IN A FLASH.

AVitEK first I remember my aunt Barbara

:she wa3 over 40 years of ago, but she could

■nover have boon accountod a handsome -woman. Sho was very tall and very angu lar, with a long thin face, tho most ro inarkable feature of which was a Roman •nose <fi commanding proportions. But as sho had ono of tho kindest hearts in the world, her paucity of good looks seemed a matter of trifling moment to those who had tho privilejro of knowing her well. It was nt my request that, some twe or three years

before her death, she wwto out tho following

narrative of an actual occurrence in her life. I put tho manuscript away at the time, and did not como across it agaiu until tho other day. On looking over it once moro, it Boomed to mo not unworthy of being trans scribed for a wider circle of readers than that comprised by tho writer's immediate frionds and acquaintances: You ask mo to go back in memory (begins *nyaunt)towhatsocmstomoiio\vHkcapfeHod of remote antiquity, when I, Barbara Wal dron, was 24 years of agv>, and lny sister Bessie fivo voars younger, ftlid endeavour to put down iii writing tho littlo story I told you by word of nwuth n few days ago. You must know, then, that m those fnr-

off days my sister and I wore keeping houso for our brother John, who Pt that- time filled tho position of steWart and land agent to Lord i)orrCngton. The houso wo lived in wp.j a pleasant tut somewhat lonely resi dence, about half a mile from tho littlo county^ toW» of LovensfioM. Tho house «uited us for several re**enp. In tho first Xilncc, tho ronfc Vrts hiw ; in the next, a Ini^n wallrd #»vdon was attached to it, in which Betwto and 1 spent many happy hours ( ftlill in tho third placo, there was a eide entrance to Dorrington Park, by which tny brother could take a short cut. to the hall whenever ho had business with Ms lord ship, or his lordship had business with him. Our household was a small ono, and besides ourselves comprised only Mary Gibbs, a middle-aged woman, and her niece, a girl of 10. John's horso and gig Mere looked after by a young man named Reuben Gates, who did not, however, sloop on tho premises. An important part of John's duties was to receive and pay into tho Lovensfield bank tho ronts due from tho farmers and other tenants of property hold under Lord Dor rington. Ono elich tenant was a certain Mr Shillitx^ a corn and seed merchant, who was noted for his eccentricities. It was only in keeping with Mr Shillito's aggrava ting way of doing business that he should never pay his rent at the lime other peoplo paid theirs; that ho should pay it in gold and notes, instead of giving a check for tho •mount, as he was quite in a position to have dono, and that he should make a point of bringing it himself, instead of naming ft time when my brother might have called upon him; and finally, that ho seldom arrived with the money till aftor banking hours.

We como now to a certain autumn even ing. Kitty had just brought in the tea-tray. It was growing dusk, almost too dusk to sco clearly without the lamp, but Bessie and I liked to economiao tho daylight as much as possible, especially now as tho long wintor bights wore c: closo upon us. John had come in for » Cup of tea. This evening he was going to drive ovor to Nothorcroft, somo ten miles away, dino there with some friends, and stay all night. After dinner thoro was to be a dance ; and I was not Without my suspicions as to tho nature of tho attraction which was taking him so far from homo, although ho laughingly pooh poohed the soft impeachment when I chal lenged him with it. John was in tho act of putting down his cup and saucer when ho heard a noiso of wheels outaide, which presently came to a stand oppjsite the house. He crossed tno room and peered through the window.

" It's old Shillito, come to pay his rent," he remarked « moment later. " Two hours after banking timo, as usual. What a nui eance he is 1 He went down stairs ; and about ten minutes later we hear Mr Shillito'e trap start off. Presently John came back. "Ninety pounds, all in gold and notes," he said. I've had to lock it up in my desk till morning."

I may hero remark that iron safes for tho custody of money and other valuables were by no moans so common in thoso days, especially in out-of-the-way country placos, as thoy appear to have since become. " But the money will be quite safe in your desk, won't it, John?" asked Bessie.

"Safo enough without a doubt, seeing that no one but ourselves knows of its pres ence there. Only, as a matter of business, I should prefer to have had it in tho coffers of the bank." Presently ho added : "The old fellow was half-seas over, as ho generally is, and I have no doubt, with so many houses of call by the way, that ho will be soaked through and through beforo he reaches home. I wonder whether he goes to bed eobor a night in his life."

A fow minutes later John kissed us and bade us good-night. Bessie and I went to the window to see him start, but by this time it was nearly dark. He waved his whip at us as soon as he had settled himself in his seat, then he gave the reins a little shako. Black Beryl's heels struck firo from the ntoncs as she sprang forward, the gravel scrunched beneath the wheels,and a moment later the shadows of evening had swallowed up horse and gig and driver. My sister and I pulled down the blinds and drew the curtains,and rang for Kitty to bring in the lamp. Tho evening passed after our usual quiet fashion. We Jworked a little and read a little,and played some half-dozen duets and chatted between times, till the clock pointed to 10.30 o'clock, at which hour we generally retired for the night. My last duty every evening was tc go the round of the house and satisfy myself that all the lights were out and the fires were safe, and that all the doors and windows were properly secared. When this duty had been duly accomplished to-night the drawing-room lamp was oxtin gui(hed,and then Bessie and 1 took our bed candles and marched up-stnirs, leiving darkness and solitude behind us. Mary Gibbs and Kitty had retired long ago. My sister's room and mine adjoined each other, with a dcor of communication be tween, which generally stood partly open at night for the sake of companionship. The windows of both rooms looked into the garden, which ran in a long strip along that Bide of the house,and was shut in by a wall some seven or eight feet high, beyond which there were three or four meadows, and then the boundary wall oi Dorrington Park, It was close on 1 o'clock—as I found out afterwards—when I awoke suddenly from a sound sleep. The instant I opened my eyes the room was illuminated by a vivid flash oi lightning,and it was in all probability a peal of thunder thut had broken my slum bers. Another flash followed after a brief interval, succeeded again by the deafening accompaniment. My sleep was effectually broken. I arose, flung a Bhawl over my shouldere, and crossing to the window drew back the blind and peeped out. As long ago as I can remember,lightning has always had a singular faf cination for me. As a child I loved to gaze upon its vivid splendours and in this respect at least years have left mo unchanged. A board creaked as I crossed he floor.

"Is that you, Barbara!" asked my sister from the other room. " Yes, dear. lam going to look out for a few minutos. Is not the lightning beauti ful ?"

" Very beautiful; only I wish it were any where rather than here," answered Bessio, who at such times was just as nervous as I was the reverse. .

Tho flashes followed each other afc inter vals of about a minute. I had witnessed three or four, whon suddenly I gave a start, and an exclamation broke involuntarily from by lips. The last flash had revealed to be the figures of two men in the act of climbing over the garden wall. One of the men was a stranger to me ; but in the other, instantaneous as was the revelation, I recog nised tho somewhat peculiar face and figure of a man named Dethel, whom my brother had employed temporarily during the last week or two in the gardetn, our rogular man being laid up at the time with rheumatism. There was something in the looks of the man in question that had set me against him from the first; but if we were all to be judged by our looks alone what would be come of us ? For aught I knew to tho con trary.Dethel might be an honest, hard-work ing fellow, with a wife and children dependent on him ; but for all that, on the days he was working for us I carefully re frained from going into the garden. And now thero was this man and another .with him, effecting a surreptitious entry of the premises at 1 o'clock in the morning 1 Such a proceeding could have but one end in view Two questions at once put them selves to me. Firstly, were these men aware that 'my brother was from homo for the night, and that only three helpless women and a girl were left in tho house ? Secondly, had they by some means become cognisant of the fact that a few hours pre viously Mr Shillito had paid my brother a considerable sum of money, which must noce'sarily still bo somewhere on the prem ises? In my mind thore was little doubt that bcth these facts were fully known to the men. My brother's movements were as open's the day, and Dethel had doubtless ascertained from Reuben, the groom, that

hia master would be from home on this par ticular nights while, as for Mr Shillito, everybody knew how he talked in his loud voiced way about his moat private affairs when he had taken more to drink than was

good for him. At the bar of more than one tavern that evening every one who might chance to bo Within hearing would not fail to bo informed tht.t Mr Shillito had just paid Jolm Waldron his half-year's rent.

These thoughts flashed through my mind almost as quickly as that flash which re vealed Bo much, Breathlessly I waited for tho next (lash. It camo, shattering tho darkness for an instant, and then it, too, Was s wallowed up. The men were no longer visible. Between the two flashes they had had time to drop on tho inner side of the wall, where tho thick clumps of ovcrgreens which clothed that part of tho grounds would effectually screen thorn from view.

At that very moment they were doubtless making (heir way stealthily towards tlio house. What was to bo done- Never had I realised so fully as At that moment how helpless a creature a woman is. Drawing ttty shawl marte closely around mrj and put ting oh a pair of list slippers which I wore About the houso in cold weather, I crept noiselessly out of the room. At the top of the stairs I halted and listened, but all was silenco the most profound. Tho corridor out of which tho bedroom opened waa lighted at the opprsite end by a high narrow h Inctow which looked into tho garden. To this window I now made my way, and there, with ear pressed to tho cold glass, I stood and listened. Presently I heard the faint sound of footsteps, and then the sub dued voices of two peo»lo talking to each other. Directly under the placo where I was standing was tho back drawing-room, which opened on tho gardon by moanß of a French window; and, although this win dow was secured at night by shutters, I had an idea that the security in question was moro fancied than real, and was of a kind that would bo laughed to scorn by any burglar who was acquainted with his busi ness. If the men had mado up thoir minds M break into the house—and with what other object should they bo there?—tho probability was that they would make tho attempt by tho way of tho French window. Even whilethis thought was passing through my mind tho voices of men sank to a whis per, and a low, peculiar grating sound made itsolf heard. Evidently they have already begun to force tho fastenings of tho window. I crept back to my room, fooling utterly dazed and helpless.

"Is that you, Barbara? Whero havo you been '!'' asked my sister. Going into her room, I sat down on tho bed and told her everything in as fow words as possible. Sho was of a somewhat timid ar.d norvousdisposition, and my news visibly uff.cted her. Sho sat up in bed trombling and clinging to my arm.

"Perhaps," sho whispered, "if we lock our bedroom doors and koep vory quiet they will go away without coming near us." " Why, you goose, it's not us thoy have come after, but Mr Shillito's £90," I answered.

" And thore's poor mamma's silver tea servico down stairs ; I hopo they won't find that," said Bessie.

I hoped so too, but thcro was no judging how much Dothel had contrived toasoertain respecting us and our affairs. I wont to the corridor window again and listened. The noise made by the men waa now plainly dis tinguishable. It seemed as if thoy wers trying to file or cut their way through some obstruction. After listening for n few moments I went back to my room and began, almost mechanically, to put on a fow articles of clothing, asking myself again and again as I did so whether it was not possible to do something — though what that something ought to be I know no more than tho man in the moon. Tho nearest house was a quarter of a mile away, and even if I could have stolen out unnoticed by way of the front door, before I could have reached tho farm and brought back help the burglars would have effected their purpose and de camped. Our pecuniary means at tho time wee very straitened. For some time back John had bean paying oil some old family debts ; and the loss of the £90 —which, as a matter of course, ho would feel bound to make good—would bo a great blow to him. If I could only have got at tho money and have hidden it where tho burglars would not t>e likely to find it, I felt that I should have accomplished something. But tho bag was locked up in John's strong mahogany desk, and was as utterly beyond my reach as if it had been in tho coffors of the Bank of England, while yet it could hardly havo been placed more conveniently ready to the hand of tho thieves. To them tho strong mahogany desk would seem a trilling ob stacle indeed.

All this time, metaphorically speaking, I waa wringing my hands, knowing full well how precious were tho fast fleeting moments, but only feeling my holple«no<9 tho more I strove to discern somo loop-hole of escape. Oh, tho wretchedness of such feeling ! I hopo never to experience it again in tho same degroo as I experienced it that night. The lightning, if not quite so vivid as it had been a little whilo previously, still came in as frequent flashes, and by its light my sister and I made a hurried toilet. Our house stood a little way back from the high road, from which it was divided by a tiny lawn and low screen of evergreens. Once or twico in the course of the night one of tho mounted constabulary would rido slowly past as he went his rounds ; but I was with out any knowledge as to the particular time when he might be expected, or whother, in fact, tho time at which ho might bo looked for at any specified point did not vary from night to night. Still there was jutit a possi bility that lie might put in an appoaranco at any moment; so I stationed Bessio at the window to keep a lookout for him, and be in readiness to raise an alarm the momonf. she heard the tramp of his horse's hoofs. For once, in a way, tho lightning was something to bo thanked for; each flash lighted up the high road for a considerable distance on both sides of the house.

When this was done it seemed as every thing possible had been done, and yet it was next to nothing. With both hands pressed to my eyes, I stood thinking as I seemed never to hare thought beforo. Then it was that—as sudden, swift, and startling as one of those flashes that were momen tarily illumining the outer world—an idea shot through my brain which for an instant or two eeemed to cause my heart to stand still. And yet at the first flush it was an idea that bad about it something so prepos terous, so ludicrous even, that had the need been at all less imminent I should have dis carded it at once as little better than the inspiration of a mad woman. But, prepos terous as tho idea might seom, for tho life of me I could think of no other, and every minuto now was invaluable. There was no time for hesitation. I must discard it or adopt it, and that without a moment's delay. " I will try it; it can but fail," I said to myself, with an inward groan. On the toilet table was a jar of white tooth-powder, which had been replenished the previous day. I shook out a quantity of this powder, shut my eyes, and proceeded to rub it thickly over my face, arms, and hands. That done, I drew the white cover let off the bed and draped myself with it loosely from head to foot; then I unbound my hair, which in thoso days was ebony black and reached below my waist, and shook it round my face and over my shoul ders in "most admired disorder." I was now ready for the role I had made up my mind to enact.

Bessie has told mo since that she thought I had taken leave of my senses. Just at the moment my toilet was completed, and as I turned and advanced towards her, another long, quivering flash lighted up the room. A low shriek burst involuntarily from my sister's lips, and she shrank away from me as though I was something altogether un canny. "Oh, Barbara, dear, what is the mattor?" she cried. " Why do you frighten mo so ?" " It i 3 not you I want to frighten, but the men down stairs," I replied. Then, in a few hurried words, I told her my plan. She would have tried to dissuade me, but there was no time to listen. Leaving her there watching by the window, ready to raise an alarm in caso tho mounted con stable should pass on his round, I stole swiftly and noiselessly down tho carpeted staircase and only paused when I reached the corridor below. _ I could hear a subdued murmur of voices and a moment later I was startled by a noise of falling glass. The burglars had succeeded in effecting an en trance. They and I were separated only by the drawing-room door, which, although locked, was an obstacle that very few minutes would suffice to overcome. With an indrawing of my breath I 'sped quickly past the door along the length of the corri dor until I reached the opposite end, where there wore two more doors, one of them beinc that of my brother's office, which also was locked, and from the lock of which I now withdrew the key. I have omitted to state that the window of John's office wae secured by two stout bars, which wis pro bably one reason why the thieyes had chosen to eflect an entrance at a point more readily adapted for their purpose. The second floor at the end of tho corridor shut off a short passage leading to the kitchen. This door I succeeded in opening without noise. I had decided to take my stand a little way on the inner side of it, and there await the course of events. By this time the men were busily at work forcing the lock of the drawing room door. A thin thread of light which shone from

under showed that although the lightning was still as frequent as before, they did not find it sufficient for their purpose. Scarcly breathing, I waited. I was too excited, too wrought up, the tension of my nerves vai t<o extreme 10 allow of any per sonal fear; It was all terribly real, yet with a strange, vague sense of unreality under- I 3 ing ib. I felt isif I should not have been surprised had I woke up and found the whole affair resolve itself into a dream, while yet fully assured in my mind that it was nothing of the kind. Suddenly the noiso at tho door ceased ; the lock had been forced. Tho thread of light disappeared ; for a few moments all was silenco the most profound. Then a faint creaking, which at any other time would have been inaudi ble, told mo that tho drawing room door was being opened and that the crucial moment had come. I pressed ono hand over my ear, and for a few brief seconds an almost overpowering longing seized mo to got back to my room at any cost and lock myself within. But it was too late ; by this time tho men were in tho corridor. I knew it, although I coull not see ihem. " Where's tho door wo want ?" I heard ono whisper to the other.

1' On tho right—tho first door we como to.' As thoy advanced a step I did the same. " What noiso wttythat ?" asked ono oi them quickly.

" Don't be a fool. Thcro was no noise." "I tell you thcro was. Where's tho glim ?"

But tho lightning was quicker than tho bull's-eye. It came, smiting the darkness and flooding tho corridor with the blinding intensity of its glaro. Then I saw tho men, and tho men saw mo, but darkness had hidden us from each other again boforo they had timo to make suro that their eyes had not deceived them.

One of them gave a gasp and whispered to his mato: " What was that tall white thing at tho end of tho passago ? Seemed to mo liko a ghost."

" Ghost bo dashed ! Thoro ain't no such things. Hero's tho glim. Wo'll soon sco what it is." As he npoko, tho light of his bull's-eyo lantorn was turned full upon me.

I advanced a couplo of paces and tho mon fell back in speechless Burpriso and terror. I havo often tried since to picture to myself tho appearance I must havo prosonted when seen at such a. moment and by that uncer tain light, with my ghastly, death-like face, my dilated eyes, my black, gnalcc-liko locks, my tall figuro all in white and with ono extonded arm and finger pointed direct at tho men. I cannot wondor at tho fright. At this juncture camo ar-other flash, and a terrible peal of thunder Bcartlod tho air and shook tho house. At tho very instant, impelled thereto by something within mo that I was powerless to control, I burst into a wild peal of maniacal, blood-curdling laughter. One step nearer I advanced, but that was enough. With a loud yell of terror tho mon turned and fled the way thoy had como. I heard a crash of ehatterod glass, and after that I remember nothing moro till I camo to my sonsetj, to find Bessio sup porting my head on her lap and pressing her smolling-Balts to my nono. But John\s £90 was Bayed, and it is hardly noceseary to add that Dcthel, the ox-gar doncr, was nover seen in thoso parts again. —"Chambors's Journal."

TE AROHA AS A SANATORIUM,

[From "The Aroha Nows."]

Tiik celebrity of our hot springs is gradu ally becoming more widoly spread, and it is only a question of time whon their name and famo will bo as familiar as household words throughout tho colony. Thoir medi cinal properties aro such as cannot fail to bring them into tho highest repute, and it only requires their raro virtues to become more generally known to make To Aroha one of the great sanutoriums for which New Zealand is destined to become renowned. In tho interests of suffering humanity, tho oxistenco of these springs should bo widoly published, for wo aro convinced there aro scores and hundreds of invalids who,if made awnio of tho fact, would gladly avail them solves of tho. benofit to bo derived from them. Alroady they Ero beginning to attract visitors from a distance, and it is gratifying to record that among tho num bers who nave fairly tested their curative properties comparatively fow havo failed to receive very great benefit. Tho efficacy of the waters in curing and rolioving many of tho ill's that flesh is heir to has in numerous instances been wonderfully exemplified. In rheumatic ailments especially they havo been proved to bo singularly beneficial, and in many others they havo been found to be almost equally potent. Indeed, wo havo no hesitation in saying that if their praises had been as loudly trumpoted abroad, tho famo of To Aroha as a watering place would beforo now have eclipsed Waiwora, and made it a formidable rival oven to Ohino mutu. It is truo our district cannot display tho natural wonders of the Lake country, but though there i» an absence of many of the charms peculiar to that marvolloua region, thoro aro advantages to be obtained here.which compensate for the lack of theso, and which make this place as a resort for pleasurc-seokors, as well as for those in quest of health, preferablo in many respects to either of tho other localities mentioned. It is within oaay roach of Auckland, both by rail and river, tho journey by train being accomplished in little more than eight hours, and with the completion of the lino to this terminus that' timo will be much further reduced. Persons leaving the metropolis after breakfast will thus bo en abled torofreshthemselvesafter the journoy, and whot their appetite for dinner by an in vigorating dip in the baths. For thoso who prefor a trip by wator there it the voyage up rivor from Thames, than which it would bo difficult to find in the spring and sum mer months a more pleasant sail. In ad dition to tho advantage of boing within such easy reach, the place holds out another inducement which, to persons of moderate income, is an important consideration, namely, cheap living. Here there aro excellent hotels, which furnish first-rate accommodation at less than half the prices charged in similar establishments at Wai wera and Ohinemutu. The climate, too, during the greater part of the year is most healthful and enjoyable, and the scenery of the neighbourhood is exceedingly Inter esting. From the mountain, perhaps, the grandest and most romantic views to be lound in the province are obtainable, and for those whoso powers of endurance are not equal to tho ascent, there is ample scope on the plains below for pleasant and invigorating exercise either pedestrian or equestrian. There are a number of places within easy reach that, will amply repay tho trouble of a visit. The goldfields town ship of Waiorongomai is barely three miles distant, and tho adjoining mines are easily reached on foot or horseback by an excellent bridle track which leads to all tha principal claims, Matamata, Shaftesbury, Waitoa, and other settlements aro all within an hour or two's journey, and afford numerous facili ties for a day's enjoyment. Invalids and persons of studious habitn or literary tastes will find in the public library and reading room the moans of whiling away a tedious hour, andof keoping themselves posted upin the current news of the day. Of tho baths themsolves, which of course constitute tho chief sourco,of attraction in the district, it would be difficult to over-rate their excel lences, and as previously mentioned, tho famo of their curative properties is daily becoming more widely extended. They are situated in the centre of the township, and are almost within a stone's throw of the principal hotels. The grounds and springs are ves ted in the Domain Board, who are doing their utmost, and as rapidly as the means at their disposal will allow, to carry out satisfactorily tho task that has been entrus ted to them. The bath houses are most comfortably fitted up, and leave nothing to be desired in the way of privacy or cleanliness, and the wants of visitors re ceive every attention from the present excel lent care-takor. There are now three houses open in which the water is of a temperature varying from 100 to 115 dgs, but as thore are several othor springs (in one or two of which the mercury stands as high as HO dgs.) still unutilised, the number of the baths can be increased so as to meet all requirements. For medicinal purposes also, when drunk, the water from two or three colder springs has in many instances been found exceedingly beneficial, and forms after a little use rather a pleasant beverage. Few porsons in search of health now omit to use the waters internally as well as externally. Apart from the utilisation of the springs, the Board has determined upon the beautifying of the grounds, so that they may become an ornament to the town as well as a means of pleasure to visitors. An experienced landscape gardener has designed the lay ing out, which includes the usual adorn ments in the form of shrubberies, shady walke, &c. A lawn|for tennis, croquet, and other games also constitutes a part of the proposed improvements, which, when com pleted, will add immensely to the attrac tiveness of the place. Everything will be done to make residence here alike^enjoyable and profitable to those in quest of health or pleasure. As a resort for holiday-makers the district is fast increasing in popularity, and it is only a question of a very short time when the fame of the thermal springs of Te Aroha may be expected to extend from end to end of the colony,

THE COLONIAL STAGE.

Manager James C. Williamson's Views

on the Subjeot.

PRESENT CONDITION OF THEATRICALS IN AUS-

TRALIA—HOME FACTS AND FIGURES REGARI>

ING PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENTS TIIEKH,

(From tho San Francisco "Call," Sept. 14,

So many roports, contradictory in character, havo been in circulation of late years con corning tho theatrical business in tho Aus tralian colonies that it may bo interesting to hear what Mr Jamea C. Williamson, ono of the leading managers in that country, has to sny in tho matter. Ho arrived by the Royal Mail steamship Zealandia from Sydney on Monday morning last, and, therefore, hi 3 remarks wilt bo all the more valuablo because liis Information is the latest obtainable, whilo his experienco runs back over Many years. Tho gentle man is well known in Our com munity. Jfcmadequito a reputation here in tho palmy days of the California theatre as an eccentric comedian; atld ho also married his wife {nee Maggie Moore) in this city—a professional as well as marital co-partnership that has always been a happy ono in privato life, as well as fortunate from a business point of view. Mi1 and Mrs Williamson first visited tho colonies in 1875, taking with them what proved to be a bonanza in the shape of It ctimedy-drama written by a rough and ready miner, Sam Smith, and called " Struck Oil." It caught the colonial attention at onco, and nevor released it till tho fqrtunato couplo left for Amorica with a handaohio amount of money in pocket, and followed by the good wishes of ovoryono who knew thom^

GOING INTO MANAGEMENT;

"On our return to Australia in 1879," said Mr Williamson, in answer lo an in quiry why ho ventured on management in that country, "wo had thosamo old success with 'Struck Oil.' I intended to limit my visit to a year ; but, after a fovv months, embracing an opportunity to get hold of Gilbert and Sullivan's opora*, I formed a company to produco thorn, especially 1 Pinafore,' in which, with my wife, 1 played occasionally with great success. About this tiino Arthur Garner arrived with tho London Comedy Company, one of the most completo that had over boon in the colonies, with everything on tho stage corresponding to tho boat English theatres, and with first-class peoplo. Ho produced

' Friends,' afterward played as 'Peril,' and all his other pieces in a manner that astonished tho Australians. Closo upon his arrival, thoro also camo George Musgrovo, nephew of the lato William Lygter, of tho Princo of Wales Theatro, Molbourne. Ho had an opera boufl'o company, including Patty Laverno, who, later, played at tho Bald win, and a largo roportoiro of adaptations from tho French. Ho opened in 'Tho Tam bour Major.' The timo, thoinen,nndthooccn sions all fitting, a joining of forces was pro posed, and a professional partnership formed undor tho namo nnd atylo of Wil liamson, Garner, and Musgrovo. This partnership actually dates from July Ist, ISS2, but was in existence nominally for somo timo previously. Thoy call us," con tinued Williamson, with a laugh, " tho Triumvirate j that in, wo aro so called by thoso who do not liko us very much. But business mon cannot pleaso ovorybody."

THE OTIIHR MANAGER,

"Hasyour firm a monopoly of theatrical businosH in Australia ?"

"By no means. There is tho firm of Rig noldand Allison who, ownthoTheatroKoyal, Adelaide, and will control, I suppose, Her Majety's Thoatro in Sydnoy, whon it is built. It has .a magnificent site ; but that's all thoro is of it at present, or will bo till tho "directors got over bickering. Thon thero is also tho firm of Majaroni and Wil son, who manage tho Opora House, Sydnoy, and tho Bijou (formerly tho Academy of Music), Melbourne. Wo havo not a monopoly of tho business by any means. Tho chiof ground of complaint against us is, in my opinion, that wo endeavour to do our work in a business way; whatever contracts wo mako wo intend to fulfil, and, to guard against contingencies, always keep to the firm's credit a reserve fund of £10,000.

STARS CNCKUTAIX

"It Ib a favourite cry that tho firm of Williamson, Garner, and Musgrovo ore monopolists, and that they aro bound to cinch oil stars that como under their management. Wo assert that wo piny stars on as liberal terms as tlioy can get eleowhoro; and tho bonefit wo havo been to tho profession is that tho best talont in it has been compactod and mado profitable to thoso who possess it, while several would be actors with great promise and no per formance have been rejected. But really, so far, tho greatest Buccess wo havo mot with has como from our own operas, rather than from stars. Wo havo taken in £1,200 a weok (of six performances) for "Mas cotte," playing it eight weeks ; and tho pantomime (always given at Chrismas time) h»s boon equally profitable. From the last one, " Aladdin," in which Mrs Williamson appeared, wo taok for a season of eight weeks and two nights, £8,446 7s Cd. " Tho Silvor King" at tho Thoatro Hoyal, Mel bourne, gavo £900 a week for eight weeks ; and " Impulse," a fine English comedy, that I am surprised has never beon played here, aftor a run of seventy nights at tho Princess's was taken off to £50 more than at the opening."

ACTOKS' COJIPI.AINIXUS,

'' There is a general complaint by actors on this side that it is not worth their whilo to visit tho colonies. What with tho long trip, tho managers' terms, and tho limited popu lation, thoy say they generally return home with their labour for their pains.

" Tho complaint is groundless in nearly every instance. It is is in the colonies as in evory country that accepts dramatic and operatic performances. One great mistako made by managers and combinations in this country is that when an attraction is played threadbare in the United States it will do for Australia. That might have been the case, in a degree, twelve or fifteen . years ago; but now a great revolution has taken place in our world of amusement. Pieces are produced in the leading cities of the colonies contemporaneously with their appearance in New York and London, and the acting and tnise en scene on the Australian stage must bo equal to the standard in those cities ; if not, they will bo rejected. There are no better scene painters in tho world than George Gordon and John Hennings, per manently in our employ, and therereiore there is nothing to prevent pieces being pre sented in thn best style so far as scenery is concerned Combinations,! may say further, weaken their strength beforo leaving for the colonies, in order to save travelling ex penses—a serious mistake, as you may judge from what I have already said. The strongest, best, and freshest talent will only find a market nowadays in Australia, and if thia bo not borne in mind and acted on by professionals from this side, they will have to face failure. As for the individual actor, it rests entiroly with himself. If ho be equal to the great exemplars of tho stage who have preceded him there in the legiti mate, nothing can prevent success, unless, indeed, it may be certain idiosyncrasies made too public.

KKGAGEMENTS AND FIGUKES.

" Let mo show you eomo figures to sub stantiate my words." Mr Williamson hore exhibited some balance-sheet?, includ ing those for the last half of the fiscal year. " Jenny Lee with her meagre reportory of 'Jo'and 'Tho Grasshopper,' played with us for thirteen weeks (six performances a week) in Melbourne, and was paid £2,200 for that time. Her season, with the same pieces, in Sydney (twelve weeks), netted her £2,500. Genovievo Ward played with us in Sydnoy and Melbourne for twenty weeks, her share averaging nearly £300 a week. The gross receipts of George Rignold, with tho ' Lights o' London' and 'Youth,' averaged over £uOO a week for thirteen weeks. Bland Holt, in ' Taken from Life,' averaged £850 a week for a month and a-half. vVhen Mrs Williamson und myself returned to the colonies in 1879, they asked us %vhat novelty we had brought. I replied ' Struck Oil,' whereat the knowing ones smiled derisively, and said that was threadbare. 'But the piece was so popular, and we had been so kindly rememboreJ, that our share for the first week in Mel bourne was £557, and the old,' threadbare' piece ran for four weeks to crowded houses. An engagement in Sydney gave the same result. The last engagement of the ' Wil liamsons,' as we are called (during the past twelve months), six weeks in Melbourne and five weeks in Sydney, netted us over £4,300 our share of the profits. Joe Polk made a big hit on his recent visit; he did very well during the first year with the ' Strategists,' and the press gave him liberal praise, but not having sufficient novelty, he stayed one year too long.

BUtf OK PIECES,

"The tenacity with which the Australian public sometimes hold on to a favourite piece forms a strong contrast to the short runs of plays in San Francisco. We ran Jennie Lee sixteen weeks at the Princess's

Theatre (now one of the most fashionable in Melbourne); Polk, ten or twelve; the opera company ten weeks with Matcotte. To give an idea of the business transacted by our firm, let mo say that for the six months ending February, 1884, we paid out in wages and salaries alone, £20,657 15s 2d, and the entire expenses on all accounts will sum up within a few hundred pounds of double that amount."

THE EHILIE MEI/VILLK EPISODE,

" There was quite a long report of your trouble with the favourite English prima donna published hero."

" Oh, yes ; it is useless to go over that ground again. I have a great respect for Miss Melville as a hard-working and con scientious artiste; but she must havo boon ill-advised. I offerod her her own terms when wo mot in New Zealand —salary, percentage, or share, as sho might solect, giving her the figures. She choso to take £100 a week, but after ward, referring to hor experience in a previous engagement with tho late Mr Win. Lyster, insisted on having £200. A compromise was finally agreed on £150, and a contract was drawn that the engagement might be terminatedat the endof the month, or continued up to Christmas, notice on either sido being given. We chose to dis continue ; and the lady claimed paymont for tho time till Christmas, and went to law. Tho judge ruled against tho plaintiff strongly, but the jury gave a verdict in her favour, which, rather than appeal and continue litigation, wo compromised. And that is all there is about it.

THE ATTRACTIONS AT PRESENT.

" When I left Sydney our Opera Com pany was at the Theatre Royal, playing 'Tho Chimes of Normanby,' and wore to produco 'The Merry Duchess' in a few days, with Miss Gracio Plaisted in the leading rOle. At the Opera House, Jennio Loo was playing Con in ' The Shaughraun ;' and at the Gaiety, J. F. Sheridan in ' Fun on the Bristol' had just finished a seven weoks' engagement with one firm. In Molbourno, (jonevieve Ward was at the Theatre Koyal, with our drnmntic company, playing ' Macbeth' to crowded h juses, and our comedy company was doing ' Im pulse 'at the Princess's. Miss Emelie Melville continued her opora season at tho Bijou; she was making money, and gradually emerging from tho financial trouble in which sho was recently placed. At tho Opora House, Clark and iiyman wore doing ' Muldoon'a Picnic.' Hiscock's Federal Minstrols, corresponding to Emer son'a in San Francisco, were doing a good businOßa at Victoria Hall. They are a big success, and appear to be permanont, having already played a season of over four months. Our "Silver King" company was playing at Brisbano, and Mies Jeffreys Lowis was entertaining the Ade laide public at tho Thoatre Royal in that city.

THE THEATRES CONTROLLED.

"Tho thoatros controlled by our firm at present," continued Mr William- Boii, "are tho Thoatro Royal, Mel bourne ; Theatro Hoyal, Sydnoy; and the Princess's Theatre, Melbourne. Othors, in the interior, we loaso as wo need thorn ; but there is not much business in Gcelong, Sandhurst, Ballarat, or tho other rural or mining colonial towns. Tho New Zealand cirotiit is open einco Mr Do Lias died, Mr Abbott, of Auckland, being nt present tho_ most responsible mnnagor. My prcsont visit to tho East and Europe is one of business, solely, in connection with tho theatrical enterprises of our firm in tho colonies. My wife, I am happy to say, is in good health, and enjoy ing herself in Melbourne furnishing a new house I have just bought. I oxpect to return from Europe via America, in which enso sho will meet me either hero or in New York, nnd wo will play a short on gagement just to show our old friends that wo have not deteriorated as actors."

" Havo you elected to mako Australia your pormanont homo '!" "More than likely I shall end my days thoro. Wo havo boon gonorously treated by the pooplo, tho climate is a genial one, nnd as to mnnagomont in San Francisco, which has beon suggested, I am afraid it is too much cut up for mo or anyono olso to engage in it with any hopo of profit."

English Wife-Beaters

Wife beating is more common in England than in any other conntry, and what makes it still more disgraceful is tho fact that tho laws do not appear to take any cognisance of this brutal pastime. It prevails in the lower classes, and is not ontiroiy unknown in the highor. In tho groat middlo class, which consists of the best part of the British population, women-boating is, however, rarely heard of. Tho standing of people among civilised nations is not unreasonably guagod according to tho respoct paid to womon, nnd on this basis tho low English aro tho least civilised and most brutal of any in the world. It is a taint upon England as a nation that its laws aro defective in the punishment of tho assaulter of a woman, and that the law holds property higher than the life and honour of women. The journals publish daily tho most revolting "capes of assaults on womon, and tho comment* mado upon tho ridiculously inadequate punish monts of tho brutes go to ahow that the dispensers of tho law (not of justice) really seem to consider that womon aro an entirely inferior creation, not entitled to tho pro tection against tho brutality of thoir lords and mastera which is oxtended to horses, donkoys, cats, and dogs. Hero aro a fbw specimen cases: For tho brutal assault of a rough upon a woman a fine of five shillings wbb recently imposed. At Greenwich a husband bit off ono-third of his wife's ear and tho follow was bound in tho sum of £5 to keep tho peace. A woman was tried Immediately aftor, before tho same Judgo, charged with being drunk and disorderly. She was sentenced to a month's hird labour. Another instance is that of a man who went home drunk and because his wife, who had been nursing a sick child all day, had been out for a walk, ho struck her. When asked why he assaulted his wife ho replied, " It's a habit I've got." Tho Judge let him off without any punishment whatever, upon the specious ground that if the fellow was punished his family would have to suffer. If It had beon a case of watch-stealing the learned Judge would not exhibit the same consideration for the man's family, but would have given tho thief several years abroad, if tho watch had been stolen from some rich person, and a couple of months' gaol if taken from a common individual.

Names of Italy's Men-of-war.

A new iron-clad for the Italian navy was re cently launched, the Ruggiero di Lauria (Kogor of Lauria), named alter a famous sea warrior of 600 years ago. Speaking of the choice of names for Italian war vessels, a letter from Naples says: Italy gives names to her vessels full of significance. Duilio is the Italianised form ot Duilius, that daring Roman Admiral who, 260 8.C., constructed a navy of the most original kind, his vessels being prepared with rams, which are neither more nor loss than trunks of trees, so that theordinary Roman marine (not sailors) could rush along it md, ac se curely ason land, do tho short sword business with the Carthagenians. Thia was the first naval victory of the Romans, and consisted of fifty-eight Carthagenian vessels, whoso defenders had been knifed and sent to the bottom. Dandolo is tho name of another Italian monster floating fortress. Who does not know of the great Venetian Ad miral, General and Statesmen, Daudolo, who made the name of the Venetian Ke publio respected and feared by every civilised power of his day ? Tho Italia, recalling the whole country. Another magnificent iron-clad, launched at Leghorn some eighteen months ago, is called the Lopanto, from the famous naval battle in 1571 in the gulf, or bay, of Lepanto, when the Venetian Italians, under Don John of Austria, together with the Italian Papal forces' and the Spaniards, did so much in overwhelming tho marine forces of the Turks.

The Bad and Worthless.

are never imitated or counterfeited. This Is especially tine of a family medicine, and it is positive proof that theTomedy imitated ie. of tho highest value. As soon as it had been tested and proved by the whole world'that Hop Bitters was the purest, best, and most valuable family medicine on earth, many imitations sprung up, and began to steal the notices in which the Press and the people ot the country had expressed the merits of H. 8., and in every way trying to induce Buffering invalids to use their Bluff instead, expecting to make money on the oredit and good name of H. B. Many others started nostrums put up in similar style to H. 8., with variously devised names, in which the word " Hop or "Hops" were usedin a way to induce people to believe they irere ths same as Hop Bitters. All such pretended remedies or cures, no matter what their stylo or name is, and sspecially those with the word "Hop1 or " Hops " in their name, or in any way connected with them or their name, are imitations or counterfeits Beware of them. Touch none of them. Use nothing but genuine American Hop Bitters, with a bunch or cluster of green Hope on the white label, and Dr. Soule's name blown In the glass. Trust nothing else. Druggists and Chemists are warned against dealing in Imitations or eonnterfejta. :'

LULU HURST.

POWERFUL MEN FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO

COPE WITH THE " INEXPLICABLE PIIENOM

E.N'ON OF UXACCOUNTABLK FORCES."

The audienco that assembled in Metro politan -Hall, San Francisco, last night to witness the performances of Miss Lulu Hurst—tho girl of mysterious power—re vealed in its numbers as well as its average character for intelligence an interest in the matter that is not entertained in tho better minds of tho community with regard to tho mummeries and hacknoyod "manifesta tions " of the so-called scionco of spiritual ism. Moro than one-third of the audienco waa composed of ladies. Somo of our best citizens—judges, members of tho learned professions, and scientists—wcrcjthere with their families, and tho anticipation, it m.iy be, of enjoying a competitive test of per sonal strength with a bewitching young lady draw like a magnet among the dainty moußtachios and pointed shoes of the yard stick brigade. Shortly after 8 o'clock, Miss Hurst, ac companied by her father, her manager or agent, Mr Atkinson, and several others, omerged from the door of. a private room at tho cast side of the organ, and occupied somo of the chairs ranged on the platform, Tho young lady is scarcely of medium height, well moulded, and looks as if sho would tip the scales at about 130 pounds. She possesses a pleasing countcnanco.and a rippling laugh that indicated a thorough onjoyinent of tho ordeal sho was going through. Sho was becomingly attired in a maroon-colt uroi dross,which reached to her feet, and fitted close around her neck. Thcro is nothing in her appearance to indi cate any moro than tho

AVERAGE MUSCULAR HTHENOTJI. of a young woman of her size and weight. Mr Atkinson was introduced by Fred Englohardt, and made a few preparatory re marks, simply stating that the force exerted by tho young lady was one which neither sho nor any of her friends could account for. It had been ascribed by some who had seen her to electricity, by others to a psycho logical causo, and by others still to a diversity of causes or sources. Surely it was not any abnormal development of muscular power. None of those who knew tho lady most intimately had, he said, the most remote idea of what it is, and if there was anyone in the audience who had, it was ono idea more than they themselves had. To them it was utterly unoxplain able. An invitation was then extended to any in the audienco who desired to try issues with Miss Hurst to take seats on tho platform. About twenty persons, ranging from hot-blooded youth to investi gating ago, went forward. Mr Atkinson, whilo making his introductory _ remarks, hold an mnbrolla in his hand, which, at tho close, he handed, spread out, to the young lady, who advanced to take it. At tho eamo moment a middle-aged man, who looked as though ho might easily resist any power Miss Hurst could call itito exercise without an effort, came up simultaneously with her, and took tho open parachute by tho handle Mies Hurst simply placed her hands against tho handle. For about a quarter of a minute they stood quietly like a couplo in a shower of rain. Then, with a sudden dash, tho umbrella

CAME DOWN ON* THEIR HEADS

as if a forty-ton trip-hammer had struck it from above. Tho man struggled to keep it up, and in tho eifort tho two were dashed about tho stage apparently without any poWer to control their movements. It was an amusing scene, and Miss Hurst laughed as heartily as any of the spectators. All sho did at first was to place her hand against the handle, but in tho heat of the battlo sho involuntarily caught v grasp which she herself could not roleaso of hor own will, and tho umbrella had to be taken from hor. Tho contestants camo near being thrown from tho platform. Sometimes they were dashed among the persons sitting on tho stage, and in ono of tho subsequent experiments both Miss Hurst nnd her com petitor wore incontinently forced through a door nt the loft of the organ. Tho first Mho essayed to withstand the mysterious power of tho lady mado an utter failure, and the jolly little victor received an ovation of applause from tho audience. Five or six others tried their muscle without success. Ono of thoso was J. P. Cameron, whose corporeal amplitude boded no good to tho young lady's laurels, but Mr Damoron went to tho wall—or tho floor, as you please— just as a lamb might bo dashed from tho bosom ol an angry shepherd. The first umbrella shook up so many Ajakos that it becamo a complete wreck, and another was substituted. In a short timo its handle snapped like a pipe-stem into fragments, and tho men who attempted to hold it wcro thrown about tho stage as if a whirlwind was playing top with them.

THE CHAin TRICK,

Next a chair was placed in the firm grasp of a powerful man. Miss Hurst laid the palm of her open right hand on the back of the slat and the other on the seat. The first endeavour on the part of the man was to hold the chair still. He could neither hold the chair nor himself still; but, although lie planted his foot firmly, as if he wero oxerting himself to capsize a pyramid, or resisting a charge of cavalry on the battle field, he was mado to slide, whirl, stagger, and tumble over the stage, winch was not half expansivo enough for the chair to exercise the full measure of its faculty for hustling a fellow about. After a vain effort to hold tho chair quiet, tho male aspirant for arenic honours tried to bear the chair down to the floor. Mi?s Hurst placed her hands in tho samo position as before. Hore it should bo stated that more than half tho time Miss Hurst had but one hand toucU.ig the chair. That vas the one placed behind the back slab, In vain •' Hercules " bore down with his ponderous weight. There was too much boyancy in thoinanimate piece of furniture, and the more he tried to got it down to the floor the more it would not go down, until at length he had to give it up in sheer despair. Among those who essayed this feat were a Mr Gail and Mr Dameron. The physical influence of the latter, weighing about 250 pounds avoirdupois, was thrown with a vigorous bound on the chair, which SIMPLY FLOATED SERENELY, and dragged tho gentleman whithersoever it would. There wcro vociferous calls from the audience for Mr Badlam to enter tho lists. Some of our citizens havo heard of Mr Badlam, and wero extremely desirous of witnessing an exhibition of prowess by a fentlcmau who proverbially never gets left. Jr Badlam heard the call, but, wrappod in a heavy overcoat, ho was sitting on a front eeat enjoying a summer's warmth of com fort, and there he preferred to remain. More than a dozen persons ossayed singly to hold tho chair still and to bear it down to the floor. In ono or two instancos, the effort seemed near being successful. Then two mon tried it at onco, but they seemed to oxert no greater amount of success than one alono. Mr Gail in ono of his essays seemed to give somo dissatisfaction to Miss Burst and her manngor, and they abruptly terminated tho contest with him, leaving him in a position which, unexplained, gave him an advantage before such of the audi enco who were more sceptical of thogenuine ness of Misb Hurst's phenomenal pretensions. The same thing occurred later in the even ing with a gentleman who essayed to sit in a chair and hold it firmly against the young lady's influence. After using the chair for a whilo A BILLTARD CUE was given to the candidate for muscular ascendency. The first essay was to hold" it beforo him in a horizontal position, and hold it steady ; then to force it perpendicularly down to tho floor, Miss Hurst simply placing the palm of her hand on tho stick. The result was simply in tho first part of the essay to throw tho man and the lady both about tho stage in tho same wild mannor as beforo. Then two gentlemen took hold of the cue, but it was the same as when only one held it. A cano with a curvod handle was tried, with no better success. The chair performance was re sumed. Three, four, and five strong men endeavoured to press it to the floor, and at last a dozen or more—as many as could get the weight of their hands on the chair— crowded around it, and after a most amus ing contest succeeded in making a signal failure. In one or two instances, where three or four strong men exerted their united energies to bear the chair to the floor, they managed to get it, after a long and stormy contest, nearly down, and once one of the feet touched bottom. This was hailed as a victory for the mortals, without plucking a leaf from the laurels of the divine influence, or whatever it was that was in alliance with Miss Hurst. The only real success during tho evening on the part of the lady's antagon ists was by one man, who succeeded in bearing tho cuo down to the floor, but it was a hard-won victory. \\ hen the first persons who went on tho platform had triecl their strength, they were re miested to retire, and others from the audi ence filled their places. Sometimes there were 25 or 30 porson3 on the platform, and it seemed to be the desire of the managers

to give all who wished to be satisfied an opportunity. Mr Atkinson requested those who had tried issues with the lady to tell tho audience what were

THEIR EXPERIENCES

and impressions. Ono or two responded, stating simply that they could not resist nor explain the power Miss Hurst exerted. One man with a thin face, long hair brushed up from his forehead, commenced by saying that when lie took the cue, and after Miss Hurst laid her hand upon it, he felt something like electricity, though the feeling was finer than that produced by electricity, passing up his arms, and he was pushed back by a force that did not appear to be exerted by the lady. He said ho had an explanation. He would call it a psychic force, and it was exerted not by one spirit alone, but by a band of spirits actine in concert. The auc'ienco saw at once that the man was a dyed-in-the-wool spiritualist, and they hissed and hooted him down. They didn't want to hear a lecture from a spiritualist. During tho latter part of the performance a gentleman in tho gallery asked if Misa Hurst could, by placing the palm of her hand against the back of the chair, hold it suspended in the air. Mr Atkinson promptly replied that she could not, and it was not attempted. By far the greater part of tho audi ence seemed to bo impressed with the genuineness of Miss Hurst's performances. Even if it were the exercise of mere muscular power, it would bo wonderful, particularly in a flight woman ; but the greater part saw in it some occult influence, something unexplained and unexplainable. A few as usual could see a transpfrent fraud in the wholo thing, but they wore very few.— From the " S. F. Call."

How I Escaped Being Killed in a Duel.

If a man were to challenge mo now, now that I can fully appreciate the iniquity of that practice—l would go to that man, and take him by tho hand, arid load him to a

The only merit I claim for the following narrative is that it is a true story. It lias a moral at tho end of it, but I claim noth ing on that, as it is merely thrown in to curry favour with tho religious element.

Aftor I had reported a couple of years on the Virginia City (Nevada) " Daily Enter prise," they promoted me to be editor-in chief—and I lasted just a week by the watch. But I made an uncommonly lively newspaper wliie I did last, and when I re tired I had a duel on my hands and three horso - whippings promised me. The latter I made no attempt to collect; however, this history concerns only the former. It was tho old "flush times " of the silver excitement, when the population was wonderfully wild and mixed; everybody went armed to the teeth, and and all slights and insults had to bo atoned for with the beat article of blood your system could furnish. In the course of my editing I made trouble with a Mr Lord, editor of tho rival paper. He flew up about eemo littlo triflo or other that I said about him—l do not remember now what it was. I suppose I called him a thief, or a body-snatcher, or an idiot, or something liko that. I was obliged to make the paper readable, and I could not fail in my duty to a whole community of subscribers merely to save tho exaggerated sensitiveness of an

individual. Mr Lord was offended, and replied vigorously in his paper. Vigorously means a great deal when it refers to a Eersonal editorial in a frontier newspaper, 'uelling was all the fashion among the upper classes in that country, and very few gentlemen would throw away an opportunity of fighting one. To kill a person in a duel caused a man to bo even more looked up to than be kill two men in the ordinary way. Well, out there, if you abused a man, and that man did not like it, you had to call him out and kill him ; otherwise you would be disgraced. So I challenged Mr Lord, and

I did hope ho would not accept; but I knew perfectly well that he did riot want to fight, and so I challenged him in the niost violent and implacable manner. And then I sat down and suffered and suffered till the answer came. All our boye-the editors were inour office, " helping " me in the dis ma!business,and telling about duels,and dis cussing the code with a lot of aged ruffians who had had experience about such things, and altogether there was a loving interest taken in the matter, which made mo un speakably uncomfortable. The answer came—Mr Lord declined. Our boys were furious, and so was I on the surface.

I sent him another challenge, and an other, and another; and the more he did

not want to fight, the bloodthirstier I be came. But at last the man's tone changed. He appeared to be waking up. It was be coming apparent that he was going to fight mo, after all. I ought to have known how it would be—he was a man who never could be depended upon. Our boys were exultant. I was not, though I tried to be.

It was now time to go out and practice. It was the custom there to fight duels with navy six-shooters at fifteen paces—load and empty till tho game for the funeral was secured. We went to a little ravine just outside of the town, and borrowed a barn door for a target—borrowed it of a gentle man who was absent—and we stood this barndoor up, and stood a rail on end against tho middle of it, to represent Lord, and puta squash on top of the rail to represent his head. He was a very tall, lean creature, the poorest sort of material for a duel—no thing but a line shot could "fetch" him, and even then he might split your bullot. Exaggeration aside, tlio rail was, of course, a little too thin to represent his body accurately, but the squash was all right. If thoro was any intellectual difference be tween tho squash and his head, it was in favour of the squash.

Well, I practised and practised at the barn-door, and could not hit it; and I practised at the rail, and could not hit that; and I tried hard for the squash and could not hit the squash. I would have been entirely disheartened, but that oc casionally I crippled one of the boys, and that encouraged me to hope. At last we Degan to hear pistol-shots near by, in the next ravine. We knew what that meant! The other party were out practising too. Then I was in the last de gree distressed; for, of course, those people would hear our shots, and they ■would send spies over the bridge, and the spies would find my barn-door without a wound or a scratch,and that would simply be the end of me—for of courso that other man would itn modiately become as bloodthirsty as /was. Just at this moment a little bird, no larger than a pparrow, flew by, and lit on a sago-bush about thirty pace 3 away; and my little second, Steve Gillies, who was a matchless marksman with a pistol—much better than I was—snatched out his re volver and shot the bird's head off! We all ran to pick up tho game, aDd sure onough, just at that moment, some of the other duellists camo reconnoitring over the little ridgo. They ran to our group to rco what tho matter was ; and when thoy saw tho bird, Lord's second said :— "That was a splendid shot. How far off was it ?" Steve said, with eomo indifference, " Oh, no great distance. About thirty paces." " Thirty paces ! Heavens alivo, who did it ?" " My man—Twain." " Tho mischief he did ! - Can ho do that often!" "Well—yes. He can doit about-well —about four times out of five." I knew the little rascal was lying, but I never said anything—l never told him so. He was not of a disposition to invite con fidences of that kind, so I let the matter rest. But it was a comfort to see those people look sick, and see their under jaws drop, when Steve made these statements. They went off and got Lord, and took him home; and when we got home half an hour later, there was a noto saying that Mr Lord peremptorily declined to fight! It was a narrow escape. We found afterwards that Lord hit Aw mark thirteen times in eighteen shots. If he had put those thirteen bullets through me, it would have narrowed my sphere of usefulness a good deal—would have well-nigh closed it, in fact. True, they could have put pegs in the holes, and used me for a hat rack ; but what is a hat-rack to a man who feels that he has intellectual powers 1 I would scorn such a position.

quiet, retired room—and kill him.

I have written this truo incident of my personal history for ono purpose, and one purpose only—to warn tho yeuth of the day against tho pernicious practico of duelling, and to plead with them to war against it. If the remarks and suggestions I am making can be of .any service to Sunday-school teacher?, and newspapers in terested in the moral progress of society, they are at liberty to use them, and I shall even be grateful to have them widely dis seminate!, so that they may do as much goXs possible. I was young and foolish when I challenged that gentleman, and i thoupht it was very fino and very grand to be a duellist, and stand upon the field of honour." But I am older and more ex perienced now, and am inflexibly opposed to tho dreadful custom. lam glad, indeed, to be enabled to lift up my voice against it. I think it is: a bad, immoral thing. I think it is every man's duty to do every thir.<_< he can to discourage duelling. I always do now ; I discourage it upon every occasion,

Life in High Latitudes.

Medical Aspects of Greely's Experience

in tiie Extreme North;

A private interview with Lieut. Greely at his former home, says a writer in tho "Medical Record," has enabled us to ob tain a clear insight into the physiological and pathological effects of prolonged resi dence in the Polar regions. He ascertained that such sojourn, by inhabitants of warmer climates who are in good physical trim, is for a brief term of years compatible with a high state of all the organic functions, in which there is entire freedom from diseased manifestations of every kind ; but there is a decided limit to the endurance by Euro peans and Americans of such extreme pro longed cold. The severity of the second winter was found by the party somewhat harder to bear. The third long Arctic night, in which the thermometer was never less than 3 de». below zero, and much of the time down to 40 or 50 below, would, under the most favourable circumstances, have been a painful season to the party. Could the party, however, have had plentyof food, and full and good shelter, they would un doubtedly have all been living at this day. As man can live amid intense surround ing cold only by keeping his internal temperature at about 98J deg. F., Lieut. Greoly remarked that breathing air of such intense coldness had something of the effect produced by breathing pureVjxygen, Asfor pulmonary troubles, he heard no complaint of them while the party was at Fort Con ger, in Lady Franklin Bay, at a latitude of about 82 deg., where the first two years were spent; even ample catarrhs were un known, the only thing from which the men suffered being occasional rheumatism and stiffness of the muscles and joints.

The party had ferocious appetites during all of this long sojourn in the North, each man eating with relish three meals of animal food and two lunches every day, and craving fats, though not to tho extent which some Arctic travellers roport. Not even when the thermometer marked CO deg. below zero did these men indulge in crude blubber or tallow candles, which tradition has designated as the customary food of Arctic voyagers. Canned meats, of which they had an abundance during the first two years, and a steak or ragout from the walrus, seal, or Polar bear, were prized as the essential conditions of well-being. As for spirituous liquors, they were used with great, moderation, and doled out to tho members of the expedition as occasion seemed to demand, and only when some unusual exertion or exposure brought ex traordinary fatigue or prostration ; as a means to fortify the system against cold or brace it up for forced marches, whisky, rum, and other alcoholic stimulants were regarded as of little benefit.

ARRIVAL OF TAWHIAO.

Grand Reception by the Blue Ribbon Army.

Meeting In the Temperance Hall.

Tawuiao, the Maori King, and three of his party, who went to England some months ago for the purpose of having several imag inary grievances redressed, returned here by way of Sydney in the s.s. Wairarapa at an early hour on October 22. "Hie Majesty " and followers had to undergo the customary inspection by Dr. Philson (Health Oilicer),and passed the ordeal satisfactorily, after which the steamer came alongside of Queen-Btrest Wharf, and crowds of people swarmed on board of the vessel to welcome the King of Maoriland back to his birth place. From nine to ten o'clock, Tawhiao was busily engaged in receiving visits from old acquaintances, and appeared very well pleased indeed to speak to all. In conversation with a Star re porter, Tawhiao said he was very well satisfied with the manner in which he had been-treated by the people of England, but that at the same time he was glad to return to his own people in N6W Zealand. His one great anxiety appeared to be a doubt as to whether a certain " rheumatic medicine" could be procured here. Directly he caught sight of Mr T. B. Hill, chemist, he picked up a bottle labled "chloroform liniment—(poison)," and asked if he could be supplied with any of that. Mr Hill's assurance in the affirmative seemed to lift a great weight off Tawhiao's mind. Inquiries were made as to his health, and Tawhiao replied that he had only the rheumatism to complain of. It troubled him very much. Tawhiao was then presented with some apples — some of those, we understand, which are supposed to have introduced the much dreaded "codlin moth." He thanked the donor profusely, borrowed a pen-' knife, and ate one with evident relish, and in the most approved fashion. Tawhiao created some am usement at this stage. The knife handed to him had been used for cutting tobacco, and the ewner recommended that

it should be washed. Mr Hill tried in rain to turn on the water at a tap, when Tawhiao took the job oat of his hands, and soon bad a stream running. His superior knowledge pleased Tawhiao immensely, and he remarked with smiling countenance, "I am like the young pakeha; I drop to it quickly." Tawhiao, in answer to a ques tion, said he could not yet talk English by any means well, but he believed he could have mastered the language if he had remained another year at Homo. Tawhiao was met in his cabin by Archdeacon Clarke, Key. Pomare, Messrs C. 0. Davis, T. B. Hill, C. G. Hill, J. Newman, S. G. Graham, Cox, Wallace, Graham Tawhai (the well known footballer), Taoho Raweti, Laurence, Tnniro and Tehira Eawau. The Blue Ribbon representatives made arrangements for a brilliant reception. Tawhiao, Topia Turoa, Patere Te Tuhi, ■ and Hori Ropiha, were escorted to carriages in waiting, and, headed by McComish's band, the proces sion went up Queen-street, up Welleßley street and along Albert-street- to the Tem perance Hall. Crowds of people followed the procession, and loudly cheered Tawhiao and party both on leaving the vessel and on entering the hall.

Speeches la the Temperance Hall.

Tawhiao and party occupied the platform along with representatives of various lodges of Good Templars, and the hall was crowded. Tawhiao wore a handsome re galia of gold on crimson, while Topia also wore regalia with the letters S.D. over K.W.G.T., and Hori Ropiha regalia with the letters G.D, over R.W.G.T. Among those present were Mr C. G. Hillj representing the Lodge of Grand Coun cillors, Mr Longbottom (Grand Secre tary),'Mr Bailey (Grand Treasurer), Arch deacon Clarke, C. 0. Davis, and the Rev. Pomare. The three latter spoke words of welcome to Tawhiao and party, after which Mr J. Newman read an address.

Tawhiao (interpreted by Mr C. 0. Davis) commenced by expressing satisfaction at finding the people here in the same con dition of peace in which he loft them, and proceeded to relate how ho took the blue ribbon, how he had kept his pledges up to the present, and how he always intended to keep them sacred. He wished all to under stand that there was nothing hypocritical about his wearing of the ribbon. He pro mised to do all he could to spread tem perance principles amongst the natives, but he wished the Europeans to do the same amongst themselves. They should attend to their own side of the matter. The people of England took notice of him because he wore the blue ribhon, and he was at a tem perance meeting at which. 5,000 people were present. He now said to all, "Don't have anything to do with waipiro." Tawhiao then signed a petition which had been prepared for presentation to the Go vernment requesting that a proclamation be issued prohibiting for ever the sale of in toxicating liquor over a certain area in the King Country. There was ono thing. He was at one with the Europeans about the drink, but he would not agree with their politics for some time to come. Patara and Topia ateo spoke, and each signed the petition amidst great applause. He said the matters which induced them to go to a distant country affecfrxi the whole of the Maori people. The Maori people weresuffering io many ways, and they went Home to get redress for the* grievances. He dkl not know whether the rmission had been a perfect success. To Wbeoro, how ever who was left in London, would tell the peopls of the results upon his return here. JH°ri Ropiha also referred to the "mission." He said he had seen the great nations of the world, and that there was no drunkenness there. The drunkenness was here—in New Zealand (laughter), and they should try and put it down. This concluded the speeches, and a general invitation was given to those in the audience to follow Tawhiao's example by signing the pledge. Tawhiao has been overwhelmed with de light at the news that a Maori lad named Wiremu Wiopo has taken the position oJ an articled clerk in Mr F. Earl's office, with a view to graduating as a full-fledgod barrister and solicitor. He is the only Maori student of British law in this colony, and Tawhiao evidently aut.cipatoa great things from Ma success,

THE TRIUMPH.

A Sucocßsfal Trial Trip.

The official trial trip of the s.s. Triumplijj took placo on Oct. 23. She left the Queen-1 street Wharf at 11 a.m. with about 3001 persons on board. Mr George Fraser, owner of tho vessel, Mr George Fraser, junior, and Mr Nancarrow, Governmentl! Inspector of Machinery, were amongst;!* those present. The Triumph was decorated' 9 with flags in honour of the occasion, as also were several.of the ships in port. Thftj steamer went down tho harbour in firipf|f style, proceedings being enlivened by musioj| provided by Impey's band. The weather .-j was all that could be doeired, and'" tho vessel proved moat seaworthy. I Shortly after the North Head had,-; besn rounded, the steamer was stopped for:|s fifteen or twenty minutes to permit herif) bearings to cool, but otherwise everything.'; worked as smpothly as could have been ■>■ desired. Her speed was estimated at about. :• 12 knots. The company on board number cd nearly 400, and included all classes.*!! Amongst those on board were the.Maori*"! King Tawhiao and several of his followers, I several of the clergy, and a very largo " number of city merchants, representatives I of the Harbour Board, City Council, and'lf other public bodies. The steamer was in 3 charge of Captain Burgess, Chief Harbour-.;! master, and Captain Alex. Farquhar, tho latter having been connected with her s-inco • her rescue from the rooks at Tiritiri, whilst I Captain Moore acted in the capacity of chief 33 officer, with Mr Searlo as assistant. The/'p sngine-room was under the charge of.Mr J. fj 3aird, Mr K. McKay acted as second engineer, while Mr T. Bach was also \ present assisting. The steamer prb;;M ceeded out of the harbour as far as;J| Kawau, the scene of the wreck being passed;p closely and inspected with considerable in- . terest. A capital luncheon was provided in . the steamer's 'tween decks, and all tin board $| were attended to in a most 'unexceptional*'!! manner. On the voyage homewards tbe;^ company assembled in the cabin. His,*^ Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and tho Key, D. Bruce the vice-chair. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been 1 honoured,

The Mayor proposed "The Health of Our,/j^ Host, Our Friend, Our Enterprising Fellow Citizen,Mr George Fraser," (Applause). Ho felt that he could not do justice to this toast. V Mr Fraser's action in connection with the«!| Triumph was from the first a speculative *jg one. The task which Mr Fraser had ao- t !^ complished required a man of unusual energy and enterprise. After many efforts -■ he had succeeded in floating the vessel off the rocks at Tiritiri. He called for three'3f cheers for both Mr Fraser senior and Mr 'M

Fraser junior, which were heartilyresponded l|

to. Mr Fraser, senior, rose to respond amidst tremendous applause. He said he had not so much backwardness about taking the A vessel off the rocks as he had in addressing ;:3 such a large assembly. Ho had looked well :'.jjj at the whole thing before he started. Ho ;ii found the ship to be a good substantiali| vessel, well put together, and well worth.*? looking after. He also considered whether k| he would be able to do anything with the J vessel in the event of her being floated off. ■;% Captain Brotherton, late master ot th'saß Triumph, had informed him that the vessel fl could be lightened ro as to draw 13ft aft t'j and 18ft forward. He (Mr Fraser) know the depth of water in the sill of the Auck-* '5 land Dock, and he knew that it would take i; the vessel in. Had this not been BO3H he would not have attempted to float -,; the vessel, because the expense of \< docking her anywhere else would." have amounted to all she was worth. Every- H body knew how well the work had pro-*| gressed. He had been congratulated on all -ii sides, and he felt thankful to everyone ioi'-'i their good wishes. (Cheers.) Indeed, the^ intsrest manifested by the citizens of Auck- . j land in the work generally made him feel I that he was doing a national good. He 14 spoke in most flattering terms of the Ber- ■ vices rendered by Captain Alex. Farquhar ■ and Mr D. Gou'k in bringing the vessel .S safely into Auckland. They had stuck tow§ her in times of great peril and difficulty,Vg and he could not say too much for the way B in which they had acted. (Cheers.) After/f the ship had been got into Auckland, he was B indebted to the Harbour Board for kindly ';l making concessions in connection with the docking of the vessel—concessions which ho'r^ would never forget. It,waß also right that |l he should express thankfulness to the builders of the vessel, who had prepared andcil sent out the necessary parts for repairs, 80*4 that they went together well. He thankedut all very kindly for the manner in which they jji had drunk the toast

The Triumph was berthed alongside of/1 Queen-street Wharf at 6.30 p.m., when thejj; company dispersed, after giving three hearty cheers for Mr Fraser.

The excursion given by Mr Fraser on btlialf of the workmen who hud been employed on the Triumph took placed] on the 25th of October, The vessel w.asSjjj

stopped off Kangitoto Reef about noon'lJ; for the purpose of having her com- 4 passes adjusted by Captain Tilly, and .'■ it was then that aMrg Alice Wharteni| lost her life by falling down the firescuttle ■ of the ship. The voyage was continued, bufc|| owing to the accident it was decided to ' dispense with any public speech-making or demonstration. A deputation of tke work- % men of Messrs Fraser and Tinne, however,:;!! assembled ia the cabin and met Mr George -* Fraeer. Mr James Stewart, C.E., occupied^ the chair. Mr James Pye, en behalf of the employes, congratulated Mr Fraser on the success which had attended his work in "< connection with the Triumph. He had beep; | in Mr Fraser's employ for over 20 y ears, and he '-•% knew the difficulties which that gentleman had encountered and had overcome. But ' for the sad accident referred, to he would have called for threo ringing cheei.-j for Mr Fraser, but under the circumstanccis the.em-r"S ployds would postpone such demonstrations £j of approval .until another evening. Mr .Via Fraser, in responding, thanked tho cm- ' ployds heartily for their congratulation". They had worked well, and out of gratitude ' he had given them the trial. The sad?| .circumstance which had occurred would prevent him from saying more, for although the accident had not happened i to the wife of one of his permanont work men, he felt deeply that such an unfortu nate af/air should have occurred. MrCer- ;:>f nish, on behalf of the shipwrights,.-ez-Vvj| pressed thanks to Mr Fraser for the manner | in which he had treated them, and re turned a hope that ho would live long to ' I maintain his reputation, and enjoy a well earned competency. The Chairman alsbip referred to his long friendship with Mrjf; Fraser, and spoke in very complimentary^ terms of the latter's work. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr Bach (foreman boiler-% maker), MrD. Curnow (foreman blacksmith),:f: and Mr J. Marks (general foreman), for the consideration they had shown to the men i during tho progress of work on llio Triumph. " The health of Mr Fraaor " was also drunk. During the voyage dinner w£h provided in relays, and in first-class Htyle, j Mr McKeown, of the Imperial Din£ng->» Rooms, and an efficient staff of waiters,';! being in attendance The vessel steamed ) as far as Tiritiri, and returned to the wharf .; shortly before six o'clock in tho evening. :A

AUCKLAND SUN WAY-SCHOOL UNION.

Presentation of Frizes.

A meeting in connection with the Auckland *S Sunday-school Union was held in St. James'Bii|| Hall on October 24, for the purpose of present- ;a ing prizes to the successful candidates in the |H scholars' Scripture examination held on August 19th. There was a crowded attendance, and I Mr Battley occupied the chair. After a hymn ■ had been sung, the Rev. Mr Rice engaged in" H prayer, and then short and appropriate ad- ■ 5? dresses were delivered by the Chairman and the ■ ■ Key. Mr Potter. ■

Distribution op Prizes—The prized w_ then distributed by the Chairman as follow:— ■ ~'M Senior Division—Examiner, Rev.U. Carter.—S; Harriet W. Thompson, ]nt prize, Bcrcsford-stS ■■•,* Congregational School: May K. M. 8011, notjS competing for prize, Wellcaley-strect B«pH»t|W Laura Bell, 2nd prize, Wellesley-strcet Baptist j-,-; Jane Fisher, Beresford street CongresatiODoW and Mabol Battlcy, WeHoslor-streot BapiM i &V/ dBa P pr S:; feTiiBSK fi &. : Rev. T. Mac- i kenzio frascr, JI.A.-Alico Law, Ist prize, St. ;;,- Lukes. Bemuera: Fredk. Battloy. 2nd prize, ■ Wellesley-strect Baptist; David H. Jackson, .Tj 3rd prize, St. James'a Presbyterian; Maud i McElwain, Ponsonby Wcaloyan, and Mabel;"% Harris, Ponsonby Wesleyan (equal), 4th prize; . * B. 11. iichnackcnberfr, sth prize. Mount Albert. I Wcsleyan; Lizzie J, Law, Cth prize, St. Luke's, I Rcmuera; Dorothy Brook, St. Luke s, Remuera, ■il and Geo. W. Astley, Mount Albert Wesleyan -it (C'luall, 7!h prize. Junior Division—Examiner, Rev W. 8- jH Potter.—Florence Newbold, Ist prize, Ponsonby 9 Wesleyan; Edward P. Armstrong, 2nd prize, -M Bereaford-Btreet Congregational; Albert J.'^m Brown, Devonport Wesleyan, and Flora Calder, } St. David's Presbyterian (equal), 3rd prize; Ada Niddrle. 4th prize, St. James's Presbyterian; ;7 James Drummond, sth prize, St. James's Presby-'jS terian ; Mabel Wood. 6th prize, Newton Ctongre-" ■ 41 Rational; Geo. A. Somerville, 7th prize. Oner1*!! EungaAVesleyan; Fanny McDonald, Bth prizß,-Jffi» Bereaford-street Congregational; Elizabeths!! Rendell, Bereaford street Congregational, andI'si Annie Rendell,. Borestord-strcet Congregational '&'& (equal), Oth prize.—Tho Chairman announced^ that the certificates awarded were 80 numcrdusi^i that it would be impossible to present them that -"'■ evening. They would bosent round to theyari-asSi ous Suuday-schools. • . ■

GOOD fou BabibS.—" We are pleased to sajtf that our baby waa permanently cured of aj Horiona protracted irreßiilnrit.v of the bowels bj-jj tho uao of Hop llittwrp >y t.i mother, which at; the sauie tim erestore; i < lliui■erfectliealtliand Btrength."-THB Parents. , See.

THE ACUKLAND EVENING STAR THURSDAYM MAY, 9, 1881.

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