A STORY TOLD BY A DETECTIVE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

"THE LEAVEXWORTH MCBDER," "A STBANGE

DISAPPEARANCE," " THE SWOBD OF

DAMOCLES," ETC.

CHAPTEK I. Mr Benson wishes to know the value of your business," said he, in a voice I was un comfortably conscious must penetrate to the next room and awake its inmates to a knowledge of ray proximity. " Let me have the card," said I; and taking it, I added to my words the simple phrase, " On behalf of the Constable of the town," romembering I had heard the post master say tliis position was held by his brother. "There," said I, "carry that back to your master." The servant took the card, glanced down at the words I had written, started and hastilydrew back. "You had better come," said ho, leading the way into the hall. I was only too glad to comply ; in fact, escape from that room seemed imperative. But just as I was crossing the threshold, a sudden, quick cry, half joyful, half fearful, rose behind me, and turning, I met the eyes of a young lady peering upon me from I a lifted portiere, with an expression of mingled terror and longing that would have astonished me greatly, if it had not . 1 instantly disappeared at the first sight of my face. "Pardon me," she exclaimed, drawing back with on embarrassed movement into the room from which she had emerged. But soon recovering herself, she stepped hastily forward, and ignoring me, said to the servant at my Bide: "Jonas, who ia this gentleman, and where are you taking him??) With a bow, Jonas replied: "He comes on business, miss, and Mr Benson consents to see him." " But I thought my father had expressly commanded that no one was to be allowed | to enter the library to-day," she exclaimed, ; but in a musing tone that asked no response. And hastily as we passed down the hall, I could not ecsape the uneasy sense that her eager eyes were following us as we went. " Too much emotion for so small a matter, and a strange desire on the part of every one to keep Mr Benson from being intruded upon to-day," was my mental comment. And I was scarcely surprised when upon our arrival at the library door we found it locked. However, a knock, followed by a few whispered words on the part of the servant, served to arouse the hermit within, and with a quick turn of the key, the door flew back on its hinges, and the master of the house stood before me. It was a moment to be remembered: first, because the picture presented to my eyes was of a marked and impressive character; and secondly, because something in the ex ~ prossion of the gentleman before me showed i that he had received a shock at my intro duction which was not to be expected after the pains which hod been taken to prepare his mind for my visit. He was a tall, re markable-looking man, with a head al ready whitened, and a form which, if not . bowed, had^only retained ite upright car riage by means of the indomitable will that ' betrayed itself in his eyes. Seen against the rich background of the stained-glass window that adorned one end of the apart ', • raent, his stern, furrowed face and eagerly repellant aspect imprinted itself upon me like a silhouette, while the strong emotion I could not but detect in his bearing lent to the whole a poetic finish that made it a ; living picture which, as I have said, I hare • never been able to forget. " You have come from the constable of the town," said he, in a firm, hard tone, im pressive as his look. "May I ask for what purpose ?" Looking around, I saw the servant had disappeared. "Sir," said I, gathering up my courage, as I became convinced that in this case I had a thoroughly honest man to Ss deal with, " you are going to give a fancy ]3ball to-night. Such an event is a novelty ?';ta these parts, and arouses much curiosity. 'if- Some of the men about town have even been heard to threaten to leap the fences and steal a 16ok at your company, whether you V will or not. Mr White wants to know ", whether you need any assistance in keeping the grounds clear of all but your legitimate guests; if so, he is ready to supply what ever force you may need." "Mr White is very kind," returned Mr Benson, in a voice which, despite his will power, showed that bis agitation had in ©mo unaccountable way been increased Sby my communication. " I had not ; thought of any such contingency," he mur ; mured, moving over to a window and look ing out. "An invasion of rowdies would notbeagreeable. They might even find their ' way into the house." He paused and cast a sudden look at mo. "Who are you?" he abruptly asked. The question took me by surprise, but I .answered bravely if not calmly: "lam a man who sometimes assists Mr White in the performance of his duties, and in case you need it, will be the one to'ronder you assist ance to-night. A line to Mr White, if you ' doubt me——" , A wave of his meagre hand stopped me I "Do you {think yon could keep out of my liouso to-night anyone I do not wish to enter?" he asked. ; " I should at least like to try." ;*.'"A ticket is given to every invited ; guest; but'if men are going to climb the fences, tickets will amount to but little." "I will see that the fences are guarded," cried I, gratified at the prospect of being allowed upon the scene of action. "I can hinder anyone from coming in that way, if -— '." Here I paused, conscious of some thing, I could hardly say what, that bade me be cautious and weigh my words well. "If [you desire it, and will give me the authority to act for you," I added in a somewhat more Indifferent tone. I "I do desire it," he replied shortly, moving over to the table and taking up a card. "Here is a ticket that will insure you entrance into the grounds; the rest you will manage without scandal. I do not want any disturbance, but if you see anyone hanging about the house or peering into the windows, or attempting to enter in any way except through the front door, you are to arrest them, no matter who they are. I have an especial reason for desiring my wishes at tended to in this regard," he went on,_not noticing the preocoupation that had seized me» ■" and wul pay well on the morrow if I find that everything has gone off according to my desires." t " Money is a powerful incentive to duty," fix rejoined, with marked emphasis, directing }la sly glance at the mirror opposite, in jjwhoso depths I had but a moment before ijlbeen startled by the sadden apparition of [■Mr Benson, who was peering from a door- Oraray half hidden by a screen at our back. I" I will be on hand to-night." And with [■what I meant to be a cynical look, I made ■my bow and disappeared from the room. HTAs I expected, I was met at the front ■door by Mr Hartley. "A word with ■you," said he. "Jonas tolls me you ■ are from the constable of the town. May ■task what has gone amiss that you come j Hhere to disturb my father on a day Uke H His tone was not unkind, his expression Hfcot without suavity. If I had not had im (■m-inted on my memory the startling picture (Opt his face as I had seen it an instant before ■En the mirror, I should have been tempted Wto believe in his goodness and integrity at IjEhis moment. As it was, I doubted him IBhrough and through, yet replied with if franknoHs and showed him the ticket I had I ftcceivod front his father, [jH "And you are going to make it your IH>usiness to guard the grounds to-night ?" ho linskcd, gloomily glancing at the card in Ijjny hand as if he would like to annihilate if,'" Yes," said L Vm He drew me into a small room half filled jlßv ith plants. • jjjjj "Now," paid he " see here. Such a piece i|Hf interference is entirely uncalled for, and I Irou have been alarming my father unneces jijarily. There are no'Towdies in this town, llnnd v one or two of the 'villagers should get il into the. grounds, where is the harm ? They Munnot getintothehouseeven if they wanted liffio, which they don't. I do not wish this, our || tesfc rtiow of hospitality, to assume a hostile tfil'jp«sti:«tt&'whatever my father's expecta lMi§tK*«?"bo, I.miißt requeßfc you to curtail fflP'I™**.." muob; as possible and limit aHEtPi responding by yourpresence when I fir upon. I 111 "But your father has a-right jtoeipeofc" Ilho fullest obedience to his wishes,"'"'l pro lfpsted. "Ho would not bo satisfied il I jji jhould do no more than you request, and I MJ&nnofc.afibrdto disappoint him,' 1 :

- He looked at me with a calculating «yo, and I expected to see him put his hand in hi 3 pocket; but Hartley Benson played his cards better than that. "Very well," said he, " if you persist in regarding my father's wishes as paramount, I have nothing to say. Fulfil your duties as you conceive them, but don't look for my support if any foolish mis adventure makes you ashamed of yourself." And drawing back, ho motioned me out of the room.

I felt I had received a check, and hurried out of the house. But scarcely had I en tered upon the walk that led down to the tate, when I heard a light step behind me. Turning, I encountered the pretty daugh ter of the house, the youthful Miss Carrie. "Wait," she cried, allowing herself to display her emotion freely in face and bear ing. " I have heard who you are from my brother," she continued, approaching me with a soft grace that at once put me upon my guard. "Now, tell me who are the rowdies that threaten to invade our grounds?" "I do not know their names, miss," I re sponded; "but they are a rough-looking set you would not like to see among your guests." "There are no very rough-looking men in our village," she declared; "you must be mistaken in regard to them. My father is nervous and easily alarmed. It was wrong to arouse his fears." I thought of that steady eye of his, of force sufficient to hold in awe a regiment of insurgents', and smiled at her opinion of my understanding. "Then you do not wish the grounds guarded," I said, in as indifferent a tone as I could assume.

" I do not consider it necessary." "But I have already pledged myself to fulfil your father's commands." " I know," she said, drawing a step nearer, with a most enchanting emilo.

"And that was right under the circum stances ; but we, his children, who may be presumed to knowmoreof social matters than a recluse—l especially," she added with a certain emphasis, " tell you it is not neces sary. We fear the scandal it may cause ; besides, some of the guests may choose to linger about the grounds under the trees, and would be rather startled, at being ar rested as intruders." " What, then, do you wish me to do?" I asked,! leaning towards her with an appear ance of yielding. " To accept this money," she murmured, blushing, " and confine yourself to-night to remaining in the background unless called upon." This was a seconding of her brother's pro position with a vengeance. Taking the purse she handed me, I weighed it for a moment in my hand, and then slowly Hhook my head. "Impossible," I cried; " but"—and I fixed my eyes intently upon

her countenance —" if there is any ono in particular whom you desire mo to ignore, I am ready to listen to a de scription of hisjperson. It has always been my pleasure to accommodate mysolf as much as possible to the whims of tho ladies."

It was a bold stroke that might have cost me the gome. Indeed, I half expected she would raise her voice and order some of the men about her to eject me from the grounds. But instead of that, she remained for a mo ment blushing painfully, but survoying me with an unfaltering gaze that reminded me of her father's.

" There is a person," said she, in a low, restrained voice,'"whom lam especially anxious should remain unmolested, what ever he may or may not be seen to do. He is a guest/ she went on, a sudden pallor taking the place of her blushes, "and has a right to be nere; |butT! doubt if he at once enters the house, and I even suspect ho may choose to loiter awhile in the grounds be fore attempting to join the company. I ask you to allow him to do so." I bowed with on appearance of great re spect. " Describe him," said I. For a moment she faltered, with a dis tressed look I found it difficult to under stand. Then, with a sudden glance over my person, exclaimed : " Look in tho glass when yon get home and you will see the facsimile of his form, though not of his. face. He is fair, whereas you are dark." And with a haughty lift of her head cal culated to rob me of any satisfaction I might have taken in her words, she stepped slowly back. I stopped her with a gesture. " Miss," said "J, "take your purse before you go. Payment of any service I may render your father will come in time. This affair is be tween you and me, and I hopo I am too much of a gentleman to accept money for accommodating a lady in so small a matter as this."

But she shook her head. "Tako it," said Bhe, " and assure me that I may rely on you." '' You may rely on me without the money," I replied, forcing the purse back into her hand.

"Then I shall rest easy," sho returned, and retreated with a lightsome air toward the house.

The next moment I was on tho highway with my thoughts. What did it all mean! Was it, then, a mere love affair across which I had foolishly stumbled, and was I busying my self unnecessarily about a rendezvous that might mean no more than an elopement from under a severe father's eye ? Taking out the note which had led to all these efforts on my part, I read it for the third time.

"All goes well. The time has come; everything ia in train, and success is cer tain. Be in the shrubbery at the north-east corner of the grounds at 9 p.m. precisely ; you will be given a mask and such other means as are necessary to insure you the accomplishment of the end you have in view. He cannot hold out against a surprise. The word by which you will know your friend is Counterfeit." A love-letter, of course; and I hod been a fool to suppose it anything else. The young people are to surprise the old gentle man in the presence of their friends. They have been secretly married 'perhaps, who knows ? and take this method of obtaining a public reconciliation. But that word " Counterfeit," and the sinister tone of Hartley Benson as he said : "It shall not fail through lack of effort on my part I" Such a word and such a tone did not rightly tally with this theory, Few brothers take such interest in their sisters' loye affairs as to grow saturnine over them. There was, beneath all this, something which I had not yet penetrated. Meantime my duty led me to remain true to the one person of whose integrity of purpose I was most thoroughly convinced. Returning to the village, I hunted up Mr White, and acquainted him with what I had undertaken in his name; and then perceiv ing that the time was fast speeding by, strolled over to the tavern for my supper. The stranger was still there, walking up and down the sitting-room. He joined us at the table, but I observed he scarcely tasted his food, and both then and after ward manifested the same anxious suspense that had characterised his movements from the time of our first encounter.

CHAPTER. 11.

THE BLACK DOMINO,

" At half-past eight I was at my post. The r mysterious stranger, still under my direct ] surveillance, had already entered the 3 grounds and. taken Ms stand in the south f west corner of the shrubbery, thereby leav r ing me free to excerise my zeal in keeping ! the fences and gates free of intruders. At nine the guests ware nearly if not all as i sembled; and promptly at the hour D mentioned in the note so often referred to I stole away from my post and hid myself t amid the bushes that obscured the real |i place of rendezvous. v It was a retired spot, eminently fitted y for a Becret meeting. The lamps, which c had been hung in profusion through the c grounds, had been studiously excluded from this quarter. Even the broad blaze of n light that poured from the open doors and |: windows of the brilliantly illuminated c mansion, Bent no glimmer through the c broad belt of evergreens that separated this ij retreat from the open lawn beyond. AH ,t was dark, all was mysterious, all was a favourable to the daring plan I had under !i taken. In silence I awaited the sound of j approaching steps. My suspense was of short duration. In r a few moments I heard a low rustle in the 3 bushes near me, then a form appeared be i fore my eyes, and a man's voice whispered : ! "Is there anyono here?" My reply was to glide (juietly into view. Instantly he spoke again, this time with more assurance.. " Are you ready for a counterfeit ?" " I am ready for any thing," I returned, in smothered tones, hoping by thus disguis ing my voice .to lure him into a revelation of the true purpose of this mysterious rendezvous. But instead of the explanations I ex pected the person before me mado a quick movement, and I felt a domino throwu over my shoulders. " Draw it about you well," he murmured; "there are lynx eyes in the crowd to-night." And while I mechanically obeyed, he bent; down to my ear and earnestly continued: . ''Now listen and be guided by my instruo j tlcms. You-wiUnotbe abletoenterbythefront r wft&v 0? ** *" Suard§d. and,you cannot pass [tested gsfe^ 1 service. to.fc^..an4.th B man O ppo&p

to keep intruders away has been bribed to let you pass. Once inside the house, join the company sa?v> certmonie; and do not hesitate to converse with anyone who ad dresses you by the countersign. Promptly at ten o'clock look around you for a domino in plain black. When you see him move, follow him, but with discretion, so that you may not seem to others to be following. Sooner or later he will pauße and point to a closed door. Notice that door, and when your guide has disappeared, approach and enter it without tear or hesitation. You will find yourself in a small apartment con necting with the library. "There is but one thing more to say. If the wineglass you will observe on the library table smells of wine, you may know your father has had his nightly portion and gone to bed. But if it contains nothing more than a small white powder, you may be certain he has yet to return to the library and that by waiting you will have the long wished-for opportunity of seeing him." And pausing for no reply, my strange companion suddenly thrust a mask into my hand, and darted from the circle of trees that surrounded us. For a moment I stood dumbfounded at the position in which my recklessness had placed me. All the folly, the impertinence even, of the proceeding upon which I had entered, was revealed to me in its true colours, and I mentally inquired what could have induced me to thus hamper myself with the details of a mystery so entirely re moved from the serious matter I had in charge. Resolved to abandon the affair, I made a hasty attempt to disengage my self from the domino in which I had been so unceremoniously enveloped. But invisible hands seemed to restrain me. A vivid re membrance of the tone in which these final instructions had been uttered returned to my mind, and while I recognised the voice as that of Hartley Benson, I also re cognised the almostsaturnine intensity of ex pression -which had once before imbued bis words with a significance both forcible and surprising. The secret, if a purely family one, was of no ordinary nature; and at the thought I felt my old interest revive. All the excuses with which I had hitherto silenced my conscience recurred to me with fresh force, and mechanically donning my mask, I prepared to follow out my guide's instructions to the last detail. The window to which I had been directed stood wide open. Through it came the murmur of music and the hum of gay voices. Visions of a motley crowd decked in grotesque costumes passed constantly be fore my eyes. Sight and sound combined to allure me. Hurrying to the window, I stepped carelessly in. A low guttural " Hugh I" at once greeted me. It was from a mask in full Indian costume, whom I saw leaning with a war rior's well-known dignity against the em brazure of the window by which I had en tered. Giving him a scrutinising glance, I came to tho conclusion he was a young and not inelegant man; and impelled by a reasonable curiosity as to how I looked my self, I cast my eyes down upon my own person. I found my appearance sufficiently striking. The domino in which I was wrapped was of a brilliant yellow hue, covered here and there with black figures representing all sorts of fantastic creatures, from hobgoblins of a terrible type, to merry Kate Greenaway silhouettes. "Humph!" thought I, "it seems I am not destined to glide unnoticed amid the crowd." The first person who approached mo was a gay little shepherdess. "Ah, ha !" was the sportive exclamation with which she greeted me. " Here is one of my wandering sheep I" And with a laugh she endeavoured to hook mo to her side by means of hor silver crook. But this blithesomo puppet possessed no interest for me. So with a growl and a bound I assured her I was nothing moro than a wolf in sheep's clothing, and would eat her up if she did not run away ; at which she gaily laughed and vanished, and for a moment I was left alone. But only for a moment. A masked lady, whom I had previously observed standing upright and solitary in a distant corner of tho room, now approached, and taking me by the arm, led me eagerly to one side. "Oh, Joe!" she whispered, "is it you? How glad I am to have you hero, and how I hope we are going to bo happy at last I" Fearing to address a person seemingly so well acquainted with the young man whoso place I had usurped, I merely pressed, with most perfidious duplicity, tho little hand that was so confidingly clasped in mine. It seemed to satisfy her, for she launched at once into ardent speech. M Oh, Joe, I have been so anxious to have you with us once again ! Hartley is a good brother, but ho is not my old playmate. Then father will bo so much happier if you only succeed inmaking him forgot the past." Seeing by this that it was Miss Carrie Benson with whom I had to deal, I pressed the little hand again, and tondorly drow her closer to my siilo. That I felt all tho time like a villian of tho blackest dyo, it is quite unnecessary for me to state. " Has Hartloy told you just what you aro to do ?" was her next romark. " Father is very determined not to rolont.and has kept himself looked in his library all day for fear you should force yourself upon his presence. 1 could never have gained his consent to give this ball if I had not first persuadod him it would servo as a moans to keep you at a distance; that if you saw the house thronged with guests, natural modesty would restrain you from pushing yourself forward. I think ho begins to distrust his own firmness. He feavs he will molt at the sight of you. Ho has been failing this last year and—" A sudden choke stopped her voioe. I was at once both touched and alarmed ; touched at the grief whioh showed hor motives to be pure and good, and alarmed at tho position in which I had thrust myself to the apparent detriment of these eamo laudable motives. Moved by a desire to right matters, I ventured to speak : " And do you think," I whispered, in purposed smothered accents, ''that if he sees me he will relent?"

"I am sure of it. Ho yearns over you, Joe; and if he had not sworn never to speak to you again, he would have sent for you long ago. Hartley believes as woll as I that the tima for reconciliation has come." " And is Hartley," J yenturod again, not without a secret fear of tho cpnsequences, " really anxious for reconciliation {'■ " Oh, Joe I can you doubt it ? Has ho not striven from the first to make father forget? Would he encourage you to come here to-night, furnish you with a disguise, and consent to act both as your ohampion and adviser, if he did not want to see you and father friends again ? You don't under stand, Hartley; you never have. You would nothave repelled his advances so long if you had realised how truly he had for given everything and forgotten it. Hartley has the pride of a person who has never done wrong himself. But even pride gives way before brotherly affection; and you have suffered sp much and so long, poor Joe!" . .

"So, so," thought I, ''Joe fs tlign the aggressor!" And for a moment, I longed to be the man I represented, if only to clasp this dear little sister in my arms and thank her for her goodness. " "Sou are a darling," I faintly articulated, inwardly determined to rush forthwith into tho garden, hand over my domino to the person for whom it was intended; and make my escape from a scene which I had so littlo right to enjoy. But at this instant an interruption occurred which robbed me of my companion, but kopt me effectually in my place. A black domino swept by us, dragging Miss Benson from my side, while at the same time a harsh voice whispered in my ear: " To GQunterfeit wrong when one is right necessarily opens qno to misunderstanding." (To be Continued, .

The Causes of Blushing.

TnK physiology of blushing has long pre sented a difficult problem to solve. Many Unsatisfactory explanations havo been given of thecauses of that interesting phenomenon. The "British Medical Journal" lately re ceived an inquiry as to the measures to be taken for the cure of a chronic tendency to blush, and one of its correspondents takes up the matter in a very practical way. Among other causes of blushing,he gives prominenoe " to the wearing of too thick underclothing, and especially of too thick socks." He adus that long-sleeved ■woollen sacks or jerseys are often a cause of blushing, and, in fact, warm clothing jn general. He does not fail to remark that the blushpr niusfc choose in this matter between the risk of rhpuma tism i|and the annoyance of blushing. As collateral evidenoe In support of his views, he says : "An aunt of mine had habitually a red nose from this cause alonej which dis appeared when she took to thinnerstocklngs. Regarding the matter from a social stand point, the writer says; "The best plan for an habitual blusher is to laugh and be very gushing, as, for instance, on meeting an ac quaintance in the street, when hecolours up; and he will then feel more at his ease than if he looks sheepish and reserved." An obvious cause for blushing is over sensitiveness and self-consciousness, which will wear away as the person becomes used to society and strengthens his character by adopting wise principles of thought and action. The physiological explanation of blushing given by the writer just quoted is thatit is dueto paralysis of thesympathetic circles of nerves surrounding the arteries, whioh, not contracting properly, allow a freer flow of blood to the surface.

THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

Experiences of a New Zealand Trader.

[Written fou the " Star."]

Now that the question of annexation has created a healthy interest in the isles of the South Pacific, a few notes of my trading cruises in one of tho most extensive but least known of the western groups will per haps be read with interest. The Solomon islands include what are commonly called the seven large islands of San Christoval, Guadalcauar, Maleyta, Isabel, New Georgia, Choiseul, Bonganiville, besides hundreds of smaller ones marked and unmarked on the charts. The group is very imperfectly sur veyed, so much so that many of these so called large islands are really masses of land with narrow though deep water channels running between them, dividing them into several small islands; this is the case in Maleyta, New Georgia, Choiseul, and Florida. I believe lam not far out in estimating them to contain about 72,000 square miles—about4G,ooo,ooo acres—witha population I should be inclined to set clown at not less than 200,000 natives, and with a coast lino of about 2,000 miles. Considering the large extent of coast, which I have probably underrated, there are not many good harbours on these islands, but those available are first-rate. Ships can bo safely sheltered, no matter how or from where the wind blows, tho only drawback for small vessels being rather deep water, often 20 to 25 fathoms. Anchorages in situations more or less exposed are to be ob tained in numbers of places, often in shallow water, and safe enougli during the prevalence of the S.E. trades, which mow during 8 months in the year. Water is to be obtained nearly everywhere, but it is seldom good at the mouths of the rivers on account of bars formed by the wash of the tide in most streams of any size, and the consequent accumulation ef large quantities of vegetable matter which lies festering at tho bottom until released by the heavy rains of summer. Masters of vessels are far too careless as a rule in this matter; convenience, nothoalth, is looked at, and after a fortnight's use of this brackish, poisonous fluid, they are sur prised to find themselves and men ill with a low, typhcid fever, or other ailments. It is chiefly the men who suffer, however, for the skipper has generally the means of qualify ing the nauseous stuff. In giving a list of the harbours it will bo impossible in most cases to givo directions for finding or enter ing. Often tho mouths can only be dis covered by lowering a boat and pulling in and making a personal examination, which ought to be done by the master himnolf, for I have heard the mate of a vessel declare an entranco unfit, out of which wo had pro viously sailed in safety. I will begin with tho south-east end of the group, where New Zealand vessels mostly ontor it, and pass on to the N.W., giving in detail produce, harbours, and interesting yarns. Natlvo Ownership of Goooannt Troos. As wo enter tho group at tho S.B. ond we come across two littlo islands called Santa Anna and Santa Catalina, fertile and covered with bush and cocoanut trcos. The natives at one time must have been very numerous, for tho oocoanut plantations on tho latter island- aro all marked off by lines of coral wall into small patches a few perches in extent. Hero in the Solomon Group evory cocoanut troo has ite ownor. One has 10 treoe here and '20 over yonder. It may bo a milo off. This is their transferable property, and dosconds by inheritance. When you buy land from them there, you really buy what cocoanut trees that grow on that ground ; the soil itself they littlo value. If you buy tho frontago on tho sea beach containing tho groves of cocoanut trees, they lot you take any depth of tho back country. Shortly after our first visit, "Old William," a trader, while trying to drag a thieving nativo out of his house, had his revolver explodo, accidentally shooting tho nativo through tho back of tho nock, without, however, broaking a bone or cutting an artery. Tho man recovered very soon after. On another occasion tho old man bought what wo bolieved to bo a vory savage dog from ono of our party, lie trusted that dog, considered his property insured in fact, whon to his intense disgust he saw a nativo quiotly tako the dog and sling him across Ins nock and go for his homo. Tho dog was vorily like a dead lamb. Tho old man shouted, yelled, and induced tho darkie to drop it; but his con fidonco was dostroyod, not only in that dog, but in tho n\an who sold it him. It cer tainly was a romarkablo caso of transforma tion of temper; wo, nonp of us, coultl understand it, for tho bruto had been used to bully overy dog on board, and had bitten several of us. A White Cklof. Santa Catalina has an open anchorage under its Ico, but no harbour. Santa Anna, 4 miles off, has a fine landlocked littlo har bour at its north-west corner, fit for any vessel up to 100 tons. It has a cono-like elevation in the middle, which I believe to liavo boon an old volcano. In the centre of thin is a large and romarkably deep pool of water, abounding in striped eels and fish of large sizo. It has no inlet, and no appar ent outlet. The lato chief of these two small islands boro tho reputation of a Napoleon on a small scale, boinu feared, on account of hjs aggressive raids, by two thirds of tho adjacent largo island of. San Christovul. During his lifetime he seems to havo taken a great fancy to Captain Me , an old Auckland resident, who now, to all intents and purposes, reigns in his stead, and for whose possible* decease the natives have already prepared a casket of honour, i.e., a hollow wooden imitation of a shark, wherein they will enclose his bones should he die there. I have no doubt ho appreciates the distinc tion.

From here we sailed up the southern sido of the adjacent island of San Christoval, calling in at Makira Bay. This harbour, with a small entranco undistinguishablo at any distance, has water enough for a large vessel inside, and is perfectly landlocked. The natives were still in mourning for the chief's brother, as on Wood's visit three years before, a lino of stakes encircling the shore in front of the village. Good water is to ■be obtained here, but no provisions worth stopping for, though it was once noted for its supply. Our next move was for the adjacent harbour of Annoota. This has two narrow but straight passages, one from the south-east and another from the south. The harbour in side is remarkably -snug, but the passages are against the entranco of a vessel over 1 (X tons unless under steam. Water is not easily obtained, but yams are abundant and cheap. The natives aro very friendly, and produco in the shape of mother-of-pearl, bech(s -dv • mer, tbrtoiseshell, vegetable, ivory, and cobra are to obtained }n consider able quantities. Those are tho only two real harbours on the Island of San Christoval, and tho last-mentioned place tho beginning of the trading ground. The whole of the rest of the southern coast is bold, with rather deep indentations, but tho landing is bad, as the S.E. swell rolls right in. A Labour Outrage. After passing two or threo small bays, we conic to Marua Bay. Hero, after our leaving it, the unfortunate Marion Renny, of Fiji, landed the labour she was taking to that place for a run ashore. The natives received them amicably, but shortly after rflade a most unprovoked attack on them, killing two of the labour, who were all unarmed, and dangerously wounding the mate. The real cause of this attack was that they had discovered some natives of Florida amongst the labour, and killed them in retaliation for the murder of some San Christoval men on ■ board the Dancing Wave at the former place. One of Her Majesty's schooners went to inquire'into and avenge this shortly after, but was per suaded by an old European trader to accept half-a-dozen strings of native money, i.e., small circular discs of shell ground down and strung like beads. Of course, tho wholo transaction was a farce, and was the foun dation of numerous acts of aggression on the part of the natives over a largo portion of the group. Twenty-five miles from hero, on the same island, is the first mission station in Wartgo Bay. A cow and bull were once turned loose horg, but straying along the beach, were soon kjlloc} by' the natives, The Island of Ugi, About one-third of the distanae along the northern coast tho small island of Ugi is situated. For its size it is one of the finest in the group, having a line of cocoanuts along its eastern and northern sides, eight miles in extent, but tho landing is, un fortunately, bad there. It olbo possesses no population adequate to its resources, having only about two or three hundred in habitants. Towneend's murder took place on the eastern side. There aro two good anchorages on its western side, avail able during all winds, from north to east and south. On its eastern Bide it has a perfect little harbour (anchorage in 10 fathoms) for small steam vessels, ihough not often available for sailing ones. Fertile and productive as this island is,

the paucity of inhabitants and the universal indolence of the Papuan race prevent tho development of trade. Its inhabitants are a mixture from tho adjacent island. A very intelligent native informed me that there were eight dialects spoken here. A little further to the eastward are three islands called tho Sisters on charts, known among all the surrounding localities as fishing grounds, famous for turtle and fish. Ac cording to nativo report there was once a large population on them, but an epidemic of some sort prevailing killed the majority— the remainder, as the custom is here, abandoning it; the lineal chief with two or three others living on the adjacent sland of Ugi, and receiving a tribute of the native money spoken of before from fishers frequenting the locality in recognition of his manorial rights. To all such places the natives resort in numbers, lest they should meet with a number of Maleyta men, who are to all the islanders much about what the old North men were to the adjacent countries of Europe. The whole of the large island of San Christoval is densely wooded^from high water mark to the summit of the highest hills thereon ; the entire country is thickly populated, more especially so in the in terior ; but the coastmen have'the upper hand of the bushmen in being thoroughly supplied with European trade and firearms, though I have never been able to discover that they use the latter in their petty tribal fights. Thousands of the wild-looking inhabitants of the interior, "man bush " as tho coast natives call them, havo never to this day seen a white man. This is the case through all tho better known islands. From these bushmen the labour-trader is recruited. The bushmen from their high located villages have an immense view of the sea below them, and can see vessels approach ing long before those in tho shore villages. From six to twenty come down at a time, nearly always tho young men, who are eager to go on board with the hope of re turning in a short time with trade sufficient for procuring them a wife. All wives have to be bought, either from the father or brother, or, if she be a slave girl in their mild sense of the term, which means a female child bought and reared for adop tion, from her owner. The man who owns a wife is considered in hisproperstatus, and freo from tho trouble in a great measure of cultivating the- ground. Re cruits are seldom obtained from tho ooost natives where vessels aro in the habit of trading frequently, for the best of all rea sons—they are generally too well suppliod with trade, the result of the barter of copra and other produce, all coastal productions, and from which the "manbush" is com pletely shut off. He, poor wretch, has nothing to offer oxcept his fow nativo arniß as curiosities, and yams; but oven if ho had, ho has to run the gauntlot of the coast men, who fleeco him unmercifully. All tho natives of tho Solomon Group have tho innate instinct of trading born with them. Ages before tho European came amongst thorn, they traded amongst themselves for arms, canoes, native money, and various native ornaments thoy are in tho habit of wearing, tho coast natives: everywhere having the weathor-gago, as in tho Solomons. In tho majority of cases thoy alone possossed tho cocoanut treo, which ia essentially of coastal growth ex cept undor oxcopt.Sonal circumstances. This alone was a soureo of wealth and protection to them, for it supplied them with what was much coveted by tho " manbush," as woll as a food that could bo eaten uncooked and easily got at in caso of war. Most nativo productions aro quite as local in their manufacture as our own. Tho small district wlioro the famous " Makira money " is produced, the smallest mid most valuable of tho three varieties in use in tho Solomon Croup, might stand for our Birmingham. Othor places arc equally colobrated for some particular kind of spear, club, or canon ornamentation. In each of theso sovoral localities the special manufacture is brought, according to nativo ideas, to a degree of perfection which creates a desire for possession. Often I havo been offerod four or five Bpcars, the handicraft of this or that place, for a certain one of mine; and often ovory one of those offered me havo appeared far superior in workmanship to those I possessed myself ; but not so to the would-be purchasor, who must havo dis covered something in it to suit his fanoy. Not only this, but they can generally tell you by tho vory make of the article whoro it was produced, proving tho existence of tho long-continued manufacture of the sunn; articles in each placo, and tho steady circulation of tradal information and pro duce among thorn. Nativo information in regard to tlioir own produco may nearly always be relied on. I havo novor found it fail. On somo of those islands thoy wear as an ornament unartiulo of commerce which is of great value, i.e., gqldpn-edgo pearl shell. Nothing will induce thorn to part with it. I inquired whence it came. The universal answer was Marau, and thoy pointed in tho direction of tho place, On visiting Marau, wo only saw a few amongst the rosident natives, but tho in formation was perfectly correct. This was the only placo known to tho natives about where it could be procured, and, as we witnessed afterwards, in large quantities. Cannibalism and Infanticide. Around San Christoval I had noticed the paucity of children amongst the coast natives, especially of girls, which led mo to make inquitios as to whether thero were any custom of female infanticide amonrst them ; but, as usual in such inquiries, especially in rogard to cannibalism, I received a decided negative. Thoy aro porfectly awaro of tho disgust wo entertain to tho latter custom, and, doubtless, supposo all suoli questions are for tho purposo of some ulterior design against them. They do not hositato to ac cuse tho surrounding tribes of cannibalism, but utterly dony it thomselves, and so on. If you go to the noxt tribe with tho same question you receive tho same answer, whilo they state that the tribe you have just left aro addicted to man-eating in the worst form. They are all by habit liars—if they speak the truth it is by mistake. I vory soon found out the reason for the general paucity of children: tho women on the coast are unproductive from a contagious disorder. Out of a tribe containing from 200 to 500 members y«u' will not find a dozen fertile women.' They would Tory soon become extinct but for tho custom of purchasing the children of the sur rounding productive' tribes of bushmon. These are bought yjien yOung," from 6 to 10 years of age, and though nomin ally slaves, and as such liable to be killed sometimes on great occasions, are really troated as though to the manor born, and often, succeed to the chieftainship. In these transactions male children, though costing two or three strings of native inonoy more than female ones, are preferred, as it is essential to keep up the strength of the tribe with whom they become entirely amalgamated. But infanticide is certainly practised amongst them, as I discovered accidentally in conversation with a young adopted chief. Happening to remark that his wifp looked older than him, and from appearanoo likply to place him in a paternal position, I asked him if he hod never had any children before He said : " Yes, two." " Where are they?" I asked, "Dead, killed." As the malo parents In the Solomons are univorßally fond ef their children, this struck me with surprise, and inquiring^ fur ther, he informed me that upon the pains of labour seizing a foinalo,she loft her dwelling and was confined in the open air, or under a rough shelter if tho weather was bad, in order to avoid tabuing the house ; that im mediately upon the birth of the child a committee of the elderly hags about the place eat on a sort of court of inspec tion, and decided whether tho child be allowed to live or be put to 4o«th. In either oaso tho mother has tho choice of designating tho future burial'plaoe of tho infant, i.e., whether it be buried on land or in the sea, and this latter part of tho custom, which is universal throughout the Solomons, is most rigidly adhered to, no matter what age the then infant might attain; and in caso of burial in the sea, porhaps more often adopted by the coast natives than that on land, is the cause of the great danger in sea bathing experiences in so many parts of the Solomons from the presence of regular man eating sharks. Theyoungchieftolamehehad his two former children killed in this way. He expressed a great wish for some, and had already bought and adopted two. I advised him to kick against such a miser able practice.',' but, while fully appreciating my advice and with the desire to carry it out, ho confessed himself utterly unablo to subvert the gener-al custom, and would receive no support from his wife or other friends. Yqv this was a youth who had almost been brought up by Europeans, had been to and stopped in Sydney sevora.l times, and seemed to appre ciate our Bocial institutions. From this caso and others it is apparent that little son bo hoped towards elevating the Helaneslati raco. The inhabitants of the 3olomon Group, taken as a whole, are very ntelljgent—the young fellow alluded to especially so; but there is |a total want of any central power sufficient to destroy old institutions and substitute new. Some of those customs might fall into desuetude were there a' government to coerce them, but never otherwise. {To He Continued.)

THE GARDEN.

(By Hortus),

Calendar of Operations, November 3,

[HoRTUS is wHling to answer any queries. Cor respondents must give their full names and addresses, though not for publication,]

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Summer Pruning (R.M. Parnoll). — You will bo bettor to got some gardener to gi vo you a few lessons. It is very simple to understand. Ho ought to be able to give you a very good idea in three or four lessons. It is interesting to watch the manner in which the tree Is made to assume any habit you wish by this means. Unbroken Ground (R.D., Remuora.)—l do not think that you could break up ground so late in the seaßOn and take good crops of vege tables off this season. I would advise you to have It thoroughly drained and bastard trenched now. Sow maize for green crops, or lot it lie fallow all summer. By this means the ground will be in flrst-class condition for crop ping next'auturan. Scraping thb Bark op Grape Vinf.9 (F.G., Epsom).—You only want to take the rough, broken bark off the vines. I am not aware that it has ever been claimed that doing the above was any assistance in getting better crops of fruit. Ido not believe that it is any assistance in that direction. Tho object of taking the rough bark off is to give fewbr facilities to Insects for depositing their eggs ; also to remove any if doposited.taking them away with the rough bark. The painting of the vines after the above operation effectu ally fills up any crevices, not allowing tho ova which may have been dopositcd to come to life in tho spring. In painting, only mix up in gredients that are destructive to insect lite. I am sorry you have suffered in tho manner you describe. I intend to deal with this subject during the next winter at tho proper time. Kumara, Swekt Potato (W.C., Auckland).— Get a few barrow loads of hot formonting stable manure, put it in a compact heap, get a squaro box without top or bottom, placo on top of the heap in the bottom place about four inches of good rich sandy soil, then put the tubers on top of this an inch apart, covering them up with about three inches of sand, then water. Placo an old window-sash on top. In about a fortnight tho young shoots will be pushing the surface. From then, give plenty of air, gradually taking the sash oif altogether, so as to harden them o(F. When the young plants are about throe inches long, break them off at the base-at the tubor; then dip them in a mixture of cow and stable manuro mixed to the consistency of paste, and plant out in ridges about throe feet apart and eighteen Inches apart in ridge. Afterwards stir tho gurfacs soil frequently: hoo up twice. This plant likos warm, light, dry soils highly manured, I have about five hundred plants, which I am going to plant out in about a fort night. You ought to havo had your plants suirtdd now.

Kitchen Garden.

Finish planting the late crops of potatoes on the low-lying ground; open trenches as recommended last week. Cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, etc., which aro properly hardened off, plant out in the prepared hills. After planting, give a good watering. Dust around the plants with lime. Take two light willow roots, about three feet long, and make a bow over the plants. Place an old newspaper on top of this, bringing the edges down to the ground. Put looso soil all round the edge, so as to keep the paper in position. This will make a good shelter from the sun for the young plants till they get well established. When the bows can bo removed, continue sowing seed of the above in the open. Tomatoes, established in pot, plant out in rows five feet apart, Have a trellis made; drive stakes into the ground and the cross bars to them, making the trellis from four to five feet high. As the plants are put out, covor in tho same xnannor as recom mended for cucumbers, etc. Continuo the thinning-out of advancing crops. Earth up those that require it, stirring the soil frequently. Continue making succossional Kiwingi* of the different vegetables. Trans plant celery into the tranches propami for it. Lime for slugs.

Flower Gordon. Continuo planting and sowing out in the open the different tender annuals ; thin out and transplant those sufficiently advanced, filling up all vacancies which may have oc curred. Make the last sowing of hardy varieties. Bedding plants, as they advance in growth, peg down and pinch back so as topromotoa more bushy habit of growth. If any flowors show, havo them picked off at present; this will strengthen the plants. Roses, givo occasional watering* with liquid manure; pick off the blooms whenever they show signs of fading. Never allow the seed pips to form; they tend to weaken the later Sowers. Whenever plants show signs of suffering from drought, mulch and give a copious supply of water. Plant out dahlias; when planting put in the stakes for their support. Regu late, tio, and pinch growing climbers. Stake all growing plants which may require it, such as glodiolios, Ac. Nevor allow the wind to wrench their roots before staking. I havo seen many a good spike of flowers spoiled from this cause. Frequently hoe the surface of tho border. Look out for slugs and snails, and have them destroyed. Attend to lawn and walks. Greenhouse. Continuo potting-off cuttings, re-potting those which; are. growing i\s they require it; giro plenty qf air on bright days, shading thohouso during the middle of the day. Syringe and water freoly whonevortho state of the plants demands it. Bints. - How to Collect Pbrtomk from Flowers.—Spread fresh unsalted butter npon tho bottom of two dessert plates, und then fill one of tho platen with newly gatherod flower*, covering thorn over with tho second greased plate. In twonty-four hours tho grease becomes fragrant. To remove the odour, scrape the fat from the plates, and put into alcohol. Tho porfumo thun leavcH tho grease and enters into tho spirit, mid thus becomes scent, and tho grease again bocomos odourless, and can bp used again and again, Plants in Bkdroomh. —Plants should novor bo kept in bedrooms; they emit gosos whiah aro vory injurious, Gardeners who are compelled to remain for some time in hot-houses where a number of plants aro collected togothor are very subject to pain ful headaches, in consequence of breathing an atmosphere loaded with these gases. The practico of keeping plants in apart ments where persons are in the habit of Bleeping cannot bo too severely censured. Snails and Slugs.—Snails and slugs are very destructive at this season. Neither the snail nor the slug has any teeth, but their mouths are furnished with extremely hard jaws, which easily divide the leaves when they ore young and succulent. Snails anc slugs can only move about when tho grounc is moist. Theirravagoaarotlioroforoeoiifinec to the! nigl]t,'Bnd as soon as thesun rises they creep into some shady plaoe, whore they re main during the day. Place boards, slates —in fact anything which will afford the de sired shelter. The snails will creep under them as soon as they are done feeding. Dozens may thus be caught by examining them places every morning. Another good method for destroying them is to sow lime during the night when they are out feeding. This will kill the slugs by the seoro. As soon as the action of the slug is apparent, commence sowing the lime and continue till the young plants are beyonddanger. There is no other remedy th,at yftll pjo,yo. lag flffi'oa cious fo,r' destroy jijgtfte slug ongardon orops, but it must be applied during the night. When applied during the day, the slug simply remains in hiding till the effect of tho limo has gone. Frult^rowtoffi (Continued,) Now, I would likb to say a fow wordß about ringing, or tying a ligature tightly round the branch of a tree bo as to increase tho size and quality of a few specimens of fruit. It is an old practice, and when a cultivator desires to obtain very good speci mens the following is an effective method: Take for example tho apple. On some of the spurs where only a few buds are show ing tie a ligature tightly around the spur a little distance below the fruit, »nd yovf per haps will see that fruit attain a far larger size than tho rest of the fruit on the same troe, and of a much better quality. The ligature ought to bo tied just when tho blossom buds aro bursting in the spring, keeping it tied so till tho fruit is beginning to ripen, then remove it. Again, with grape-vines, whore a particularly large bunch is wanted cut a ring of bark an inch in width all round the snoot, ono bud below the bunch of grapes. If such' is done, that bunch will increase in sizo considerably more than tho other bunches on the same cane or rod. The above oporation ought only to bo performed on one, or at most two hunches'oft a vino in ono I will try and describe what talies place, taking extracts from " The Science of Gardening " :—Tho sap which causes %» tree to bripflk away into loaf and ' tlo^pm pvfiVj WV*ng ascends from tb,o rqpts, traversing the stein,, and then, being distributed along^ tho various branches,' js poured by th,oi,r vessels into the buds, causineth.om to break into leaves and. hlosspms. TPhe sap, after passing into the leaves, undergoes a certain elabora tion, from whence it again traverses the sap vessels in the leaves, back through the leaf stalk, and from thence }ntq the vessels traversing tho inner bark qf the branches, he stem, and roots, and thosap is found to be converted, during its elaboration in the eaves, into the peculiar juices in the plant. The limpid, insipid sap has heon converted into the austere gallic acid and tannin of tho oak, of the acid perfumed oils of the lemon, &c. In its descent in the different trees and shrubs it deposits between the bark and the wood that juice known as cambium, from -part of which the.

year's increase or enlarged growth is ob tained, and the remainder is deposited ready to be communicated to the sap during its course the following spring, as it may be required for tho development of the next year's foliage, flowers, and fruit. This abundant deposition of cambium is what the gardeners term ripening the wood. A knowledge of these facts suggested to the gardener that if the return of the sap were checked by a ligature so tight as to compress the vessels of the bark, the fruit above the ligature would be rendered finer and more abundant. Practice has shown that the above has the desired re sult, and it may be taken as a rule that whatever mechanical means check the downward flow of sap causestheenlargeinent of budsorthe production of new. Whenever the fruit is beginning to ripen- the ligature should be removed so that the reflux of cap to the inferior parts may be less impeded, and the growth of those parts be conse- Suently less cheeked. The power to do lis renders a ligaturo much superior to ringing, first introduced in Germany, viz., by removing an entire zone of bark about an inch wide round the branch to be rendered more fruitful, and taking care that the bark be completely removed down to the very wood. Although this renders the part oi the branch superior to the wound more fruitful for two or three seasons, yet it renders the branch unsightly by the swell ing which occurs around the upper lip of the wound, and is often followed by disease and unfruitfulness. No such injury occurs when ringing is performed on the lateral shoots of tho vine, which laterals are re moved at the annual winter pruning.

(To be Continued.)

MAORI LEGENDS.

Te Konawa's Account of tho Maori Fairies.

The first record of Maori fairies which is known to the various tribes gives one Te fianawa the credit of being the person who saw them. He went from his village to a hill at Waikato, called Pukemore, to hunt down kiwis with doge. It was evening when he arrived, and after ho had lighted a fire he laid down to sleep beneath the shade of a, large kauri which stood on top of the hill. Hardly' had he done so, when he heard voices, as of men, women, and children in great numbers, and at once set them down as being thoge of supernatural beings—no one (to his knowledge) save him self Deing within miles of Pukemore. He was terribly frightened, but feared to move, as he was on the top of a steep hill, and it was a very dark night. Whilo thus lying trembling, and with a cold perspiration exuding from every pore of his skin owing to his overwhelming tenor, the fairies drew near to gaze at him, hang ing from the roots and branches of the trees, apparently struck with wonder at the temerity of a human being in coming to hunt kiwia on their most favoured play ground. When the fire which Te Kanawa Had lighted blazed up, they retired into the darkness, but when the embers only re mained and did not give much light, they drew near to it and commenced laughing and singiug to To Kanawa—

Did you ascend from Tlrangi, Oh Kanawa, To soil your sweetheart or to got away from her You seem to bo on the point of doing so.

Just about this time To Kanawa thought of a sacred necklace he wore, and this'slightly re-osaured him ; so he loosed it from his neckand held itin his hand, imagining that its Influence might preserve him from thef airies, for, though they did not molest him, they carno lather too close to please him. Then taking off his ornaments, greenstone, shark's tooth, spear point, etc., ho showed them to tho fairies and hung them up over a branch of tho tree. When the fairies had ended their songs, they drew near to look at tke ornaments, etc., and taking them into their hands, passed them from one to another and finally hid them. In tho morning, however, they were restored to him by the fairieSj whose hearts he had won by his kind and gentle behaviour, and when day had fairly dawned they disappeared, and Te Kanawa, calling his dogs, returned to his own resi dence without trying to catch a single bird. On luh arrival lie assembled his tribe and related his wonderful adventure, and on being askod for particulars of the numbers and appearance of the fairies, ho informed our ancestors that ho saw myriads of them, that they were liko albinos, had pleasant features, snow-whito skin, long flaxen hair, and apparently took great pleasure in sing ing, music, and dancing. Mata Kite.

HINARAURI'S CHARM.

Swing round, thou fearful axe! Fall heavily, thou blood-stained axe ! Strike hard on tho head, oh axe! Cleave straight through the brain, dreiul axo That axe rumbles, That axe is stretchod fortli, \Vhiro tho monster's axo, Clcavo to his coward heart, Thou mun-enter. Mata Kits.

Bishop Moorhouse on Snobs.

At Kyneton on Monday the Bishop of Mel bourne spoke upon snobs. Now what was a snob ? he asked. Well, in his opinion, a man who is "stuck up" because of some worldly advantage, or who is to acknowledge that he did not at one time till as honourable a position as he does now, or is ashamed to acknowledge that his father (who was probably a totter man than himself) did not (u>ld a very honour able position — that ■ man was "a snob. (Cheers,) If a man's father was a dustman— not that a roan should boast about.that and say " My ather was a dustman ; look what I am ;" that kind of aggressive humility was just as snobbish as its opposite—but if his (the Bishop's) father had been a dustman, and a person camo to him and said, "Sir, your father was a dustman," he trusted ho should havo grace to look that man in the face and reply, " Yes, sir, he: Was. He gathered his dust, by tho grace of God, honestly and diligently. Could your father do anything bettor, or any other man's father?" (Loud cheers.) If they followed their callings in that spirit they weuld nevor be snobs. Well, then, let every man stop in the calling wherein he is placed. If a man is a shoemaker, let him try to make better shoos than anyone. If he does that he may bo sure that by-and-by some one will take him by the hand and say, "My friend, you make shoes so - well that you must be fit for something better j" and in that better position it ho con tinues the same course, someone, will again drag him up higher by the hair of his head. But they must not do it for the sake of going up. Bishop Whately well Baid, " Honesty is the best polioy, but if a man is honest only i[ov that reason he won't be honest long." Let a man be honest, true', |»mevprinß and courageous, bp.ca.usG' it is the will of God, and. liewtusß it f« right, If ho does that, whether he go up or down, whether ho be hero or there, he will have tho " peace which posseth all understanding " in this life, and will pass through tho shadows that hftn.g over his earthly pilgrimage, and QOffle at last into thftt vision of Qod where a man feta not beoauso ho was born in the purple, ut because he took tho littlo task which God gave, and did it for His glory, a.nd for tho benefit of his frionds and follow crea tures. (Loud applause.)

Sir Lorillard and the Jersey Fanner.

A rood story is going about the olifbs con cerning a New York millionaire who owns a big stock farm, in New Jersey. He ha* put in force strict rules about tho admittance of curiosity seekers, and if one happens to get in, he is soon hustled oft.

The othor day a neighbouring farmer called on business. Ho had never been, on tho place before, and entering at a gate he found open, was strolling about looking for the superintendent, whon tho owner, who happened to be there, encountered him. Supposing him to bo merely an idlor or a prying person, he asked him what ho was doing tnere»

The farmer, taken aback \>v auoh an address, roplied; " IJatliing!" ---" Do vqu know at which gate you came in ?"'aalcl tho owner.

"I do," said the farmer. "Well, then," said tho owner, "geteM there as soon as you can.." • And the fewer-walked out, Shortly arter-, the, superintendent oarao up and in quired if neighbour So-and-so had been there. Ho was tho only one anywhere about who had the timber they wanted very much, and they wanted it immediately. Ho had promised to como that morning to see about the eale of it. " Wei1," said the owner of the farm, " I shouldn't wonder if I had just sent him off with a flea in his 'ear. I found a nwn strolling about here;- and, supposing him to bo ono of those stragglers, I cleared him out, Where does ho live ? I will drivq over and see him.1'

Off he started at once. Reaching the farmhouse, he drove in, and, seeing him, began an apology, but was cut short by the fanner, who inquired if he knew at which gatehecamein. Hesaidhedid. "Then," said the farmer, " I want you to gat out as quick as you can.". - ." ™ v The ownev.pf-the" stock farm was obliged to depar^.-" From; Baldwin's Monthly."^

THE 1 AUCKLAND ifl&ffifc STAR. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER S, 1883.

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TRADE iiWm MARK> WJhM CHR. HANSEN'S DAIRY PREPARATIONS. RENNET EXTRACT, LIQUID CHEESE COLOURING, AND BUTTER COLOURING. This season's shipments of the above excellent and highly-appreciated preparations are now to hand. The articles can be obtained in town and country from all Grocers and Storekeepers, and 'Wholesale only from the undersigned. BABER & RAWLINGS, Sole Agents for Auckland. Furt-Btrcet. Auckland, 25th Sept.. 1383. DR. J. COLLIS BROWNE'S CHLORODYNE, THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY GENUINE. Advice to Invalids.—lf you wish to obtain quiet, refreshing sleep, free from headache, relief from pain and anguish, to calm and assuage the weary nchings of protracted disease, invigorato tho nervous media, and regulate the circulating systems of the body, you will provide yourself with that marvellous remedy discovered by Dr. J. CoUls Browne (Late Army Medical Staft), to which he gavo tho name of CHLORODYNE, and which is admitted by the profession to bo the most wonderful and valuable remedy ever discovered. CHLORODYNE is the best remedy known for Coughs. Consumption, Bronchitis, Asthma. CHLORODYNE acts like a charm in Diarrhoea, and is the only specific in Cholera and cTILOKODYNE effectually cuts short all attacks of Epilepsy, Hysteria, Palpitation, and Spasms. CHLORODYNE is tho only pallativo in Neuralgia, Rheumatism, Gout, Cancer, Tooth ache, Meningitis, &c. . From Symcs & Co., Pharmaceutical Chemists, Medical Hall Simla, January 5,1880. To J. T. Davonport, Esq., 33, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, London. Dear Sir,—We embrace Uiis opportunity of congratulating you upon tho widespread reputation this justly esteemed medicine, Dr J. Collis Browne's Chlorodyne, has earned for itself, not only in Hindostan, but all over the East As a remedy of general utility, we much question whether a better is imported into tho country, and we shall be glad to hear of its finding a place in every Anglo-Indian homo. The other brands, wo are happy to say, aro now relegated to the native bazaars, and judging from their sale, wo fancy their sojurn there will be but evanescent. Wo could multiply instances ad bifinitum of the extraordinary efficacy of Dr. Colliß Browne's Chlorodyne in Diarrhoja and Dysontry, Spasms, Cramps, Neuralgia, tho Vomiting of Pregnancy, and as a general seda tive, that have occurred under our personal observation during many years. In Choleraic Diarrhoea and even more terrible forms of Cholera itself, we have witnessed its surprising controlling power. We have never used any other form of this medicine than Collis Browne s from a firm conviction that it is decidedly thebest, and also from a sense of duty we owe to the profession and the public, as we are of opinion that the substitution of any other than Collis Browne's is A deubehatk breach ok faith ON THE PART OF THE CIIKMIST TO FRESCIUIIKK and patient ALIKE. We arc, Sir, faithfully rours, Symos & Co., Members of the Phar. Society of Great Britain, Hiß Excellency tho Viceroy's Chemists. Sold in bottles at 1b ljd, 2s 9d, 4s 6d, and 11s each. None is genuine without the words "Dr J. Colliß Browne's Chlorodyne " on the Govern ment stamp. 0 vorwhelming medical testimony accompanies each bottle. Caution.—Beware of Piracy and Imitations. Solo Monufacturer-J. T. DAVENPORT, 83, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, London. (JJTEEDMAN'S SOOTHING POWDERS CHILDREN CUTTING TEKTxL CAUTION TO POROHASEBS. Tho value of this well-known Family Medicine has been largely tested in all parts of the world, and by all grades of sooicty, for upwards of kifty years, It 3 well-earned extensive solo has induced spukious imitations, some of which in outward appeauancb bo closely rcsemblo tho original as to have dcoeived many Surchasors. Tho proprietor, therefore feels it uo to the public to give a special caution against the use of such imitations. Purchasers are therefore requested carefully to observe the four following distinctive char acteristics, without which none are genuine :— Ist—ln every case tho words John Steed man, Chemist, Wat.wobth, Surrey, are en graved on tho Government Stamp affixed to each packet. 2nd—Each Single Powder has directions for tho dose, and the words John Steedman, Chemist, Walworth, Surrey, printed theroon. 3rd—The name Stoedman is always spelt with two EE's. 4th—The manufacture is carried on solely in Wai worth, Surrey. Sold in Packets by all Chemists and Mcdiolne Vendors, at Is ljd to 2s 9d each. Airenta: Kempthorne, Prosber and Co., Auckland, Wellington, Chriatchureh, and 0 uned in. STOP THAT COUGHI DON'T DELAY. How can you stop it! Where is the Remedy! BONNNIGTOH'S PECTORAL OXYIHEL CARRAGEEN OR IRISH MOSS (REGISTERED). Can produce more evidence of real merit than any other article for the purpose. «m,i .^™» n 7,^» 1 G- BONNINGTON, Sold everywhere.} Christchurch. MR JOHN HAETWELL, Organist ok St. Mary's CnuRCH, PROFESSOR OF^THE' PIANOFORTE. Lessons given by the Quarter, or by arrangement. ORGAN. PIANOFORTE. HARMONY. Amateurs' compositions revised and prepared for publication. Addross: Rose Cottage, St. Gcorgo's Bay Road. Lottcrs may bo left with Messrs Hoffmann and Sons, Music warehouse, Queen-street. ARE YOU INSURED AGAINST FIRKI great many people are not insured against y tiro Ana yet tuuy liavo property whicli niiijht at any tinm be burnt, end thia might occur throuKii no fault ot their own, and wnilp exercising every know precaution. HiVB YOU PROPERTY TO I.OSB BY FIRE? What would it cost to roplace your furniture • our books your clothing, youriowollery-moy bo. your stock in trade ? Did the thoimlit ever coßsyonrmlnd tUat you might tuddenly and unexpectedly find thesu utterly end imolatm ably destroyed? Yon have rover had a fire, nor has any one in your ininiudiate neighbourhood. You have been acoustumed to And things in tho morning as you left them at nifiht; or to bo a journey and find them uninjured. But Urea happen daily in. this country, and it is no nuusual tiling for a man to awake to a con sciousness that his houßois blazing or to be summoned home to inspect its smoking ruins. This occurs literally every day in some part or other of this country. ' " " DO YOU RKCO.PNIS.K TUB DiNGBR OP FIRE] Of all classes of accidents, fires are by far the most frcqutnt and most disaitrous. Now Zea land may bo said aeve^- to be without fires, and every distriot to visited in turn with this oalamity. Seen afar oft the danger does not seem formidable; when brought almost to our door, the imminenoo of the risk can be better appreciated. And yet it is there, even if not recognised— and always. The causes of acci dents by fire aro so numerous and various, and aro so intimately connected with our social arrangements thai the liability must be evei present Winter and summer, night and day, to matter when, there is always the hidden danger- lucifer matches, sparks, cinders, over heated fluoB; tho negllgenoe of cbildrvn, of Bervants, of neighbours; unsuspeoted defeols in above-pipes, in construction of chimneys, in , machinery: even the pranks 01 animals and the procosßeaofnatu.ro. These we a very few among ; tha many cQnßtant, ever-recurring source* of loss. DO you recognise the possibility that l»ur jpionorty mny at any timo bo de stroyed without warning, aid in spite of wfeSu^ee tinsT^ " M '6nd " WlUbfl THE COST OP PIRK INSUBA.NCH rn&pJwv?B^ ZKAL,AND INSURANCE p?w^?Y v? 8 bf* n r6dnoß<J *« a minimum. Private dweHinß-houses, furniture, household (roods, and tho liko. are now insured for a few shtfltags per annum. It is no figure of speech, therefore, to say that it Is brought within the reaoh of all. And yet, in spite of. this economy of cost, it is constantly reported of sufferers by Ore that tho loss la not covered by insurance, 4 SMALL LOSSES. It Is not only lobs from the total destruction of property by firo that is to be guarded against, and which is provided for by an inßurance policy, but losses by fire on a smaller scale also. Thcßo small losses are embraced ifl tho insurance contraot and aro cheerfully mot by the companies. Tho vajneot Fire Insurance Is well ssen by the fapt Vhat ovtn a small claim of, say, £10 would tato thirty-three years at 6s premium to mako it up; ono small loss, therefore—o( a carpet, tor instanco-will cover the insorod'a outlay for thirty-three years. And these small fires occur even in "the best regulated THE UNINSURJOfo In most oaseß the nogleot of fire insurance can only bo regarded as culpable folly. A man of onorjuauß property, widely diffused, may fairly Bay. I will be my own insurer. But for any o eof ordinary meaDS to run the risk of a oieastrous loss by fire, when he can bo pro tected by tho expenditure of a few BhiUisgß. ig obviously most unbusinesslike, improvident, and unwise. The uninsured has always hang ing over him a possible danger, which the aot of insurance entirely removes. Your safeguard INSURE AGAINST FIRE IN TUB TDLE.AS.E Qbsewe that J. Gilmour has JL opened his now Clothing Establishment S^ vtoi'?' nox,' dooi' to tho Masonic Hall, and vushos all pnrtaos dosirous of obtaining Good Uothmtt and Hate to inspect thoStock. Thoso who wish to buy Good Wearing Material and Woll-mado Garmonts should call and sco for themselves. Thoso whowish to soo a largo and varied stock of Hats of every Mind should see lie valuo ofTered in tho newest shapes of lolinets and Fqlts in. all colours, also Straw, Lawn Tonnis. Boating, &o. Thoso who refluiro Wy of the following lines will find that the Quality, Variety, and Price are not to bo ex celled in town :-Whito Shirts, Oxford Shirts, M«?ns Working Shirts, Boys' and Youths' Now Zealand-made Clothing in all tho Nowpbt Stylos, also Holland Suits for Boys, Men* btrong Wearing Trousors and Vests, kossrtel and Kaiapol Twoeds in groat variety, from 2s M per yard. % DEMEDY FREE.-^ft vtetim of youth.- JL\J ful imprudonpo causing Premature Docay, Nervous Deb^Uty, tast Manhood, &c, having tried m vain every known remedy, has dia- CgereoV a'simple self-cure, which he w4H send |RKE to his fellow-sufferera,-Adaress J, H. REEVES, Esq., 43, ghathw-sfaeet, New York Lity, U.S.A. -j YOUNG, Family' Grocer, Shortland



D. F. ■E v A N s» EBTATK, HOUBK. AND LAND AQHNT. FOR SALE or Lease, good Farm of about 200 acres; plenty of Tjubli and alJlindant supply of water; new House of five rooms and pantry; nice position, about twenty miles from Auckland. Terms easy, rcntlow,—D. F. Evans, Land Agent, 813 AUCKLAND-City Property; voluablo bust ness premises, situate in Bhortland-street, near Poß'.-ofllce; grand position. (875) AHIPaRA. - Valuable Grtzinff Farm; good homestead; stock at valuation: together ■wilh about 2d,'Uo acre 3 leasehold, ai very low rental. (920) AVONDALE.—22 acres splendid land.moßtly in grass; a largo portion in orchard; and shelter trees; good creek (8511 AMY-STREET, ELLERSLTK. - 2 Splendid Allotments, having a frontage ot about 261 feet. (841) AYONDALE.—2O acres good land, improvod and in grata paddock* and crops; bounded by the river; small Cottage. &c. &c; a very desirable lot; about J mile from Railway Station. Price only £525 (682) A WHIT U (near the Pollock Settlement).-*!) acres good land, about two thirds useful bunt), partly bounded by a stream, situated about 2 miles from the settlement landing. Thn land adjoinß Mr Dean's. Part of lot 80. Price £40. (743) AVONDALE.-18| acres rich alluvial land, fenced, partly ploughed and in grass; fr< sh water etream : sea frontage ; Rood lignite on land. Price £35 per acre ; half cash, ba'atco at 8 per oent. (901) AWHITU, Manuknu Heads.—lßl acres first class Lund; G acres in crass, 30 a"res surface sown, J2O acres level ploughable land, houss of 4 rooms, &c; run of 2000 acres availahlo am rlts water supply. } mile from steamer JaMdiny and Telegraph Station. Pricu only £100. (701) BOND-STREET.—Xow Verandah Cottago oj 4 rooms and scullery; 2 rooms below for Btoring; grates, Leamington range gas and fittings Allotment, 33 x l'S. I'iice. only £270. Terms easy. (7ml BLAKE-STREET NKWTON.-Very comfort table verandah Cottage of 6 roorrs; 2 fire places, colonial oven, &c, good well. Allot m-nt 33 x 50. Price, £230. (902) BROWN-STREET, PON SONBY -Verandah Cottago of 5 rooms, register prrato. colonial oven, dresser, &c; two tanks: allotment, 40 x 109. Price, £310. Easy terms. OHARLOTTK-STRKET.-S Pretty Verandah Cottages to be sold on very easy terms Allot ments 33 z lilt. (824) COLLKGK RO a D.-First-class section. Price, £5 JOs per foot (*29) COMMERCrAI. ROAD, off Great North Koad. —5} acres; 2 acres paling fenced and planted with 300 fruit trees. Very cheap. . (838) COMMEKCIAL ROAD, off Great North Road. —New Verandah Cottage of 5 Rooms, Regis tered Grate, Cupboards, &c. Allotment 91 x 150. £400. (7281 DEVONPORT. — Beach Road: 4 Dwelling houses ; 3 let at £50 each, and one at £60. First-class investment and very cheap. (839) DAIRY FLAT.-Desirable Farm, 307 acres;, good land; part in cultivation. Comfort able Homestead. Price, only £725. (846) GEORGE AND WILLIAM STREETS, POtf- SONBY—Brick House of four rooms and (scullery, outhouse, &c; allotment 33 z 132: £400. LUCAS CRKEK.—BB acre?; 2 acres orchard good water frontage. Price £160. (827) LUCAS CRKKK.- 88 acres good land; £220 LEAMINGTON ROAD. MT. EDEN.-Sty Verandah Cottage and freehold allotment for £220. (852) MOUNT KDEN.-llandfioma Villa of Grooms, pantry, bathroom, stable, ana otner con veniences; largo allotment. Price, only £525. (859) MAUKU.-Nlco and Complete Little Harm of 58 acres flrst-c'ass land; about half improvod and in grass; balance in goad mixed bush; well watered; good position; with good and substantial Cottage of 4 rooms, cowshed, and sundry outbuildings; situate within 5 minutes' walk of Church of England and school. Price only £370. ram MONTAGUK-BTRKKT, NEWTON.-Now Six roomed Verandah Cottage, fitted with register grates, colonial oven, cupboards. &o. Price. 280. (719) MARY-STREET, MOUNT EDEN.-Cottago of 3 Koornn, Bakehous-, Stable. Cartoned. &o. allotment 40x99. £300. nm MAHURANGI.-43 Acros first-class Land 2« acres in bush, consisting of kuuri, totara, puriri, &c.; all ploughuble. To bo had a bargain. (7231 MOUNT EDEN', Main Road.-Pretty Cottage of i rooms; almost new, and iltted with registered oven, tank, &c. Price £i&U. (788) NORTHCOTE.-Handsome New Villa of tire rooms; bow window, &c; allotmentso x 200 L with water frontage, 3 minutes walk from Stokcs's Point Wharf. Price, only £325. NEW LYNN. AVONDALK -20 acros'good loam; rising district seven miles by road: adjoining railway station. 4 good Grass Paddocks fenced; iniylit boßUbdividc-d with Kreatadvnntage. a bargain 944 NEW NORTH ROAD, near Upper Syinonds- BtreeU—Comfortablo Residence of 11 rooms* bathroom, washhouse, stable, buggyhouso, and many conveniences; standing in about 1] acres land; tastefully laid out in flower garden, orchard, &c, &o. Price only £Bi>o. (7791 NEW MARKET.-New-street: New Verandah House of 5 rooms; good well, tank, &o • n'co garden; allotment 48 x 120. Price only ONE HUNG A.—House 7 rooms, in good order, goad well, stable. &c. and two allotments; a great bargain. Price, £130. (868) PROSPECT TARRACB. - Handsome Villa of 5 Rooms and porch; fitted with Cupboards Dresser, Registered Grate, Oven, &c; good well and tank, nice garden, woll-Btocked, £360. (723) PaPAUOA. — Lots 101 ana 102,150 Acres situated about 1J miles from Paparoa, vil! lago. Price, onl> 30s per aero. (4751 PUKKKOHK. 81 acres Splendid Land; about 3; acres in grass; balance in valuablonative bu.-h. rajfi POKENO.- 'S9 acres Volcanic Land, nearly all level; 26 acres cleared and in good groan and fenced Price *2 par acre; a oaritain. 913 POKENO.- Nice Little Farm of 21 acres, in cropß, graßS, &o.; goo'i five roomed Cottage and outhoußes, which, with 4 cows, dairy utensils. &c, &c, is now offered for £300 • situate just at Pokeno Station. '803) * PAPAKUR v VALLEY. - 126 acras good alluvial land; partly fenced, and a portion improved; a Bplendid creek through the grop-rty; about 3 miles from Railway ration. rejoi * RAZORBACK-48 Acres Good Land, 26 Veres in grass; cottago of three rooms, cow-shed. P'Kgery, &a; never-failing supply of wateii Price, only £250. _ BT. GKOHGB'S BAY ROAU, - Nice Villa Residence of 7 rooms: allotment 83 x 88 ---splendid view, opposed Judgo Munro'al £450. (|Kf.| IAMAE EAST.- Compact little Farm of 120 aorop, of which 80 acres nro 1n grnsi. Gar dcr b id orchard: good piece of bush, and a pl<v ifttl supply of water. House of T r.'- as stable, shed and sundry outbnild i'.^tf. All in good order. ©121 VIfcV^ROAD ANDTHK TERRACE. MOUNT ROKM.-A jrirst olass Residence of 7rooma. complete with every convenience; well laid out grounds abour. I aero : fruit and flower garden. Magnificent vSow 048 VlffVV ROAD MOUNT KDEN.-5 minutes* from Railway Station —A new 6-rconied Two-otorey Building, verandahs, bath-room., water laid in: fiuit treeß and vc&etab'a' Kardon. volcanic mould. Price. £430 aw WELLINGTON - STKBET. -• ComfortiWo, Vurandae Cottago nf i rooms, inßoodeonr diliot). Room underneath for good workr Hhop. Price, only £28. inia WKLLSFOKD.-Very dcsiwWe Farm ofa» acres; delightfully situated; goodrestdtnc*" barns, cowsheds, store, boatebed, and wharf. Convenient to good markets. To 1 Do 801(1 very oneap, on ea*v terms iWl\ WARKWORTaIoid Establish™ BoaSinV houfe Buiiness for sale. First-class opnor-. Sec, &e.| &c, TO. F. KVANB, . House, Land, and Estate Agent. Land Mart-Qneeaf street 1 XT OTIC E.—Mr Whttehot/se, Dentist XI (Uoentiaite Dental Surgery, Royal Colleg* of Surgeons), of 50, Parlianienketreet, London, England; Dental Surgeon to the Royal Hospital for Womon and Children, Cit7 and Metropolitan Police Orphanagos, etc., etc.; Follow of tho Rol aA C2 lolsi? llnsfJ tute TtraveliinBfor»ol>nngov and his health, will be pleased to receive a few Pationts in Auckland during his stay here. Mr W. will arrive in October, when his address will bo published in this paper, and will carry letters from the loading medical men in h& noighbournood speaking to tho conscientious and competent manner with which ho has conj ductod his practioo tho past 10 yoars. Coffeei Coffeei Coffees s. c. brown, flour &W 453£&fflB&} spic= ' ME^OHANT, Has Avvavs on Hand and „ _ FOR Sale— . » I}?M'^^S' on* SO's, "Blue" brana FLO%R^P^D^IiT^" a' "Kcd" bKmd 00™ Inthomtvttsrof COFFEE, fVin tx.,<h 1 ' «'i &10 attention of RrnJ^ Wio.lß called to the oxccllenco of my Pnmn 8> snd5 nd 1 tritV= l suited. T'io Mixtures are composed only of the Best Plantation Cotfeo and tho Best Chicory procurable, and may bo characterise^ thus :— v H0^1!! <nV r ****■ brand), nearly pure cotTco h|»ip s,iul "Camol," medium coffees of great stronKtli and flavour Castlo ' and "Leopard," low medium and common coffees. To lovers of really lino Cofl'eo, I strongly ro commeiid the " Eagle," but to tho general taste Medium Coffees are fomu} tobemostaccoptuble, and I say, therefore, Try Tim SHIP Brand ■ TltY THE CAMEL BItAND. V- Procurable ft-om all Jlorclmnts and Storo ylbs., Übs., 41bs., 21bs., and lib. . 7 Coffee i Coffee i Coffee r — — « COUSINS AND. AT KIN, COACH BUILDERS, ELLIOTT AND ALBIiRT-STRKKTS, HaVe in Stock- Double and Single-seated Buggies, Hooded;' Phtetons, Vis-a-vis, Waggonettes, Dog Carts, Second-hand Phretons and Buggies. Also,