurch, Deo. 28. The largest scoi-o ever made in Canter bury was put together to-day in the match Public Schools and Universities against The World (twelve a-side). The hitter, who included all the best howlers in Canterbury, leaving their opponents very weak, went in first and stayed there all day making 5(51. Ashby made U2 out of 153 on the board who nhe left; Alpe (formerly of Auckland), 97 5 Watson, 85 and G, Turner 66, The largest in a single innings previously made was 377, also on the Hagley Park ground.

Dunedin, Dec. 26. The weather was beautifully fine for the holiday. A serious accident occurred at Wai konau yesterday. A young man named Saddler of Port Chalmers had Ins arm shattered to pieces with a gun. He was out shooting, and in crossing a wire fence fell, and the gun wont off. "It is thought ho will have to have his arm amputated. John Do jglas, an immigrant on the Quarantine Island fell over fbo cliff an broke his collar bone and sustained other injuries,

The month's crushing at the Tipperary Co. Macetown, yielded 784 ozs. gold. Probably thex-e will be a dividend of L2 per share. Sailed—Arawata, for Melbourne.

SPORTING.

[HY TELEGRAPH.] Auckland Racing Club Summer Meeting. Auckland, Dec, 80. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, the Auckland Summer Meeting was very successful. It rained all the previous night, up to early forenoon, when the weather held up slightly. At noon a heavy shower came down, which deterred many people from taking the train for EUerslie, At 1 o’clock it cleared up for the remainder of the day. Not withstanding this adverse circumstance 3000 were present, and the grand stand was completely crammed with visitors, but there were few ladies. The course was very heavy through the rain that had

! fallen. The police did not interfere with ! the persons who had the management of ; the totalisator, which was fairly pat.ro | ninod. • . j jMaitwx lb,-i i i - ,, 30 so vs. ; weight for ago. ! II .ib-'onh ... 2 ftiuia of Honor ... ... 3 Time—2 min ‘JTscs. Hurdle Hac,:, L4O; two miles ; over nine hurdles. Lochlomond ... 1 Lonehand ... ... ... 2 Agent ... ... ... ... 3 Loch Lomond took the lead from the start, with Lonehand in close companion ship, changing places occasionally. All took the hurdles without fault. Coming into the straight Lonehand came in com petition, and was only a length behind. On coming to the last hurdle Loch Lomond struck. His rider, M‘lvor, came on his neck, giving Lonehand a chance to come up, and both flogged to the post, when they finished a dead heat. The rider of Lonehand intimated a protest against Loch Lomond on the ground of jostling while coming to the straight but it was not presented, and Lonehand retiring, Loch Lomond was left to walk over for first place.

Time—4min 30secs. Auckland Cup, 300 soves. , and a- sweep stake of 10 sovs. miles. Ariel (Mathew’s) ... ... 1 Laertes 2 Balmoral ... ... ... 3 Alhury Races. The Alhury Races took place to-day. The weather was pleasant, the atten dance large, and the racing was good. Oamaru Races- These events weie very successful. The racing was good, although there were very few first class horses entered. The weather was fine.

FACTION RIOT IN TIMARU.

(by telegraph.) (prom our own correspondent.) Txmaru, Dec. 26.

\ riot occurred opposite the Town Hall at eleven o’clock this morning. The Odd fellows, Foresters, and Orangemen formed a procession to march to the Sports. Before starting, a crowd of 600 collected, chiefly Irish, and surrounded the Orange men. A strong body of police endeavored to protect the latter by forming a line across the street, but the mob rushed past them and interrupted the Orange men, who only numbered about 40, and drove them back into the Forest ers’ Hall. There was a great deal of yelling, and some of the Orange officers diew their swords, but sheathed them again at the command of the police. The Resident Magistrate was present, and did his best to keep order. Special constables were enrolled. Up to the present there has been no actual fighting, only angry demonstrations, but the Orangemen are beleagured in the Foresters’ Hall, and show no inclination to come out. Later. After an hours’ confinement in the Foresters’ Hall, the Orange procession pocketed their scarves, and were allowed to proceed to the sports unmolested. The police were helpless. Another account says A most dis graceful riot occurred to-day between the Orangemen and Catholics. Some days ago it was arranged that the Orangemen should take part in the Friendly Societies united fdtc to-day, and join in the procession. This coming to the ears of the Catholics, word was sent by them to all parts of the district to collect. The police got information, and, anticipating a riot, reinforcements were telegraphed for, and arrived from Christchurch by special train this morn ing. At 10 o’clock 30 policemen and some 40 special constables were gathered. To-day, about 10.30 the procession, in cluding the Orangemen (numbering about 40) started from the Foresters’ Hall. The Catholics, to the number of four or five hundred, collected from all parts of the district, at once charged the Orangemen and drove them into the Forester's Hall, yelling, hooting, arid brandishing weapons. Mr. Beetham, R. M , then read the Riot Act. The Catholics still making demonstrations, the police charged, hut only scattered them with difficulty. The handful of Orange men were locked up in the hall and re mained there during the greater part of the day. Directly the row commenced, all the public houses were closed for the day. The excitement increased as the day wore on, and the feeling against the Catholics has now reached boiling point. The Orangemen have summoned friends from all parts of the district, and numbers of people who have no interest with either side are assembling in strength •to check the Catholics if they interfere again. The greatest indignation is felt, as the holiday has been entirely spoiled. Another 20 constables are expected every moment by special train from Oamnru, to rein force the force already here. The volun teers are on duty, and there is no knowing what the result of the riot wil 1 he, as nearly half the population in the district are Irishmen, about a third of whom are Orangemen. After the riot this morning the Catholics formed four deep and to the number of three or four hundred marched through the town, yelling and hooting at all whom they met. At first the town people were taken entirely by surprise, but as the day wore on their excitement over came them, and they are now thoroughly exasperated and are organising them selves to put a stop at once and. for all to such proceedings. Many of the Catholics were armed with revolvers, and but for the small number of Orangemen and the tact of Mr. Beetham and the police blood would have been-freely shed. A meeting of the Magistrates was held this afternoon to consider the position of affairs, and was adjourned till to morrow. A Wordy M H. U’.— An examination <f the index to H Hansard” for the first five weeks of the session will show that Mr. Seddon, fc r instance, aired his peculiar North count; eloquence no less than thirty-eight times during a month. No other member, we believe, not being a Minister, troubled the reporters so often. On the gold duly question he spoke more than three pages of “ Hansa d,” upon the Auckland members he S'-oke even longer, and upon other occasions both l.e'ore and since he has talks- 1 the Mouse empty more often, we believe, than any other individual.

Are Good Men Scarce?

Whether the good or the evil predopai, nates in human character has always been j a ' OXO'I question, and one whose answer j will large! j’ depend upon constitutional j temperament. The gloomy and despond* i out will y Ureys see the dark shadows of life, while the sanguine and cheerful will dwell up m, its sunshine and brightness. There are such varying standpoints, also, from which to look out upon this (told of inquiry, that it is not strange that very opposite conclusions are reached. When we contemplate all the corruption of poli tical life, and see a nation’s honor and welfare willingly sacrificed to personal gain or ambition ; when we witness the defections in mercantile integrity, the strife of nations, the discord, enmity, and jealousy that embitter the social circle and poison domestic happiness, it is no wonder that we say with a sigh, “ Good men are indeed scarce.” On the other hand, when a sudden calamity draws forth the sjunpathies and ready aid of a whole community ; when a recital of oppression and wrong arouses general indignation ; when society rises up to protect the weak, to maintain equal rights, to redress wrong and relieve suffering ; when private life discloses the noble act of heroism, or the patient life of self-sacrifice,—then we are ready to withdraw our former statement, and to believe better things of humanity. Whether good men and women are scarce or abundant, however, depends upon the meaning we attach to the term. If by good people we mean those who have much good in them, we aro happy in believing that they constitute the large majority. But if wo mean those whose daily life and conduct is a power for good, we fear it is too true that they are but a small proportion. The difference between these two classes will be manifest to every thoughtful observer. Take any assemblage of people, and there may be found among them ranch latent good. There will be a general allegiance to purity, honesty, good order, and benevolence, and a general repugnance to injustice, corrup tion, disorder, and selfishness. Yet their characters will be largely formed by and dependent upon habits and circumstances. If their past education and present influ ences act upon them for good, they will maintain a good moral character; if temptations do not bear too heavily they will resist them ; if their benevolent im pulses are called forth they will be com passionate, sympathising, helpful. If, o» the other hand, opposite influences are acting upon them, if t hey have had bad examples and are expi se.l to evil associa tions, they succumb to them and their characters are formed accordingly. It thus depends upon something outside of them selves whether the good that is in them be developed or crushed. They do not stand alone as an individual power ; they are not dependable. If public opinion condones an offence, its actual evil fades from their view ; if it frowns on a course that their conscience enforces, they shrink from it in dismay.

Yet among the many who thus drift up or down the stream of moral goodness, carried along by the current of circum stances, there are a few who stem the waves and face the winds, steering steadily for the port of truth and right. Their goodness is not a mere germ, waiting for the sunshine of favourable influences to start it into being; but a strong root that will grow and expand from its own in ward power, even in spite of adverse wind and weather. When storms shake the nation and threaten its honor, they stand firm for the cause of right against all specious influences. In every crisis they can be safely counted on forthesup port of ju. tice, truth, and honor. Every one who knows them knows also where to find them, in every conflict between truth and error, justice and oppression, freedom and bonds, honour and corrnp tion, generosity and meanness, there isno qucstion as to which side they espojse. They are not blown about by the winds of public favour or disfavour, by the breadth of temptation or the influence of associates, but stand firm upon the steadfast rock of principle. Such men are found in every walk of life, are the great pillars of the community. In the State they up hold good government, in commerce they promote integrity, in friendship they are staunch and reliable, in domestic life they are true and loyal. Of course they are liable, like others, to slips and fnl’s, mis takes and errors ; but as the needle, after many fluctuations,- only finds rest when true to the pole, so they will ever return to rest in their allegiance to truth and right.

If, then, to be a good main, is to b© thus incorruptible, firm, and powerful in goodness, we fear that it is true indeed that “ good men are scane yet their ranks may be continually increased if each one of us will only cultivate and develop tho good that now lies latent within us into the individual power and force that is its rightful heritage.—Phila delphia Ledger,

Two settlers near Borrowa were ar rested on the charge of feloniously shearing the sheep of a neighbor.

Paying Double. —ln an article on the Property-Assessment Bill, the “Otago Daily Times ” recently pointed out that the capital of investment companies would really be taxed twice over. This objection was at first pooh-poohed, hut more careful consideration showed it tobe well founded; and in Committee the Government intro duced a new clause to prevent such com panies bearing more than their share of the public burden.—“ Post. ”

A Bold Robbery. — A most remarkable circumstance that occurred recently has been related to the “ Sydney Daily Tele graph,” which, if true, transcends in bold ness and audacity anything of the kind heard of before in Sydney or elsewhere. It appears that some weeks ago a gentle man and his wife who resided in Newtown left their residence for a few days to attend « relative who was dangerously ill in Sydney. During their absence the house was entered, and the whole of the furniture cartid away in the broad day light, without any suspicion being excited in the minds of neighbors or friends that a daring robbery was being perpetrated under their very eyes. To show the con fidence with which the who’e affair wfi planned and carried out, it may be men tioned that one of the articles removed was a large handsome wardrobe, which must have taken at least-two hours to take to pieces. To add to the mystery which surrounds the whole affair, it appears that the police have been totally unable to %»4 a clue either to the missing articles or thi perpetrators of the robbery.

&avv&j>av, December iy,

‘fHE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN*

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