"DENMARK AND THE DANES."

Mk G. W. GRIFFIN, American Consul in Auckland, delivered a lecture on tho abovo subject last night in the Ponsonby Hall. He said :— Denmark, tho little kingdom in ■which it was my fortune to live for several

years, is one of the most interesting countries in Europe. Tho annexation of tho Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to tho German Empire took from the Danes a territory of about 7,000 square miles, and there now remain to them an extent of country of only 15,000 square miles, a little less than one-sixth of thcarea of the colony of Now Zealand; nevertheless, thelittlekingdoin extends its sway over vast, although thinly populated, dominions. These include— Greenland, which has the dimensions of a continent, stretching from Cape Farewell to tho furthermost polar latitude, .Iceland, the Faroo Islands, and the Danish West Indies, all of which increase tho area to about 450,000 square miles. Denmark -proper lies between the parallels 53deg. and 58deg. north latitude, and between the 'meridians of 7<leg. and 13deg. east longi tude. It has a population of about 1,700,000. The word "Denmark" signifies tho land or mark of the Danes. The southern part of the kingdom is composed of rich agricul tural lands well grassed and watered. The northern part of the poninsula of Jutland is, indeed, a cold and desolate region. It is swept for a distance of over two hundred miles by almost unintermitting tempests and drifts of sand. Among the Gipsios in Jutland. In 1573 I followed a band of Gipsies into that desolate region, with tho view of increasing my knowledge of Gipsy lifo and character. When a boy, my African nurse often talked to mo about the Gipsies. Sho was very fond of quoting tho saying, "Onco a Gipsy, always a Gipsy." Sho used to toll mo that I had Gipsy blood in my voins. Perhaps her stories havo had something to do with my wandering lifo, and especially with my ad ventures amongst tho Gipsies. At all events, when I reached the town of Skagenandsaw so many of tho houses half-buried in tho Band, I was very desirous to retrace my footsteps; but ono of tho band, Antonius Gawino, Count of Little Egypt, whose ac quaintance 1 made on the route, forbade my returning until 1 could satisfy his peoplo of tho object of my visit. These worthies pitched their tents a few miles from tho town of Skngan, and I was a prisoner in tlioir camp for about 18 hours. Tho night was the longest of my lifo. It seemed to stretch out, liko the lino of ghost* in "Macbeth," tothucrackof doom. Tho little glue]) that 1 gut was worse than nono at all. Tho morning eiimo at hut, and after breakfast I was, to Homo extent, comforted, in having my fortune told by ii bountiful <;ipsy girl, who pointed out a very prosperous and brilliant future for me. 1 also witnessed a Gipsy marriage ceremony, which was performed around tho body of a duad horse, sacrificed for tho purpose at the time of high moon. My (Sipsy frlonds let mi; depart in jwace, after a careful inspection of my official pass port, which they hold up between tho light in order to see the water marks of tho American uuglu and tho United States coat of arms. Tho City of Coponliagcn. I must now leavo tho Gipsies and tho dosolnto shorcß of Jutland, mid apeak to you of Copenhagen, ono of tho most beauti ful cities in tho world, and where I passed some of tho happiest hours of my lifo. Tho city has command of two oceans—tho Baltic and the North Sea. It was originally a fishing village, but became a place of im portance as early as tho l'2th century. Its commerce is not only large, but is constantly increasing. Its climate is mild, notwith standing its northern latitude. This is duo partly to tho insulated condition of tho country and to tho efl'ect of tho Gulf stream. Tho oxtremo heat is 80" aboro zero. Tho longest day is about eighteen hours, and tho shortest is six hours. Tho glenm of water is found everywhere ; in fact, tho city is so intersected and islanded that it has won tho name of tho Northern Venico. Tho houses, which aro generally four and five stories high, aro built in" a pleasing stylo of architecture, and aro covered with stucco work. The peoplo live in Hats, and some of tho buildings contain as many as eighty families. There was only one houso in the city occupied by ono family, and that was tho residence of tho British Ambassador. Tho public buildings com pare favourably with those of London, Pads, and Vienna. Tho Christianborg Palace is ono of tho largest and finest in tho world. Tho loft wing of the Palace is used for tho Royal Picture Gallery. Many of tho best works of Raphael, Titian, Tintoretto, Cignani, Rubens, Van dyke, Hans, Mombling, Van Marnier, and Carl Bloch, lulorn tho gallery. Tho building contains about ono thousand pictures. It is especially rich in Dutch and Flemish paintings. I took vory groat delight in studying tho works of the Danish artists, especially thoso of Van Mandcr. Jans .luel and Carl Bloch. Bloch's picture of Christian 11. had such an attrac tion for mo that I visitoJ tho gallery again and again to look at it. Christian 11. U not a favourite with tho Danes, becauso under his rule thoy lost tho Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway ; but it is a part of my nature to sympathise with misfortune. King Christian, moreover, had many admirable qualitios. Ho restricted the ]x>wcr of the nobles, and was over a friend of tho peasantry. Ho sup ported tho Reformation of Luther, and first opened tho channels of commorco to tho Dutch traders, but ho was unfortunate in battlo, and, of oonreo, lost tho favour of his gubjocts. Ho was kept a close prisoner in a gloomy dungeon in the castlo of Sonden borg for a period of 10 years. Tho door of his cell was walled up, and his food and water wero passed down to him by a ropo. A jug and a round table wcro tho only articles of furniture allowed him. The unhappy King walked round and round tho tablo until a groove was worn in it an inch deep by the pressure of his thumb. Tho artist has represented tho King with a strikingly intellectual face, notwithstand ing the gloomy oxprossian of his features. The rude castlo of Coponhagon, which tho king engraved upon the walls of his prison from memory, is visiblo in tho picture His plumed cap, broken shoe string, and worn and faded garments add an additional interest to tho stoiy of his sufferings. While contemplating tho pic ture, my hoart went out in admiration for the commanding genius of tho artist who could thus reveal to us such an impressive lesson of human wrongs and sorrows. The Musounis of Copenhagen. The museums of Copenhagen aro un rivalled in Europe. Tho old Northern Museum, the Ethnographic, Thorwallsens, and tho Chronological Collection of the Danish Kings in Rosenbory Castle, abound in treasures of surpassing beauty and mag nificence. Among theso I will mention Queen Dagmars Cross, tho oldest enamelled cross in the world. This cross, a facsimile of one which 1 had made for my friend Hobert Shelton Mackenzie, is about an inch

and a-quarter in length, and an inch in width. It is fastened by two small gold bands or bracelets toan enamelled ring, and was designed to be worn as an urna ment to a necklace. On one side of the cross is the figure of our Saviour in a bluo enamelled background; on each side of his body, under the out stretched arms, are two scrolls, and above His head is a blue enamelled circle in purple and gold. On the other side of the cross are five medallions, Christ forming the central figure, with tho Virgin Mary on the right, St. John tho Baptist on the left, St. Basil above, and St. John Cry sostom below. Tlio Ethnographic col lection is so arranged that the visitor is enabled to make as it were a journey round the world, and to form a knowledge ef the habits and customs of thoEsquimaux, the Indian, the Negro, the Malay, the Polynesian, the Chinese, Japanese, Per sian, Tartar, Turk, and Arab. I found so many treasures in Itosenborg Castle that I hardly know which one to select for a description this ovening. A Wonderful Horn. Perhaps some account of tho Oldenborg horn would interest you, for around this exquisite work of art cluster many beautiful legends and stories. The horn proper is made of silver, but is enriched with ornamentations of pearl, emerald, ruby, amethyst, and gold. It is about three feet in length, inclusive of the main stem. The entire exterior displays a wonderful knowledge of whatever pertains to the chivalry of thomiddloages. Knights in armour on horseback, shield-bearers, torch bearers, musicians, soldiers carrying Hugs and banners, groups of lions, tigers, and eagles, projecting balconies with ladies over looking and playing upon lutes and harps, watchmen upon towers holding burning censers, blocks of mosaic and lettered inscriptions appear in endless variety. The true story of this horn is that it was uiiide by a jeweller named Daniel Arateus for Christian I. It was in tended as a votive olloiing at the shrino of the Maji. Othors trace the horn as far back as the.time of Count Otto 1., of Olden borg, and relato tho following story in su]>])ort of their claim. In the year US9, Count Otto L, of Olden borg, was out hunting in his forost near tho mountain of Offonborg. In his eagerness to pursuo the deer, lie ascended an unfrequented mountain path and got separated from his companions. Tho day was sultry, and tho Count chocked his hor.se and exclaimed, " Would that I had a cooling draught I" whereupon the side of tho mountain opened, and ho bohold a beautiful maiden with lustrous eyes and long, ilowing, golden hair. She advanced towards him and handed him a horn of silver and gold, and said, "Drink of this, Count Otto, then fortune shall favour tlieo and the wholo Houso of Oldenborg ; but if you refuse, misfortune shall befall thee, and evil shall betide thy race." Tho Count received tho gift with a thrill of joy, but upon tasting tho liquid ho discovered that it emitted a poisonous odour, and at once emptied tho contents on the ground, a drop of which singed tho hair of his horse. When tho maidon saw what ho had dono with the draught, sho domanded that tho horn should be returned to her ; but Count Otto refused, saying, "What has once been given mo con never be taken away." With those words ho doffed his hat to tho maiden, and soon joined his companions, whom ho told of his intorviow with tho mountain sprite, and at tho sumo time showed them his glittering trophy. Now, it is main tained that thu horn was carefully guarded by tho representatives of tho house of Oldenborg until it was brought to Itosen borg Castle. I was much delighted with the Knights' Hall, where the regalia is kept. Tho walls aro hung with oriental cloths, intorvoven with gold and silver. In tho contro risen a pyramid of plato glass, beneath which, on a purple velvet back ground, spnrklo a countless number of pre cious stones. Tho value of tho ornamonte in this room is counted by millions. Tho glass room con tains tho rarest and most valuable collection of glassware in the world. There is no othor that can at all bo compared to it. It was obtained by Frederick IV. while in Venico in 1714. He succeeded in getting Rome specimens of lilagro or thread glass, manufactured by a secret process. The secret was known to only ono person, and at his death the art was lost. Collectors have sought in vain for .specimens of this glass, and oll'or untold suras for it. Next to the lilagro glass, tho ancient jewelled glass such as the ruby, opal, pearl, aructhyst, .sapphire, and oinorald are the most valu able. The walls of the room aro decorated with valuable paintings and green silk curtains. The minor room is entirely of French plato looking-glass. On entering the, room tho visitor discovers that the walls Door, coiling, and doors arc all of glass. Tho effect is at once startling and be wildering. In walking about the floor you sec your image gliding in all directions, around nnd about you, abovo and beneath. Tho images above aro moving on their heads, while those below aro on their feot. It is a mystery to mo how the treasures in tho castlo aro so well preserved) The wedding suit of Frederick V., 1743, does not show the least sign of age. Tho gold embroidery is as bright as if put on yesterday. Tho Castlo of Rosonborg was built under tho supervision of Christian IV., who is credited with being tho founder of that stylo of architecture in which tho Gothic is harmoniously blended with anothor stylo. It is impossible for ono to behold this magnificent structure with out feelings of admiration and awa. Its graceful and slender turrets, cronulatod gables and pointed cornico ornaments can not fail to mako a lasting impression. The building is threo stories in' height. Tho main front oxtonds from cast to wo«t. Tho principal tower is 100 feet in hoight. Tho principal or central turret is octagonal in shape, and risos 65 foot abovo tho roof. Tho walla of tho corridor of tho castle aro hung with pictures of tho principal events in the history of tho two first cen turies ef the House of Oldenborg. The Thorwaldscn Collection. It would occupy too much of your time for mo to attempt to give anything like a detailed description of tho museums of Copenhagen ; but}l wish to say something of Thorwaldsen's "Museum, tho Mecca of sculpture. There is nothing liko it in all the world. Tho building was begun during tho lifo of Thorwaldpen, and was designed as a repository for all his works. In the centro of tho museum is his tomb, in an open court. The walls of tho court aro of the same colour as the sky, and ornamented with roses and lilies, tho flowers lie loved so woll. On the top of tho tomb is an obon cross, bearing his namo and the date of his birth and death. Ivy leaves aro twined about it. Hero he sloops well, and in sum mer tho birds come, and tho golden-tinted clouds look down upon him and bless him. There are, in tho museum, 10S works in marble, 4 groups, 19 statues, 05 has reliefs, and' one frieze. In tho corridor on the upper lloor aro the models of his statues, and bos reliefs, that aro in marble in other parts of tho building. The sculptor was very fond of executing mythological figiu-es^the best of which aro his statues of Cupid, Psycho, Mercury, and "Jason re turning with tho golden ileece." Tho Hall of Christ is, howover, tho chief at

traction of the building. In it is the figure of our Saviour surrounded by His twelve apostle?, each of whom is portrayed in his traditional dress and character. The last room in the Museum contains an old fashionablo Dutch clock, which marks the hour of the sculptor's death, and which is said to have ceased running the moment he died. Near to this clock is the bust of Luther, upon which he was working tho day of his death. Thero aro also in the room several unfinished sketches and a slate con taining his last drawing which was designed for a has relief. It is impossible to turn from theso unfinished sketches without a mist in the eyo and a throb in tho throat. It was tho dream of the sculptor's lifo to provide for his parents in their old ago, who were inmates of tho poor-house in Copen hagen ; but alas ! the dream was never to be realised, for when fortune smiled upon him, both father and mother were dead. It is tho old old story of disappointed hopes and ambition, of joys unfulfilled, of tho woary watching for tho dawn of to-morrow's morn that can never come.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

A description is given in "Engineer ing " os the new copper zinc alloy, just in troduced in London,and which it is claimed

possesses properties as superior to brass as those of bronze are to gun metal. The specific advantages presented by this new metal are chiefly great strength and tough ness, and capacity for being rolled, forged, and drawn. It can bo made as hard as mild steel, and when melted is very liquid, pro ducing sound castings of close fine grain, and the colour can bo varied from that of yollow brass to rich gun metal, the surface taking a fine polish, and, when exposed to tho air, tarnishing less than brass. When cast in sand, the metal has a breaking strain of twenty-ono to twenty-two tons per square inch ; when rolled or forged hot into rods, the breaking strain is found to be forty-three tons tho square inch.

Tho fact is now recognised by all archi tects that the stability of a building undor the influence of lire depends largely upon keeping the floors from giving way — a matter easily attained when they aro of iron |and pugging, but requiring special precautions when they are made of com bustible materials. A practice is now being resorted to, to a considerable extent, by French builders, of protecting floors by placing upon them a half-inch layer of usphalt over an inch of argillaceous earth, both at top and bottom. A layor of plaster of Paris, fine concrete, cement, or clay, three or four millimetres (0.11 to o.ls)thick, or a paying of tiles, permits of waiting for assistance, by preventing the air from coming in contact with the wood and thus maintaining combustion. The industrial uses of slag seem to con tinually multiply. The nlaig; wool, as it is termed—produced by the impact of a steam jet with a stream of molten slag—is em ployed for covering steam boilers, steam pipes, ice houses, and cisterns, also as a protection against fire, a filter for chemicals, &c. ; paving blocks and building bricks are made by pulverising tho solid slag and then pressing the bricks in a preps; and glass is another product—the molten slag being taken in a ladlo from the blast fur nace and poured into a Siemens furnace, where soda and silica aro added to the mass, according to the quality of tho slag used. Tho ingenuity of Horr Victor has en abled him to determine that the colour of water, when n erfectly pure, ib a shade be tween blue and green. Taking two glass tubes, forty millimetres in diameter and about 1.5 meters in length, he connected them by means of rubber tubing, forming a tube about seven'and ono-half meters long, both ends of this tube being fixed in glass plates and fitted with m«tal sockets, pro vided with brass nozzles for filling the tube. The tube was now placed in a perfectly horizontal position, and covered with a black cloth; upon looking through the empty, tube the field of vision appears colourleM.as the cloth and the metal sockets prevent the glass from exorting any in fluence; as soon, however, as the tube is filled with distilled water, an intense bluish green colour is observed. The process pursued in manufacturing fabrics composed of wool and cotten or other vegetable fibre, viz., to either card both materials separately, in order to sub sequently mix them. up and spin the two into yarn known as merino or angola, or to mix ujp the animal and vegetable fibres before tarding, has the disadvantage of showing a quantity of small knots or irreg ularities on the surface of tho fabrics, thus deteriorating tho quality and value of the yarn. This difficulty, it is now found, may bo avoided by carding separately tho cotton, wool, or other fibre in a carding en gine best suited to the particular substance treated ; theso cotton and wool cardings being then laid one on tho other, and sub sequently passed through another carding engine, which thoroughly combines the different fibres together, when thoy are spun into yarn in the usual manner. The carding engine in this caso is sot, in Older to prevent the fibres entering tho card teeth further than is nocessary to insuro their parallel position. Prepared in this manner, the yarns are quite free of knots. One of tho astronomers at the Greenwich (Eng.) Observatory claims to havo measured thoheatfrom those well-known stars—Arctu rus, tho leading brilliant of tho Herdsman, and Vega, tho chief star of the Lyre. From a careful measurement of their light tho equal splendour of these stars was long ascertained; but Arcturus shines with a ruddy, yellow light, while Vega exhibits a colour which has been compared to tho gleam of highly polished steel. Tho esti mates of their heat correspond wieh the as pect of theso orbs, Arcturus emitting about twice as much as Vega. Minute, however, ib the heat received from either ; indeed, these measurements show that the heat roceivod from Arcturus is, sensibly, tho same as that from the face of a three inch iron cube full of boiling water at a distance of 353 yards.

Tho town of Borcetto, France, claims to produce tho best quality of needles now supplied to tho mamkets of Europe, the pro cesses of manufacture being in s<smo re spects peculiar to this locality. The con version of the steel wire into rough needles involves some twenty operations. The pointing is found to bo best ac complished by means of grindstones; by tho aid of a copper finger-stall, the work man holds fifty wires at a time, which are boated to redness by tho friction. After the sharpening, the operation cuts the wire into two, flattens the head, and anneals and punches the eyes. Tho tempering and annealing compriso nine operations. One million needles are polished at one time— live operations, each being repeated seven or eight times; the needles are put in hollow rollers with small hard stones and colza oil, the stones are gradually pulver ised, and the friction of the powder gives the principal polish, oil and course Man being employed for thejfinal polish. Violent Changes in Brooks'?! Comet, Boston, Sept. 2-t.—The violent changes which are going on in the physical appear ance of Brooks's comet, as noted in the de spatch of Saturday night, still continue, as shown by tho observations mado at Harvard College Observatory last night

by Mr Chandler. The increase of light still continues, but at a less rapid rate, while instead of the sharp, small disc into which most of the light was collected, the nucleus isspreading out into aconfused, circular, nebulous patch of light, half a minute of an arc in diameter. The comet two nights ago required a moderately largo telescope to observe it, but to-night it can easily be seen with an opera glass, having increased 15 times in 48 hours. The activity of the display, which is with out a parallel in cometary history, is more extraordinary on account of the very great distance of the comet from the sun, and, should the present increase of light con tinue, the bright-ness of the object will exceed many times its computed brilli ancy.

A NEW COMET.

Thk recognition of the comet which was discovered early in the present month by Professor Brooks as the long expected comet of 1812 returning to visit once more the solar system, is an event which possesses much greater general interest than at first appears. After looking in vain for this comet for two or three years, and haying several false alarms caused by tho unexpected appearance of other comets, the astronomers, it sesnii, forgot the long looked-for visitor, and for more than a fort night after it had actually come in eight thoy took it for a complete stranger. It is bcarng down upon the sun out of the northern heavens, and by midwinter will be seen shining brilliantly in the evening sky, plainly visible, of course, to the naked eye, but probably not presenting anything like so grand an appearance a3 the great comet of last year. The verification which the return of this comet gives of the calculations of the astron omers presentsa very striking instance of tho knowledge thatthey have obtained of things that are going on beyond the earth. When this comet appeared in 1812 careful ob servations and computations were made to ascertain just what sort of a curve it made as itapproachedthe sun, swungaround it, and again darted off into space. This curve was, of course, a portion of the comet's orbit, but a very small por tion, since no observations of this kind could be made except while the comet was near enough to the sun to be visible in telescopes. The astronomers measured this curvo so accurately that by applying tho laws of gravitation they were able to plot out the orbit of the comet through its whole extent, and to say that, although when it disappeared the heavena had apparently swallewed it up, yet it could not escape from the control of the sun, and would be back again in some seventy years. According to recent calcu lations, the comet was due at perihelion in September, 1884. Now that it has been seen winging its way back, the astronomers are able to say that it will reach its perihe lion some time in January next, about eight months ahead of the calculated time. But considering that it takes the comet over seventy years to run the round of its orbit, and that the data they had to work upon were slight, the prediction of the calculators is to be regarded as a remarkably accurate one. Chained by the laws of their being to this little revolving globe, they have been able, by the aid of mathematics to follow the invisible course of a body which, having shone for a «hort time in the eveningsky.cusappeared entirelyfrom sight, and wended its way sereral thousand mil lions of miles into space. Years before it had ceased to move away from the sun and the earth they worn able to say that It would turn and come back again, and to-day we see the prediction verified, forlo! the comet that nearly three quarters of a century ago faded out of the sight of men is now again risible, rushing sunward, and re-illuminating its train as if in celebration of the return from its long journey out into the realm of starlight.— From the "New York Sun, 1' September 26.

Best Thoughts of Best Men.

Momests of triumph are not always mo menta of happiness.

Experience is the beat schoolmaster, but the school-fees are somewhat heavy,

In all things have the courage to prefer comfort and prosperity to fashion.

He who is slowest in making a promise is generally the most faithful in the per formance of it.

Thoso who come to you to talk about others aro the ones who go to others to talk about you.

It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we aro the more patient and gentle wo become as regards the defects of others.

Men's feelings aro always purest and most glowing in the hour of meeting and of fare well ; like the glaciers, which aro transpa rent and rosy-hued only at sun-rise and sunset, but throughout the day gray and cold.

Straws swim upon the surface, bnt pearls Ho at the bottom. Showy parts strike every common eye, but solid ones are to be discerned only by the most accurate ob servers of the human head and human heart.

The affliction which ■ shrinks from publi city, seeks to be invisible, and avoids ceremony, is more true and deep Mian that which finds its solace in that outward dis play which invites ths comment of the world at large.

Death is the wish of some, the relief of many, and the end of all. It sbte the slave at liberty, carries the banished man home, and places all men on the same level, inso much that life itself would be a punishment without it.

When a man does a heroic action at somo cost|to himself, he knows that though it cost it counts. The highest reaches that any man ever has of joy in this world axe thoso which he has through the ministration of grief and sorrow.

If yo« are a wise man, you will treat the world as the world treats you. Show it only one side of yourself, seldom Bhow too much at a time, and let what you show be calm, cool, and polished. But look at every side of this world.

Good nature is the best feature in the fineet face. Wit may raise admiration, judgment command respect, knowledge attention, beauty inflame the heart with love, but good nature has a more powerful effect—it adds a thousand attractions to the charms of beauty, and gives an air of beneficence to the homeliest faco.

• Habits.—Liko flakes of snow that fall unperceived upon the earth, the seemingly unimportant events of life succeed one another. As the snow gathers together, bo arc our habits formed ; no single flake that is added to the pile produces a sensible change; no single action creates, however it may exhibit, a man's character; but as the tempest hurls the avalanche down the mountain, and overwhelms the inhabitant and his habitation, so passion, a«ting upon the elements of mischief, which pernicious habits have brought together by impercep | tible accumulation, may overthrow the • cdifioe of truth and virtue.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

[By an Amkrican Lady.]

No. I.—Auckland.

To even the ordinarily-cultivated mind a. continual change of scene and associations >-lS must produce a variety of thoughts and H suggestions, and leave an indelible imprint I I of experience.. The first impressions of a new country, when unbiassed, are generally- 9 ! appreciable as a record to those who are for the time, the subject of the same |HI therefore, I am de«irous of not presuming■ "ft to write a literary article, open to all gorte ' I of criticism ; but, as nearly every American lady keeps a diary of her travels, I thought li a few elaborated extracts from mine would I he acceptable as regards New Zealand. } When my husband started on his lengthy ' tour through New Zealand, I had from " what I had been repeatedly told' fond- H anticipations of the pleasure and delight I was about to enjoy, and I can honestly eav that already my anticipations hay© been i more than realised. New Zealand so far as I have at present seen, is a lovely couo try and without wishing to flatter you ' ' 5 Auckland, I am sure, must be a bright crem in its array of beauty. I ga^ «•£ mingled feelings of surprise and admiration at the many landmarks on the rueeed coast, and, as we entered this harbour I was fain to admit that it was a sight lo'n? to be remembered. Weird and picturesqu! the view, with the mighty Rangitoto loom ing in the distance, and the other Ihftv mountains all around us; the charming North Shore on one side, and the pretty broad-spreading city, with its windmill and bright-looking houses on ths other Ihe whole scene reminded one more of an" Italian.view than any I have lately wit nessed. Even with the gentle beauty o£ Sydney harbour in my mind, I was fascinated with this one, and 1 must admit '^ that while the Sydney waters and surround- 1 M ings are delightful in their loveliness, these are gorgeous in their grandeur There ari H so many special objects of interest herethat I have scarcely had time to see them aIL. i-' and the incessant rain lately has prevented me from seeing half that I should have I wished; but one little trip I was much I pleased with, and that was my visit to tho North Shore. What a lovely little seaside. 1 suburb ! And what nice boats to take you 9 there! The view from Flagstaff Hill alone i repays one for the time spent in going oter, 1 and the luxury of having one's portrait. I taken by a voluble photographer, .who, I by-the-by, remarked to me when in j,.|J position, "You look quite a hangel, Miss,"' f>| an orthodox expression of his, I under- I stand—followed by indulging in straw berries and cream in those gardens contain-^'ll ing such a nicely-arranged combination of <M arbours and rustic retreats, make up a day's enjoyment that I should) like to re- fiS peat very often. Another '' smiling view ll ;'M is a drive through Remuera to the raoe- ,'M course. I was particularly struck by thel i'll marvellous amount of excellent pasturage, M dotted here and there with suburban retreats in all styles and sizes, and I con-'jiS sider the panoramic view with tho riret winding in and out, backed by the volcaniaJi^K pinnacles, a picturesque study sufficient to I enchain the eye of any true artist, ai^;:||! enchant the attention of even any ordinary :';|jf observer. The races I should have enjoyed >.*| further, had there been more people and I less rain, but being passionately fond of Ap horses, I saw much to admire, and I mujlMf congratulate the Committee on the fhtti'wf stock exhibited, especially that dear little Revolver! No wonder Auckland is prondilpt of the recent racing feathers ipill its cap, when horses like these-1.; are plentiful amongst them. -TJ»| B Agricultural Show, too, has many B . charms for me, and I was marvel lously surprised at the exhibition of local potteryware. I must confess to beingsp disappointed, though, at the local hacks .I? ---being ridden by men. Surely you musHl,' have some graceful equestriennes who eoalj|Ki be induced to lend a lustre to the Showb™|s their appearance? Oh, yes ! Ladieß:-«]H lend lustre to everything, and althoug¥ffl||J! am speaking of my own sex I am determined j?' to indulge in this little piece of flattery. Now from the simple beauty once mow3if: to the gorgeous grandeur. I had heard to much of the surrounding view from the ' summit of Mount Eden that the other draß I took the first opportunity of making an" ; ascent. Oh! what an ever-changing, bril-iji; liant view- as one goes round and round on I the -winding road ; and, oh! what a majeiwli sight when one reaches the summit. Sqfi3fl| after we started the now too much familiar^n' rain desconded, and although I should^-.., dearly like to stand up there on a fine day^jß yet I was by no means sorry for my visit, u,.. the rain gave the scene a wondrouß Mtfijjp thrilling appearance. The fast-gathi^HH rain-clouds rolling on nearer and nearer, - with the Heavens pouring forth all aromiOp andthecoustantpealsof thundermakingofle '< start so suddenly, gave me a terrible inajMsß into the wrathful powerof Nature. Idon'teare1;: to moralise, but I itust say that standingjjfi.1 '! high upon that peak with the proofs of all, f. that mighty power around you, brings! < i thrilling thougnts to one, and makes tofra feelingoneof aweas wellas admiration. Ismlß the crater also. For some long time I livei-jfe!' j where, from my window, I could see ™||ijj enormous Mount Vesuvious, and hav»E' many times been down the coolest SfSSHS ■< (which is very hot indeed) of its exteniiy^g ■ crater, and though that of Mount Eden;ffl»| scarely one-tenth the size of that of MoMtjjjii j Vesuvious, still I enjoyed gazing down,asiaw : made one think and wonder what thu||p| country was like once, and how much ereditfe'- is due to your citizens for the speedy aiw|||| ations and decided improvement that all the surroundings have undergone. • It aeenw t, almost a pity that such a historical landiS-1 mark, affording such fine scenic opportuntsfip; ties, should be the victim of the advancefl^B civilisation, by being gradually decreaeeflwlj to obtain substance for modern roads ; in all countries the object of old associatiotiffi'; gradually fades, and I suppose Mount ~ J cannot be petted by being made an ex^Sll tiou to the rule. ,'•! I cannot individualise the courtesies|nfflß kindnesses I have received at_ the l>an(«fflK ' so many of your leading citizens, isJJ|Si| have been so numerous; but I ™*^X heartily thank them, one and all, for eniwMj ling me to obt-ain tho information an^.'WH the beautiful sights which I have eriw|3H voured to notice in this humble letter. Mrs JraiA A. PoaßHt

There was a miner in the village of WPjSjii dorf in Germany, who, when hs was iII,WM accustomod to send his son to the eftptafl, of the mine to give his compliment*, '.fmaa say lie was sorry he would not be able togp;>y : to work that day. One night the father died suddenly, and the boy, thinking M only right to let the captain know, wrote: tho news to him in the following words s--1 "My father sends his compliments, N|| says he is sorry ho can't come to work'ilil| mere, as he died at half-past two o'clock;' this morning."

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 24, 1883,

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