THE FARMER.

NOTJ33 FROM SEAFIELD,

FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT,

X promised in my last that I would say something about the north Seafield and Cambridge districts, and I now proceed to redeem my pledge. At North Seafield I find that Messrs Saunders Bros, have a nice paddock of wheat. The seed was drilled in by the M‘Shorry grain drill, and the young plants look very hearty. Mr J. 'Bayliss junr’s 75-aere paddock of wheat is the best I have seen, and ho gives me to understand that ho only sowed one bushel to the acre. I was so pleased with the appearance of the paddock that I drew up, and had a prime look at it. While doing so the ring of Mr G. S. Brown s anvil near by was in my ears, and I am glad to learn he drives a good trade in the district. I find that Messrs. Sfcrouts and Hayward have a fine lot of crop their land, and so have Messrs M‘Lcan, Smith, Williams, and Edwards. The crop is in fine promising condition, especially the wheat, and there is a fair proportion of barley and oats. Messrs Colley and Co. grew twelve bushels to the acre ou their land last year, but if all goes well, this year will be a boomer with them, com paratively speaking, at any rate. Mr Daly has some very good-looking crop in, and it is doing very well indeed. He goes in for stocking tqo, to some extent, and I saw some fine cows in milk, and a few pigs. Not the le ist important farm here away is Mr Maidens’. It is a fine tidy place,, a nice garden of flowers setting it off very much. He only sowed 401bs to the acre this year, and his 140 acres pro mise very well. Mr Maidens has a steam threshing machine on his place. It is in fine working order, and I hope he will have a good run. The more work he does in that line the more will everybody be pleased. On the neighboring farms, wheat, barley, and oats snow up well, as in fact do they all round where I have yet been. I may here mention, while in the neighborhood, that Mr Parker has an ex cellent concrete tank, and 1 have no doubt he knows the value of it ere this. Down the Dromore Road everything points to a good harvest, and farmei’s are shaking hands with each other on the good prospect —a prospect which we hope will not be disappointing in the end. Mr Smith has shown his sense by putting in a nice aveni’e of gums, right down to his house ; and I’ll go bail he don t regret .that bit of planting after a while. In passing the Cambridge school I noticed that the land adjoining it is all ploughed, and some laid down in English grass, while a belt of trees enclosed with a sod and wire fence surrounds the whole. Mr Megson, Chairman of the School Com mittee, has worked very hard in its in terests. Messrs. Lloyd, Watkins, and Leßrcton have very good looking crops, and the latter gentleman has a fair lot of clover that ought to give his land a good name. Grass seems to be very good this year here ; Mr Daley has also a fine sward. Taking the back track to Seafield, I had occasion to pass Mr James Bayliss’s farm, and admire hia fine lot of crop also Mr Denshire’s, showing well with wheat, and blue gums are also prominent. Messrs Hooper and Dodson’s also promises well to give a good account of itself in wheat, barley, and oats, and the windmill pump recently erected j sets the farm off to the best advantage. This firm has a very good short-horn bull I noticed. It is round this part of the district that plant ing trees seems to have been most gone in for, Messrs Hooper and Dodson having a very fine lot showing out well from a distance.

At a farther period of the crops’ history I will go round again, and tell you as I go along how things are progressing. If wo keep getting such showers as we have been blest with for some time past, and keep getting them for a month, we may say we shall have a fair harvest.

The Apple Trade,

(From the New Zealand Herald —Auckland.) A considerable quantity of fruit has been imported into this market during the last few days, from California and Hobarton, and as both are now fairly in the hands of the trade, we have been at some trouble to elicit an expression of opinion on the relative merits of the two shipments. With regard to the shipments from Hobar ton great dissatisfaction has been ex pressed. Similar complaint has been com mon for a long time past, on account of the inferior quality of fruit sent from Tas mania, and buyers candidly admit that the refuse is now sent from Tasmania here, while the Sydney and Melbourne markets are supplied with the choicest. Up to a recent date it was a matter of Hobson’s choice, and we were compelled to take what we could get. But now a change has come over the scene, and a formidable rival has entered the field. This rival is California. The mail steamer brought 600 cases, and the packing of this fruit is simply perfection when placed alongside that of Hobarton. Each case is a neatly got up box, machine planed, and every apple is wrapped in thin tissue paper, and not a mark or flaw is to be seen on the fruit. Those from Hobarton are packed in rough cases and chafed by friction, &c., and when the case is opened many have black scars, caused by being in contact with the lathed cases they are forwarded in. The truth of this statement can easily be ascertained by stepping into the first fruiterer’s shop, and purchasers may there judge for themselves. With regard to the quality of the fruit, out of eight houses we visited each stated that the last shipment of Californian apples was far superior to any they had ever received from Hobar ton. The next shipment will be still bet ter, as the fruit will come from the most northern parts of California, where a little frost is experienced during the winter months. The wholesale price of Cali fornian apples is from 3£d to 4d, which is very little more than that paid for Hobar ton, and we should not be surprised to see the Hobarton shippers completely beaten out- of this market, unless a very superior class of fruit is sent us. Hobarton apples are reputed to keep longer than American. This;remains to be proved ; but for flavor, either in dessert or cooking, the American -apples are by far the best, while the 'irimnty. of color, &c., is beyond comparison Superior to the Hobarton. In the course . of a year of two a very large supply of - apples will be available from our own orchards. In former years the nursery men issued a large number of worthless trees, but of late a large number of valuable fruit tra.s of various kinds liave been introduced and widely distributed.

The Rabbit Nuisance.

In “Land and Water” there is an interesting article upon the Rabbit Nui sance at ti e Antipodes, in which the writer says that even from the time of the Romans we have evidence that wild rabbits have, in some instances, proved a great nuisance. In the Balearic Islo 3 rabbits are said lo have increased to such an extent that the inhabitants wore obliged to implore the aid of a military force from the Emperor Augustus to exterminate them, but we are not aware however, what success attended the doughty warriors in their expedition against the enemy that was devastating the islands. Rabbits have been the cause of more bitterness t f feeling between two very important sections —landlords and tenants —of the community in England for many years than anything else within our knowledge. Indeed “rabbits” are a political question of the day, and we have at no very remote date witnessed that the effect at the hustings of “ rabbits,” not only as an electioneering cry, hut in the flesh, has been not considerable. But the commercial importance of the rabbit withal is by no means insignificant, and on waste and sterile tracts of land, sand hills, amd uncultivable regions these animals are made to yield many hundreds of tons of wholesome flesh to the national food supply. In cultivated districts, how ever, if not kept down, the rabbit be comes a terrible nuisance and highly prej idicial to successful farming. In New Zealand and in some parts of Australia the rabbit question has assumed such proportions that the Colonial Govern ment has been applied to for pecuniary assistance to check the evil. It appears from the latest Australian files tliat a deputation of pastoral tenants and selec tors from the malice district of New South Wales recently waited on the Chief Secretary and the Minister of Lands, and pointed out that so rapid was the spread of these “pests” that the question had really to be considered whether holdings and sheep runs would have to be aban doned unless vigorous measures were taken for the suppression of the nuisance. In New Zealand, too, there seems to be “much cry.” about rabbits and “little wool ” indeed, in the literal reading of the adage, for we gather that a Mr Cowan, a runholder in Southland, New Zealand, states that on his rim of 20,000 acres he killed 26,000 rabbits in four months. The cost of destroying them was 3d per rabbit, while he got no more than 1-Jr per skin for the skins in winter. Their presence on his - land had reduced the lambing of his flock by 20 per cent. Another gentleman recently stated in the New Zealand House of Representatives that tracts oi country had been rendered almost valueless by the rabbit nuisance. On twenty-four holdings in the South during 1876 no loss than 1,059,000 rabbits were destroyed. On the same runs there were 153,000 sheep less than wore shorn previously, and these runs produced 1700 bales of wool less than they did formerly, That amount of wool, taken at a moderate computation of £ls per bale would, he estimated, bring a return of £25,000, which at 10 per cent, would represent a capital of £250,000.

How to Train a Collie. There has been much said and written about the great intelligence and sagacity of the shepherd dog, especially the Scotch Collie, and yet his merits are not over estimated in the least. We have known and have bred them for years, have sent them to almost all parts of the country, and have always received favorable re ports from the purchasers. In all reason able things the Scotch collie will give un bounded satisfaction, and no more trusty or faithful friend can be had than ho will invariably prove himself to be ; but those who expect him to do their work in their own particidar way, without having first been taught how it should be done, will be disappointed. r lhese dogs well bred, drive and tend sheep, naturally, for they have been bred for this purpose for so many years that it has become an inherent pro pensity, and they must be accustomed to the stock and the stock to them, and must be brought to understand just how you wish your particular work done before you can expect them to prove entirely satisfac tory. This is one of the great troubles which is experienced by the purchasers of train ,d dogs, for they expect to have them “ start in ” the first morning they arrive, and drive the stock well, and they disap point their owner, as anyone would well know they would, if he would give the subject any thought. Generally much better satisfaction is experienced by pur chasing a pup, and then gradually accus toming him to your own particular work, than in buying a well-ti-ained dog. The very first thing to do when you get your pup is to accuston him to your voice and command, and until you do this thoroughly you cannot commence handling your dog. The best and soonest way to do this is to always feed him yourself, .and make it a point not to permit the pup to be played with and mauled while too young. Our advice to those who want to have a first class dog is to let the pup run compara tively wild so it does not get into mischief, until he is at least eight or ten months old, by which time ho will have got steadier and more easily managed, though you can in the meantime take him with you when you go for your stock. Do not force your clog, but let him take to his work gradually, and by all means treat him kindly, for there is one peculiarity about this breed : if you break the will of the pup by harsh treatment, which is as useless as it is cruel, the dog will be use less. After he has once reached full growth with his courage unimpaired there is but little danger of having him made cowardly and sneaking. Whether a dog bo a good one when full grown or not de pends a great deal on the one who handles it, for a violent-tempered man will make a cowardly dog out of his pup, while a careful, kind, considerate man will soon have an animal which will repay him for all his care, for it will be invaluable in herding, driving, and. tending almost all kinds of stock ; will be invaluable as a watch-dog, carefully guarding the premises at all times, and will be a source of pleasure to the members of his owner's family. We know of no dog which will better please the farmer, stock breeder, poultry fancier, or country gentleman, than a well-bred Scotch collie.

Free Trade and Protection.

The “ American Miller,” in reply to an article which recently appeared in the •‘London Miller,” says “We freely acknowledge that Protection and Prohibi tion may be errors. To assert that Pro tection is the true policy of every nation would bo quite as absurd as to declare Free Trade the only true policy of every people. Our British friends seem to lose sight of one fact in discussing the ques tion of national policy. They forgot that Protection built up their own industries, and made them so strong that they needed protection no longer. Free Trade is one thing for a country with her in dustries established, and quite a different thing for a country with no industries at all. To the first it means commercial domination ; to the second, commercial vassalage. Do our English friends be lieve that Portugal and Turkey, which practice the Free Trade doctrine in all its; virgin purity, will ever have any indus tries that will compete with those of Great Britain ! We cannot credit them with so great a faith. Do they imagine t'*iat the United States would now be such a manufacturing nation had it not been for eighteen years of Protection i We can hardly believe that. We have but taken a leaf from the political history of our transatlantic brethren, We are building up our factories, forges, and mills, and protecting their produce. In a few years we can manufacture just as cheaply as any nation under the sun, and then we will take another leaf from English his tory and cry lustily for Free Trade. We intended no disparagement of English wisdom when we said a parallel for Pro tection and Prohibition could be found in English history. It was the very height of wisdom to discard Protection when it had served its purpose. Extremes meet. Free Trade is the doctrine of barbarians, and the highest type of civilised and in dependent beings. Protection is the means of advancing to independence and Free Trade. The United States only desii’es to start even in the race with every other nation, and then we can echo the sentiment of 'Joraee, ‘ The devil take the hindmost.’ We hardly think that our British friends understand the difficulties that stood, and still stand to some extent, in the way of adopting Free Trade as the national policy of this country. When wo tell them that we have more and cheaper coal, iron and all other metals than they have, and far greater manufac turing facilities than ary other part of the world, it is hard for them to see why we cannot compete with Great Britain on a Free Trade platform. We can only answer that history shows that we could not compete with the artisans and the millions of capital of England. Our in dustries could not start. We had no capital, and English competitors could starve out our feeble factories in a few months’ time by underselling. Protection was necessary to give the impetus. We do not care to argue this after the local methods of Mill and Cairns. We only appeal to the facts of our history to prove it, and they do prove it most abundantly. We are only using protection as an in strumentality, and how perfectly it has done its work can be seen in the changed condition of our manufacturing industries. When Protection was adopted in the United States, our people were very poor. A great many were thoroughly imbued with the idea that “hog, hominy, and whisky ” were the only legitimate products of this country. What has been the result 1 To-day wo are commercially in dependent of every European nation. There is scarcely an article of manufacture, from steel rails down to Dutch toys and French jewellery, that is not exported from our shops. Fortunes of a million dollars are more numerous now than those of fifty thousand dollars were twenty years ago ; while some of our capitalists have incomes which would bo magnificent for a king. We are acquiring the one thing which England has always had and which wo never have had—capital. When our concerns are as financially solid as those of Great Britain (our artisan skill has already become as great) we likewise will become as enthusiastic advocates of the “Dismal Science” as our English friends. Until that time, however, excuse us from believing Protection an error. Englishmen are naturally aggressive, and protection is our defence against them until we are strong enough to meet them. History repeats itself. It is difficult for our British friends to understand the change that has taken place in our industrial condition. They still regard the United States as a vast cornfield, with the landscape here and there enlivened by a drove of hogs or cattle, with perchance a painted Indian in the background. They smile at the idea of the Yankee nation rivalling them in manufacture. They cannot believe that things are very different from what they were twenty years ago, and cling to the delusion that Protection has given an artificial stimulus to the manufacturing industries of this country. Some day they wake to hear the same mob that cried for Free Trade and inaugurated riots, crying just as loudlv for the protection of English industries. Weknov that prophecy is a risky business, but we will venture this one : that so stable an institution as our contemporary will live to see the day when some of England’s manufacturing indus tries are protected, and here is where history will repeat itself. To use a little American “ buncombe,” this is “a great and glorious country,” and no one who examines the elements of national great ness contained in it, can believe that an overruling Providence intended us to he “hewers of wood and drawers of water” for other nations. The next decade will vindicate the wisdom of our present policy and demonstrate that our soil has something in it besides food, and our people something besides * brag. ’ ”

THE ATTEMPT TO UPSET A TRAIN AT NORMANBY.

Before Mr Beetham, at Timaru, on Saturday morning, Edward Jeffrey was charged with unlawfully placing timber and stones on the railway. Detective Kirby : From information I received, I went out to the place of ac cused on the IGth at Normanby. Mr Cragie’s house is the nearest house to the station —about half a mile distant. I went to Cragie’s, and recollect seeing the accused there. He was driving some cows in the yard A conversation took place between us. I asked him where he had been at work. He replied he had been working in the swamp at the back of the house all the day. 1 then asked him if he had been on the railway on that day. He said he had been along the railway, and pointed to Normanby township, to fetch the cows home to milk. He said “ I hope I didn’t do any harm.” I asked him what he meant. He made no reply. I then asked him if he would come along the railway with me and show me the way he had gone the pre vious afternoon. We went along the railway, and during the journey along I told him I was a police ofliecr. Just before wo got to the Normanby platform ho said again ‘‘ I hope I did not do any harm.” I said “ What did you do !” He replied “ I throw a piece of board across the rails,” and pointed to a place near the goods platform He then went some few hundred yards from the plat form, and showed me where he had fetched the cows from. We then re turned to Mr Cragie’s homestead. Con sidering the serious, statement he had made to me, I asked him to come to Timaru and see Inspector Pender. He did so, and then went away home again On the following day I went out to Nor manby in company with Inspector Pender, and saw two men there, a ganger and another employee. There are two plat forms there, one a goods, and the other a passenger platform, about 150 yards apart. There was something noticed on the goods platform, which is south of the others on the goods platform. There was a mark similar to what the piece of wood produced woidd make close to the edge of the platform. There were foot prints close to the mark coming from the south, and leading up to the place where this timber had been lying. Further up to the passengers’ platform the tracks came back again to the railway metals, and went back close to the goods platform, and were lost in the ballast of the line. There was clay leading up to where the piece of wood was lying and the marks were very plain. I then went to Cragie’s and asked accused for all his boots, and he handed me the boots produced. The nails in the boots are English, with square heads. Some nails are wanting in the centre and side. I compared the marks with the boots, in company with two men. The tracks made by these boots exactly correspond. Prisoner was present and saw them compared. The impression made yesterday was more distinct than the former ones. When the accused saw the first prints he said he had been that way three weeks before to go off by train. Afterwards he said to me that he had been up and down that way the previous even ing with me. He did not go up that way ; ho wont on the other side with me. I produce some grass that was growing near where the timber was, which has marks on it as if they had been done by nailed boots. After that I arrested the prisoner, and charged him with wilfully and mali ciously putting a piece of wood across the railway metals at Normanby on that even ing. Previous to being charged he said that he had seen two men galloping under the terrace near the station, when he was returning with the cows—to the best of my belief he said returning—on the 15th inst. I got the stones and piece of wood produced from the railway authorities. The country about Normanby is very open, and the railway platforms are visi ble for some distance. Prisoner : Did you tell me that there were two men at the sandbank who w r ould come forward and swear on their oath they saw me do it i Witness : No. Prisoner : You did, sir. Did you not tell me when you came there on the night of the 15th that you were a railway official from Albury, had hurt your arm, and were sent to enquire as you could do no thing else I Witness : No. Prisoner : You did, sir. Did you not threaten to shoot me if I moved '? Witness : No. Prisoner : You did, sir. Did I tell you that I threw a piece of timber on the line I Witness : Yes. Prisoner : 1 did not, sir. The case was remanded till to-day.

A Wbinklk. —Those newspaper editors who are too obstinate to retract any unjust or improper language which they have admitted to their columns, should re member this :—“ If any subscriber finds a line in his paper that he does not like and cannot agree with, if he will bring his paper to the office and point out the offending line, the editor will take his scissors and cut it out for him. ”

How is it Done ?—lt would certainly be edifying to know how many after the process of whitewashing, seem suddenly to burst into a state of conspicuous comfort, if not luxury, says a Timaru correspon dent to a Southern paper. One of the great “ whitewashed ” is charged with laying out fine grounds and building a big house, another with employing too many gardeners, besides committing the heinous sin of using a toothpick ; a third is said to be revelling in every comfort, and his estate is not expected to realise over a shilling in the pound. The most interest ing of these unholy doings is the fact that the bankrupts are boldly taking up the cudgels in their own defence. One of them thinks it is hard to be written about , in such a cruel manner, when he is trying “to be good, and to do good.” O ye shades of Chatband and Stiggins, hide your diminished heads ! The cheek of some bankrupts is certainly immense. One of the “ unfortunates,” after filing for his few paltry thousands, attended the auction sale of his assets, and before he had received his discharge unblushingly made a sporting offer of £SOO for assets amounting to over £3OOO. After compet ing up to £1,400, a fit of modesty came over him, and he suddenly collapsed, ex claiming, “I’m done!” The question still remains unanswered—“ How is it done ? ”

“MAORI WAR SCARE” IN ENG LAND.

The London correspondent of the Otago “ Daily Times,” under date 14th August, writes :—The threatened war in the colony excites considerable alarm amongst many good people, with the Zulu scare and the remembrai cj of former sanguinary struggles wi -h the Maoris upon them. It is next to impossible to persuade these people that the summary extinguishing of Te Whiti and his Parihaka follower’s would affect the rest of the colony, and especially the South Island, as little as an outbreak among the convicti at Dartmoor would affect the inhabitants of London. The fixed idea of the average Englishman, much more the average Englishwoman, who has never been to the colonies, and has no relatives therein to send enlighten ing letters, is, that New Zealand is a little place where everybody knows everybody else, where a war means imminent danger of being killed and eaten by overwhelming hordes of “Maoris,” from which the only escape is by fleeing over the mountains to Tasmania, or Brisbane, or Sydney or some other place contigious to the main land * * * * * The cablegrams anc’ letters of correspondents in New Zea land have, however, threatened a Taranaki outbreak as more than possible, and a few days ago Mr J. P. Smyth asked the Secretary of State if lie could give any information, and “ If it was true that pre parations were being made ‘ to settle at once and for ever the native difficulty,’ in accordance with the ideas of the settlers.’ ” SirM. Hicks-Beach said:—“l have re ceived no communication on the subject. From that I infer that in the opinion of the New Zealand Government there was nothing very serious in the state of affairs, nor any apprehensions of disturbances.” Colonists at Home, who had received letters and newspapers early in the week by the San Francisco mail, were considerably surprised at the Colonial Secretary’s reply, as it was manifest that the New Zealand Government mu think the mat ter serious, and that there were appre hensions of disturbances. The general belief is that Sir George Grey wished further to mark his sense of independence of the Imperial Government, and that he has not thought it worth while to trouble the Secretary with details or even cursory mention of so trivial a matter as a Maori outbreak. It is not so easily intelligible, however, why Sir Hercules liobinson has not apparently advised his official chief in despatches. If Sir George Grey really did not wish the Government to be officially informed, and the Marquis of Norman by had still been Governor, we may be pretty sure there would have been a despatch.

How the Zulu King was Captured.

The following are the particulars of the capture of the Zulu King, on the 29th August, in the heart of the Ngome Forest. After his crushing defeat at Ulundi, Cete wayo retreated with his followers to the north of the Black Umvolosi River. He was accompanied by the chiefs Alsirago, Manyanya, and Mathshana, and, though many of the tribes adandoned him, he' was still attended by several thousand men, who, it was reported, intended to fight to the last. The pursuit was, how ever, kept up with unremitting energy ; and on August 13 a strong cavalry patrol, under the command of Major Borrow and and Lord Gilford left Ulundi with three days’ provisions, to capture Cetewayo, who, it was stated, had only GO followers with him, so completely had the defeat at Ulundi and the constant pursuit dis heartened his adherents. Another ex pedition at the same time succeeded in capturing Cetewayo’s Prime Minister, Umnyamare, also Ishingwayo, Umgadsh lane, and Twkane, brothers of the King, with other leading chiels. On the 12th August the King’s magazine, about ten miles from Ulundi, was discovered, and the powder it contained blown up. Major BaiTow’s patrol was for. some days close to Cetewayo’s track, but the King suc ceeded in escaping to Inkanhla Forest, though his servants and horses were cap tured. A reward was offered for his ap prehension, and the natives were informed that any kraal that was known to have sheltered him would be burnt. At length intelligence was received that Cetewayo had doubled back, and was hiding near the Black Umvolosi, a few miles from Ulundi. Major Marter and Lord Gifford, with a detachment of dragoons, started in pursuit on August 23. Lord Gifford, by means of threats, elicited from the natives the situation of a kraal, where it was re ported the King was being supplied with provisions, and by narrowly watching this retreat for some days the capture which will bring the war to a close was effected. Lord Gifford, it appears, intended to make an effort to seize Cetewayo at nightfall on the 28th August, but he was deprived of this gratification by his colleague, Major Marter, who surrounded the kraal from an opposite direction, and obtained the surrender of the King without resistance. It is said that when first discovered Cete wayo was unable to ride or walk, whether from his excessive corpulence or from weakness, the result of the hardships he had undergone, is not stated. The King arrived at the camp at Ulundi, in a cart, on Sunday, within one day of the sixth anniversary of his coronation, and at the same place. During the march some of his followers attempted to escape, six suc ceeded, but five perished in the attempt.

Mrs Newman Hall’s Cross-Examina tion.

Regarding Mrs Newman Hall’s cross examination, a Home correspondent of a contemporary says : “ Prominent in the lengthy proceedings in the Rev. Newman Hall’s suit for a divorce stands out the cross-examination of Mrs Hall by Sir H. James. The lady appeared calm and self-possessed, but the natural instability of her temper could not endure the severe and bitter questions of the learned counsel. She became very ex cited, inveighed against “ Newman Hall,” as she invariably called her husband, in language more forcible than complimen tary ; tears at once and defiance, hysterics .and gesticulations combined to make her the liveliest witness dull Westminster Hall has ever seen. Sir H. James was told, “You shall get nothing out of me, though you are a very clever little man, I know,” to the intense amusen ent of the bar. I must insist on an answer,” said Sir Henry. “ When you are quite calm, I’ll tell you,” was the cool reply. “ Now, madam ,” —“ I know what you’re going to say. I could make your speech

for you.”—“ Surely you can remember if you had any brandy “ Can you re member, Sir Homy, what you drank on any particular night ten years ago ?” “ Did you kiss any other man?” —-“Can you remember every girl you over kissed, Sir Henry ?” And so on. Sir H. James needing all his skill and temper to deal with this extraordinary witness, who raised the laugh against him at every point. Finally she went into hysterics, and had to be taken out of Court, but she returned shortly afterwards as lively as ever. But Sir Henry wisely cut his cross examination as short as possible, the lady remarking she hoped he had met his match for once. The case lasted a week, and the London dailies had every morn ing five or six columns of highly-spiced evidence served up, so attractive to the pure and moral British public, that the Metropolitan Railway bookstalls were cleared twice over, and the newsboys think of getting up a testimonial to Mrs Hall.”

A New Route to the West Coast.

Mr Woolley and his party returned to Reofton on Saturday (says the “ Inanga hua Herald ”), after having been employed for some weeks exploring the country in the vicinity of Cannibal Gorge for the purpose of ascertaining the engineering facilities for a line of railway. So far as having attained the object with which the survey party started, we believe that their labors have resulted most successfully. Altogether the party have been absent about a month, but the progress of the work was much interferred with by the severe weather, but for which it would have been completed earlier. Examina tion of the country has proved beyond all doubt that a line of railway can bo carried on to the Hanmer Plains with a gradient so easy as to require scarcely an appreciable rise, so that in the event of other circumstances rendering it desirable that the coal traffic should be carried by that route no difficulties of construction would have to be encountered; and so far the problem has been satisfactorily solved to find an easy pass for a line of railway connecting the East and West Coasts. The disadvantages attending this route are, firstly, greatly increased dis tance to Christchurch and to localities south of Christchurch, where at present a large coal trade could be developed ; and, secondly, that the line of railway would pass through scantily populated districts reaching Cnristchurch, so that no re munerative trade in this mineral could be looked for until the coal had been carried an excessive distance. A final objection is the greater length of the line, being only something like 111 miles by the southern remaining to be constructed to Brunnerton witli Christchurch, while by Reefton and Cannibal Gorge the length of railway to be constructed would not be less than 160 miles. According to the result of the different surveys, the trana insular line will be carried either by the Hope or Arthur’s Pass, the main trunk line and the transinsular line being one line until reaching Nelson Creek, when the main line will diverge to Cook Strait by Ahaura, Reefton, lyell, and Hampden.

HISTORY OF THE CARVED HOUSE “MATATUA.”

(EXHIBITED BY THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERN MENT AT THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.)

Many generations ago, while some of the ancestors of the Ngatiawa tribe were preparing a repast of fern root at Whakatane for a stranger named Taukata, he showed them some kumaras. They asked him where he got them, and if they were good for food. He replied that they from Hawaiki, and were their main sustenance ; and that, if they would make him a canoe, lie was quite willing to take them to his island for the purpose of bringing bade some seed to New Zealand.

They complied with his request, and named the canoe “To Aratawhao,” and started under the guidance of Toroa and Tamakihikurangi. Taukata remained behind, but told them the direction in which to steer, with orders to dig the kumaras from a hill called Parinuitera, and not to take them from near the sea beach. Also to take precaution to pre vent pakura (water hens) or rats getting on board.

On their arrival at Hawaiki it was found that “Te Aratawhao” was too small to bring a cargo. Consequently they were obliged to make another canoe, which they called “ Matatua,” which was accordingly laden with kumaras ; but they quite forgot the caution about the pakura and rats, hence the first introduction of these to New Zealand.

“Matatua” left in company with a canoe named “Te Arawa,” which was commanded by Ngatoroirangi. The crew of“TeArawa” were on. the same mis sion—namely, to get kumaras ; but the two canoes had not left New Zealand to gether. They parted company, and “ Matatua ” landed at Whakatane, where the Nagatiawapah now stands. Immediate’y the canoe reached the Whakatane shore, the natives in the stem of the canoe jumped out and went inland, and subsequently made their way to Taranaki, where their descendants still live, and retain the name of Ngatiawa. Those in the stern of the canoe did not land at once ; but, when they did they settled there and then on the spot, and so named themselves Ngatiawa proper, while they called the deserters “ Te Roro Ngatiawa” (wanderers). Those who re mained at Whakatane are the ancestors of Ngatiawa, Ngaiterangi, Urewera, Whaka tohea, Whanauapanui, and other tribes. The “ Matatua” was dragged to the spot where the Ngatiawa pah now stands. Here she was left to decay, and years after two trees grew up. One was a puriri, which was afterwards cut down by the Ngapuhi tribe when they made a raid on Whakatane ; the other was a rata, which was called “ Te-Puhi-o-Mata tua,” and was destroyed by the troops under Colonel Fraser in 1867. Taukata did not benefit much by his charitable action in giving information about the kumaras, for the residents of his island gave instructions to kill Taukata as soon as the kumaras came up, or else the gods (under his influence) would be witch their crop, and km .Id neve, grow in their land : r jd

an opportunity, .and cruelly ' Min in a kumara pit.

The idea of the house .first originated with Hahaia Matateliokia, chief ot the Ngatipukeko tribe, who consulted with Wepiha Apanui and and with Major Mair. The letter was left in abeyance for about two years, when the whole tribe took up the mat ter, and decided to build a house and represent all their ancestors in it. Another object in building this house was to reconcile the tribes Ngatiawa and Urewera, between whom there existed much ill-feeling in c msequence of mur ders perpetrated by the latter tribe during the war. The. house was completed in 1874. In March, 1875, it was opened by the late Sir Donald M‘Lean with great demonstrations, in the presence of many hundreds of Native and European visitors. The image on each post represents the ancestor of some tribe or sub-tribe. The principal one is Toi, from whom the whole native race is supposed to have sprung; his figure is carved on the bottom of the middle post, in company with Awa and Toroa. The front pole represents the figure of Kahungunul, an ancestor of the Hawke’s Bay natives, Rongowhakaata, ancestor of the Poverty Bay natives, and Te Whatuiapiti, another ancestor of the Hawke’s Bay natives. The small image represents To Ngarara, who was killed many years ago while trading off Whale Island. The second small image represents Te Maitaranui, grandfather of Wepiha Apanui, and of Mr Faloon, who was murdered at Whakatane some years ago. The carving on the ridge-pole in front of the house represents Ruamoana and Materehe, ancestors of Ngatipukeko tribe ; also Awatopo, a god. - The image on top of the ridge-pole represents Mokera, father of Apanui. The twin images on the right hand of the porch represents Taitimuroa and Wahahamama, ancestors of the Patuai tribe. The twin images on the left of the building represent Tarakiuta and Tarakitai; these twins were boys belong ing to the Rongowhakaata tribe. Tupuru puru, a chief of Poverty Bay, was by right entitled to the first of the preserved birds —in fact, to a royalty on all birds killed in Poverty Bay ; but, on these twins reaching maturity, he would lose it,' as they were from an elder branch of the family. He therefore determined to got rid of them, and accordingly dug a deep pit across a road where the twins where in the habit of spinning tops. One day he sent them out to play, and so they fell into the pit prepared for them, and were killed. The footboard across the front of the porch represents Oniawa, ancestor of the Nga tiawa, and the image on it was carved by a Fijian named Kune, in honor of Thako bau, of Fiji. The posts on the right of the house represent Kiore, Paraheka, Taha, Pakaho, and Hikapehiwai ancestors of the Ngatiawa ; Te Dakahotaiaro, ances tor of the Te Kaha natives; Te Imuwhakapuru, ancestor of Ngatipukeko ; Tuteao and Eangihouhiri ancestors of the Ngatiawa; Hikareia, father of Hori

Tupaea, chief of Tanranga; Te Bang! Kawehea, ancestor of the chief Bangitu kehu, of Bangitaiki ; and Matekitatahi, ancestor of the Whanauapanui tribe. The posts on the left side represent To Bangitumau and Tamaruarangi, ancestors of Ngatiawa; and Te Harawaka, an cestor of Te Whanauapanui. The mer maid is called m ‘ Te Malguasri,” after Sir Donald M'Lean. The posts repre sent Waikapuku, Te Tawha, Pirau whenua, and Tamawhiro, ancestors of the Ngatiawa; Apanui, ancestor of the Whanuapanui tribe : Te Hukitu, ancestor of Ngatirangi; Te Kama-ii-Pakui, Taha kaioro, and Umutaha, ancestors of the Ngatiawa. On the inside of the porch the figures represent Iratumoana, Whetenui and Kohi, ancestors of Ngatiawa. All these ancestors are des cendants of the crew of “ Matatua.” The Taranaki Ngatiawa are not represented in the House, as they were supposed'to have left their shipmates, and had no further communication with them. Thej descendants of the crew of appear to have kept themselves distinct from the crew of “ Te Arawa,” although living within a few miles of one another.

[T lies day, October 2i, 18 79.

4

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN



Qoeeii Accident.—A peculiar accident happened on Monday afternoon (says the “ Westport Times”) to a man named Euk land, who was engaged in bush clearing on Mr Organ’s land, Nine-Mile Road. He was standing in the fork of a tree, about 12 feet from the ground, cutting another tree which, in falling, jammed his foot, at the same time capsizing him. Thus he hung in mid air firmly held by the foot, until his cries attracted Messrs Colvin, Organ, Crowie, and another, who hap pened to be on the road at the time. Two of the rescuers prized the tree off Euk land’s foot, whilst the other two caught him below when he fell.



The Chinese.—We deeply regret to hear as the intelligence is a forerunner of what will inevitably be attempted in Wel lington, that the Chinamen of Auckland in conjunction with other Chinese firms in New Zealand, and backed by a power ful combination of their countrymen in Hong Kong, are about to try the experi ment of importing into that city, as well as into other parts of the colony, a com pletely organised party of Chinamen, re presenting the various trades and callings, in order to compete with local workmen, and that they are to be followed by other similar shipments should the first experi ment succeed. It seems therefore that the ‘ ‘ yellow agony ” is to afflict the North Island of New Zealand on a scale at tempted hitherto in no other part of the colony. Now is the time for all persons, mechanics and the working classes es pecially, to be up and doing. The time for mere preliminary discussions has gone by, and such associations as that of the New Zealand Hitel Employees have a dis tinct work to to, and a distinct enemy to face. We shall continue to watch-this question carefully, for Mongolian invasion means the most serious interference with the labor market of New Zealand which it is possible to imagine.—“ Chronicle.” £25 For a Leo.—A settler up Waira rapa way broke his leg. The local “ saw bones ” thought amputation might be necessary, but thought it well to have a well-known Wellington surgeon up to perform the operation, so a telegram was sent asking him to come, and guaranteeing £25 for the job. The ‘’Medico,” took his case of instruments, and started for the country. Arrived there, he ex amined the patient’s leg, and said he thought he could avoid amputation. So the leg was duly dressed and put in splinters. Then the Ipatient handed the doctor a cheque for £l2 10s. “Hum,” says the doctor, “it was to be £25.” “Ah, but you haven’t cut off A® leg,” retorted the patient. “ Well,” re joined the doctor, “ I’m not comfortable in my mind about that leg. After all,_ it might be safest to have it off! ” So suiting the action to the word, the “ Medico” off with his coat, got the leg into position, took knife in hand, and was about_ to operate on the unhappy patient forthwith. But lie didn’t operate. Without a mur mur the patient handed over the £26 cheque, and the “ Medico ” deferred the operation. And it is a remarkable fact that the leg is now getting all right.