GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

(By Euikbie.)

BWSM* is still nlivo and tightroping in

Paris. Thero ore in England 11,376 women who teach music, and 14,170 men. qharidan is playing "\ " J he . Fool>B bSS " »»tho Baldwin, San Francisco. ~ w a llls, tho Shakesperian actress, hw also been very unwell. Lind (Madame Goldschraidt) Sos her intontion of paying tho $&es a farewell visit. ff«ink Cates has boen giving recitals ■ iw in Adelaide and Warwick. Gamor i jj^jjeen assisting him with songs. TTranz Liszt has finished tho fourth f™, o f his memoirs. Tho whole was to be publiahed at Christmas time. The dude contingent hns increased in mhnrg at Koster & Binl's, San Francisco, X, the arrival there of Miss Marie Loftus. The Novellos, owners of Gounod's "Ro- Wion," have bought " Mors ot Vita," SJd'al^twork, for £4,000, fiminod's Solomn Mass and M«ndolssohn's i<W»lpurgis Night" aro to bo placed in ;L rehearsal at onco for tho Auckland Choral Socioty's next concert. The United German Sinking Sc.eiet.io3 of the United States aro arranging for a grand Ltal of song, to commenco July 4, ISSS, aid continue for ono week. The author of "John Halifax, Gentleman," has dramatised her novel, "A Life for a t/fe" The play is in threo acts, with prologue and epilogue. s Gaatav Eoichardt, tho composor of the music for the famous song, "Was irt dos Deutscbcn Vaterland, died in Berlin on November 4, Ho was born in 1797. "Outcast London " will bo tho title of G. j, Simma's new molodrama at tho London Adelphi "In the Ranks" still draws well, so it won't be wanted till after Christmas. Before Miss Anderson leaves tho Lyceum ■he will produce "Cymbelino," which is to form the great feature of her American tour ■ nffirtßumnjor. i Mr William Black is writing a novel, ; tthich is to appear next year, from month to month, in "Longman's Magazine" It is entitled "White Heather," and tho scone li 9 laid in Scotland. A novel entitled "Yvonne la Comedienne" Its authoress is Mine. Emilie Ambre1, who made a short appearance on the stages of tho Italian Opora at Paria and 'flew York some years ago. Morere, the French tenor, has lost his mind, and passes his time whistling his favourite roles. Morore was in his prime in 1567. He created the part of Don Carlos in Verdi's opera of that name. Mr F. Marcillac has recently published a ' very erudite and entertaining work called "Histoirede la Musique Moderne enltalie, enAUemagne, ct on Franco." (Fischbacher, Paris.) No musical library should bo with out it. Mdllo. Sara ("Wiry Sal") the popular "Kickist" and dancer of the Can-Can, who was hew with the Soldene opera-bouffo troupe, pleys a part in Harry Paulton's comedy," Ulies, or Hearts and Actresses," which was produced at the beginning of December in Liverpool. Miss Ada Cavendish, onco one of the lead ing English actresses, but of late yoara rather pass*, is dangerously ill. Herm ost remarkable performance used to be that of ; Mercy Merrick in the "New Magdalen," which she created and played in London . through two long runs. Mr George Darrell met with a serious accident whilst playing the {'art of Matt 'Morely at the Islington Grand Theatre rectotlj. Whilst the rope which bound • Mm to a tree was being severed by means «f a knife his hand was severely cut. He was unable to play for one or two nights, but coon became all right again. ' It is reported that the French Government baa forbidden the performances of " Lohen grin" at the Paris Opera House, of which fi, Maurel, well and favourably known-at Cogent Garden, is manager. The only seaionfoiUhis.refusalia a fear lest some thing of German origin should become popular in Paris, Lovers of musical literature are anxiously awaiting the publication of Professor Macfarren's promised mdmoires, which will undoubtedly teom with new and interesting matter. Marions souvenirs are in propara ;tion, and it ia said that tho great tenor Tamberlik will shortly make his debut as an author. The famous tenor, Giuliano Gayarre, has tSeoringing lately in Spain, his great role of Marcello in Donizetti's posthumous opera, "H Duca d'Alba." He created the part in Rome two years ago, Bruschi- Chiatti being the Amalia. The tenor role ia superb, and there is a romanza in Act 4, " ABgiol caato c bel," which can rank with •'SpiritoGental" in "La Favorita." Tho .debut of Miss Dayan, a young American society belle, ia announced as an event of the near future. The lady is said to possess more than ordinary histrionic ability. Her initial attempt will be Julia b"The Hunchback,' which, if she meets with the success sho anticipates, will be followed by Juliet and several like char acter!. Mr' Oscar Browning is now engaged in editing the family paper* of the .Duke of Leads, some of which are of great historical interest; and ho has aho undertaken to prepare for publication th& Eden collection Belonging to Lord Auckland, which should £ iiffordsonw valuable information as to the flomestie hintory of the early part of the present century, and may be expected to \ throw light upon several obscure episodes iriMt Pitt's Ministerial career—" Truth." _ Among the stage properties belonging to toe Grand Opera House, Paris, is a skeleton wKch fignredin the famous scene when the ttagio bullets are being cast in "Freischiitz." years, ago a poor, unknown student, : mo was mad spon the subject of Weber's :, Marterpiece, used to figure as super in this ; : «eoe. One day he was found dead, and t»? wma' nß wero never recognised. He was '.-buried, and a year or so after permission : jas obtained by the direction of the Grand , ; jyperato exhume his bones, and they were: « every Uao "FreischUtz" was por ' fftrmed. Uotow's "MartW is being revived. Tho •v-JMrt beautiful melody in jbhe opera, the :. wnor romanza, "M'appari taU'amor" was jj^aijbjf Jlotow'from his opera! "J/Ame 1 .TO Pane." Karl Formes was the originnj «unkett (1847), and was never surpassed. ' £"«? nsed-to eing "Martha" frequently • ™ff) to 1865, and was of course wholly I ™Mtfal as Lady Henrietta. Berlioz once . Wto hear her in this work, and the day ; "whd wrote, " I heard that adorable Patti ™ Martha.' What music ! I could not 1*- I escaped after the second act. JW.wTU she sing auch rubbish? While ■;<2£y™g to tho music / felt as if I .was ;-.Ww»KA fleas!" Berlioz evidently was ■H ■"P* wiectic. <B Jiffo**. Paaquale Brignoli, tho famous IH ;»S^ 'S 1Bin K no m"re. He recently died "■, S3 9 Everett House, New York. For tH W kS Previously he had been confined I ihrSr j ' Bun"ering from hemorrhage of the I of the kidneys. When in ■ S 1"8?' BrigQ°li had a lovely, silvery ■S < T? oe' whioh combined force with a H ™?3 r'^ua sweetness. He reminded fM, 2J? Mario, but unfortunately he was !■ f. WO" the stage, and never learned how iiH irffw irs 'a3t .'public appearancp was lm"-I** oe BriP»oli Midsummer Night Con *U;T rlvompany in St. Paul, Minn., last !■ ?fn« S1 whan he sanK the "Miserdre," W -2. o})era in whi°h he made his first. ;JM appearance," n Trovatere." 9 $$ -S fiirt Performance of the " Barbier !!■'tof^ 6 at thß P»»s Opera Comique IH ! VaSV ainful inoideat occurred. Mdllo. 1 ' an American singer, and a W i,T^ with the Parisians, was to appear *M';w»^ w\ OTd-tllefirat a(=t went off with 9'-'bnmni rhe«nrtain rose on the second act, tm v'fflTfi?1 Van Zandt- on advancing to the ■ ''nil Btafje> had a haggard look, was ■1M Tho™ aHiculatea note, and staggered. ifcjS^S < a vo'co exclaimed, "Elld osa jH echoMV, i ia drunk,") and tho cry was !^B»Wik fv* c aDdience. An actor announ -91 S. she Was unwell, and that the por- W-iJ^f was suspended. After a pause, ;«e audience made an uproar, ftfif^' who happened to be 'il C brought forward, and played »''%£ltf SBJ»ttenlfifL' theatre doctors had HMT™ *h() fortunate singer in her dress •■^fcSS^ h? d found her '^ufi^ng •Jm Paralysis, not in the slightest KBi'had *»TniT • &ny spirituous liquor, for she £■<:;«rtn^S^ k nothing but orange-flower, and, !iH tiad eiiS, nervous attack during the day, I■mm'■ to «ST n °thing. It was heart-rending « part Lf r magm"fioently dressed for her •,H 'y^Knooncious, pallid, and shivering.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS.

(From oi:r Lnxnnx Corkesi'ondent.)

Lumju.s, November -i. Althouoh many important Christmas books and annuals have still to be issued, enough are out to enable me to give your readers somo idea of tho principal features of the season. In tho first place, thon, let me advise cvorybody to spend sixpence on Walter Besa;it's delightful noveletto, "In Luck at Last," which forms the oxtra Christ m&s number of " All tho Year Round." No man living can write these sort of stories bettor than Mr Besunt. His tono is eheorily cordial, and his plots thoroughly well thought-out; moreover, he nearly always introduces us to one or two quaint ohar acters, which, once'read of, live permanently in tho memory. Who that has known them will evor forget tho mysterious horo of the " Ten Yoara Tonant," or the threo Bhippors in tho "Captains' Room," or Worshipful Charles and his " Glorious Fortune ?" Well, this now story deals with personages who aro at least equally interesting. I won't spoil your pleasure by outlining the plot, hut simply contont mysolf with prophesyiug that tho strango doings of Tris tho Herald, Mr Emblem, tho gontlo old second-hand booksellor, Mr Jamos, his " foxy " shopman, .Too, tho " brummagem " sailor, and Arnold Arbuthnot, the lovo stricken artist, will entertain many a house hold this Christmas.

Miss Braddon'a annual, "Tho Mistletoo Bough," docs not, as wna the caso last yenr and tho yoar before, consist of a novelette by herself, but of a numbor of short stories by various authors. Tho names of tho con tributors are not given, from which fact and from tho styl« of writing, Iguthor that they are mostly novices. Tho first tale, " Only a Girl," is probably Miss Braddon'a own, and tho third, " Tho Longmonoy Conspiracy," I attribute to T. W. Robinson.

Grunt mid Company's annual comen like its six predecessors from tho pen of 11. E. Nrancillion. It is called "Face to Faco, and a Fact in Sovon Fables," and struck mo as only passably interesting. I confess I think Francillion a dull novelist. His stories aro all right, but ho tells them badly. Probably, tho best thiug ho over wrote was " Pearl andjEmorald," which appeared in tho " Cornhill" somo years ago. Tho Christmas number of " Longman's Magazine" is, on tho wholo, a good shilling's worth. It contains amongst othor con tributions a now version of a Gorman legend, "The Two KobLere," by Miss Gerurd, whose remarkable novel, " Beggar my Neighbour,'1 I have so often advised you to read; "Sarah Walker," some pas sages in tho career of an enfant terrible, by Bret Harto. "Even with This," by Walter Besant, and "Esmd yon Lindenheim," by Miss Butt the author of " Miss Molly " and other charming books. Tho illustrations are in colours, and by such colebrxted artists as Pettie, R.A., Dv Maurier, Gra ham, R.S.A., and Marcus Stone. Walter Crane's design on tho cover deserves special attention. Altogether this Christmas number should be a success. With one ex ception, the contents of tho " Belgravia Annual" do not rise above tho level of ordinary magazine padding. This excep tion is "Olga DaordofPs Husband," by Mr J. Arbuthnot Wilson, who it seems wrote that extraordinary story, " Tho Key. John- Creedy," tho authorship of which people so curiously canvassed when it appeared in the " Cornhill" somo months ago. Whilst I think of it I may mention that Mr Wilson {"Grant Allon " is his norn deplume) has, under tho titlo of "Strange Stories," just republiahed his most successful contribu tions to the magazines. Thcso include "The Curate of Churnside," "Dr. Greatre's Engagement," "Tho Wreck of tho Fortuna," and several other singularly original tales.

The "Gentleman's Annual" consists of novelettes by Percy Greg and Mrs Alex ander. Few living authors can describe the glories and horrors of war more graphically than Mr Grog. In this now tale, " By Death Beleaguered," ho is at his best, enthralling onea attention from first to last. Mrs Alexander's con> tribution, " Mrs Voreker's Courier Maid," seems wishy-washy stuff after " By Death Beleaguored." "The Life and Works of Sir Frederick Leighton," by Mrs Andrew Lang, forms the Christmas number of the "Art Journal." It is as umptuous work, containing admirable engravings of all tho P.R.A.'s most famous pictures, and makes a capital book for the drawing-room table. Price, half-a-crown. Far the most attrac tive gift books I have seen as yot this season, is Cassell's edition de luxe of Romeo and Juliet, illustrated by Frank Dicksee. Look at it when you go to the bookEeller's, and see if you do not agree with me. The illustrations are simply exquisite. Another notable book of a very different sort U "Stuff and Nonsense," by Lear, whose "Nonsense Rhymes" set us all laughing some years ago. This is not ex pensive, and very funny. Young and old alike will enjoy it. The best new boys' books are the "Mutiny on the Albatross," by F. F. Moore, price 3s 6d; "Menhurdoc, a Tale of the C&rnish Mines," price 6s ; " Bunyip Land, the Story of a Journey into New Guinea," by G. M. Term, 6s; "Wreck of the Nancy Bell" on Kerguelen Land, 3s 6d ; "The King of the Tigers," Rousselet, 5s ; "Keraban the Inflexible," by Jules Verne 7s Gd ; and •' The Mystery of Beechley Grange," ss, For girls, I om advised to recommend " Her Title of Honour," by Holme Leo, 3s 6d; and " Guide, Philosopher, and Friend," by Mrs Herbert Martin, 3s 6d. Picture books for children (artistic and otherwise) abound, Caldocott's "Come, Lasses and Lads " and "Ride a Cock Horse " are like liia previous efforts in the same line, extremely humourous, and " The Deserted Village "is pretty and cheap. Mrs Ewing's " Daddy's Dovecot" promises to be as popular as "Jackanapes" was, and her series? of pi/jture-books aro also notable. " Stuff and Nonsense " (already mentioned) must, however, bo pronowneed tho champion children's book of the season.

Human Remains Inside a Shark.

FußTHßßtrac.es have been found of the victims of the fatal yatching accident which occurred on the'eastern ehoro of Port Phil lip on December the 13 or 14, when the two sons of Mr H. J. Browne, of East Mel bourne, and a sailor named Murray, were drowned. The body of William McDonald Browne was disooyered last Saturday week on tho|beach at Picnic Point (says tho " Mel bourne Argus.") The clothing, watch, &c, of his brother Hugh have now come to land. On Christmas Day a large shark was seen off the jetty, Frankston. Mr E. Coxall, butcher, and others, who make the cfttchjng of these fish a Rport, throw meat and bewta into the water to induce sharks to haunt the spot. Tha food was taken, and one shark Bhowed itself again next day. Late at night, a specially made hook was baited, and the fish caught shortly be fore 1 a.m. on Saturday. It was killed by a gunshot, and hauled, ashore. The shark measured 14ft. In ,the afternoon Mr Cox all cut tho fish open, and in the stomach found tho lower part of a human arm (the right), with hand complete ; a coat, with a wooden pipe and meersohaum stem in the pocket; a vest, having a gold watch attached to it by achain,apair of trousers, wanting one leg, with a bunch of keys and 10s 6d in the pocket; the watch was old fashioned, and bad numerals instead of letters on the dial. Mr Thomas Browne, brother of the deceased young gentleman, on hearing of the discovery, went to Frankston, and identified the clothes, watch, &c., as those of Hugh Browne. The band was not recognisable. It may be that of William Browne, whose body, when found off Pisnic Point, was without the right arm. Tho shark's stomach also con tained the fragment of a human neck. All the clothing was more or less torn, The internal parts of the watch were loose and much rusted. The hands wero standing at ( 9 o'clock. Mr Coxall gives as one reason why so few traces of a body were left in the stomach that the shark vomited as soon as it felt the hook. ThUis the first means of essape that a shark tries. A puppy thrown to the fish, and swallowed just befois the bait was taken, was so ejected, ihough 14ft long, this is far from being the largest shark caught of Frankston. One 22ft in length was captured two years ago. it also had been feeding on human remains, as a finger with a ring on was in its stomach. .

At a fancy-dress ball a short time ago a young lady was dwsiipd in ft marvellous dress of green and red, In which jmaginativo eyes were supposed to discover somo more or less resemblance'to lettuce and lobster. "What do you represent, MiesM / a gentleman .inquired, as they took their fIKS? In a set. "Don't you see? she returned,laughiug; /,'J-'pjasalad. UU!. was her partner's retort, white he flaslierf c. quick eye over the very liberal exposure 01 her persori j "but havon't you forgotten to put on the dressing 1"

A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE

SHOOTING A PRIVATE INQUIRY AGENT. Story of the Case. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) London, December 4. During this last week a tremendous sensa tion haß been caused, not only in Paris, but all ovor Europe, by anothor of thoso acts o ruthless fominino vengeance which are now adays becoming quite common. No great amount of attention would indeed in all probability, havo boon diroctod to this par ticular crime, but for tho fact that tho , heroine of tho enso—for in Paris she is a heroine—hnppons to bo both tho wife of a prominont politician and a well-known socioty beauty. Imagino, par cxemple, what a " to do" thore would bo in our upper circles if tho charming Lady Fitz noodlo wero to shoot a policeman, or tho wife of tho member for Slocum to knifo a private inquiry agont. Well, this is vory much what has occurrod in Paris. On Thursday afternoon last, as tho usual crowd of barristers, lawyers, and spectators wore emerging from one of tho courts of I ho Palnco of Justice, Mdme. Clovia Hugues, a young and beautiful woman, tho wifo of tho Radical member for Marseilles, drow a revolvor from her bosom, and boforo anyone could interfere, had fired fatal shots into the head, broast, and back of a private inqniry agent named Morin. "You may remombor," says the Paris correspondent of tho " Telegraph," writing to that journal on Thursday evening, " that some time ago this man Morin was condemned to two years' imprisonment for grossly libelling Madame Clovis Hugues. The charges broughtagainst her were shown to be utterly unfounded, and the utmost sympathy was displayed by men of all political parties towards lierand herhusband, to whom she had only recently been married. Under tho most trying circum stances sho behaved in n manner that won for hor univorsal respect, and exhibited an amount of moral courage of which com paratively few persons would, under such cruel conditions, in all probability have been capable. She had been maligned in the most insidious and hateful way, but sho emerged triumphant from tho ordeal, and tho conduct of tho Poet ■ Doputy was the subjoct of general eulogy. All this occurred somo timo ago, and tho whole story had boon forgotten by the public, It soems, howover, that Morin had up to tho present date succeeded, by making one appeal after the other, in de laying the evil hour in which ho would in cur the punishment ho had so richly merited. This morning tho affair waa again brought before the Court of Correc tional Appeal, and, for somo reason or othor, the hearing of the caso was once more postponed for a fortnight. M. and Madame Clovis Huguee, as well as Morin, wore present in the Court, and as they were leaving it, at about half-past eleveu, Madamo Huguos suddenly drew a revolver from hor pocket and fired on Morin. Tho first bullet merely grazed tho unfortunate man, who ran along the Salle dcs Pas Pordus, covering his face with his hands. But Madame Hugues pursued him, firing threo more shots, and her victim fell, his head, breast, and back pierced by the bullets, and flooded tho mnrblo floor with his blood.

Tho Husband Approves tho Dood. Tho tragic scono occurred so rapidly that none of the bystanders could in terfere. " Now," exclaimed Madamo Hugues, "ho will not calumniate us any more." It might have been sup posed that her husband would have expressed his horror at the terrible crime which she had just committed. Far from this, he rushed up to her, took her in his arms, and cried, "Ma cherie ! ma bollo I You have done well; now wo aro avenged." Some persons go so far as to declare that ho actually encouraged hia wife to fire on Morin ; but this version must be receivod with some reserve. At any rate, imme diately after the perpetration of tho crime M. Clovis Hugues publicly complimented her, and expressed his unqualified approval of her deed. Among tha eye-witnesses of this dramatic scone was Maitre Gatineau, the well-known barrister and Deputy, who acted as counsel for tho Hugues family. Some say that Madame Hugues was holding his arm when aho firpd tho first shot at Morin. Be this as it may, he was unable to interfere, cor could tho gondarmes or police on duty come up in time to avert tho catastrophe, It was only when the revolvor was dis charged that Madame Huguos was arrested. Meanwhile tho noise of tho reports had drawn a crowd to the spot. Guards and gendarmes, barristers in their robes, clerks, and members of ths genera! public hurried from guard-rooms, courts, and chambers to the scene of the tragedy. M. Clovia Hugues stated, in answer to their Inquiries, "My wife has killed thiß man, and she has done well." Meanwhile, as Madame Hugues waa being led away by two gen darmes, her husband was himseif taken into custody by a third. Producing his Deputy'a medal, he protested in the strongest termß. "I am a representative of the people," shouted tho Republican member for Mar seilles. "My person is inviolable. In arresting me you violate tho Con stitution. My wife has fired on a scoundrel. He has been libelling us for fifteen months." As for the lady, far from manifesting any rcpontance, she declared her regret that she had not suo coeded in killing Morin at once. The couple were then led away and examined by the police magistrate on duty, M. Dhiors, who was speedily joined by tho Public Prosecutor. M. Clovis Hugues has since been set at liberty, but his wife remains r.n the custody of M. Kuehn, the Chef de la Surete. The victim, who was immediately attended by Dr. Floquet, the physician of the Palais do Justice, was re moved to the Hotel Dieu. He had received three terrible wounds—one in the skull, one in the neck, and a third In the breast,

" I am Innocent.

A f«w minutes after his removal to the Hotel, Dieu Morin made a sign that he wished to write, being unable to speak. jHo then wrote tho words, " I am innocent," signing hiß name. It is affirmed that at his examination M. Clovis Huguos declared that he had not lime to prevont his wife from firing, and added that i ever since his condemnation Morin had annoyed them with insulting letters and post-cards. He was sot free at about five o'clock. M. Tony Rdvil lon, M. Laguorre, and M. Gatineau, all Radical colleagues in the Chamber, having taken steps to obtain his release, wera in formed by the authorities that he would bo allowed to go as soon as the investigation should be concluded. Madamo Clovis , Hugues, on her part, stated that she had ' fully intended firing on Morin, arid had brought the revolver to tho Palais de Justice for tho purpose. Sho would have killed him long ago, had not her husband dissuaded her from doing so. The news of the crime created a great sensation in the Chamber of Deputies this afternoon, and it is rumoured that M. Paul de Cassagnac has announced his intention of interpellating tho Minister of the Interior as to the means at tho disposal of the Government of suppressing agencies which bring so much sorrow to honourable families. Morin, who was an employ^ of the Clerget Agency, had declared that Madame Clovis Hugues, then Mademoiselle Royannez, had been the mistress of a M. Lenormant, from whom his wifo waa trying to obtain a separation. Prosecuted for libel, Morin had been con demned to two years' imprisonment and to the payment of damages amounting to £80. Madame Hughes is a very handsome person, dark, with classical features, tall and of a very fine figure. She is highly ac complished, a clever artist and good musi cian. Tho Hugues have twolittle girls, and live in a quiet apartment in the Rue St. Louis-en-1'Isle; It will perhaps not sur prise your readers .to learn that much sympathy ip felt for them, and that'fhe opinion generally prevails that Madame Hugues will be acquitted when her trial comes on. PnbUo Sympathy. Writing later, the same correspondent says:—The utmost sympathy continues to be shown here for Madame Clovis Hugues. At the Chamber of Duputies, yesterday afternoon, opinion ran strongly in her favour. " She has done well!" exclaimed Anatole de la Forge, one of the Republican members for Paris, .while M. Paul de Cassagnac, the Benapartist'cbampion, cried out, "The woman is a' heroine ! The entire press, without distinction of party, must support and defend her, and obtain her acquittal." This being the state of feeling in tho Legislative Assembly, it Way well be conceived that'similar sentiments prevail otitßide that body. People are almost unanimous" in Approving df the conduct of Madame Clovis Hugues, and in predicting in the most positive terms that she will go scot-free. Yet, by her own admisejon, the orime was thoroughly pre meditated. The apartment which 'the Huguea occupy at Ho, 24, Rue St. Louis

en rile, was visited last evening by the judicial authorities. Madame lluguoa coolly showed M. Kuehn a small parcel of linen ami oUior necessiirien which iiho had horeolfmudu up before proceeding to tho Palais do Justico this morning, remark ing, "You see that I did not expect to sleep at home to-night." About a twelvemonth ago sho had made hor appear ance at tho house of.Madame Lenormant, the lady whose offorts to obtain a separa tion from hor husband had lod indirectly to the libels against Madamo Hugues' charac ter, declaring that sho intended to kill hor. Madamo Lenormant was then on hor death bed, and it was only by force that, hor son prevented Madamo Hugues from ontoring tho chambor in which sho was breathing hor last. Tho police magistrate, in return ing hor rovolver t<> Madamo Ilufjues, had made hor promiso never to use it. But shortly afterwards sho bought a smaller rovolver, and when a fortnight ago her husband locked it up aho purchased w third weapon, which she employod with such deadly offoct yesterdiy. M. Kuguoa Justifies tho Assassination.

.After her apartment had boen searched, Madame Hugues was romovod to tho St. Lazaro Prison. Her husband, who is charged with complicity in the crime, is out on bail. As ho was on tho spot at tho very moment whon the deed was committed, he can bo prosecuted without the sanction of tho Chamber being asked for. It goos without saying that M. Clovia Hugues lins boon visited by a number of his friends. The following is his version of the aflair :—

" When, in September, 18S3, Morin was condemned to two years' imprisonment, wo breathed freely, but tho end had not yet corao. Morin was not arrested. Loft at liberty, he continued to libel us. On March 19, the judgment was confirmed by. tho Court of Appoul, but by default. My wife thought it was all over, and so convinced was she of this that sho imagined sho had a right to obtain Worm's arrest; and when a month ago she met him in the Rue do Kivoli tho idea occurred to hor, but she re frained from carrying it out, dooming it unworthy of r.er. Meanwhile every aoy, either at my lioubo or at the Chamber, I roeeivod post cards of tho moat de testable character signed "Borel," and couched in language too infamous to ro poat. And daily tho wrath of my wife in creased, until it becamo a deliberate danger which sometimes frightened mo. Soon wo obtained tho proof that Morin was inces santly calumniating my wife. ' Had sho not beoo tho lawful spouso of a Doputy,' ho used to say, I should not have boen con demned ' On the other hand, somo bung ling friends were in tho habit of repeating to us all rubbish they had heard, Buch as 'Thei'O is no amoko without fire,' and 'The truth will novel bo known.' My wife felt this doeply, and it had the effect of exasperating her still more. Ono day she exclaimed, "I will prove that thero is no firo without smoko." Knowing tho state of hor mind, I concealed from her the fact that the allhir was to como on again before the Court of Appeal on Nov. 27. But on Nov. 14, while I had gone to Nantes to deliver a lecturo. she recoived a summons. Sheatonco wentcut, boughtaro- Tolvor, loaded it in tho courtyard, and pro ceeded in Boarch of Morin to theßuedeßivoli, where sho had met him a month boforo. She did not succeed in finding him, and on her roturn homo hid the revolver in her wardrobe. When I came buck to Paris sho showed mo the summons, but without toll ing mo what she had dono. All hor old anger returned, but sho soothed mo, and forbade mo to use any violonco. ' At Mar seille?,'sho said, 'you havo already killed a man in a duel on my aocount. You must not do anything moro.' Up to the very last moment sho kept her determination secret. In tho morning of Thursday blu shut her self up for nearly an hour in her room, and whou sho came out sho said, ' Boforo wo go to tho Palais do Justico we shall have a festive lovers' breakfast.' Our ohildren are at Montreuil, and wo were nlono, so we proceeded to tho restaurant to breakfast, as she wished. She was in capital spirits, but not excited. Sho had made up her mind, and in court sho was perfectly calm. When sho had fired, and a 1 was over, I embraced hor, saying, "You will not suffer any moro; you are now relieved." Somo pettifogging lawyers insulted us. Somo lawyers in thoir gowns oven cried bohind us, "A l'eau, a l'eau.' Thosopooplo donot know tho terrible torments that my wifo had endured. Her only words whon she fired were, ' He will not libel any more.' 1 declare that she committed the act with perfect sangfroid, which never abandoned her. They say that Morin is not dead. Tant pk. Ho deservod to die.

Tho Heroine of tho Case,

Maitro Gatineau speaks very strongly of the persecution to which the Hugues wore subjected, Rnd declares that thsro' novel was the remotest foundation for the gross libols uttered against the lady's character. Her whole life gave the lie to any base insinuation, for those who had known her even before her marriago wore woll aware that she had never even in dulged in the innocent coquetry of a young girl. "She is," he added, "a woman of rare onergy and dovotedness. At Marseilles, during the cholera outbreak, she tended the sick with the utmost self-sacrifice; and, when complimented, merely said that sjie did not deserve praise, as she was not afraid of the epidemic." In tho opinion of Maitro Qatineau, hod Morin been arrested after bis condemnation nothing of the kind would have happened, but seeing that he was unpunished, their persecutors re doubled their efforts.

A DOUBLE-FACED LADY.

A Strange Dual Existence. — A Moat

Beautiful Woman,

In a certain beautiful village roeido Colonel . and his wife, who Is the daughter of a baronet, and I think tho most beautiful woman I over saw. The pair live in good style, and visit all the best families in the neighbourhood (eayfi a writer in a London paper). Tho colonel is about forty-fire, and his wife 1b about twenty-five. It is given out that the lady has a considerable income of her own, and It is well known that tho colonel's menus would not be eufflciont to keep up tho stylo in which they livo. For two or throe monthß during the height of the sooson tho lady disappears, and it ia given cut that she has gono on a visit to frienda in the North, or is tra velling on tho Continent. As a matter of fact, sho is in London, one of tho most sought after and successful of the demi monde. Sho takes a house in Pimlico, and in her splendid establishment there entraps all the misguided young fools with more money than brains whom sho can get hold of. Sometimes Mrs N (as she calls her self when in London) falls in with a richer and more infatuated prize than usual, and goes abroad with him for a time There are scores of young fools whom this designing woman lias ruined during the past five years. It is no uncommon thing for her to return to the colonel and rural delights with i' 5,000 as the solid results of a two or threo months campaign1 in the metropolis. The colonel is perfectly aware of the methods by which the money is obtained, and the pair livo very comfortably during nine months of the year upon the earnings of the wife for the other three. Tho woman leads a strange kind of dual oxistence. When in London she is one of the quoens of tho demi-monde ; while in her village her mode of life is eminently respectable. She patronises all the looal institutions, Bub scribes to the local charities, attends ohurch regularly, and is the vicar's right hand in all district visiting, soup distributing, sewing meetings, and other parochial work. She ia now in London, and,it was only last week that I saw her riding in the Row. She is certainly one of the most attractive looking women I ever saw, and sits her horse to perfection.

The Duke of UNKNOWN Estates.

The entailed estates in Scotland to which the prosoiit Duke of Buccleuch has suc ceeded extend to upwards of 450,000 acres, and include the magnificent seats of Brow hill, DruralanrijJ Castle, and Dalkeith Palace The present annual rental is about £170,000, which is at least 20 per cent, less than the return of ten years ago. The Duke also comes into the Bcmghton estates, in Northants, hear Kettoring,-and he gets a property in Warwickshire, near Kugby, the two being now worth about £28,000 a year. Itisheped'hewill soonhiakeithisb'usi ness1 thoroughly to' restore Boughton, the interesting old manor-house of the Mon tagus, which 'is surrounded by some of the finest woods in England. The Duke'a piers at Granton bring in £10,000 a year, his minerals and quarries are worth nearly as much, and he owns valuable urban pro perty in Midlothian. TheDukewill receive about £300,000 from his father's personal estate. His income, therefore, wjllbe about £270,000, on which pittance even a Duke can live handsomely,

SCIENCE NOTES.

Improvement in Aeronautics. A Berlin correspondent writes to tho " St. .Tamos'H Gazetto : " " An ongineer named Fisher is reported to havo made an important dia covery in aeronautics, by which ho is en abled to copdonse or expand the gas in a balloon. Tho agent ho employs is com prossod carbonic acid, with tho help of which ho can ascond or descend at pleasure. Thin perpondicular movement puts it in th« power of the aeronaut to go up or down until ho finds a current oj air moving in the horizontal direction he wishes. Military critics attribute great importance to this diacovory, becauao in time of war a balloon will bo able to roach the enemy's torritorv mid ascend again without requiring a fresh supply of gas."

A Tell-Talk Electric Bell—ln ordor that the person ringing an electric boll muy be ablo to tell whether, on making oonta»t, tho bell actuarly rings, Mr Douglat Mackenzie has devised the following ar rangoment. Bosido the press button, and lot into the wall, is a simplo telephone re ceiver of the Elisha Grey or bell model, and consisting of an eleotro magnet with a soft iron plato armature free to vibrate over one of its polos. The sounding or "clinking" core of Pago may also bo employed instead of tho diaphragm armature. This eloctro magiiet is formed uj» in circuit with the bell and battery, bo that when tho bell is in action, with its contact interrupting tho current, tho telephone or electro-magnet will omit a muaioul note or hum, which, when heard by the person ringing the bell, informs him that tho bell is ringing, always supposirg that tho current is strong enough. — "Engineering."

Prayer jjy Machinery.—But far moro ingenious, and, I may say, pootiu, 1» the dovico which has enlisted tho breeze and tho stroam in tho samo service. In tho latter case tho cylinders are placod upright in a shed, or a rudo templo, built over running water. A spindle, passing through oach, terminates in a horizontal wheel, with cogs turned diagonally to tho water, which, running onwards, causes the wheel to rotato and so turn tho cylinders. The winds of heaven aro also onlisted, somo cylinders being made to rotato by the action of wings liko tho fans of a windmill. On those also tho sacred words are inscribed. Another variety inav bo soen at Ddrjoeling, whore there is an important Lama tomplo and a largo prayer wheel, and whore the priests aro provided with neat little wheels for privuto dovot:on. Here ceaseless ascriptions of praiso are offorcd for the benefit of the dead, and it is especially on their behalf that the breezes are taught to work. The names of tho dead and tho words of praise are inscribed on Hags of great length, nnd only about four foefc in width. These streamers are affixed to lofty poles, and as thoy flutter in tho breeze they are accounted to bo offering praiso in tho name of the dead. Similarly inscribed ilags flutter from many a cairn on tho lonely mountain passes. Such, too, if the poetic meaning of the little tinkling wind-bellH suspended beneath each story of the many-roofed pagodas of China and Japan.—C. F. Gordon dimming, in "Contemporary Review."

Touohenino Gold.—Dr. J. C. Booth, of tho United States Mint, has discovered a gonoral inothod of toughening gold and silver, which he recently described to tho American Chemical Society. Some timo ago, Mr Booth found that a quantity of brittlo gold acojdontally melted with some tough gold ia a crucible had ronderod th« whole mass very brittle, crystalline in fracture, and thorofore uselosß for coining. Tho whole = 5,1541b. ay., was toughened by him in one and a half day at a trifling coat by tho new process. The 75,Q000z. of gold wcro divided into 14 "molta" of 5,0000z. each, and oach molt separately toughened. Tho ingots, whioh could be broken into pieces by striking them on tho edge of a wooden box, woro put into the crucible with soda ash and anhydrous f used borax in tho ratio of ono or two ounces to a melt until tho crucible was nearly fulL It then ap poarod as a quiet mass of metal covered with v viscid Blag, disposed to swell and puff. A few crystals of saltpotro, say ono or two ounces, woro then dropped into tho centre of tho metallic surface, and as thoy molted, thoir spreading out over the whole surface was aided by the concontric motion of tho bottom of a small crucible Tho moment the vieiblo oxidising action began to slackon, tho inolter skimmed off, by a email blacklead dipping crucible, tho fluxed iiiattor as rapid us was consistent with tho caro noceesary to avoid taking up metal. Tho remainder in the melting pot was tho toughened metal.—"Enginee.ing."

Mr Caldwell on his Scientific Discoveries.

At a special mooting of the Royal Society of New South Wales-Mr H. C. Russell, Govornment Astronomor, presiding—Mr Caldwoll, Balfour Student of tho University of Cambridge, exhibited the specimens of marsupials, monotromata and ccratodus which ho had collocted, and described his , labours. When ho came out, two years ago, ho found great difficulty in getting speci mens of tho platypus or achiHna. Whilst everyone tola him it \yas to be obtaised In this rlrer, op that, he generally found that the skm;huntor hadj been before him and had got only two or three specimens, The first lew months of the present year he spent in obtaining marsupials euch as kangaroo's 'possoms, and native bears. Marsupials were considered in tho colonios to be uni versal property, and everyone considered himself qualified to teil him how the kangaroos produced their young. As a matter of fact, the scientific world knew already that the kangaroo produced its young in the same way ac tho rest of tho milk-giving animals. That had beon provod by Professor Owen nearly 50 ye<rs ago, vvhilut the early stages of that develop ment which formed the basis of the modern logical work upon tho subject had not been found. No one expected to find the kangaroo growing on the teat, bat nevertheless no ono had found the stages from impregnation up_ to birth of the young, owing to the insufficient quantity available to enable the embryo logy of these animals to be determined. This information, however, he had obtained in the laat months of 1883, and the first few of the present year. He had made a num bor of expeditions all over New South Wales in search of marsupials, and in April of this year ho went to tho Burnett River, in Quoonsland, where tho ceratodueis found, both there and on the Mary River, and these two only. He had remained there sinco that time, and whilst ho obtained there the ceratodus, ho also got in the same district the early stages of the'ornithorhyn chus and the echidna or bush porcupine. Ho thon said a few words about his camp. Ho found it was useless to live on the stations or far away from tho river if ho hoped to observe the coratodi. It was four months before he found any traco of their modo of depositing thoir eggs in the river, till ho found it by a chanco which could only havo occurred by his camping' on tho bank of the river. His material for observation was obtained by an aboriginal camp, ho having at one time as many as 60 aborigines at work for him. They got tho porcupines for him, and some ho employed searching weeds for the ceratodus. The latter animal was a representative of a series of animals which once wero numerous in many parts of the world. At the present day there were threo living representatives of this group of animals—tho dipnoi, found in Queensland, only in the Mary and Burnett Rivers ; the other, the lepidosiren, found in the Amazon j and the third, the protopteros, found in the Nile and other rivers in Africa. These three formed a class different from all other animals, inas much as they possessed and £jj£ i n 6 form of a fish in fin S-uic stato, and at the same time they possessed lungs. The structure known in other fief) a.s the air bladder became' in this fjsh highly vascular, and th,e aerfitod blood freshened by oxygen did not pass from tho air bladder through the Bystem, but passed direct to the heart, and thero they had tho first indication of two chambers in the heart, and they had for the first time arterial blood in the heart of a fish. Blood was found in an arterial state in animals with lungs, but in a venous state in animals without lungs. His chief object iri coming to Australia had been to obtain ' the devlopement 6i the ceratodus. He went up to the Bur nett River in April, and found that at that time the fish were ripe, the ovaries and testes being nearly developed; but it was not till the beginning of Soptember that he'1 found the first eggs of the ceratodus. It was his belief that the fish had been in the water the whole time,' but the oxtent of the waterhole and the habits of the fish made the'difficulty very* great in securing it. He spent many weeks hunting, and, with the assistance of the blacks, turned up marty hundred waterholes before he found''it. The eggfe were laidr up6n the weeds. ■ They were laid singly, resembling those of the common newt. ■ The whole development of. the ceratodus'had; a strange resemblance to' that of. the'amphibians', and any one who had any acquaintance 'wA the develop ment of the, newt wqfd, at oneo

perceive the resemblance. It seemed that the fiah would only drop their eggs on a particular weed. These epga wore fertiliß3(l in tho water in v simiU.r way to 3omo apooies of the newt. Jd.o was throo mouths, till near the end of November, developing the eggs. The fish were now living—baa been hatred some weeks ago The hind legs of ceratodi were not yet developed. The development of the fins would probably yield important knowledge on embryology. The egg of tho ceratodus was similar to that of tho kan garoo. Ho then proceeded to doseribo tho monotromata, namely—tho ornithorhy nchus and echidna. Those, though differing from ono another, were identical in structure, aud were in overy way similar animals. Thoy were tho representatives of a largo series of forms which once existed in othor parts of the world. Those two living roprouontativeb formod some thing quite us unique in its way as the eoradotus. They wero both milk-giving, and both suckled thoir young. When he cumo out ho had a strong belief that the ornithorhynchus and echnidu produced their young in much tho samo way as tho marsupials, and he thought last year he had confirmatory proof of this being so; but he found he was in error. Flo thought ho found in thopiiichofthoorlaithorhynchuß v cellular moinbrmio ; but ho found it to be only part of a ruptured egg. Ho thon, with the aid of diagrams, described the stages in the development in the platypus. Hu had found that invariably tho fomale platypus had two eggs, and these left the parent at tho ago of about n chick, 36 hours ufter the laying of the egg. With regard to the echidna, ho hid not determined the exact **g»* at which the young wero born. That of the platypus ho had discovered by a lucky chance. He happened to kill ; ono whioh had laid ono egg, and had tho other on its way out through the passage, and tho ago of this egg onablod him to dotermino when the eggs of the platypus ' wore laid. His series of monotrcmata would be made up in tho early stages by tho echidna and in tho later by the ornithor hyncus. These were the facts determined by his researohes, and as to their interpre tation it would take years before they wore of service in conntction with the problems of embryology, and the special problems to be worked out in connection with these animals wore vory numerous. Thoy might perhaps auk what all these investigations were for. In the early days of evolution it was hoped to get some approximation to the podigree of all animals by observing the embryology; but now ombryologists were not so ambitious. They knew that all animals had a pedigree, but what it exactly was, was not now regarded as of such consequence So long as they could tell moro or less accurately what it was, this was sufficient. These researches were all working to find out the laws whioh governed living things, and thus light would bo thrown upon the great problem of life.

LAUNCH OF THE RIMUTAKA.

Another Splondid Steamer for the New Zealand Snipping Company.

(FROM OUR LONDON COREESI'ONDENT.)

London, Deoembor 4, The latest addition to tho Now Zealand Shipping Company's splendid fleet was launched from Messrs John Elder's yard at Glasgow on Nov. 20th. Miss Guild, of Glasgow, christened tho vessol tho "Itimii takii," but the launch was quite private, and there wore, no speeches. The Rimutaka in a sister ship to tho Kaikoura, but an the latter vessol has not boon to all ports in the colony, yet I will repeat the description of them I sont out some months ago. The new vessel, whioh is built under special survey of Lloyd's surveyors to class at Lloyd's in tho highest " spar dock class," is divided into eight water-tight compart ments, five of which are carried up to tho spar dock, with fireproof and water tight doors, and she will thereforo be ontered on the Admiralty list as a transport of the highost class. Sho is built entirely of steal, has a cutwater stem with figure head, and is barque-rigged, having masti and yards of steol. The principal dimen sions of tho vessol are as follow >—Length between perpendiculars, 420 feet; .length ovor all, 451 foot j depth, 3'i feet 4 inchos ; with a gross tonnage of about 4,500 tons. Tho onglnes, which will indicate about 4,000 h.p., are compound surface oon doneing, with two inverted cylinders, ono high pressure 40, and ono low pressure 88 inchos diameter, each udapted for a stroke of 4 foet 9 inchos. Tha high-pressure cylindor haaa valvoof thecquilibrium piston typo, and the low-pressure cylinder has nn ordinary doublo-portod eido valve. These valves aro worked by the ueunl double occontric and link motion. Steam iv supplied to the engines by threo cylindri cal doublo-ended multitubular boilors of steel, to bo worked to llOlbs. pressure per square inch, having in all 18 of Fox's patent corrugated furnaces. Accommoda tion is provided for 87 firstidnss pussengers on main and spar decks. Thero is also accommodation for 82 second-class jjaij aongors on the main deck, and for 250 third olass passengers forward. The first-class accommodation is situated abaft tho engine-room, and extends amidships. Entrance is obtained from the spar deok by means of a spacious staircase placed in tho after deck-house. The main saloon is in tho midehip portion of tho ship, immediately abaft the engine-room, and will be a largo elaborately-furnished apart ment, 42ft by 31ft. Over tho centre of tho saloon is a well of 18ft by 12ft, with a large pavilion skylight on the hurricane deck above, giving ample ventilation, and mak ing the total height of the boloou fully 17ft. Tbo ladies' boudoir, which is fitted immedi ately abaft tho saloon, will, be finished in a handsome manner. The saleon, music room, smoking-room, corridorß, entrances, and first-claBS state-rooms in the after deck house are to bo furnished in polished hard wood, consisting of teak, oak, satin-wood, and walnut, making a very rich combina tion. The saloons, entrances, corridors, ladies' room, smoking-room, oard room, state-rooms, engine a»d boiler rionu, aro all fitted throughout with the electric light on tho incandescent principle j but independent of tho eleotrie light, the vesßol is fitted throughout with oil lamps of tho most approved principle. Tho greatest care has boon taken in the lighting, ventilating, and sanitary arrangements throughout. The vessol carries eight boats of largo Jimensions, placed on the bridge and promonado deck?, as far as possible beyond tho risk of danger from the sea Four largo steam winches are fitted at the hatchways for the prompt loading and un loading of cargo, while a powerful steam windlass is also fitted on the top-frallant fore castle, with capstan placed forward _of it, driven by gearing from a windlass engine for manoeuvring the vessel in harbour. Two refrigerating engines on the moßt improved Btyle (Haslain'S) are to bo fitted in the fore hold for the carrying of a large quantity of frozen inutto'n for the English markot, and for an ample stock of fresh provisions for tho uso of passengers. The vessel will be fitted and furnished with everything of the most improved style usual in largo mail boats for long voyages. The Rimutaka'is now being fitted up as speedily as'pbssible. Her trial trip will probably take plaoe during tho first week of January, «nd she is oxpeoted to bo Jn London by the 7th or 3th. She will start on her maiden voyago to New Zealand on the 15th January, 1885.

Love-making ill France and England.

I HAV£ H6Vd» much admired the way in which declarations of love are made in France. With us the foolish animal has to go on his knees at a woman's feet. With her eyes modestly drooped on uSj this little demon of observation makes an inventory of all our smallest defects—of our hair, growing sparser; of our languishing eyes, turned up and showing their whites j of a little whart which we thought1 concealed; I put its squarely that in this little scene it seems to me we have to play a supremely ridiculous part. If any one of my readers is not of this opinion, let him put this question to himself, "Should I ever think of being photographed in the attitude above des cribed 1" I await his answer. They manage these things differently in England. You sit down comfortably, very much at your ease. You have the adored ob,;jeai of your dreams at your sidf> p* &$ your feet, and you can murmur, your Sweets wHsperi of love into hor e'&r without 6ver dislocating your vertebral; column.' You may even smoi^ your 'cigar, without any fea:r 'or giving offence, all the time you tell your love and build, your castjos in Spain. "Then you. are something of/a pftsha," I can imagine' a>»me eniailcip'alM woman exclaiming. Not itt aU, madam : it is no question of master and slave: it is a matter " not of slavery, hut of exalted duty."—" Lee Fillesde John Bull," by M««S O'Eell.

THE BRITISH ARTISAN.

A Gloomy Future. Eviction, Starvation, Taxation. Tnos "Northumbrian" in "Reynold's Newspaper " (London) for November 16 :—• In all the stories which havo been told of obstinate bravery confronting determined assault, none surpasses ths story of tho defence of Plevna during the Russo-Turkish war. Month af termonth the heavy shells of theenemy burst overhead with sullen reitera tive boom. Famine laid its gaunt hands on the besieged, and their sick died in tho lon p, dreary days, when communication was broken in the outside world, and when the lines of the foe engirdling them cut off a!l sustenance or relief as with a wall of fire. Between Plovna and the position of the British artisan today, I think a close paral lel may be traced. On the one hand, tho Lords are bent on withholding from him the franchise extension which a remarkable series of working men's meetings have proved most conclusively that he covets. On tho other hand, Mr Chaplin and a few Tory equires of a like calibre are deter mined, if they can, upon forcing a tox upon corn. Above all, tho coming winter looms disastrously before every workman in the land. Here is litoral famine—a famine as bad ns anything suffered in Plevna—a famino which today on the banks of the Tyne, of the Tees, of the Wear, and oi tho Clyde, to fay nothing of the Thames, is reducing thousands upon thous ands of British artificers, skilled workers, to themost beggarly want. Thus threatened by a tax on the food which to-day they are unable to buy, threatened with the spite of Lords, and andergoing the actual pangs of starvation, I contend that the British work man stands in hio Plovna, and that from Plovna ho is bound to deliver himself. There must be no comprimise, and no sur render. Out of the trial and trouble of to day may be snatchod not only deliverance for ourselves, but for our children. Everywhere I soe tho indications of change. Tho Skye agitation in the farthest north is only a sign how men's hearts are searching through social questions. The poor havo been tho door-mat ot tho rich long enough. Lazarus is tired of letting ths dogs of Dives lick his sores—tired of the paltry fall of crumbs from the rich man's table—tired of tho blasphemous cant that the good God designed one man in a thousand to bo rich and happy, and ths ether 999 poor souls to pass through a line of purgatorial pains. Nothingisallowed to belong of right to tho millions of honest harkwording British artisans who create the wealth of the country, ami who constitute its backbone. Look at our defenceless condition, even in the matter of our .hou*e roofs. Wo have not oven the security of the rats in the Bowers. Mr Froude, by no means an ex treme thinker, put this pretty plainly the othor day when he wrote: — " Not a milo from tho place where I nm now writing, an estate on tho coast of Devonshire came into the hands of an Bnglieh duko. Tiiere was a primitive village upon it, occupied by aailors, pilots, and fisherman, which is described in Domes day Book, and was inhabited at the Conquest by tha actual forefathers of the late tenants, whose names may be read there. Tho houeos were out of repair. The duke's predecessors had laid out nothing upon them for a cetitury, Riid had been contented with exacting tho rents. Whon the present owner enterea into possession it was repre sented to him that if the village was to continue it must bo rebuilt, but that to rebuild it would be a needless expense, for the people, living na they did on their wageß as fishermen and seamen, would no^ cultivate his land, and were useless to him. The houses were therefore simply torn down, and nearly half the population was driven out into the world to find new homes. A few more such instances of tyranny might provoke a dangerous crisis." " Hero; then, is a case, one of tho hundreds which are annually occurring, whpn wo are dealt with like dogs. Fleßlj &nd blopd will bear much, but thqre 'cornea a point at which endurance ends'and resistance begins. We never wetp a,/violent people, and wo iijh'flik before we act; but it is quite within thai tound? of probabilities that the cry for justice whioh goes up at the next general election may send so strong a Radical party to the House of Commonß that the shilly shally legislation of the past will bo swept away in the twinkling of an eye. As one commentator on Mi Froude'e. fltovy of eviction says,:— "' "There, for no offeiiea whatever a con siderable $Uaso population—who, if long oo.n.tinued ancestral occupancy goes for any thing, had the full moral and equitable right to live on this particular portion, of their native soil—were rudely driven put to what must have been to thpm a cruel banish ment. Some grayo. political crime, some gross offence against law and morality, would hardly havo justified such a punish ment, in which' old and young, women'and children, were alike involved. Who cm} tell tho meiital anguish, the physical suffer ing involved in such an eviction,; ti»e burning sense of injury, the rendingo£ social ties, the pain and loss qf l&vfcg to'sqek a fresh home and begin a, new life at the will of an un known &i$ unseen depot ? And the power ful Government of our free England with its high-sounding declarations—that every man's house is his caatle, that rich and poor are alike in tho eye of its laws; and that there is no wrong' without a remedy— was absolutely powerless to give these poor viUagevs any protection whatever IBy ivooguising private property inland, the State has sot up in its rcidat a number of petty lords more ppAvorfui than.any govern ment; and wlioa'p decrees, whatever it)-. ju9tipa they may do, or whatever misery bring to British subjeete, no CQ.nrfc o{ law or eqiiity is able to reverse." In these last lines iies th,o key-stone of our agitation. As the laws go, wo .are power less. The Home Secretary the other day, in speaking of the Skye agitation, said that by all means "the law" must be upheld. No thought ia taken of any justice which may lie behind agitation or of the wrongs which might be buried at its root. All that

wo hear is that tiie present sondition of ij to bo continued. This attitude in other matters will not do for the English work ing-class population in England. We only care for the vete as a means of bettering our position. We know it means more wages and leas taxation, hotter homes and a little comfort therein; and for the vote, because it means that, and much moro than that, we shall fight and fight in our Plevna of to-day until we win a victory along the whole of the line. Evicted like curs when over some irrespansible landlord takes the whim intxj his 'head, starved like forgotten cats whenever trade grows bad, taxed up to our eyes, sweated early and late to support a church, a nobility, and an upper caste which does no good for us in this world, and which cannot help us in the next, we are the veriest slaves. Other nations before this would have used rougher measures. We wisely, and with tho strong courage and common sense inherent in tho British char acter, claim only the vote. In that lies our deliverance, and by that lever we intend to make a most marvellous change in this land of ours, and right speedily too.

A NEW YEAR'S PRESENT.

The Poetrls JFamily Got a Goat. " On, John," exclaimed Mrs Pcevi*, as she opened the door for her husband on Christ mas Eve; such a beautiful present! Guess what it is 1" " How should I know ?" ro turned Mr Peevis ; " a New Year's card, or Borne other rubbish, I suppose." "Oh, John, how can you say bo? They're not rubbish, I like getting Christmas and New Year cards. It shows some one thinks of you. But it isn't a card. It's a goat, a real Hve goat." And Mrs Peevw clasped her hands,andlookedupinherhusband'eface,ox pectantly. '' A goat ?" exclaimed Mr Peevis. "What in the world shull we do with a goat?" "Why, only think. It's a nanny, and wo shall be able to milk her. And when I think of all that the 'Evening News ' B&id about typhoid fevor that time tho Mayor was going round the dairies— how it was convoyed in milk, and about 'em making it of otialk and water, and all that —why, we ought to have had a goat long ago. I'm euro I'm very much obliged to Mrs Podger for giving her to us. Ain't you, dear?" "Yes. Oh, yes, I suppose so," replied Mr Peevis, hesitatingly, as if he was in some doubt. " I told the milk man he needn't call any more," continued Mrs 'Peevis ; " and won't you come and look at her before tea? She's such a pretty creature. So smooth, and, oh, such lovoly violet eyes !" Mr Peevis suffered himself to be conducted to the back door the goat was tied to the fence, and stood in the centre of the little back yard. There was a, look of deßance in her eyes, aud as Mr Poeviß walked round her, "keeping as far away aa the fence would permit, the animal had hor head turned toward him, and occasionally lowered it in an ominouß manner. "She lcoka wild, don't you think?" remarked Mr Peevis. "She's strange, poor thing; ain't you, Man? She'll be all right when ulie knows us," re plied Mrs l'eevis, after a, paueo. " Yes, I thought of that before you came in, but she wo.ulda't stand quiet, and I thought if you'd try, John, dear- " said Mrs Peevis, coax ingly. "Ithoughtso. Always gettingaome bob-jammed newfangled idea. Oh, yes; I'll milk her. Come here," and hs made a grab at the goat's horns. Tho goat ovaded his clutch, and sprang away ac far as her tether would pormit. "Oh, John s you mustn't. You should, do it gently, doar. You hold her, and I'll try and milk her." Seeiag that there was nothing better to be done, Mr Peevis took the rope, and pulled it in, hand over hand, till he got hold of the goat's horns. For a raojaaut Nanny stood still,..her hind legs attetohed back to their fulL extent,1 v -that's right," Bajd Mrs Poevis. her quiet till I got a basin," " How long are you going to keep me here ?" roarad Mr Peevis. " Only a minute, dear,-" replied Mrs Peevis, aa she hastened away. She had hardly entered the kitchen when her dog Tiny, who had made his way into tho yard, imagining, perhaps, that the goat waa attacking his master, began to bark furiously. "Get out, Bob jam you,"shouted Ms? Peevis, and as he made a rigorous |k,ick at the dog the goat snddenly sprang upward, struck her ' horn agains^Mr Peevis'Bhoso, and knqgfced him spj-awlipg on his back into tho wood heap. Tiny again "went for.*- the gqa.t and. poor Wanny, with a dosperatft rush' pulled thd piling to which the rope waa tied off $he" fence, ran into tho corner of. kho yard, and then faced the dog. "Oh, John, dear, whatever, have you done ?" exclaimed Mra Peevia,' "Me done ! say it's me," returned Mr Peevis; " your blooming goat, and your bob-jammed log—got cut!"' he yelled, as he again kicked savagely at Tiny. " Come in, and wasljthe blood off your nose, dear, and—aad perhaps tho goat doesn't wtuit to Vp milked to-night," said Mrs Peevis, soothingly. Mr Peevis did as he was re- Suested, «nd soon afterward went to bed. either ijr or Mrs Pea vis waited up to see tho old joar oui and the new year in. The nexji Morning Mra Peevis got up first, anc went straight to the yard to. see kow Nanny ■wjys. Then she rushed wirlly back, tcv tho. bedroom, and said, "(h, Jolja, the goat's gone." " Gone I" es-cjaimed Peevig. " Yes 5 she's knocked, 1 lot more palinga off the fence and got int." It's a blazing bad job !" Baid Mr Piavis. "And what'll Mrs Podper say?" reilarked Mrs Peevis. We'll have , toadverti:rin^ie 'EveningNowa.'" "No advertiWi; for me !" returned Mr Peevis. " Oh. bu, John; we'll nover be able to look. Mrs lodger ja the face again." "Jam ■ Mrs PodjJsr, and her goat too I" " And I told the milkman not to call again, andwe won't have a drop ol milk all day.", Tfy goat has not yet been adver tised_ for. j Mrs Peevis has been. making j-inquiries ach day since in her neighbour- I hood, witl a view to returning the goat jto Mrs Polger, but without success. She ■ has not mentioned the goat's name before her husbnad, because, as she says, "he does gat Uto emob, tantrums,"

THE. AUCKLAND JtfVENINU HTaiK, SATURDAt, JANUARY 17, 18»5

5



ENGLISH GOVERN- J||i|i|fjfi& MENT CONTRACT. INSPECTING- ENGINEER'S FOEM. Ilrjily to be addressed to— India OffiOfi, i»di.oiHc. Vaifinta»ter,S,W, WMtrolmUr, • . . . I am directed by tho Secretary o£ State rtfi India la CotftcU to Bcqnulnt you that jour Tender of tho date and for tho articles mentioned Jxstow has bi.sn this day accepted, subject to tho Conditions and Specification on jphloh you tendered, Tour* claim must bo preferred fa duplicate on tift iorna jnjflded by this office, and you uro requested to quote on tliom. JtUo data of this letter nnd the foltowlag roferoooo. ijA . n I request that yon will acknowledge tho rwelpt at ttlj htUsr, «5 thai you will not commence tha work until you have Jeoeiwd tell jMtrwßons from the Inspecting Engineer. Ism, Toot obaiieafc Sarjjwit, \J /y^ i Director-General Of Stores. ■ p , .■._ , - Rate n-.y .... in •. Date ot Tenter Nature of Artlcles P»r what Service __ - » OroaiAmsaai "•* £B. d. ": ",« *A> % ».»aitto] tot ip ~ , The above is a fao-similQ (omitting price)' bt the .MuriA conseoui tlve order from the British Government to tho American watch G0,,, of Waltham, Mass., for WatGliO3 to be Used by the Conductors^ Engineers, Station-Masters, and other employees on the Indian State, Railways. The Waltham Watohes were seleoted as The Best, after thorough examination and open competition with the wa'tolves of tha most prominent European makers. About 1600 Watohes have aou* been furnished the British Government by the Waltham Company, GOLD KBBALa HIGHEST AWARDS AT ALL INTBBNATIONAL INHIBITIONS-* PHILADELPHIA, PARIS, BYONEY, MELBOURNE. AMERICAN WATOH COMPANY, WALTHAM, MASS., V.S.Af, Branch Office— ■WALXHAM BTHLDIN&S, BOND STREET, STDITSY, DONALD MA.NSON, General Manager in Australia. Offices and Sales Rooms— NEW YORK. BOSTdN.^ CHICAGO. LONDON, ROBBINS & APPLETON, General Agents The Wholadt only mppUed,



TJSMIL FJjppra HAMBURG TEA. teds great german family {)»» medicine. 'reliable, simple, effectual. Tho well-known Tea baa proved Hsolt to be a Moat Certain and Efficacious Remedy for bucJi diseases as Sudden and Severo Colds, Gougb»t FeT.org and Ague, Asthma, Phthisis, Hoadache, ' Bowela, Kidney, and liver Complaints,' thfe Piles, Congestion, &c, caused by an hn-pura ; 6tato, or aeu perfluity of blood. Its nso removes Scrofula, Cutaneous Eruptions, Pimples on th« Face, Blotches, Boils, Rhaumatio' l'uina, and Pains in tho Bones and Joints. It is a Prevon- His live against Contagion, and destroys inhaled Miasmatlo and Contagious Vapours. It purifies" tho Blood, cleanses the Stomach and Bowela, tuSl gives to the wholo system a healthy, easy lone. It opens the bowels is a very mild and certain way. It works on the system generally, causing little or no discomfort. It. will prevent almcuji any disease if used at least once a mdKuL it restores the appetite, it-remoVea the distress caused by eating hearty food or over loading itie stomach, and will be :'oind.effectuai aa a Family Remedy wbero a simp% purgative only is needed. HAMBURG TEA. ; aAMBURO TJtA, , ;!, HAMKUUG TEA. ' '.: HAMBURG TEA. • ..' . HAMBURG TEA. '• ■ -';; •.:/.■: ■.-'■•■ ; ;4 .^ Aldarmati.Murray's Roooniniondatlon. ::' "York-street, Sydney, F«bruary- 13, 1881. Dear Slr,-»I have been a sufferer bom Indiges tion and sluggishness of the live*, and was,'a •""". *•? little time ago, recommended to try tho Ham- ■ •■' burg 'San. I did so, and I found an oxeofldnt remedy. It ia easy to> take, and my ehildtcn ■" ','*<> found no difficulty in taking it. I found that a~.',« few doseß oleared my liver and 'greatly itn- ' i< :' proved my digestive organs. I eta safely rev • ! 'fit commend Hambukq Tea.—Yours faithfully,, ' ',',/ Thomas Mubray." • ■ ■ . . : ■■..;' : y'^i HAMBURG TEA. .* ' HAMBURG MA. ,■ . ■ . HAM-BURfif TEA. *;i HAMBURG TEA. . . » V-^i HAMiJUJitt TJBA. ■■:.'■. •'! ;,{< ,: si . 'i:, •. -i. <i ':■:, >"■;: ;!f A Sailo^ Verdict. » FeU-Btr^rtiPyimoßt, Sydney, F«.V 11^88. ; ,''; -Messrs Elliott Bros.,- WnWsaJe Druggists, Sydney i Unto Sirs,~Allow me to testify to the ' immense amount oJ benefit which I hetcq do- :^.— rived from EmU'Fteae's*Haiaburn Ten, Ihava triad, In my Ume, all kln^s o£ nosliuuis and so. •. tailed apßolilca tor tlio relief and puta'of chroniq l , constipa.tioa, bat Tviluout permanent'e&aot; ire- : ; ' j deed, WlicuJ bad left off takini? any at the. ' '»M artloloe roforred to, mycrstem was In a much, , ijl" worse oondittoa than before. InowdrWk the • '•• ■■&(. Ilajnburg Tea onoe>» weak, and thereby keen , \ti%ffl myself Ja arstwslaaj bodily health, I have a ' ,;'*S grand appetite, and am always in fine spirits. ','■'; Yon need not be surprised to learn that I take' ■ v •■, oare to reoonunend this reliable and sure remedy :> ■■):. to all seafaring men like myself. It la simply - ■ ''' lnvalnablo to tailors, who have to endura so '■' JHi|ij much ,frcto rariable veather and sudden ' changes of temperatoio. I will always keep a i ■■■■:■ Bupply of the tea oa board. lamno w confidant that It Is hound to bocoms Very popular anwag '';' all■ clwsos'ta the Australian 0010n105..-^Tous :;>J grfttptijlsorTapt, Jons Laino^- HATrfSOEG TEift. | HAMBURG TEi HAMBURG TBA. ~ ' Ji HA2SSIJRIJ -TEA. , ' .-**-» ■ - . vntaat a'ifoD^ttaitlt TlilßJta Abont it, ~' "February 11th, iSSI.-Mossre Elliot* Broa* Sydney: GentlemoDr-I havo much pleasura in telling you that your Hamburg Tea has proved • m very effleaoious in rolievias mo of ooniplainta tnoid#ntrtl to a sedentary lit o. 7 1 have glron It '-\ I a fair trial, and have found" It to bo not only a '. ■■• ■■•• .."j good rtguiating medfeine, but an oxqjllent .. "' '.■ tpnlo. Many otmy frl»nda hayo, I know, Wed y&oi Hamburg Tea, 'with equally farourabla results. To those ong.-yjed tn sedonteiy irajraui^ta ' ' ' '■ nJ liljo tayself, it will be found to bo«iH llrtpluablo ■ i-: roiiiodj-.—Tours truly, A^fEst*. 1?< 'VEKHaN, i :i JoarnalißV West-atia*, Dasllnghursfc, SyOney." ■ - HAMBURfI TEA. ' # HAMBURG TEA. " '1.l "f'l HAMBURG TEA. ' ■■■' '• - "?* HAMBU&G TEA. ■■■:-■.■ {>•» a)i HAMEyRG TJCA. - '■''<''•■! ■■- lv l ":' " " ";'-^«j Ror tJi^Oifiaanco. oteyiont > . « '-' '. '■■ i; # '^'^l^".'I. ''V ■ ,■'' ';' '!' lls''. *'6to»Uoroßojid,P*ddfogton, ' '!' .."Mr, :."•'„■, "utn'JianuaiT;iss*..,■,.;:: ;.l^ "OfihaSroSj—flome.fejr weeks ainoai was s» ' 'Urji gOVei-eiy. ttijeoted ■wtUi'indisssabn as to rpnd'e> • - a my rising eaoh motning a matter of difficulty ■;.'.;■..', awl poln on account of botoks pains in taisbactef ■ ;' and. it had'juß* beoofifa neceaaasy forme to false • ■''' -'':•' ahoUday from, my ■work, for the porfbumanoe ■,' , ; .'*j of wlilck I'trasbyuo moana :flt, ■vvihen-a friend , --•( m«n|io^d to; me the banaih he .'derived trpm .'.is the xjso of HtunborsTea, lath«hope.'bfgotting ' ';"* some i*llo£, I used it myseS, the result being. , ~:■-■ that t was myself in three or four day% and ,■' V;u have no* roflfered sitee. My f»iacda'-iove- J&Bl advlaed mo to write this fertbd guidance of ; ' ';< oaverst'«(d r ou'aro sMlborty to iKak/>, whafusa ' ', yon isfeoso at this. — "Poura, Jonw KbhSs, '"*it»rtf Moßsra-BlMott Broa-v Bydnoy." : ,? ' "^A. " ""'' '■ '•• '. HAMBURG TEA. ' m HAMBURG'TEA. ' '■ '' ■:- Jf' HAMBWRG TKA. HAMBURG TEA. >;"; j ,- ....-,'-. .:■. ... .>.-'*"■. - ■ • '.■ \ ', . .' ' •,.'.! :/li :■ • .'^tt'M^ Nansea and BWadaoho. "Pebrakry 13th, ISSi-Biesars ElUott.Broa: Dear Birs,'—The Hamburg Tea whicli you soot me entirely relieved me of the nausea r and '' headache tram which I have suflferod since the I oommenooment'of.the hot weather, its effect. .. .!.■•■; In purifying ilia blood was soon observable, •"" and I continue to takelt at lnt«rvais, whenevej ; Ijf eel the rotarn of any»of ray old symptoms.— Vonrs faithfully, Jons B^akkry, l^bitshet < - I'l Freeman's Journal,' Chester Cottage, Begg- -";"; Btß»9t,Pa4dlngton»". ' . .', :■• ■'"','' ■ "■ •" ">,f ' .';"•*'* ** HAMBURG TEA. ' .'", , HAMBUUG TEA., ■ •• . -s. * HAMBURG TEA. ~;.-=;• HAMBURG TEA. HAMBURG TEA. Thftt *hgJTA\mtTTm JftjA la moat Valuable fo» iho'ure of licadaoho, and other'distressing complaints o£ females, may be aeon from the ~ , following letter written by a lady resident in '.'] Sydney, wfceso address.may 'be obtained at the office of the Agents-:— '•Sydney, 10th Febrwux 1881.—Dear Sir,—Bor some time previously to using%your Hambuug ' ' I Tea, .1 had been subject to t headaoheandj;eneral ;ji dehjlUy, caused, I think, by tho sadden changes of tbe"<weather. I am glad to say, however,, that since taking it I-havetboen.entirely fceo. from thoso complaints; and I thinklt Is a^ery , I valuable medicine fli have on band.—'SourS | faitMnlly; J.HOOAN." I rf -r ■ . ■ ' . i:. ,;| HAMBURG TEA. 'j* HAMBURG TEA, V HAMBURG TEA. ; .i . HAMBURG TEA. ■ . IJ HAMBURG, TEA. - ;-.• '.',-: .:■. ,' i ''■"',' ';*,:' Xliii Sou) by aix Chemists and Storekeepers. ■ I ..-.;:;! ■"■. ■ .;• • • ... :. fiS Price — ONE SHILLING & THREEPENCE. Price — ONE SHILLING 85 THREEPENCE. I WHOLESALE AQENTS FOR AUCKLAND^ || M. LEVY ft. CO., QUKEN.STREET.