SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

Auckland R.C. Spring November 10. Canterbury J.O. SpriDK....Novomber 10, 12,13. Takapuna J.C. Spring November 28 Dunedin J.O. Spring November 28,29.3-;. TnamesJ.C. Summer December 23 29. Northern J.C. Summer...: January 8, 9.

DATE OF NOMINATIONS AND ACCEPT ANCES.

Nominations four principal ovonts Takapuna J.C. Spring Meeting.—Novcmbor 6. Acceptances Auckland Cup and btceplo chase.—Decombor I.

To Correspondents.

M.M.-Therflwore 15 etartors for tho New Zea land Cup last rear. Tnrquolso carried Sat. lib. ALUREDUa.-Welooino -Tiok and LavJnla ran a dead heat for tho Jlaribyrnong Plato on Octobor 30,1880. I*Y —Tho fastest li < oon record for two n. iles ia lhat of the American horso Ten Broeck, who is credited with liaving run tho distaoco at louisvlllo. Kentucky, in Smin. 27iaec. HAT.-Kalo had 7ar. I2lbs. in the last A.It.C. Snrine Handlosp, and ran third to Libeller (Sat. fllbs,) and Fish«irl (7st. lOlbs.) Dividknd.-(I) It was Cast A'horo who paid the dividend ot SU 17a at the Takapuna Moot ing in May last. (3) Mr W. Adams, Kxcliongo Chambers, will pay tho £3 extra allowed on Misfortune's dividend.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Tut; racing fovor is in full sway just now, (or no sooner has the V.R.G. Spring Meet ing become a thing of tlio past than tho attention of turfites is directed to tho con teat for tho Now Zealand Cup, while coming nearer homo wo will huvo the Auckland Spring Meeting to further satisfy our appetites. Tho payment which foil due for the New Zealand Cup on Saturday night last shows that 17 still remain in, but tho final acceptance of lOsovs. duo to night, will probably still further reduco the number. Tho presence of Turquoise and Necklace in tho race invests it with more than ordinary intorest to Aucldandora, and should Mr Marshall's "nil black" banner bo successful, thero will bo no ond of ro ioicing hero next Tuesday. Tho follow ing aro tho names of tho horses who re main in tho ovont: —

Mr J. Marshall's bill Turquoise. 6yrs .. U•> Mr H. Kodwood'a b c BliU'k ltose. lyrs . !> 1 Sir E. Cutts'a br h Hou'-woator.(iyrs .. S S Major QeorKo's ell h Nelson, oyrs .. .. 8 a MrJ. Marshall's of Necklace, lyrs .. I 1 Mr P. F. TancrciVs r Administrator, Uyra.. 8 I Mr S. G. Stead's br o LochieMyrs.. --T 12 Hon. G. McLean's br m Lady Emma .. 712 Mr J. Stophonson's b h Captain Wobator, syra ' " Major George's br h Wapiti, ayrs .. .. 7j> MrH Redwood's bo AlpinnKose, 3yrs ..7 2 Mr \V. Young's eh m Minerva, tiyrs .. Gll MrH.D. Bradloj'abc. HermitaKß. 3yra .. Oil Mr A. Young's oh g The Foot aged.. .. 6in MrJR Ray'sb c Kusilade, 3srs .. ..6 7 Mr U. Horßfora's b oLeon, lyrg .. ..6 0 Mr O.Clifford's be Ti«or Tim, 3yrs.. ..6 0

The first in the list to claim attention is Turquoise, and it must bo admitted that with such a heavy impost as ho ia called on to carry, he will hav3 his work out out to get home in front. Still, tho black son of Tubal Cain has proved that ho is a great weight-carrier, and aa he is also gifted with plenty of pace, I shall be quite prepared to hear of him fighting out the finish with the best of those engaged. Sou-wester is a member that I ontertain tho vory greatest respect for, and should the market point on the day that all has gone satisfactory, I adviso backers to have him on their side. The way Administrator has performed this season is alone quite sufficient, to entitle him to be placed among the likely ones, but in addition his stable have backed him in such a confident way for the raco that there is no doubt he must have shown them some thing very good. On paper, undoubtedly the pick of the lot is Lady Emma, and if the idol of the Dunedinites is anything like her former self, she should make a bitter finish of it. Captain Webster is a horse that has always been going to annex a big event, but from various causes it has never come off. 1 learn, however, that he has been doing splendidly for some time past; and bearing in mind the fact that his owners have genuinely supported him, and that all of St. Aiban'g progeny improve with age, I shall be quite prepared to see him on this occasion beat all engaged. For some couple of weeks previous to the Geraldine Meeting, and since then, Fusilade has been whispered about as a good thing in connection with the race, and as he is in the hands of a couple of clever people, it may be that he is a beautifully kept rod in pickle. From the above remarks it will be aeen that out of the seventeen, I incline most to the chances ot Turquoise, Administrator, Captain Webster, and Fusilade, and to plump for one will select Cai-tain Webstku.

On Thursday Thk Derby will be decided, the names of those who remain in being as follows :— Mr G. H. Clifford's eh o Stoneyhuret, by King of Clubs— Waterspnte Mr RB™» b c Fusilade, by Muskeg xv«i Hi Ml D. CVBien's bo Hermitage, by Caoguu Mr wfuougfas'sb f Bonny Blink, byCadogan Mr J^topnenson'B b cEverton Lad, by Cadogan Mrifa&s b c Tiger Tim. by Cadogan- Mraitedwood'fl b c Sprit, by Rama P—** Mr aefstead'B eh o Moana, or B*™ Rama- Mr AJ&fcorn'sbr o Arohduke.by King ot Clubs M^al^fc t SpadeGulnea. br?»V The Auckland lUoinp; Club Spring Meet ■ takes Pla^ °» TuesdaIr next> ? D<l »8 J5S| augurs well for a first-class eTf boon's sport. All the events ol tho Gramme have filled «P well, and pro- F'hlv the most investing contest will.be \t y\velcome Stakes, in whish nine the Jters are elgaged. My sections for SJSStoS ev^na will appear i, Monday's issue of the' s^ e ' red n jm eo if with glory on *!$ \tf ky carr y*.nS h'3 steadier of Saturday yjgtory j n the Pakuranga I3st. It was certainly a very tts-4. V performance, and when he left creditar^k t. nere wero f ew but the old the PJmmediate friends who thought ho horsff or tjjg gecond year in succession woythe race to his credit. His victory, p'fver, was in no small measure due to Excellent judgment, with which he was Idea by Mr T. Halstead, and thero was f ea i enthusiasm shown when horse and /do.' fitumed to scale. King Don, I under staid has now run his last race, and his owno" intends using him for hunting pur pose only. iVJjor Walmsley informs me that Sylvia wasserved by Leolinus this week. •Jke local penciller Mr J. Enko has leasd from Mr J. Alwell, of Cambridge, the well-known gelding Victory and a two year-old filly called Britain., by Sterling worth — Clipper. The pair have been placed in T. Clark's hands to be prepared for future engagements. Acme's win in the Maribyrnong Plate on Saturday makes the fourth time the Hon. J. Whlto has placed the great two-year old race to his credit, having won in pre vious years with Palmyra, Segenhoe, and lolanthe. This year's winner Acme, is by Chester out of Princess Maud, by Adven turer out of Wales, by Stockwell out of The Bloomer- dam of Ely—by Melbourne. Adventurer was by Newminster, the sire of Hermit and a son of Touchstone.

Mr T. Halstead has now ridden the winner of the Pakuranga Hunt Club Cup three times. In 1882 he proved victorious on Tricotrin, and for the past two years has had the mount on King Don. The credit of training the latter gooß to Ted Kelly, who has proved himself a most efficient and capable man. George Rowlands, the well-known trainer, whose demise was announced in the early part of the week, died from inflammation of the lungs. Deceased was greatly respected among his brother trainers, and will be re membered as having been In the employ of the late Mr John Smith, and moro recently Mr W. Bobbett.

Last accounts from Melbourno stated that the jockeys injured in the Caultield Cuprace were all recovering with marvellous rapidity. Wyman had beon dischargod from the Hospital as recovered. Cracknell andMcGrath were still confined in bed but progressing very favourably, and McGrade and Tuomey were so far recovered as to bo able to leave the Hospital. Lurline, the dam of Darebin and Prome theus, ban a colt foal by the Marquis this season, and Lady Ellen has produced a fall brother to the Plunger, by Argus Scandal.

The Hon. J. White's Matchlock, tho three-year-old son of Musket and Yatterina, has been put in work again at Randwick. Rumour hath it that after the Caulficld accident tho Hon. James White, Messrs Mayo, Long, and others declared their intention of never racing horses at Caul field again. Mr Lachlan Grant, the owner of Sardius, Newatead, and Maddelina, has announced faia intention of retiring from the turf, and the horses named aro now for sale. £2,844 was passed through thetotalißator at the Pakuranga Hunt Club Meeting on Saturday. At' Sylvia Park, Titania and Atlantic have each produced fillies to Musket. -

It ia intended, at tho conclusion of tho V.B.C. Spring Meeting, to call upon Aus tralian ownors to agiin register their colours. This has been found necessary ooing to tho inconvonienco occasioned by so many racing men having adopted similar colour?.

The Molbourno " Argus" recently cave an interesting history of Commotion, and stated that no racehorse has over boon bo peculiarly identified with tho Flemington racecourse as the Hon. W. Peart-on's champion. The writer says : —His retirement from tho turf at the present crisis, just on the approach of tho Melbourne Cup, affords an oppor tunity of recalling a few memories con nected with this superb horse, whose ro cord ia second to none in Australia. Many years ago, Mr (J. A. Brown, of this city, who haa for a very long timo been connected with the staff oi "Tho Argus "and

"Tho Australasian, "bought whilein England a brown thoroughbred colt for a park hack ney, giving S4 guinoas for tho animal. It was well bred, being by Alarm from Queen of Beauty. Alarm's sire was the famous stayor Venison, Beauty was by Molbourno, and farther back it would bo superfluous to go. Mr Brown says, " Tho colt was a bag of bones, or I would never havo got such aristocratic breoding for the monoy in Eng land." Ho callod his bargain St. George, and brought him to Australia, but a well informed friend pointod out that tho colt had a name whon ho boaght him. Me was callod Panic -"a very good

name, too," it was remarked, "'for a son of Alarm." Mr Brflwn thoroforo adhered to that nnmo. Panic found,his way to Tas mania, and into tho bands of Mr Samuol Blackwoll. Mr Blackwell lived at Molton Mowbray, named after tho famous English head quarters of hunting. Thon Mr Phil lips trained and raced Panic. Ito ran second to grey Toryboy in tho Melbourne) Cup of ISO's Ho bocamo tho sire of many stout rncors, including Wellington, Melbourno, Pell Moll, and tho greatest of all, Commotion —an excellent numo for tho son of Panic and grandson of Alarm. Commotion's clam was Evening Star, by Lord Clifden, tracing back to Newminstor, Yoltigeur, and Melbourne. Commotion had Molbourno on both sides in his brooding, and in Melbourno only would ho race to advantage), having n projudico against Sydnoy, Adelaide, .and ovon (Ice long.

AMERICAN MISSION TO THE COLONIES.

A Lively and Flourishins Sect.

Mention Ims already boon mnde of tho arrival in Auckland of Eklor S. N. Haskoll, from America, in behalf of tho interests of tho International Tract and Missionary Society. It may be interesting to our readers to lonrn something moro of the Society ho represents and his object in coming to this place, and wo have therefore obtained from Eldor Haskcll tho following particulars :—A party of eleven, represent ing this organisation, arrived in Sydney by the steamer Australia, which left San Fran cisco on May 10th of the presont year. Thoir object in comiug to the colonies was to carry forward their work, which is prospering in other parts of the world. Tho Missionary Society is extensive in its operation, uniting with othors of tho eatno nature in tho distribution of religious reading on vessels, and encouraging tho study of the Holy Scriptures amongst all classes of tho people. They are backed up by a denomination which has flourished in America during the last forty years, taking the name of tho

Seventh Day Advontists,

and their faith ia as intimated by thoir name. They believe in the second literal and personal return ot Christ to this earth, the resurrection of the dead, and final inheritance of the righteous on this earth when it is made new at the and of the millennium, or 1,000 year?, spokun of in Rev. 20. As far as it relates to conversion and the operation of the Spirit of God on the heart, they are in harmony with all evangelical Christian denominations. Thoy believe in the perpotuity of tho moral law aa spoken on Mount Sinai, and consequently are strict observers of tho seventh day Sabbath. Thoy set no time for Christ to come, but believe the event to benoar,evonin this present generation, and that the special work for all at tho presont time ia to pre pare for tho day of judgment, that in Kov. 14, o—l2 are prophecies appliablo to tho present time, and aro being given to the in habitants of the world. Thioy accept the Old and New Testaments as God's rovoaled will toman,andthat nothing is essential to salva tion but what is revealed in tho Scriptures. They have iv America twenty-eight fully organised conferences, somebf thorn includ ing two, three, and four States. These- con ferences cover a largo aharo of tho United States and territories, and thoro aro more or less believers in all other portions of tho country who aro not yet organised into conferences. They have missions in Scot land, England, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and tho Sand wich Islands. When thoy have bocomo ™V established in the Australian colonies their nj.^; nn wiu liave onc i rc l o d the earth. They ii ; ... ago MlnJatsybujragcu £h^w°o?kTx&Ta™ also hundreds of colporteurs and workers of that class who devote their time to yW«»s, 'anulics> and onrourae»«. «« ««d? °f *? Scripture* aoJ become interested in rohgious subjects in all parts of America. They have 72,1 organised churches in those conferences. Their enrolled membership is nbout 20,000, but these includo about one-half of theit people, as many of them are not yet gathered into tkpse organisations. Theii people in the States are estimated to number about -10,000. Their recular re coiptß last year were about £25,000. The sumo year thoro was raised bosido thie £75,000 for tho progress of the work. They are publishing ninoteon different periodicals in Englfeh, French, Danish, ivoutuanian, Swedish, Italian, etc. The monthly circu lation of theso papers is about 250,000 copies. They hare six offices of publication, owned entirelyiby themselves: one in California, one in Michigan, one in Massachusetts, U.S. 4.,0ne in England, one in Norway, and one in Switzerland. The combined capital of thes< is over £50,000. They are now about eftablishing one in Australia, and will commerce to issue a religious paper of 16 pages, riz. : "Bible Echo and Signs of the Times/ on the Ist of Januai y, 1886. There are cotstantly employed in these houees alreadt established about 300 workmen. At the ore in .Michigan, year ending about Noveßber Ist, 1884, the number of pages of books jnd tracts issued wa557,367,551. But their vorkis continually increasing in volume, and tleir shipments averageovertbreo tonsa week. At the publishing house in Michigan and the one in California they have 16 power machines constantly employed in turning out their denominative publications. They have Two Flourishing Colleges, one Academy, and numerous Sinallor denominational schools. From these principal institutions there went out the paat eeasor: about 250 labourers in the various branches of the work, most of them a3 preachers or acting as colporteurs. They have at Battle Creek, Michigan, the largest sanatorium in the world. They are a thorough temperance people, receiving none as members of their church that use ardent spirits of any kind as a beverage, neither is the uae of tobacco allowed, iheir members believing it creates an appetite for drink. Ii tho summer season they hold camp meetings, where are assembled in some instancos as many as 20,000 people. This year they held about 40 such meotings, extending from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. Their ministers aro not settled over local churches as other denominations, but are evangelists, holding nightly meetings in tents in the summer which will accommodate from3oo to 1,000 persons. In this manner they reach a class of people which are not usually found insido churches. The Elder states that tho American evangelists who orgauiaod the recent " Holinoss" Meetings at Albortltuitl have no connection with this mission. The methods of himself and co-workers aro not at all sensational, but they believe in secur ing permanent results. A tent has been started in the suburbs of Melbourne but it is not proposed in the meantime to set up one in Auckland district. Tho Intorna-

tional Tract and Missionary Society oper ates boyond the limits of the church orga nisation, notwithstanding it is largely supported by this denomination. This Society ha 3 missions and depOts for publi cations of both religious and temperance literature in all the principal cities in the States and many in Europe. In seaport towns they have workers who are constantly supplying vessels with books and papers. Their object in coming to New Zealand at this time is to establish agents in the prin cipal cities, as they havo already com menced to do in Victoria and New South Wales.

Mr Edwards Hare, Turner-street, off Upper Queen-street, has been appointed tho Auckland agent of tho Society repre sented by Elder Haskell. The latter gentle man intends visiting Wellington and the more Southern districts of the colony be fore returning to California.

THE GARDEN.

[By Hoktcs.J

Calendar of Opoir.tio:.», November 7.

[lIORTUH is wiillnß to answer any queries. Cor roapoiidrats must Kivn thuir f\ill names and adiirluaea, though not for publication.!

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

AJTLKTItKISS inßuwsom (J.H.. Poneonbj). ---(\) On no account liiin out the olossoms on j our apple traos till thoy ai\i bo", and tho fruit has attained about tho eizo of walnut?. Often uppla trees will bbow a larße quantity of Mowers; a number will drop oil" without Bet ting: again some will so ar.A the fruit will bwull to about tho sizn ot marbles and thou drop off, sometimes not suftlciont remaining on Hie tree to mako :ij;jod crop. So defer llilniuni; youra till thoy nave attained somo sizo. (2; VnifF.-Itwould be impoaaible for ni'j to tell h'lw your viuei tailed this year, us you supply no information aa to their condition, aud evon it y:.u did, an in spection miiflit bo tieces?ary. I expect that you overcropped thorn last year. Try and got some person in your distiiot with a, knowledge ot tho vine to havo a look at them ; it miKht well repay you Koinß to a little expense bo as to ensure a crop naxt year. (3) I have frequently used soot, both in a dry state and as liquid nviuuro, and havo novor found it kill tho plants. Thero must bo aomo other cause m work. Wlion uslnpr it dry, don't aunt it over ttio folingo of tho plants; duet it on tho coil around tho plants—it is useful aa an insecticide aud as a fertilisation material.

Camkllias (Aniatour). -I could not toll you how long it U possible to huvo oamelliag in flower in tho open bonier. Last winter I was able to out a few flowers on tho loth of May, and at the present there are Btill a few (lowers left on some of tho variotius. Hy a judicious selection of early and lato lloworin? vnrieties, I think it would bo pojsiblo to cut flowers for about seven months of tho year. Any of tho Auckland nursery men could Bupply you with a tf.od collection naxt season, it is far too late to plant out oimolKna now. Throughout May is about tho bear, time to plant. BUWAtO HuasslAJU.—Yea; t think it would ho a Rood Rcass for holding a clay torraco. At I ho same iimol would not advise you to uso1. it if tho terrace in to be kept in Rood o;der. It ia only suited fo- rough places, as it la very bad :o keep 'n i*ooil >rdor. You eumot ob'nin seed. You must ODlttin pl-ints and plant thorn in the soil about six inehra apart; it will soon spread over tho ground. It is too lato this season to tow other Krasses, but you ban still p'anttho bntiiilo tfruss if you keep it moist till it sots oatabliahod.

Hoht'cih-tuhal Snow (Intcndliß Competitor). —1 could not answer yeur question for a cer tainty, but it 3 oif really want to obtain infor mation you should havo mint your question to tho Secretary ot the Horticultural Hor.iu'y Ho wihtld only bo Ijo h'ipp/ to give jouan answer, and explain mtutora to ycu that would bo impossible for mo. You havo still tint-, as entriofj for the exhibition will bo re ceived up till ,'i p.m. onFrldny, 13th November. It would bo better it you bad ft personal intor vlew with tho Soorotiiry. as ha could Rlvemoro explicit explanations ttmnby writiutf.

Gardonors' Horticultural Society. The Committeo of tho above Socioty met in tho Newmarket Hall last Monday night. Tho business was to elect sub comtnittoos so as to arrange the dill'oront matters con noctod with the spring show to bo hold in tho DriH-uhed on the 20th and Hist of this month. Thoro was a strong muster of tho knights of tho spado, and they appointed a number of sub committees to sco that evory detail of tho show should bo carried out to a satisfactory issue. Thoro is a strong healthy feoling of rivalry amongst tho different intending competitors, and speculation ia on tho gui vhv as to who will carry off the principal prizes in the different classes. Tho number of special prizes given by gentlemen who tako an interest in horti culture shows that they aro willing to ojjjsr handsomo prizes so as to encourage tho different growers to do their utmost, to placo first-class specimens on tho competi tion tables. Everything up to the prosont shows that the mombers of the committeo have left no stone unturned so as to make tho coming exhibition the best Spring Show that has over boon hold in Auckland. And it is only to bo hoped that tho goncral public will, by their presonce in numbers, testily that they cm npprociato tho labours of both committee and oxhiM tors. For somo yoars it has been said that the Auckland public did not caro to culti vato a tasto for llowors ; tho reason givou boing tho sparse) attendance at former shows. In the old country, tho local flower show is one of tho <rahi days of tho district. 11l tho afternoon tho ladies come to "do" tho show, and what with tho number and the variety of their dreesos, it was hard to toll what wero tho greatest attractions of tho day—tho flowers or tho ladies. Tho Auckland horticulturists hopo—by what they will stngo at this show—to provo prac tically that their exhibition is worthy of patronage by tho Auckland ladies.

JUDGE WILLIAMS'S INFIDEL BOOK.

Tujs generation has lately been dus cribed us one distracted botwocn tho ncod of beliof and tho difficulty of belief, Doubt is in the air. It is like an epidemic,

affecting all sorts of pooplo, of ton in places little suspected. To tfy out in a rago against ctoubt, to call.JJ iflmi":n?oiess," ibr passionate opposition will only increaso

and not diminish the mischiof. People will havo ovioonco; thoy havo bocome habituated to testing their judgments and revising their opinions. They dosiro to know; to discover tho bounds of their knowlcdgo ; and it in too late to persuade thorn that the gravest consequences will ensue if they oxorcieo tho intollcct thoy find themselves in possession of. True it is that doubt slays enthusiasm and para lyses enorgy ; but while this is a cause of grief to tho thinker involved in diffi culties, it offorde no protection, for doubt comes to a man, and not tho man to tho doubt. That is if ho is honeßt; and it is sincere sceptics tho writer has in his oyo. Thore aro many varietios of tho sceptic class which it is unnecessary to onumorato hero; but it ia worth whilo to protest against the habit of those who, happily for thei>* own mental poacc. wore never f troubled with any such nightmares, of herding together without discrimination all who aro not prepared to accept their dogmas in one mob desorving only to bo cursed and calumniated. Tho believer eaye, "This is truth." Tho inquiror re joins, "Prove it; show what your state ment is worth; set forth the evidence" And the rejoinder is fair enough. In every other department of human thought this course is not only allowed, it is even com mended, and a man would be set down na a fool who did not pursue it, say, in his business relations. But when ho carrioa the same principles into tho pale of theology, he is treading on very delicate ground, and he must expoct not merely legitimate opposition, but tho most passion ate denunciation and unfounded indict ments. This, it seems needless to remark, is the way not to do it. This is tho surest method of making doubtors, and driving them into thearmaoftholoud-voicod assertive class of professional Freethinkers Doubt will have to be mot with sound and trust worthy testimony, plainly put by educated men who havo made the subjects on which they discourse a special study. The sooner the roligious party recognise this fact, which would seem to the ordinary mind to be per fectly obvious, the better it will be for them and all concorned. For unless aomothing ia done, this wave of doubt will rapidly increase in volume, and finally like a deluge overwhelm society. This is no idle fancy, but an opinion for which tho evidence abounds on every side.

These general remarks are suggested by the perusal of aßinall book ontitled "Keli gion Without Superstition," writton by Judge Williams of Victoria. Itwaspubliahcd in Fobruary last, but within eight weeks two editions were sold out, and a third, in a cheapened and enlarged form, has made its appearance. This oxtonsivo sale is a signi ficant; fact, and is not accounted for by any particular brilliancy in the book itself, for though things are put well, the ground it covera has boen traversed many times over. The arguments havo boon urged frequently, mid in numorous cases quite as forcibly. What, then, is the cause of thiß unwonted sale? The status of tho writermayhavohadsometslightinfluenco.but the spectacle of an unorthodox judge is surely nothing very. wonderful. It is to be witnessed nearer home than Victoria. Tho true causo seoma to bo discoverable in the charactor of the present generation. A lucid setting forth of doubts and difficulties will naturally attract notice among an age of doubteid. A few docadfis ago it is more than likely the judge's little volume would have fallen still-born from the proes. He might havo piped, but the public would not havo danced. They had other things to absorb their attention, and would havo let the scepticism of even an occupant of tho judicial bench severely alone. Another state of things prevails now, and an "infidel book " is in its third edition within a couple of months of publication. The opposition it has met with Horn Bishop Moorhouse and his subordinates has.no doubt,increased its notoriety ; and it is to bo regretted that so much feeling has been imported into tho discussion. The book itself is calm and dis passionate, with very few breaches of good taate. The lineis plainly worded argument, and not abuse. Bub the consequent debate

The Liquor Laws of all the States.

A mi'koiai. effort was mado to obtain a statement of tho methods adopted in tho soveral States and Torritorios of the Union in dealing with t!io liquor quostion, and answers wore received from tho soveral Secretaries of Stnti?* us follows :

Ironclad prohibition States with constitu tional provision against tho manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors : Vermont, Maine, lowa and Kansas—4. Prohibition State, but no constitutional provision : New llampsihiro—l. States in which prohibition has boon triod, but, either for lack of success or chango in public sentiment, changod to milder method.-': Massachusetts, Connecticut, In dinna, Michigan, and Wisconsin. —5 States and Torriteriea having general and stringent liconso or " Local Option " laws : Khodo Island, Now York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois, Minnosota, Nebraska, Dakota, and Washington—ll.

States allowing " local option " by special net of the Legislature : North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi—4. States and Territories having no goneral laws, and whoro no special attontion has been given to tho subject: New Jorsey, 'Maryland, Virginia, Lousiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Navnda, Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Now Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah—l 4.

States and Torritorios from which wo have been unablo to obtair voplios : Florida, Toxas, Tennessee, California, Orogon, Idaho, and Utah—7. Total-46.

Tho unique position occupied by Ohio coinpolled us to classify this State as wo havo, though it can hardly bo said that no apodal attention has boon paid to tho sub ject of temperanco in Ohio, ospocially of lato years. Tho law against treating in Ne braska, it is only fair to add, is founded on a .sensible idoa. how much of tho drunk onncsH and vices of large American cities is duo to treating ? In this rospect wo aro a nation of fools. In no country in tho world ia tho custom carried to such an oxtent. The

povority of prohibition laws may bo bost studiod in Mt. St. John's Stato, whero oven physicians havo to tako oath once in fivo years that thoy will not proscribe liquors, unless absolutely necossary, at a modicino. In Michigan and Minnesota, and perhaps some othor Statos, effort is mado to craate a tomporance sentiment; in tho first-namod Stato by compulsory toaching in all public schools of tho effect of drink on the human system. In tho lattornamcd Stato to sell a pupil ofa schoolor Fominary drink is amis demeanour. Tho holding of saloon-keepers as responsible for paupers chargeable on tho town, whbn it can bo proved from whom thoy obtain liquor, seems to bo peculiar to Nobroska. —" Philadelphia Press."

The Egg Dance of Bhopal.

At .avku.uii gives v pretty description of tho graceful egg-dance which was porformed for his atnusemont in tho court of Bhopal, India. A slondor girl, arrayed in an ombroideerdbodicoandshortskirtsli'iothose worn by tho peasant womon in this part of India, tripped forward with light footsteps. In her hand sho carried a basket filled with eggs, which sho passed around for tho spec tators to touch, that they might bo sure thero wan no deception, and that tho eggs woro real eggs. Sho did not danco on them, howovcr. Sho woro on her hoad a largo wheel of wickerwork, and round this at equal distances wore placed throads with slip-knots at tho onds, in oach knot a glass hoad to keep it from closing. The music begins. It is a quick, jorking movement, rather monotonous, and tho dancer spins around in timo with tho measure which grows fastor and fastor. As she turns she soizesanoggfromtho basket, which is hold On her left arm, and rapidly insorts it in ono of tho knots. Her circular motion causes the thread to ftrutch out liko the tpoko of a wheel. Hhu keeps on doing this till every knot has ita egg, and hor head is sur rounded by a sort of aureolo. When sho ban succeeded in placing all tho eggs, hlio spins around co fast that her features can hardly bo seen, A f.ilso step and Humpty Dumpty would have a fall indeed. Sho has now tho moat dainty and dillicult part of hor dance to oxoeuto, for tho danco ia not done till overy egg is takon from its thread and la;d eafoly back in tho baskot. Ono by ono tho Indian girl accomplishes this, never crushing a shell nor displacing a single egg. When all aro restored sho stops her dizzy whirl, courtesies with grace, ana offer.l* hor basket to the lookers-on, who ofton break the eggs to provo that no juggler's trick has boen used to chango them.

Javanese in Hawaii.

I'oKTV KH'il Japanese who had boon cm ployotl upon tho Pnia plantation, East Maui, have been withdrawn from thero by tho Board of Immigration, owing to con tinued ill-treatment. The Japanese wont to Maui in Maisiu.an'W-Tfietf" t'roatment, which filially culminated i>i something very liko a riot. Many instances of brutul ill-trcatmont by tho native polico aro fur nished, it having boon customary for them to kick, strike, and otherwise abuc=o those who claiinod lo bo too sick to work. One Japanese, to ill 100 go to the tieltl, was marched thirteen miles undor tho blazing sun to prison, was kicked and whipped on the way, and diod soon after from tho effects of tho brutality of the police. The Japanoso Commissioner, Mr Inouyo, at onco fot on foot an investigation, tho result being that the chargos mado of ill-treat ment woro fully sustainod, and tho Jana neso were at onco removed to Honolulu. Originally sixty-two persons had boen font toPaia, but only forty-four woro returned. Five had died from tho effects of tho treat vnent accorded them, and twelvo were in tho hospitals, whilo one had previously ro turned to Japan. The plantation where these inhuman practices were pursued is undor the direct management of E. M. Walsh, and the gonoral supervision of H. P. Bald win.

Extraordinary Situations.

" Up a trco " is a temporary placo of safety when pursued by a mad bull, but the joy of finding ahavon out of reach of the creature's home gradually diminishes as time wears on. Tho animal refuses to leave the neighbour hood of his hungry victim, whoso pockets are innocont of sandwichos or shorry flask, while the brute below rofroehes himself with a bite cr two at the gr.vs, and appears in no hurry to retire. But tho positions, though somewhat altered, aro hardly re versed whon it is an escaped lunatic who is up tho tree, while a constable is waiting for him to descend. Come down he must, for the constable has resources which tho mad bull does not possoss. A madman, who some timo since murdered his wife and child in Ireland, escaped last week from the place of his confinement, and took refuge among tho branches of a tree about a milo from the asylum. Hore ho was found by a policeman, who managed to capture pnd reincarcerato him. This timely dis covery of a homicidal lunatic who might have been the cause of a fearful tragedy, had ho romained at large, is coincident with tho unearthing of a maniac on tho top of a Welsh mountain. A few weeks eince the cuptnin of a trading vessel mysteriously dis appeared, and it was only the other day that a party of sportsmon discovered him in tho last etago of starvation in a cavern on tho hill sido. .Some religious mania or other had seined upon him, and ho had fled to the mountains to say his prayers in private, But if one of his requests was for " daily bread " it certainly was not granted, for, emaciated, naked and filthy, he was almost in tho clutches of death when ho was re moved from his loathsome cavern.

A Sea Fight With Women.

NkakliY tho whole male populatiou of Lewis being abseut from home at the fishings on tho East Coast and Shetland, the Uig tacksmen arranged to tuko repossession of the dispute Uig islands, which tho crofters maintain to be theirs. Accordingly there waa a general gathering of tacksmen, ground officers, gillies, and shepherds from tho surrounding district lately for this pur pose. Thecroftera'wivesand daughters, hav ing been made aware of this invasion, held a council of war, and determined to resist the invaders at all hazards both at sea and land. A large fleot of sailing boats was accordingly got ready, and when the tacksmen hove in sight tho women were ready for action, each woman being well armed with a, stout stick and a lapful of stones. A sea fight commenced about a mile from land, which lasted for fully four hours, and after a hot and well-contested battle the women came off victorious, and drove the tacksmon off without being per mitted to land their sheep, and only five head of cattle were landed out of several score. The women then held a council of war, and determined to keep sentry on the islands until tho return of the men from the fishings. Several of the women wore woun ded, though not seriously. Great excitement has prevailed in the district of Uig of late.

has been marked with bitterness, name-call ing, and misrepresentation. The odium theologkum is only slumbering, and is soon stirred into vigorous wakofulncßS. In such surroundings truth has but littlocfcanco of being come at, and each debator labours not to discover truth but to worst his ad versary. The writer believos that the publication of Judgo Williams's book and its rocoption aro signs of tho times ; and has accordingly thought it expedient to -'row tho attention of the reading public to luv. ..: The publishers of the book under notice are Gco. Robertsun and Co,, Ld.

Pearl-Fishing in the South Seas.

Tub French Minister of Marino and the Colonies last year commissioned M. G. Bouchon-Brandely to make a voyage to the Society Islands in order to roport on the pearl fishories thoro. The inquiry proposed was comprohensivo, but the main purpose was to determine whether it was true, as nllogod, that the fisheries were boinjr ex hausted, and whether, if so, thoy could bo restored by judicious management. To both theso questions M. Bouchon-Brandely returns an uffirmativo answer. Hitherto ovory pearl-fisher at Tahiti has done pro cieely as be thought good—fished the same waters constantly, taken the oysters without rogard to thoir age, and generally carried on operations in such wiso as could not fail to load in timo to tho destruction of the in dustry. M. Bouchon-Brandoly proposes that tho fisheries shall bo placed under Government control, like those of Ceylon, andsuchregulationsostablishodasoxporionce has shown in regard to tho eatable oyster :o be necessary to prevent its extinction, lo urges that thero can bo no doubt of tho right of tho Government to take such a courso as ho recommends; for tho lagoons certainly belong to the State. Whether this bo so or not, thoro is no probability that any resistance will be offered to Buch measures «b may be adopted. No European Power will object, and in such matters natives do not count, as tho Tahitians have had abundant reason to know, since they have been undor tho rule of Franco. It seems highly probablo that they would themsolvea bo benefited by the schomo which tho Fronch explorer has proposed. The prin cipal advantago contemplated, however, by M, Bouchon-Brandely respects French commorco. At prosent poarle aro bought by tho French jewollors in England, chietly in London and Liverpool. Thero seems no reason why this should continue, and tho report, suggests that, along with moasures for tho regulation of tho fisheries, a schomo should be devised for establishing a market in some French port whore their product could bo sold. M. Bouchon-Brandely's report is a long and elaborate one, and contains many facts of interest with regard to Tahitian poarl fishing. In his opinion tho archipelago to which tho island of Tahiti belongs offors a greater field for tho industry than any other part of tho world. Out of tho 80 islands of which it consists, thoro aro but some half-dozen whero the pearl oyster is found. Tahiti itself affords tho best motherof poarl, though its oyster banks aro now fast becoming exhausted. Tho whole popu lation aro divers, including in that expres sion womon and childron. The women, indeed, are by no moans the least exper in tho art, and thero are three ronownet throughout tho archipelago for their daring and skill. These toilora of tho sea will doscend to a depth of 25 fathoms, and ro main undor wator for three minutos. Tho occupation is a dangoroua as woll as a labourious one. The water swarms with sharks, and sometimes an oncountor occurs in which tho fishers got the worst of it. M. Bouchon - Brandoly montions the case of a woman who was terribly mutilated and, of course, it happens occasionally that life is lost. When an accident doos occur tho news quickly spreads, and for n timo'ho peoplo aro seized with panic Tho fishing ia suspended for a while, but not for vory long. TheTahitians, forthemost part, havo no other moans of subsistence, and so thoy ovorcomo their fears, ami all goos on again a? usual till thooccurroncoof another disastor. The chance of bong maimed or devoured by a shark is, however, by no means the only ' ovcntheprincipaldrawbacktothopioasurcs fa diver's lifo. His occupation is osson illy dangerous to health. Ho has to tako ro, especially attheboginningof tho season, t to make too many plunges in one day. N gleet of this precaution is punished by attacks of congestion and hemorrhage. And even if those overprosont dangers aro escape!, tho pearl-fisher knows that to con tinue his occupation boyond a certain ago would infallibly bring on paralysis, Vory few of tho Tahitian pearl-fishers exercise thoir colling on thoir own account. They aro mostly in tho sorvico of wealthier men than thomeolvea, who pay them fivo francs a day, and aro often by no moans considerate employers, The diving begins in tho morning. Before ontering on their work tho divers assemble and call upon tho most esteemed or tho mostrospectablo-look ing among- them J&ffi m &f dewftion. The diver's preparations aro soon mado. Ho divests himaolf of his clothing, and takos with him to the depths nothing buo a glass of peculiar construction with which to survoy tho field of operations. Tho wator of tho Pacific lagoons is exquisitely clear, and tho diver is ablo with his glass'to perceive tho oysters at vory considerable depths. A good deal of time is occupied in tho preliminary survey, and it is not until he has marked his quarry with precision thatthedivermakos his plungo. Ho has no equal anywhoro in the facility with which ho makes himself at home in tho wator. Tho divore of the In dian seas and tho Persian Gulf aro provided with olaborate apparatus. Thoy have woights attached to thoir bodios to holpthoir descent, oyos, oars, and mouth." are protec ted, and whon they desire to re-ascond they havo tho assistance of a ropo. At tho samo timo, they neither descoud to such doptlis nor remain in them so long as tho Tahitian. Ninety seconds is thoir maxi mum period of immersion. Tho solo pro perution mado by tho Tahitian diver for his plungo is tho expansion of his lungs to their utmost capacity by rapid inspirations of air. Ho then goes down as low as 30 fathoms, remains without breathing for, it may be.three minutes, and regains the sur face, without any extraneous help, with incredible quickness. This is, of course, a big feat. Tho average duration of tho stay under water at great depths is from a minute to a minute and a half ; a stay of two minutes is made but infro quontly, whilo a throe minutes' immerßion is exceptional. Attempts have been made to induce tho Tahitians to use diving-jackets, but thoy have hithorto refused, alleging that their use would hasten the paralytio seizure of which they live in dread. In this opinion it may be presumed they are wrong, and the experience of three Euro peans who use the garment in'question goea to bliow that it has a very considerable practical value. It seems to bo certain that they obtain better hauls, and it may be true, as they assort, that the spectacle of a draped body frightens away the sharks. After the labours of tho day tho oysters are opened with a large knife, which the fishers handle with much dexterity. Tho masters are always present at tho operation, which they watch with sharp eyes, for, though the Tahitian fisher has no pocket in which ho can hide a pearl, he has ways of his own for concealing one if opportunity proeent itself. Diving operations are carriod on throughout the year, but principally during the months of November, December, January, and Febru ary. In tho months which in Europe form tho summer soason tho water is too cold for diving in tbo early part of the day, and the fishing can only be carried on in the afternoon.

Beef Tea us Nourishment.

Turku is a wide-spread misapprehension among tho public in regard to tho nutritive value of beet tea. The notion prevails that the nourishing qualities of tho moat pass into tho decoction, and that tho dry hard romnant of moat-libre which remains undis solved is exhausted of its nutritive pro perties ; and this latter is often given to the cut or dog, or even, as I have known, thrown away as useless rubbish into tho midden. A deplorable amount of waste arises from theprevalonce of this erroneous notion in the households of many who can ill afford it. Theproteical matter of meat is quite in soluble in boiling water, or in water heated above 160 deg. Fahr. Tho ingredients that pass into solution are the sapd extractives and salinea of the meat, and nothing more, except some trifling amount of gelaties. Tho meat remnant, on the othor hand, con taius the real nutriment of the meat; and i

if this bo beaten to a paßto with a spoon, or pounded in a mortar, and duly flavoured with salt and othor condiments, it consti tutes not only ahighly nourishing and agree ablo, but also an exceedingly digestible, form of food.—W. Roberts, U.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.S., in " British Medical Journal."

How to Get Hick.—Expose yourself day and night, Bit too much without exeroiee, work too hard without rest, doctor all tho time, take all tho vilo nostrums advertised, and then you will want to know

NEWS OF THE MONTH.

-{■"■■>- SUMMARY FOR HOME READERS.

AUCKLAND. N.Z..

Saturday, Nov. 7,1385.

Since the prorogation of Parliament tho constituencies havo boon treated to the usual post-sessional utterancoa of mombers, whilo Ministers havo started their accustomed poregrinationsof the colony, carrying out peripateticGovornmentandfoeling the pulse of tho country before formulatinga policy for tho noxt session. Tho most important ad drossos so far have been those of the Promicr and Colonial Treasurer. The Premier has spoken before hisconstitueateat Dunedin, while Sir JuliuaVogol has notonly addressed the eloctors of Christchurch, but has ilso delivered a political speech at a banquet given In his honour in that city on 21st October last. In the course of tho latter address the Colonial Trea surer, who is tho real head of the Minietry, mado the following apologetic dofenco of thoir action in adhering to office after tho defoat of thoir policy. The Government, he said, attempted rathor too ranch than too little, and had perhaps taxed thomsolvos and thoir supporters too severely. As to their failures, they had not succeeded in altering the Customs tariff bm they desired, in passing the Native Land Act, and also in a matter ho had as much at heart as any gentlematj present, the West Coast Railway. The Government were in clined to resign after the defeat on the tariff, but it was considered, as taxation was a question of so much moment, that no party profsuro should bo brought to bear on it. Somo fifty members had represented to them that it would not be for the in terest of the colony for them to resign. The Native Lands Bill had not been passed for want of timo. The Government havo not abandoned their intention of constructing the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway, and failing the carrying out of their land grant proposals, they intend to press it as a colonial work. Tho Troasurcr. speaking.on tho subject at tho banquet montionod, paid: —Ifo was quito suro that thero was no pro- Doeal which would so minimise the risks of tho colony as tho Meigga proposal. Tho cost to tho colony would not have been more than £30,000 per year. That would have been decreasod as timo wont on. Ho was not sure that it was the mo3t desirable ono for tho colony to accept. It involved tho least risk if tho colony was not to acquire tho railway; but, if tho colony wished to acquiro it, tho Moiggs plan was tho most expensive way of doing so. Ho bolieved tho railway was so valuable that it would bo desirable tho colony should keep it, andshouldmnUtholineitself. To every section of tho community, oxcopt the " Railway oi burst" party, this change of policy is moist obnoxious, and assuredly tho colony will novor sanction tho raining of n loan for a work so cortain to prove un productive. Our railways at present are rather in advunoe-of population and traffic, and until they return interest on the coet of construction, it is folt that no mere " political " lines havo any chance of being made.

From n. resume of tho Colonial Treasurer1!) remarks on tho industrial doprossion, fee.,

as given In Another column, it will bo seen that ho advocates a resumption of tlio wholosalo borrowing policy with which hin name has boon in the past so intimutely aapociatcd. These intentions of his, so skilfully hinted nt, and so alluringly dangled beforo tho view of a populace snflbring from aovoro depression in overy branch of trade, are viewed with profound suspicion by tho pooplo of tho colony, as well as by their Parliamentary representatives. Among tho last acts of tho Into session was tho passing of a resolution limiting the public works expenditure so ,that theie should bo no pretext for negotiating a loan ; but in direct broach of understanding tho Government propnso placing the million XXii iul u.uwE-i.E uinndTrunk Railway on the London market in Marcn or April noxt. In liis plea for a borrowing policy, Sir Juliua Voyel adopted an injured air, and asked how he could bo expected to dissipate tho depression that ho found existing in tho colony when tho pooplo would not give him the necessary moans of doing it, viz , money for public worts expenditure. Ho reminded his hearers that ho was a Jew, and compared himself to tho poor Hobrews of Joseph's time, for his Egyptian taskmasters were asking him to mako bricks without straws. Tho roal fact, howovor, is that he undertook to givo ub brisk timos without raising fresh loans, but by tho simple process of "restor ing conlidonco ;"' and now that ho finds tho confidence trick will not work, ho throws the blame on tho pooplo. It is shrewdly suspected that tho declared intontion to raise the million loan is a deoply-laid dosign to coerce Parliament into supporting a largo loan to bo devoted to a spiritod public works policy, with the Canterbury railway as one of its leading features. It was in tho Premier's address at Dunedin that tho borrowing project was first hinted at. Mr Stout said that one result of the wholesalo rotronchmont resolutious carried by Parliament " might bo" that the North Island Trunk Railway Loan of a million sterling would have to bo raised and applied to general purposes. Mr Graves Aickin, Chair man of Auckland Chamber of Commerce, at once telegraphed to the Colonial Treasurer, requesting to be informed whother Government intended raising the loan re ferred to, which is authorised by a speci.il Act of 1882, which declares that it is only 'to be applied to the construction of the North Island Trunk Railway. Sir Juliua Vogel repliod that the raising of tho loan would be necessary, not only to recoup tho Public Works fund for sums taken from it for tho railway in quostion but also to carry out defenco and other works for which no funds were available. He added that those Auckland members who supported tho retrenchment resolutions ought to have known that this would be the effect of curtailing the votes, as he was sure Major Atkinson, and otbors who considered the subject intelligently, understood. Major Atkinson has been asked if this is so, and has emphatically denied that he understood anything of the sort. Ho contends that there are amplo funds without raising this loan, and sajs he cannot believe tho Government will commit such a broach of faith with Parlia ment as to do so. At a special meeting of Auckland Chamber of Commerce called to consider tho matter, a number of Auckland M.H.K's. gave a Similar disclaimer, and resolutions1 wore adopted unanimously calling on Government to abandon their intention of raising the loan. The (Government—or Mr Stout and Sir Julius Vogel, moro correctly speaking, us no other member of the Cabinet appeals yet to have been consulted in the matter— are moderating their tone somewhat, but still maintain that the loan must be raised. Mr Stout's telegram is as follows, and ono arguing on similar lines has been roceivod also from S"'r Julius Voeel

"Graves Aickik, Esq., Chairman Cham ber of Coramerco, Auckland.—l am in roceipt of your telegram con veying resolutions passed at Chamber of Commerce As desired, I shall submit them to Cabinet. Meantime you will allow mo to point out that tho special allocations made for railways in 1882 in the New Zea land Loan Act at the time tho North Island Railway loan was authorised have not been kept. Tho three million loan has been ex pended, and the special allocations for the following among othor railways have been only partially expended :—There is due to the Otago Central about £206,000 ; about £93,800 to the Greymouth-Reefton; to the Napier-Woodville about £106,200, etc., anl to fulfil the solemn engagements made in tha Loan Act of ISS2 we proposed votes, but

these were defeated, and mainly by members who join you in protest. You will also pardon me statins* that our proposals regarding lailways for the Auckland provincial district wera moie liberal than had evor been proposed, in cluding not only a vigorous prosecution of the Northern Trunk Railway, but al.*o tl.s extension of tho line from Helensville, etc. As to floating the one million loan, we will have to meet at least £150,000 at the end of the financial year to pay contracts on tho

Northern Trunk line, and from what are we to take tho money? From other lines? I can assure you that, what ever is done, good faith will be kept, for tho prosecution of tho line we believe to bo a work of urgontneooesity, and 1 think our pnst action sufficiently shows that. lam bound to say, howevor, that an effort for radway extension in Auckland did not seem to meet with much support from those from whom Auckland district might have oxpectodsyujpathy.-KoBiiKT Stout. That is vyhere tho matter rests at present, but if Government persevere in then intention they will meet with warm op position, not only here, but in Otago and olsowhero, for their gross) broach of faith. The Hon. J. Ballance.Miniaterof Defence, Native Affairs, Lands andlmraigrntion.aftor a short visit to Tararjaki, haß come to Auck land on business connected with his Depart ment. New regulations for the immigration of capitalist fanners, domestic servants, &c, have been introduced, which, it is expected, will lead to the promotion of settlement, under more favourableconditions introduced by tho Land Actof last session. In thocourse of an interview with a " Star " reporter on October 27th, Mr Ballanco said he would go largely into tho question of the adminis tration of land during his stay in Auckland. Ho would see the Commissioner of Grown Lands, and the Chief Surveyor, with the view of promotingtho settlement of land in the whole of this provincial district. The clauses of the now Land Act, dealing with the settlement of small runs, useless for agricultural purppsos, are specially applic able to a largo extent of country in the North Island. . Ono special object of Mr Ballance a visit to Auckland was to confer with Queen Mnkea, of Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, who withher husband, theKingof Atiu, and a delegation of leading chief?, was on a vieit to the colony. Tho .dusky potentates and their counsellors remained in Auckland about a month, during which time they saw all the notable sights in the city and neighbourhood, and al?o visited King Tawhiao at Whatiwhatihoe, Mid Paul of Orakei In tho course o{ conversation with Mr Ballanco the party expressed themselves most desirous of cultivating closer relationship with New Zealand, and declared their willingness to enter into n reciprocal treaty and to allow the appoint ment of a Now Zealand Resident at Raro tonga. The visitors left for their island homo by tho s.s. Janet Niooll on October 30th. Boforo departing they wero inter viowed by Sir George Grey, who discussed with them the object, ot thoir visit, and expressed considerable interest in their doings and intentions. Referr Ing to South Sea Island matters, our Wellington correspondent wired an important rumour on October 16, accom panied by details that dispose us to give it credence. In effect it is this : That the Government, seeing no way of carrying out the generally expressed wieh in Samoa ana Now Zealand for the annexation of the Samoan Group to New Zealand until the claims of Germany are settled, has been negotiating through tho Agent-General with Prince Bismarck for the acquisition of tho German rights It is asserted that those negotiations have so far advanced that a definite offer of tho German claims for somothing under £250,000 has been made, and that the Cabinet intend shortly to despatch the Hinomoa with a Minister aboard to complete tho negotiation. This report has an air of probability. The fiasco of the last recess put Ministers on their mettle, and we can hardly suppose that its abrupt ending with Lord Derby's despatch would satisfy tho fertile and restless mind of Sir Julius Vogel. Since the Hinemoa turned southward from tho abandoned project last January, a suffi cient time has elapsod for negotiations with the Gorman Government to reach a definite point of agreernont. These proposals have not, we presume, been carried on without the knowledge or intervention of the Imperial Government, and the commercial firms actually engaged in the Samoan trade would be directly consulted. It is well-known that some of them would not bo averse to selling out at a fair prico, and they would probably bring their iafluenco to bear upoH the Ger man Chancellor to induce him to look favourably upon any handsome oflor. Whon tho commercial delegates by tho Janet Nicoll wero at apia, it was rumoured that the < ierman firms were preparing state ments ot tho compensation they would require in liquidation of thoir claims. Of course it is premature, until we know more of tho nature of these proposals and the surrounding facts, to criticise them, but public opinion has already expressed itself with a fair amount of unanimity that the people of this colony wauid look favourably upon any reasonable scheme for tho annexation of those rich islands, which occupy so important a position in relation to tho Pacific trade. H.M.i?. Miranda has, since the above date, left Sydney for Say."? • "■■<• ™J.~i««ioii busi ness connected with the purchase ot Gorman interests, but no tidings of her mission have yet reached us. By tho Island mail steamer Jauet Nicoll on 30th the now British Consul at Samoa, with his wife and family, were passengers for Apia. Liout. Wilfred Powell, the gentleman appointed to that important duty, arrived in Auckland on October 13th by tho s.s. Aorangi. For many years he Ins been connected with the Foreign Office, and his name is well and favourably known in tho South Seas, lie is tho author of " Wanderings in a Wild Country, or Throe Years Among the Cannibals cvf Now Britain," and it was he who made the survey for tho Admiralty of the coasts of New Britain. It will be his endoavour to cultivate friendly relations with tho German and American authorities and citizona in those islands, and if. is said that he is entrusted with large and confi dential powers by the Government, and will travel much among the Islands, and report at length to tho Imperial authorities on all matters affecting the present; condition and future prospects of the Islands.

A deputation,consisting of Messrs G. E. Alderton and J. Walker, waited on the Hon. J, Ballance on October 26, relative to the proposed School of Agriculture for North Auckland. Mr Ballanco said that if no portion. of the endowment wore suitable, he did not see any reason why a portion of the £2,000 vote should not be used for acquiring, say, at least 100 acres adapted to the purpose. Though tho Act described the school as boing one of forestry, he apprehended that it would embrace the growing of all sub tropical plants, and he thought it would be bost, if possible, to relegate the super vision of the school to the local County Council, as he was firmly of opinion that the local bodies could manage these affairs better than the Government.

Sir Georgo Whitmore, the officer com manding the colonial forces, has arrived in Auckland to direct a grand military and naval review and sham-fight to take place on Monday next (Prince of Wales's Birth day). It is understood there will bean attack by soa, with defence by torpedo boats and the fortifications at the North Shoro, and last of all by the artillery and rifle corps. The whole available forces of the district will bo turned out, and the day being a general holiday, it is expected there will be a splendid display. While there are on all hands complaints of dull times, and while retrenchment in the Public Works Department threatens to retard the progress of the North Island, it is a pleasing task to have to draw attention to undoubted symptoms of a brighter future. There are many positive signs of progress in Auckland and neighbourhood — the most conspicuous being the rapid growth of buildings for purposes of business and residenco—a growth wbioh has been all the' more marked last year because of the universal depres sion comp"ained ' of, and which proves that our city's progress is independent of temporary fluctuations of trade. Then, as compared with other colonial cities, our advancement is really wonderful, as aglanco at the statistics for the September quarter will show. In point of population, Auck land now heads the list, and her ratio of increase appears much more rapid than in any other of the leading towns. Thus for last month the births in Auckland were 133; Wellington, 92; Christchurch, 30; and Dunedin,6o. If population.ir the great essential to colonial prosperity, the Queen of the North will at this rate soon be able, not only to ensure her own advancement, but also to save the colony all immigration expenditure. That the business done here is now in excess of that done in the other leading cities is evident from the -return of money order transactions during last quarter as under: —

Orders isauod. Orders paid. Auckland .. £27.635 14 5 OR mo ia ■> Chrlßtohuroh .. 16R99 5 0 17873 ! 6 Dnnqriin .. .. 20.319 9 5 23 381 210 Wellington .. 22.089 310 17.407 12 8 In a leeser way the Bame results are brought out by a comparison of the telegraphic and postal revenue derived from the foui central Cltl6B :— Poßtal Tclographio rovenue. revenue. Auckland .. .. £5678 10 11 smoa tc 11 Chrfetohurch .. 5 185 0 0 "Jg ll 5 Dunedta .. .. 4,838 1 7 3«7 6 T WolUngton .. 4,431 010 1M 8 i

An extraordinary bitch has occurred in the arrangements for tbe starting of the new San Francisco mail servise, for which tho Union Steamship Company of New Zealand ware tho chief contractors. Tho sotvico was to bo a monthly one be tween Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, and San Francisco—the only difference from tho former contract being that a transhipment was rendered necessary at Honolulu, tho service betwoon that point and San Fran cisco being taken up by the splendid steamers of the Oceanic Steamship Com pany. The Union Company had arranged with Mr l'caico to charter the ZealaixJia and Australia for a time until their own steamers wore ready to take up tho running between Sydney and Honolulu. A strong agitation got up in Sydney against the service so arranged must, howovor, have led Mr Pearce to with draw, no doubt in the hope of securing a handsome subsidy from the new Govern ment which is expected to come into power in the sister colony. It is, at any rate, clear thattheZealandiaand Australiaaretostarta direct servico in opposition to the New Zealand service. These Bteamers will run to Honolulu and San Francisco, omitt ing Auckland. When it is remem bered that throe-fourths of the traffic —passengers and goods — carried by the Pacific Mail steamers was to and from Sydney, it will be seen what a serious blow to the Union Company will bo the starting of the Sydney direct route, as the latter will naturally receive the bulk of the trade. If it also secures the postal contract from the Now South Wales Government, with the with dra'.val of that colony's subsidy and postages from the New Zealand con tract, tho result will be thnt our Govern ment will have to choose between increasing tho subsidy or abandoning the contract. The Stuart Ministry, as presently recon structed, may hold the reins of Government in Sydney and prevent such a crieis arising ; but there is every reason to fear the worst, and that New Zealand will be thrown on her own resources for tho main tenance of the mail service between this colony and the United States. In the meantime there will be no break in the servico, which will bs taken up by the Union Company's new steamer Mararoa and the Alameda.a fine vessel belonging to the Oceanic Steamship Company of San Francisco.

MINING SUMMARY.

Thames, Tuesday. Singular reluctance has been displayed by local mining companies and daim owners in submitting their ores for furnace treat ment; hence the La Monte smelter, erected by the New Zealand Smelting Company, is still idle, awaiting the arrival of the material upon which to operate. The indifference arises chiefly from the fact that the process is an ontirely new one to this colony, and it will probably disappear immediately the furnace is in blast. Up to the present the only parcels promised from the Thames goldfiold proper are the 500 tons from the Cambria mine, and sundry smaller luts broken out by claim owners and tribute parties. In one or two ctses mine-managers propose sending trial parcels to tho furnace and similar tonnages of equal grade to the battery, to test the com parative utility of the two processes for the extraction of gold and silver. The Karangahake district will, however, furnish considerable quantities of silver ore, some of which is already coming to htnd, and the managers of the furnace confidently anticipate the commencement of operations within the next few days. The Woodstock Company's furnace, at Karangahake, is at the point of completion, and as soon as the requisite water-race and the tramway communicating with the mine are finished, smelting operations will be bogun. Large tonnages of argentiferous ore are ready for treatment, and the mine is well opened up for tho production of further supplies. Rich returns from the Cambria mine have lately been so frequent that they have ceased to excite remark, but the yield foi the proaeD t month exceeds any yet obtained. At the fortnightly clearing-up, on the 14th ulfc., tho splendid return 3,5580za. 16dwts. gold was secured as the result of 4SO loads general dirt and 18cwt. speci mens ; and on tho 2Sth the manager banked 2,1880z8., obtained from 551 loads quartz and 9cwt. specimens. The average yield of the specimens was about 24<iwt8. gold per pound of stone. The directors declared the subßtantinl dividend of 9a per share, amounting in the gross t0'£14,175, a fortnight ago, and since that date a considerable amount of profit has accumulated, The run of gold in the cros<i lode has contracted to a width ot about 2 feet, and though the richest portion has evidently been exhausted, handsome returns should be obtained for some time to come. Forty head of stoinpora are continu ously omployod upon the output of the mine, and the quartz is still yielding at a payable rate. In order to open up the iodes at a greater depth, and pros pect for the descent of the present runs of gold, the shaft is being sunk conjointly with the Darwin Company. The manager for the Kouben Parr Company is crushing a parcel of quartz taken from the winze below the Point Russell level, and the parcel of 130lbs specimens on hand ensures a profitable yield. Jn the Bright Smile, the stopes at the low level are yield ing payable crushing, and several parcels of specimens have lately been bagged. The Waiotahi mine has produced another pay able return, and preparations for the sinking of the shaft to open up auother level have been commenced. At the annual meeting of the New Eureka Company Otanui, a credit balance of £8£ was shown, while there are assets to the value of £1,441, and the mine is now on a payable footing. In the New Alburnia winzes are in pro gress on the Success and Star of the South lodes, in both of which gold is occasionally seen. The block opened in the Now Manukau from the Waiotahi workings has furnished a highly profitable crushing. Prospecting works are being carried on in the Caledonian, Moanatairi, Rocky Point, Queen of Beauty, and other mines with varying success. Abstract ov Gold llbturns From October 6 to November 3, inclusive. oza dvts. Adelaide and tributeß 82 10 Cambria 5,716 10 City ot Manchester and tributes .. 47 4 Doep Level Cross, 50 loads .. .. 57 1J Darwin, 68 loads S8 8 Dixon's claim 49 2 Kuranui Hill tributes 120 8 Little David 14 (i Moaaataiari tributes 311 1 Moauataiari Extended, 8 loads .. 6 10 Now Alburnia tributes 77 13 New Eureka (Otanui). 318 tons .. 317 10 Now Princo Imperial. 176 loads .. 172 0 i New Manukau, 22 tons 47 li Kooky Point tributes 46 11 Saxon, 42 loads 4118 Sundries SCO (i Small parcels 65 0 Thames Golden Crown 90 0 Waiotahi, 185 tons ,210 (1 Total 8,071 12 WAIOHONGOMAI DISTRICT. New Find. 351 trucks ..' '.. .. 323 10 Colonist. 310 tru ks 131 16 Total HTs 12 OHINEMURI DISTRICT. Martha Extended (Waihi) .. .. 240 0 Ivanhoo (Karangahake) 36 (i Smilo of Fortune (Owharoa) .. .. 32 S Total 308 11 Total yield of Haurakl Goldfields.. 8.900 IS

NEW GOLDFIELD NEAR AUCKLAND.

For the past fow mouths a patty of four men have been prospecting for gold on the barren land towards the Wade, beyond Kauri Point. At last it appears as if their eftbrts are to be crowned with success.

From private communications received from one of the prospectors, it appears that they have discovered payable gold ia a row of sandstone hills. A small quantity cf this has been assayed at the Bank of Now Zealand, when it was found to yield 2ozs of gold and soza of silver to the ton. The prospectors are con fident that the ground will pay for .working, as it will scarcely require crushing, and there are millions of tons of the sand stone, the hills in many piaces being IDOO feet high. It has been decided as soon aa possible to forward twenty loads of stuff to be treated by the La Monte process, which will no doubt give higher results. So sanguine are the pro spectors ot success that they have made ar rangements to secure a large area of land containing the sandstone deposit As this place is at present barren and useless, it is to be hoped that tho venture may prove a success, bo that we may have a payable gold field close at hand

A. G. Allom, Thames, has received the Royal Jhimano Society's certificate of merit for gallant rescue from drowning. FLIES AND BUGS, i«-»il«. iu»«u. r-.vi,«, »,t». to* buga, rati'Jmicc, gu^hcra, chij iminkti, chuueel out by ItougH up Keuiptlionif, I'roiwr & Co., Amenta, Auckland J

The Colonial Treasurer on De pression and Borrowing.

on Wednesday SV CwSfiT be done, for the M r*h£?" **«■VS colonies in thi«directH" re<lf « absolute selfpro^ members had made ye™ «e(HtC for the way in which &L^ ! Ab connected with the (Wbee**»*fl been unable to take paru* >< C& prove, but there w* fc &S*'« stopping the votes for W , country they had adop^* U 0^ tti winch must react !„■•" (fflal ' >nany district*. Tucki ■ much exercised at the ?«+ a nc*S Ruseoirsresolutionhidvrtl^ <W theNorthlslandtrunkC^P^i for which loans were-defami l*> years not been . f & ithfu nfl }f k the Appropriation Acts tfe k* i i lumped to K etb9r, and the v l.> •» indiscriminately against tiEr'Si' ample, some £ 3O0,(W0 wesTl Jot tt fortification,. These wer e £*» for in any loan, and Govern^ H^ new loan to inchde thmJt^Wl postponing the iasue ol the t! Captain Russell and Ui ftS? "^ have no new loan, and aJES*! a new loan was provided, t&l* would have to do the same 3 1 S purposes as other loans had hiS? ofi * it VVithregardtothepo^Sft!. and its urgent needs, the whole S^ suffering frombneinees d^oj I 1" counterpart m the memory of Z ™* generation. Much more acaifl? pt9stl had existed in various world, but none so. uSi > cause Beemed tea obvious to adnS J« They were suffering from the re, et !'is caupes which had led to co mocaS^1 in 1850 and some twenty sttcceedw^ Then the enormous discoveries o'UW? vast advantages to thcfeenKaeodifii' 11 During the last fifteen yenrS miT* gold had greatly diminißlied, fhe W had been concurrent witha great d for it, consequent on Bevo»al.n«tiottil adopted it as their currency. Goldbd T* the technical phrase, appreciated 2** to cay, its purchasing power irajSw ; In other words, commodities woreC The complications produced by E" 1 were innumberable, but he^onlTll refer to the most prominent.', ffu T possessed a larger purobashw pajret:'C enjoying fixed incomes benefit^ to whilst those engaged in busihesslit produce more largely and do Mvt *Zk the same money. Appreciationd 2 benefited the drones and ininrtdiinr and it hit New Zealand, tosi» jS* few drone? among its resident MpE! Worst of all, it suffered becameft,» a. great many resident bees whoVorkaJb ' the absent drones. Let them see tfcs verse of the picture. The beneSti V» Zealand received from the appredatwd gold were enormqus.: One.-waa thttai tion of the rate of interest."'The (W ment euffered severely from tie ijyniiSa of gold with regard to pasb .borrowitp bii; they correspondingly benefitedtfjirorf to loans negotiated while the app^A, was proceeding. Two-thirds of Nw 1& land's indebtednees had beencontrsctißj the appreciation was proceeding. 'In 1870^ bid based his estimates on intwert it a per cent. The colony had gradmjlj to borrowing at 4 percent: sgreatssir But a great advantage to :-i country || New Zealand, bent on conKtractkg pai works to hand .down, to posterity, vim cheapness of commodities Steel andlm rails were, he believed, le?s thsn hall fa price they were in 1870., Did not Ihusofe inducements to continue the public «cib! New Zealand was very wealthy,; Rbi calculation he had careful'y made Is W estimated that its wealth, of thektijilna estimated in the calculation over and iWi all her indebtedness,, amounted to l,!i millions sterling. Capital,' hoverer,"n I too much locked up. Whilst the b* $> of materials benefited , the colony v regarded the public works policy, it afei with terrible force those who depended» the prices they hail to receive from A countries. The appreciation of gold U increased the purchasing power ;of i sovereign for wool and wheatißittli for other commodities. Sir Julia T^J was frequently applauded during niiem and at its close a'vote of thanMudn fidence was carried unanimously ..

The Indian and Colonial In hibition.

From the entries received by Dr. \s Haast for the earning Indian end Cotaii • Exhibition, it would seem as if Nuw Zsbi i is to be fairly represented, TM eMb j promised are as follow:—Numbsrofpttl. j tors and value : Thames (approiimilcll^ £300; Auckland, 65, £3,250; Kowflf • mouth, 5, £144; Wanganui, llj ffl i Hawke's Bay, 5, £55; Wellbgte, ft j £7550 ; Nolson, 8, £593; Marlboro^ 4 £80; Christchurcb; 41, £4,085 j: TMint: £133; Oamaru. 2, £29; Dunedifl,.*,. £3,791; Itivercargill, 15, '£326: te4 282, £20,594. This does iibt incM*: mining exhibits, nor the bnildipgrjtam j which, bo far as the information;' Until:' received goes, will he represented ly W: eighty exhibits. ,Wool,:gi«in>Bp.f". other farm produce, are ako tot » eluded in tho above. They can, fip*r;l be safely estimated as 25Q exhibits, wttet ; j New Zealand will be represented bvffl j exhibits in all. There will bVateff P I of New Zealand fruiV but the appiiMW ~j except two from Auckland, bava not;« arrived. It ■is hoped. that tinifcaW > will be made for procuring:«d-Wfl :* exhibits from the various Soßthß«liW ,; tabe shown iv the1 New :^M;Com« < the exhibition, ' '

GRAND SUBMARINE VOLCANO IN TONGA.

(FROM OUR OWS OOEBKSFOpWk i On Tuesday, the 13th bcfel^ volcanic eruption took place> *°?r! about 48 miles N.W. of:Ttog#jfc ;* caused no little excitement\OT(S£', European and native population of ;«J» lofa, and as the gr^to^*S matter were ejected from the wMWMM cuneiform shape, they, rose to«WE sands of feet high, and forme? Jawg, into most fantastic ehapM,•«?•££ clouds of snowy whtaa^lW^gJ \ mediately ordered the Sanfcto &s».. way, and, accompanied by .the ««»•'• Watkin, Mr Buckland, and ofter^ diately proceeded to the site «?■%«£ From the description they gavaof »P»> it must have been magnificent ft" treme. They stayed all volcano, and had the P'e«!amP.;S converted from that. °f; a"'S« volcano to that of:an ordinary WW» being about 30ft. high at &*&§£., crater. They deecribe, to^ mass. •* gaseous matter «:*ft*2 ' feet « more in oirsumfffl^J piercing to the skies to.»bWJ»CJ The island is still active, f ?*Pfflflg who has recently ™!^A'?i S stated it is now about loOt- u*ljJm has been noted latterjy for *«J55 fires, but will now be known &&&* } lire*, for at the present the largest active crater 1° in American parlance we •»»:,! creation. ■ ' '' - ,

AGRICULTURAL.

Sooth Cantkrbubt j^ffiS*-' at Titnaru were opened on """T^aj- Dunodin Refrigerating *#&s&* plate opening a Lo?. dol\S7»di(ti*** Ug v D g every means *« fMU. 8 »1 tiio rate of freight on.frozen _«^ ..„ reduce the storage, and ott.W"^'*-,-. London. . _. . r,til«'itf* At the last California **£$Mto ' ehort-horn bull, Duke of the New Zealand SWd and W«^ j.^ Company, and cent to_ AmeriM.^ pai , years ago. took the P" MK 8 ov»l«' of British Queen. The«»«d^y, dam is still in possession o^tasw" t-

Thk annual meeting dj ■<** Effig' ' Auckland lUflo A e«'«'°^Wft W= I 27 in tho Drill-shed. &8 taij«te«^?2| - the Gordon BWe'JJ^ bSS*;^ B" wnoroprcaented Mr >>•,', ,1.. jett *LS.. , 4a 6d : balance In bank.,*Bii*flli «W*S» Treasurer, MlWWlAyjrtW.^ balance-Bheet was «dopw"™i *«:&i:- ; tid.ailairtyear. ■ ■■.■■.•.

IHE AUCKLAND EVENiNO STAR, SATURDAY, MOVEMBEK 7, 1885.

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