GREAT FIRE IN ASHBURTON.

£3OOO WORTH OF PROPERTY DES TROYED. On Saturday night the first fire of any consequence that has occurred in Ashbur tcft- took place, resulting in the total de struction of a block of I uildinga in Tancred street. The block destroyed was separated by a narrow right-of-way, on the west, from a dwelling-house at the rear of Messrs. Orr and Co.’s, temporarily used by that firm as a lumber warehouse. This building was again detached by a pretty wide yard from Orr and Co’s, main store that fronts- East street, and forms the corner of the lino of shops terminating to the south in Messrs. Friedlander Brothers store. On the east of the shops destroyed a large two-storey building stands, separa ted by a vacant building site from the scene of the fire, and occupied by Mr. J. R. Chapman, as a paint-shop, and by Mr. W. T. Davidson as a fruiterer and green grocer’s shop, both of these gentlemen using the upper rooms as dwelling-houses. There were three establishments in the block destroyed—Mr. Hicks’ bakery being in the western end, Mr. Joseph Hyde’s tinsmith-fhop on the eastern, while the Centre wj s the store of Mr. John Fowler.

The file originated, as far as yet can be ascertained, in Mr Fowler’s store, in the upper portion, to the back. He and hia son and employees had closed the estab lishment at ten o’clock, having made their customary inspection of the premises be fore finally leaving. At that time, no sign of any danger was visible. They had not been gone more than a quarter of an hour, however, before a messenger in hot baste overtook them as they were entering Mr. Fowler’s house, in Moore street, with the intelligence that the store was on fire, and by half-past ten the alarm bell had brought a large crowd to the scene. Be tween the ringing of the fire bell, however, and the arrival of the fire engine, the flames had time to take a good hold upon the building. Not that any delay occurred in the arrival of the brigade or their plant, but the flames travelled very rapidly -and the many willing hands who tendered aid were only able to save a very few articles of Mr. Fowler’s stock.

Regarding the alarm, we would here remark that the new bell tower for the ' fire brigade has not been erected a moment too soon, and the bell that we learn is to be hung this week will not be hung any too early. For there are many people in Ashburton, and some members of the brigade, too, who never heard the bell at all Fortunately, the discovery of the fire was made at a time in the evening before all the shops were closed, and when most of the tradespeople were about their premises, and this fact accounts for the rapid gathering of a crowd of helpers on the spot. As soon as the fire engine was brought upon the ground it was attached to the double pipe well recently sunk by the Corporation just by the large boarding house opposite Mr Chapmans establish ment, and it is satisfactory to state that for fully two hours the pump was kept hard at work without any sign beinggiven of the water failing. A constant stream was kept up by the pump through two lines of hose, and for a short time the brigade tried to extinguish the flames in the burning building. It was soon ap T parent, however, that efforts in that direction were useless, and attention was at once turned to saving the adjoining buildings. In this the brigade were valiantly aided by many of the citizens, and displays of courage and gallantry were made in not a few instances. A number of men got upon the roof of Mr Chapman’s house, and, despite the intense heat, kept the western portion of the roof and the gable drenched with water supplied in buckets from below. Amongst these we recognised the features of Mr George Vincent perched in a position of danger on the very ridge of the roof; and though the heat was great he stuck nobly to the place he had chosen for himself. There were many others we saw equally hard working on the same building, though we did hot recognise them. On Messrs. Orr and Co.’s building quite a little knot of plucky fellows took post, and kept the wall .covered with wet blankets, and a supply of water continually to renew soaking them. Amongst these gentlemen we observed Messrs. George Jameson, James Scott, Fred. Duncan, A. Grant and ‘ Guy,' as well as others whom we could not recognise in the smoke. The pumps were manned by volunteers and after about an hour’s work the brigade and those who had .assisted them had the satisfaction of seeing the fire spend itself on the building it first seized, without spreading across either right-of way. For some time, however, owing to the intense heat, the houses to east and west were in great danger, and well as Mr Spillard’ashop on the other side of the street, the old A 1 restaurant, and the new establishment further east, recently entered upon by Mr. Truckle. In fact the A 1 two or three times did catch fire to some extent, but the flames were soon extinguished. With such appliances as the firemen had, they and those who helped them, did noble work, and the township has every reason to be proud of them. They wote unable to save the buildings in which the fire arose, but they prevented the fire from spreading beyond them, and for that they deserve the thanks of the com munity ; for had the flames extended to some of the adjoining blocks there was great danger that East street might have been swept away. As it is, damage to the extent of £3,000 has been done, and the painful feature of the case is that Mr. Hyde’s insurance policy only lapsed a few weeks ago, and being unable to renew it, he is. now penniless. His whole stock and furniture, and all his belongings, have been swept away by the fire, and he and his wife and family of eight have been left with only what they stand up in. Mr. Fowler is, we believe, insured in the Standard lor £7OO on his stock, which he values at about £1,200; and for £4OO on the building in theßouth British, and £2OO in the .-London, and Lancashire. Mr. HiA* won also insured for £l5O on his stock, add £IOO on his furniture in the London and Lancashire. Mr. Amos, pro prietor Of Mr Hyde’s shop, was insured for £l5O in the Standard. Amongst the other aids given to the fire brigade was that of the private hose of the bank which Mr. Shury got into posi tion. This was lengthened by a stretch of hose procured from Mr, Quill’s hotel, and the jet thus thrown, even though the two hose were of diffarentsizes and joined badly, waa not without its value in keeping the blankets jret on Orr and Go’s., building. '

Plan of the Agricultural Show Grounds at Tnawald, November 18, 1879.

G-DRIB.AT SOUTH RAILWAY.

THE FARMER.

Agricultural Papers. No. VI. By H. W. Peryman, Esq. “ The desirability of establishing an agricultural training school in this pro vince.” My reasons for reading a paper on this subject are that I have long thought that the advantages to be derived by establishing such an institution in this province would be great. I think most of you will agree with me that there is plenty of room for improvement in farming our lands in this province, for, travel the country north or south, you will see slovenly farming. Some may say it is for the want of means ; I think it might be justly added, for the want of knowing how to farm properly, for had the farmers with their small means been better acquainted with agriculture, there would not have been such unprofitable farming and disastrous results. Some few years back it was thought that anybody could farm; it was only to get the land, and their fortunes were made. Scores of such adventurous farmers have left their farms and returned to some more congenial occupation, wiser but poorer men ; others have stuck man fully to their farms, who started without any previous knowledge of farming, and what knowledge they now possess has been dearly bought in the school of ex perience, and they might have realised burger inootnes in the time, or as large in a shorter time, had they brought a more intimate acquaintance of the best system of husbandly known to bear upon the favorable position they occupied. Mr Martin Doyle, in his 1 • Hints on Farm ing,” has said, “ There is perhaps no oc cupation except that of a legislator so frequently entered upon by persons de ficient in the necessary information as farming. To this cause much more than to vicissitudes of seasons, which affect all farmers alike, are to be assigned the dis appointment and failures that not un frequently dishearten and disgust many who engage in agricultural pursuits.” Mr Stephens, in his “ Book of the Farm,” has stated that agriculture in the colonies differs little from the English system ; wherever the same kind of crops are raised the same practice must be adapted, and wherever the same kimd of stock is reared for the same purposes, the same mode of treatment (to some extent) must be pursued. Superior fertility of soil, amenity of climate, nourishment in the food of animals but slightly affect principles, and only modify practice; want of efficient implements may at first induce settlers to try extraordinary ex pedients to accomplish their end, but as those means improve, and the ground is brought into proper tillage, our peculiar colonial practices will gradually yield to the more matured ones of the old country, eventually the colonies will most probably exhibit splendid samples of British agri culture under the fostering encouragement of a fine climate. The sooner they attain that perfection, the sooner will the pros perity of the settlers be secured. It will not be denied, gentlemen, that according as agriculture prospers in this province, so will every other trade and profession ; as agriculture declines, so will commerce decline. Some of our legislators have (I am afraid, sometimes from sinister motives) patted the farmers on the back, and said they were the back-bone of the country.” It is to bo hoped they will always consider them so, and not make laws that will break their backs by taxing them too heavily. Canterbury is at present a great agricultural country, but I believe that it is destined to become still greater, and one of the finest countries in the world for carrying on agricultural pursuits. It is, therefore, desirable, and in fact necessary, that the best method of farming should be adopt ed. The most important step to take in that direction would be to teach our young men the best way to farm on the most modem and approved principles. The question may be asked, which way would be the beat to attain this end I Some might advocate placing them for one, two, or three years with good, thorough, practical farmers. Well and good, but I think they are a numerous class in this province ; and those that are competent to teach farming in all its branches would not care to be bothered with pupils. Others may advo cate establishing an experimental farm, where all the field operations and experi ments should be conducted by the pupils; but an experimental farm would be a most unsuitable place on which to learn farming; for were experiments to be conducted by inexperienced pupils their results would inspire no confidence in farmers. But this much I may say : now that education is the order of the day, and is occupying

the thoughts and time of our legislators, and certain reserves of land have been made for educational purposes, it may not be ill-timed to ask the Government to reserve a few hundred acres to be devoted to an agricultural training institution, where our young men may learn the theory and application of agriculture, practical land surveying and levelling, system of thorough drainage, the management of cattle, sheep, &c., &c., the veterinary science, treatment of the various diseases which cattle and sheep are subject to, the analysation of the different soils and plants of New Zealand, the beat method of de scribing farm business, how to record the same and describe the operations as they actually occur. A young man desirous of learning a profession or trade must identify himself with and give his mind entirely- for a certain number of years to acquire or become master of that par ticular profession or trade. So it should be with agriculture—a young man having decided to become a farmer should not be contented with merely knowing how to plough or sow, how to reap or mow, but should be able to describe the why and the wherefore of everything done on a farm, so that when he becomes owner or master of a farm he would be able to manage it well with ease and profit to himself. Farmers should feel it their duty to put it in the power of their sons to acquire an agricul tural education. Neither the time nor expense of acquiring an educa tion should deter any farmer’s son from attempting it who desires to occupy a position above that of a farm steward. A good education is the best legacy a father can leave his child. Agricultural training tcools have been established in Scotland, England, and Ireland for years, likewise on the Continent the schools have been carried .on for years success fully ; in Berne, Switzerland, Moeglin, near Frankfort on the Oder. The estate of Moeglin consists of 1200 acres, where an experienced agriculturist is en gaged, whose office it is to point out to the pupils the mode of .applying the sciences to the practical business of hus bandry. In France, as far back as 1826, an agricultural training school was estab lished near Versailles, in the Valley of Gaily, where the principles of culture in the special application to the art of pro ducing and using produce ; the mathema tics applied to mechanics ; mineralogy and geology applied to agriculture, are taught. An agricultural seminary has existed at Temple Moyle, in the county of London derry, for some years, where the pupils are educated so as to fit them for land stewards, directing agents, and practical farmers, for the tiffing sum of £lO each per annum. An agricultural training school was established at Aoddesden in Hertfordshire a few years ago. The course of education embraced mathema tics, mechanics, chemistry, botany, mineralogy, geology, practical land sur veying, book-keeping, practical agricul ture, and the management and disease of cattle, and all this is taught at a cost of £25 each pupil per annum. I might also mention the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, founded in 1845. The col lege is situated in the middle of a farm 400 acres, where an improved system of tillage is carried out, practical agriculture taught, as well as the varied sciences con nected with it. The college fee is £SO per annum for resident, and £3O per annum for non-resident pupils. In Scotland, at least four of these schools ex ist where, besides undertaking the chemi cal department, one of these societies— the Highland and Agricultural Society— propose to issue diplomas to young men whose aim it is to become the managers of farms and estates and who have acquired a knowledge of practical agriculture, and have followed such a course of education at any institution which have taught the branches of science having mure immediate relation to agriculture. In concluding this paper, I would express a cherished hope that the time will soon come when an agricutural training school will become one of the many educational institutions of New Zealand, and that the farmers generally will hail the day when it is in augurated, and show how they appreciate the same by sending their sons to support and carry it on successfully.

Sold. —Dun-up thinks he sees a pros pect in the new system of receipt stamps. He imagines himself cornered in his resi dence by a relentless collector of trades men’s accounts. He has exhausted every method of deferring a settlement. In despair, he asks, “ Have you got a receipt stamp ?” “ Oh, yes,” says the inexorable, producing a stamp case. “ Ah, well,” says Dun-up, cordially, “ I have kept you so long out of your money I must’nt put you to that expense. I’ll supply a stamp my self. Just wait a minute.” Leaving the room for the ostensible purpose of getting a stamp, D. escapes from the premises by the back door and defers his difficulty for another twenty-four hours.”

CHISPA’S LETTER.

(From the Ashburton Herald, November 15.) “lam not yet so bald that you can see my brains.”— Longfellow.

After all the flourish of trumpets last week about the women having votes given them Parliament altered their minds last night, and reversed their decision, so that our sistersandourcousinsand ourauntswill still remain in their normal state of poli tical nothingness. Honorable members who have so quickly altered their minds will have a good deal of catechising to submit to when they return to their con stituents, for although petticoats are still to be excluded from political power, none of us can deny that the influence of the sex is always considered to be worth look ing up in electioxi times.

In sporting matters I have a hunting item to report, the sport being particularly good and the country over which the event took place tolerably rough. The other day a farmer got outside rather more beer than he was capable of walking off with, and as he started for home he was taken in charge by the officers of jus tice and his dray, which contained his purchases, was also impounded. Among liis speculations were some pigs, which were loud in their objections to being con veyed to durance vile, and two of them escaped from custody. Three stalwart bobbies gave chase and the hogs took through the gorse behind the lockup. Some vexy clever jumps were negotiated, a trooper in all the glory of pants of imma culate colour and fit coming a purler over a stiff gorse bush ; the scent was however good, and after an exciting chase success at last crowned the efforts of the hunts men, and the porkers were secured.

I went to the Christchurch Show and was of course duly impressed with the great importance of the occasion, and there was nothing in the whole business which impressed me more than the way in which the colonial manufactures were inspected—and more than inspected. In some cases they were entirely demolished, more particularly in the items of preserved meats, cheese, butter, and beer. The style in which some of the bucolic element went at these exhibits was suggestive of their having been on short commons for a considerable period, the weaker sex being particularly conspicuous in the style they went at the rolls of butter. I should estimate that in preserved beef the pro ceeds of a bullock went in samples, and the beer being convenient, the only diffi culty was the want of a stow of biscuits which was unfortunately not in the cata logue.

Only two «f all the good men and true in Ashburton consider the position of Mayor worth struggling for, and I am half afraid the borough is to suffer there by. Mr Donald Williamson is not on, though he contested the chair last time with Mr Bullock, and would get the seat in an easy canter if he chose to come forward, no matter who else came to the front. The sitting Mayor halted between two opinions for some time, and finally caved in. Mr James Campbell would be a popular candidate, but the inexorable demands of business have called him hence. Mr Joseph Ward, who has the respect of every man, woman, and child in the borough, and whose business abilities are of no mean order, would make an excellent Mayor, but he does not just yet see his way clear to join the hurly-burly of an election contest. So we must be content with the Hobson’s choice left us between a gentleman who has not yet been in the Council, and one who took the sulks at the work before, and left it in a hurry. The one is an untried man of much pro mise, and the other is a tried man who has been found wanting, and fond of kick ing over the traces. It is amusing to an Englishman to tot up the men who have been requisitioned to stand for this office. Messrs Williamson and Ward received no requisition, I be lieve, but their feelings on the matter of standing were obtained privately. The one is a Scotchman, and the other an Englishman. Mr Ivess is an Irishman, Mr Friedlander is a German, Mr Sando is a Norwegian, and Mr St. Hill, who, I learn, had a requisition presented to him, is an American. It says a good deal for the cosmopolitan feeling of the people that in giving their civic honors, neither nationality nor religion has any weight in the matter. Chispa.

Even to this day, when the blind lead the blind, there is a fall into the ditch. Some person of inquiring mind wrote to the editor of the ‘ 1 Glasgow Weekly Mail,” apparently, to solve a geographical ques tion. In answers to correspondents on the 2nd August the following interesting information is supplied:—“P.S—Ade laide is in Victoria (Australia), not in New Zealand.”

LOCAL INDUSTRIES

MESSRS. WOOD AND GO’S. BREWERY.

The success Messrs. Wood and Co. achieved in beating all coiners at the Christ church Show in two of their exhibits, has naturally led to a renewed interest being taken in this establishment, and Mr Wood has had to entertain a very large num ber of visitors anxious to sample the prize porter. Among others, our reporter found his way to the brewery, and met with a hearty welcome from the genial old gentle man, who runs the? concern. The build ings are of a most substantial nature, and on entering the first room, it is found to be occupied by the cooper of the establish ment, who appears to have plenty of em ployment on his hands, judging from the hoops and staves by which he is sur rounded. In the same room are the re frigerator and fermenting vat, the former being an arrangement of copper tubes, which are kept charged with a constant stream of cold water whilst the beer flows over them, and is thus rapidly cooled on its way to the vat; from the latter the liquor is conveyed when sufficiently worked to a spacious cellar, 50ft. by 25, built in concrete, and affoi'ding storage accommodation for about 100 hogsheads. Here the beer is in various stages of development, and the quality of the brew wJxich our reporter had the pleasure of tasting was equal to any colonial tap we have ever tried. A light luncheon ale of greater age was more suitable as a beverage for the harvest time. A con siderable stock is kept on hand here in the racking casks. The engine and boiler room is on the ground floor, steam being supplied from a 12-horse power boiler, which supplies steam not only for the mo tive power of the engine but also for all heating purposes in the establishment, and is conveyed all over the brewery by an ar rangement of pipes, the boiling vat on the upper floor, with a capacity of 700 gallons, having a coil through which the steam passes, aixd the process of boiling the liquor in its first stage is thus rapidly and effectually done. Use is also made of the steam for the purpose of cleansing the casks, an operation which takes place in the yard adjoining the building, and either steam, hot, or cold water, ean be at once by the mere turning of a tap used for the purpose. The engine is a neat little horizontal one of 4A horse power, and was originally imported for the pur pose of ice manufacture, but is now em ployed in the production of a more stimu lating article. The engine is utilised for malt grinding, and by an ingenious system of chains and pulleys, for doing all the hoisting and heavy lifting in the brewery. A very handy arrangement has been fixed by Mr Wood, whereby the ground malt is carried by elevators into the liquor boiler, and as it falls in a steady stream, the proper quantity of boiling water falls on it during its exit. Messrs Wood and Co. use both English and Nelson crops, and give it as their opinion that the colonial are the strongest whilst the Kentish article has the best flavor ; and they find a mixture of the two makes the best tasted beer. The bottling department is fitted with an ingenious bottling machine by which one man is able to fill a dozen a minute, and a corking-machine is also a great labor saver. The firm had a con siderable amount of trouble in the com mencement of their ti’ade, everything being new there was some difficulty ex perienced in making the beer to keep, but that difficulty has been overcome, and Wood and Co. now claim with some pride that they can turn out as good an article as anything in the countiy.

DISTRICT COURT.

IitoNDAY, Nov. 17th,

[Before His Honor Judge Ward.] RE WM. MONROE.

Application by Clerk of the Court for directions as to taxation of costs against Harry and Hugo Friedlander. Mr. Purnell had objected to taxation, contending that the Clerk could not tax when there was no order for taxation, and referred to the District Court Rules, and that Mr. O’Reilly should not have taken out an order for the payment of cosvs. Mr. O’Reilly contended that he had pursued the practice of the Supreme Court in Bankruptcy, and that the objec tions of the other side were utterly absurd in the face of the express terms of the Act, and the Rules thereunder. It was per fectly clear that the District Court Rules did not apply. His Honor said that the practice of the Supreme Court applied, and Mr. Purnell was laboring under a misappre hension. Mr. O’Reilly suggested that as the Clerk was inexperienced his Honor should tax. His Honor—The Clerk cannot be ex pected to know how to tax, and I will tax at the end of the list. PETER. V. FERGUS Mr. O’Reilly applied for an adjourn ment to next week. Case was adjourned accordingly. RE WM. MUNHOE. Mr O’Reilly applied for an order nisi, calling on Harry Friedlander to show why a bill of sale given to him by the bankrupt should not be set aside as fraudu lent and void against creditors. He read the evidence of Friedlander Bros., and contended that on their evidence alone, which was most unsatisfactory, the order should go, but that the evidence of the bankrupt, his wife, and Wm. Thomas made it clear that the bill of sale was fraudulent and void. Mr O’Reilly then read the evidence, and his Honor granted the application. RE WILLIAM MUNROB. Mr. Crisp applied for an order of dis charge. His Honor said that as the pre vious application was still in abeyance—■ the order must be postponed. RE JAMES DALY. Application by Mr. O’Reilly to make order absolute for the payment of certain money in the Bank of New Zealand to the Trustee.

Mr. Harris, and with him Mr. Crisp, appeared to show cause. Mr. Harris wished to take a preliminary objection, and use the minute book as evidence. Mr. O’Reilly objected. The minute book was not a record, and was not evidence. His Honor said it was inadmissable. Mr. Harris then read the affidavit of Mr. Revans, Manager of the New Zealand Bank. Mr. Crisp followed, and wished to raise

objection to the appointment of truateflj but on looking over the papers filed withdrew. Mr. O’Reilly called his Honor’s atten tian to the items of Mr. Revans’ affidavit which made it .appear that Allen’s was a private account, when it was a trust account on the face of it, as it was “ Allen’s Bankrupt Estate.” His Honor said this, if true, would be a subject for severe remark, and said he wished to see the bank book. The case would be adjourned for its production. RE J. Y. WARD. Mr, Harris applied for an order of dis charge. Postponed for production of trustee’s report. RE THOMAS HUDSON. Mr. O’Reilly made application for the discharge of debtor. Application granted. KE J. IMBB. Mr. Crisp applied for an order of dis charge. Granted. RE W. J. ROGERS. Mr. Purnell applied for an order of dis charge. Granted. RE J. W. COTTON. Mi. Purnell applied for an order for payment of costs out of the estate. Granted.

Lessons of the Fire

The fire of Saturday has, we are happy to say, been long in coming ; but having come it has brought its lessons with it, and we doubt not these will be profitable. The fire has taught us the value of the tube wells sunk at intervals throughout the town to supply water for fire emergen cies ; and the efficacy of the one in Tancred street, which no amount of pump ing seemed to cripple, points to these wells repeated in every part of the town and at close intervals as a system of water supply for fire prevention that cannot well be sur passed by any introduction of a more ex pensive scheme. While we are dependent ui)ou the engine of the Fire Brigade for throwing jets of water upon a burning building, we do not know that a water scheme from the river or any of the neighboring streams would supply the Brigade with water more copiously than do those coupled tube wells, unless, indeed, pressure could be obtained that would dispense with the use of the engine pump, and throw a jet as high as the buildings of the town render necessary. In the upper parts of the town, from Baring Square northwards, a difficulty stands in the way of the usefulness of these tube-wells. The water stands at too low a depth from the surface for an effec tive draught, and the engine refuses to throw an efficient stream. This is a diffi culty that can only be got over by lowering the ground on which the engine stands, and now that a fire has occurred; taught us the value of the tube-wells; and shown us what a treasure we have in the men who form and officer our Fire Brigade, we hope the Corporation will turn their atten tion to the question of duplicating the tube-wells as far as practicable. The financial position of the Borough Council has prostrated all hope of public works being undertaken for some time, but now that the tube-wells have been proved to be sufficiently effective where the ground is low, and that those on the higher ground can be made so by simply lowering the surface to permit the play of the Brigade pump, the course of the Council is clearly defined, viz., to sink enough wells all over the town, to bring every building within reach of the hose. At present only East street, and a chain or two from it. are within the influence of the Borough Council’s provisions for fire prevention, and should a fire occur in any cottage anywhere away from these wells, the building must be left to its fate. We think that notwithstanding the financial difficulty some effort might be made in the line we have hinted at.

The members of the Fire Brigade are of opinion, from experiments made, that single pipes will do the work just as well as double ones. The greater portion of the cost of sinking the coupled tube wells lies in providing the couplings, and as a single pipe can be sunk at less than half the cost of a double one, it is worthy of considera tion whether, in view of possible fires in cottages to the east and west of the rail way line, single pipes should not be driven at convenient intervals, and of calibre sufficient to supply the engine. Not a few private hose are owned by the residents in the borough, but they are all of different sizes, and consequently cannot be brought into use on one pump. It is worth while coming to an understanding in regard to these hose, and making use only of one size—say inch diameter. Had the private hose been uniform on Saturday the bank cistern would have been of far more service than it was. The necessity for a Fire Police was fully manifested also, and it is to be hoped that this organisation will now take form, and not be allowed to fall through as up to now it has been. Nothing could have been better than the good generalship displayed by those in charge of the Brigade, nor than the energy with which its members worked, and many citizens displayed genuine pluck in stick ing to posts of danger where stout hearts were wanted. But it would have been as well, after buckets had been procured,— and at one time there were plenty of them on the ground,—if a string of volunteers could have been got in two lines, from the pump down Spillard’s right-of-way, to the fire. Had this been done full buckets could have passed from hand to hand up one line and the empties returned in the same way down the other. Several at tempts to institute communication of this kind were made, hut the crowd did not seem to understand what was required of them, and a very incomplete and irregular bucket supply was consequently kept up. We cannot refrain here from referring to the case of Mr. Hyde. A month ago, his policy of insurance lapsed, from his inability to pay the premium, and now the fire has left him penniless. He has a family of eight little children to be pro vided for, and there never was a case call ing more loudly for aid. Subscription lists will be carried round during the week, and we doubt not the special circumstances of a hard-working honest man in misfor tune will be fully appreciated and their claims valued.

The Rating Act.

The Rating Act Amendment Bill was read a second time on Wednesday even ing, on the motion of Mr Pitt. The Bill contains nine clauses, its object being to give power to local bodies to let instead of selling property for non-payment of rates under the Rating Act of 1876. Local bodies are to give notice under section 61 of that Act that the property will be let after six months from date-of notice, if the rates and costs are not paid. At the expiration of a further six months the local body may let the property by auction, * unless the rates and costs in arrear, with 15 per cent, per annum interest on the amount at due date, and the rates up to the date of payment be paid. The pro ceeds of the letting are to be applied in payment of rates in arrear, and the balance is to be handed over to the. Public Trust office, to be re-paid by the k public trustee to such persons as shall to his satisfaction establish a claim thereto, together with 5 per cent, interest. The letting is to be by public auction, and the consideration for letting is to be paid eithei forthwith or in instalments. The highest bidder, if his bid is equal to or exceeds the amount of arrears of rates and costs, is to be lessee. The term of years of letting is to be fixed by the local governing body, but must not exceed fourteen years ; but the local body may fix two alternative terms, and in that case the property is to be offered in the first instance for a shorter term, and, if necessary, for the other term in succession. The lease is to vest in the lessee in the same manner as if it had been demised by the owner. The lease may be registered in the office of the Registrar of Deeds or District Land Registrar.

Curing a Rattlesnake Bite.

During the haying season an honest old farmer out on the Gratiot road employed three young men from the city to help to cut and store his timothy. None of them liked work half as well as whisky, and a conspiracy was the result. At noon one day one of the trio fell down in the field, shouting and kicking, and the other two ran to the farmer with wild eyes, and called out that their companion had been bitten by a rattlesnake, and must have whisky. The farmer rushed to the house and brought out a quart, and the three harvesters got a big drink all round on the sly, while the “bitten” one had a lay off half a day. The next forenoon a second one was bitten, and again the farmer rushed for his bottle. It was a nice little job for the boys, and on the third day the third put in his claim for a bite, and yelled for the whisky bottle. The farmer took the matter very coolly this time, and after making particular en quiries as to the size of the snake, loca tion of the bite, the sensation, and so forth, he slowly continued: —•“ Day be fore yesterday James was bitten, and drank a quart of good whisky. Yester day John was bitten and drank a quart more. To-day you’ve got a bite, and the beat thing you can do is to smell their breaths, and lay in the shade while the rest of us eat dinner !” The man got well in ten minutes, and not another rattlesnake was seen during the season.

Steam Tramways in Sydney.

Our steam tramways says the Sydney correspondent of the “Melbourne Argus,” from the railway station into the city is getting recognized ,as a success. . The omnibus proprietors do not altogether like it, which is not wonderful, consi dering that the omnibus company wanted to get the. monopoly of tramways for itself. No accidents of any importance have occurred, and the city horses are getting used to it. The traffic on the line has been beyond expectation, and the line will pay for itself in a few years, even after making allowance for repairs. It is natural therefore,, that the people in the suburbs, who for years past have suffered much at the hands of omnibus proprietors, should be getting jealous and impatient, and the Minister for Public Works has been interviewed to get him to extend the system. This he has promised to do, con fessing that the success of the system has altogether surpassed his expectations. The only drawback to this proposal is that it may indefinitely postpone surburban railways. •

Sunday in Sydney.

Sunday is a peculiar day in Sydney, writes a correspondent of the “Auckland Star. ” They appear to be trying to throw off the trammels of a pressure of strict sanctimony, and to have got a little mixed in the operation against which the clergy are fighting tooth and nail, and giving the good bites and scratches with those sharp weapons. But there is a decided movement in the way of a little less rigid Sabbatarianism. Business is of course entirely suspended, and the churches are everywhere crowded, for the clergy are using all means at their disposal in the way of preachers to attract congregations. But vast numbers are on pleasure bent. Four horse coaches drive to the favorite suburban beach resorts—South Head, Botany, Coogee. Sans Souci, and other lovely spots. The roads are lined with traps of every description—the handsome family carriage, the phaeton, the trim dog cart or buggy, and even the market cart with a family cartload. Steamboats ply down the harbor crowded with people for the marine bathing places—Manly Beach or Watson’s Bay—whither people betake themselves for a blow, a cup of coffee, a glass of drink of some description, a stroll on the lovely sea beach amongst the breakers or on the soft sand, and an agreeable blow home after a very rational afternoon, which might have been spent in a far more objectionable manner than in thus reviewing and enjoying nature’s beauties so lavishly and bountifully dis played on this lovely coast. Even the funerals seem to be made the occasion for a Sunday merry-making. On my way to the Cathedral I met a cortege taking same mortal remains to their last resting place, consisting of about sixty mourning coaches, private carriages, and handsome cabs, and the inmates seemed to be en joying themselves thoroughly, laughing and talking, as if determined to make the most of their “outing.” Some were, I think, enjoying creature comforts ; at all events, 1 am told that this is by no means a rare occurrence.

THE

4



IMPLEMENTS. 9 Office. Ed •3J B 0 <c w o £ Beswick’s Store. Booth. e§ cc QD CLARK’S STORE. , 1 n DAIRY AND FARM PRODUCE. 1 f- 0 H C/5 H s n H *p 0 > a M 0 l-p* 0 C aa 1> HORSE co b i i WRAUE. • ac -v o s M i ! Ed CO M CO 'SHStlOH



Miss Lultt, the “flying fairy,” who made such a sensation in New York some years ago, is now discovered to be a man, and is to appear as a male gymnast in London shortly.