THE EDITOR'S DRAWER.

Condensed Correspondence

The Threatened Russian Invasion.— Thus saith T. B. Hannaford : " You have a paragraph anent Russian ck signs in theevent of war under the heading of ' Astounding Revelations.' Why astounding? Havo wo not voluntarily paved the way ourselves for such an eventuality as a Kuseian raid on these islands, provincial districts in goneral, and Auckland in particular? I say wo have. Have we not, when occasions came round, ran about like roaat porkora with knives and forks stuck in our backs grunt ing out ' Eat us ! eat uts V I again Bay that over and over again we have ! Is it very astounding that tho hungry Muscovite or other hostile power will, at tho fitting moment, grant our prayer and gobblo us

up!"

Fire Brigade. — "An Old Fireman" recently from America, after witnessing the operations of our 81-igatle at tho last Queen-street fire, thinks it would pay to send some experienced man to America to take lessons in tho system in vogue there. Ho is also of opinion that " Ono chomical engine would do more than all thoir water, with far less cost to property."

The Borough or Devontort Water BurPLY.— "Eatepayor" observes : — "Tho position the Mayor and members of the Borough find themselves in, oftor a con siderable expenditure of moaoy in their vain efforts to find the aqua pure, would be exceedingly ludicrous to tho burgesses nnd others were it not so painful. These gentle men, carried away by thoir own conceit, nnd in enite ot repeated warnings that thoy would not meat with success in the direction which thoy were bent upon following, carriod out thoir scheme, and it has ended by tapping tho Wtiitemnta, und, last, but by no menus least, throwing: away tho last rags of con fidence in which tho ratepayers clothed them. Tho more loss of money, £75, now gone, would not matter much to tho borough if tho locs wero to stop at that sum, but in their detiro to cover their first defeat they wish now, and it eeotns will recklessly pledge the borough to an ox pondituro that it would be unwise to do had it been three times tho population. No person doubts tho benefit of a good water supply, but it must bo obtniued for such v sum as v.'ill not press unduly upon tho rate payers ; otherwise it will bo a blessing to the few aud a ciu'PO to the many. The matter also presents itself in another form to mo. That is, a water Bupply without a drainage scheme would bo worse than useless. One need only go through some of tho streets in Auckland to eeeand smell for themselves thefefiect of a water supply without a proper aystom of drainage. 1 observe the Councillors have resolved to instruct the Engineer to propound a water scheme from Lake Takapuna at a limitad expenditure of £10,000. The nucleus only of a proper drainago scheme will cost a like amount, nnd there can be no doubt, looking forward to a great reduction in the valuation of property after next year, the Government not being likely to have the privilege of stealing a march upon us again for three years, at such a high valuation there can be no question of the inability of the present population, and I fear for some years to come, to bear such a burden." "Ratepayer" concludes by protesting against" tho Mayor's action in decling to comply with the petition in favour of calling a public meeting, and he urges that a poll should bo taken before any expendi ture is incurred on account of water supply.

AccKLiN'D Water Supply.- "Salus" re marks : "Murder will out ! Having watched carefully from timo to time the action of our City Councillors with regard to the quality of the water being delivered to con sumers, I have at last discovered lhe causes of the trouble. I have noted that tho reser voirs have been cleaned out, and a certain amount of sediment discovered, and all the animalcule generated by tho iron roof 3 in creasing the normal temperature of tho water, and so giving forth life, having boon run off, tho above being one of the causes. The other appears to ma to be now admitted in the Engineer's last report. He states that as nearly as he could tell, loth of our water supply was being pumped from the ponds at the Western Springs and tbo re maiofng 4 sths beiDg taken direct from the springs, Ponds ! what ponds ? does be mean the large open sheets of water exposed to the sun's rays, and surrounding turface drainage adjoining the spring?, coveie 1 ■with vegetation and confervie ? No wonder there are co many ca?es of typhoid, after this admission. What in the naino of all that is wonderful can tho Councillois bo thinking of, or do they think at nil, to permit such a system, and how can tho Engineer have the conscience to take leave to say that ths water, from his personal knowledge, is as good and as pure as can be for all purposes ? Does ho judge with hi? naked eye, or is such a state ment made after careful microscopic exami nation ? I fear not the latter. The Engineer admits that for six weeks men have been employed removing vogetoblo and other inorganic matter from theso ponds and adding to tho thickness of the bids of gravel forming the filtering madia betwean the ponda and the springs from which our supply ia pumped. Fancy the Eup'.us water in cold and wot eoasons being allowed to overflow Lorn tho springs into these storage ponds, to stagnate nrd give forth life, and then when there is an extra demand to be permitted to return through a rough shingle bed for our consump tion. The idea is monstrous Pull the whole affair down to its very foundations, and supplement the springs by a simple pro cess weli known to anyone who has the slightest knowledge of such matters, and so receive and deliver it to consumers in its natural pure state and normal temperature, and I believe that much of the sickness and death in our midst will cease."

A Bio Schame. —"Pat Murphy " delivers himself of tho following :-"Misthur Editur, I see bytha papers thatMisthur Juli asa Vogalass baa another schame to make money in buying all the telegraph cables in tha world, aDd making a prophit out of a ehillirg a word. Now, cur, 1 can juet put him up to a grander schame than that same. If he goes home to the Ould Country and forms a company, inehuro the North Is land say for £10,000,000, then comes bacK agin and takes the names of all the people in the Island and fends them to Otago, and Canterbury, then ha must stop the mouths of all the crathurs—l main White Island, Terawera and Tongerrero, &.0., and accord ing to my calculations their will be bottled up in the earth at the end of two years fourteen billions horse power of stame which will bust up th 9 whole of the North Island. Then you see Misthur Juliass will of done all he could for tha country, and get the Insurance in London and come back and whack it out to all the late North Is landers. Then half the national debt will be wiped out at one swoop and we can then pension off Misthur Juliasa Vogalaea and live in paco and prosperity."

The Globe Headers. —"A Mother writes:—" Like the majority of your readers I have watched with interest the discussion respecting the Globe Eeadere, and Mr Kobertson's laßt remark, "Bother the public ; what have they got to do with it ? has provoked me to do -what I felt de-irous of doing from the first—tven from the time Kurcpolstilchen entered my house, the price of that instructive book being a matter of surprise to us all. Now, sir, I think the pnblic who feel the s-hoe pinch have a right to speak, and-they have something to do with it practically. As one who lives in a free land, I intend to have my say, know ing that I am at the same time writing the opinion of many other parents. I now taae up a few points :—(1) It is said there is no valid reason against them. I reply, the objections of parents and also of the good and able men who havecxprossed themselves against them are sufficiently valid. (2) They are admittedly minus in regard to moral lessons. Some paople are so awfully afraid of beinc named " goody-goody " that they go the length of cowardice in this res pect. If truth, honesty, courage, and kindness are beneficial and right, why be afraid to inculcate them ? 1' we shut these things out of our youthful literature will they be learnt at home? Not always. How then are we to instil these things ? Take a parent's word for it,; children judge these thing 3 as keenly a* we do, and 1 have seen children put good books and Nelson's Eoyal Koaders undar their pillo^v because *hey appreciated them. (.") .The Globe Ue^iuiG are «tol!cd mv iou:o ,ss• embracing a wide field of literature, 1 have heard a proverb of 'Go farther and fare worao.' Gould we not h.ivo a few circus bills and a few ea^y nuttings from heathen mythology to improve our youth ? (4) It occurs to me that our Stats educa tion is compulsory, right, and good in the main, but U followed by compulsory books, contrary to the wishes of -the ma}°l} tJ'' i develops Into tyranny. It is not the en

forcement of public opinion and of i'ifjrit, but of might. If this ifle Sohtinues, we Bhall havo a feVv other things that people do not like, and they will tombine in this, as in other things, against unwise control. (5) These books are extolled as imaginative. May I refer to an old-fashioned book not yet out of date, which says that the imagination of man's heart i 9 evil from his youth ; and in the 10th chap, of Corinthians we havo something about casting down imagination!;; whoroforo I % opine that that argument is fallacious. (6) Tjj»Bt, and to somo not loast, tho cash part of the question. Cannot tho change to bettor booksbopromioedir.good faith, and tho present stock sold at coat price ? If Kelson's Rcyal Headers were restored, many fftmilios and many secondhand book stalls could produce some to help to meet the tax on parents. There are many of theao lying by which could be given to poor children. Finally, let me ask why should all suffer to savo the pockots of thoso who havo made a mistake ? Why should tho«e who pur chaEed bo exempt from the usual run in such case 3 ? Wo outsiders have a misgiving that there is aomo commission wire pulling that affects it all."

About Henry Ward Bkecuer. — " W. 8.5." remarks : " The ' Herald,' in a very brief notice of Henry Ward Beechor, deemed it proper to lug in tho morally painful caso of hia trial about 14 years ago tor alleged intimacy with a woman. This, I thought, that writer mi^ht well have omitted in so short a notice. Of course in a biography ie must como in, where, for tho ignorant vulgar, it will ba hke a needle in n haystack. I shrewdly suspected a b.-.d bias. It was quite understood that at Court there was porfect acquittal; but that wiiter now cays, 'No, it camo to nothing, through tho disagreement of jury.' However, tho best trial was at a large special church meeting where and when he was unanimously exonerated, and tho woman was soon after expelled from mem bership. But oven had ho been guilty Satan must not bo pormitted to deprive the peoplo of splendid talents ; ho mostly shouts high. Why, Peter actually and po-itively proached, and very euccess fully, after worse. Herein I often eco a mistake among the prudish moderns. Most likely n. peculiar feminine disorder twisted the intellect of that young lady. Several strikingly similar caaea have hap poncd hero — innocent, steady husbands havo been mado miserable and forced to leavo the placo through tho wife's most extaordlnnry jealousy and outrageous ac cusations. Beecher was truly a groat man, Latoly I happened to volunteer tho judg ment that tho greatest three men of mind of tnodorn time were Gladstone, Bismarck, and Eeochor. In physique, likonosa be tween last two named. I sco his rental of pews for thus year is £o.i)G5, an increase on last yoar. He vindicated auction by com mon sooso ; impossible to preach to 25,000 regular hearers. Somo hnva theught that Boecher, though independently haukoring after originality and popularly advocating a so-called liberal theology, became wise übove that which ia written by divine in spiration. We are continually being pro viJoPtially warned to ' Cease from man I' and not trust oven in the most princely of men. Lord, what is man? Wherein is ho to bo accounted of ?"

Sanitaky Defects.—" J.H."obcerves :— " As the sanitary condition of the city ap pears anything but perfect, judging by the amount of typhoid fever in our midst, allow ma, through the medium of your columns, to point out an im portant matter that appears to have been entirely overlooked, and requires the immediate attention of our City Fathers. For the last two years I have lived in Pon sonby, and during that timo my ne'ghbour has used a closet that is placed within two yards of my back door, I have complained to the Sanitary Inspector to have the nuisance removed, but he informs me that unless the box leaks or overflows he is entirely power less in tho mutter, to doubt thoro are scores of pcoplo in tho same position as my self. Is it not strange that tho laws to compel back yards to bo kept clean do not include fho placing of closets co that they mny not boa nuisance to the neighbourhood? No wonder wo require now fever wr.pds when such a stato of things ia allowed to exist, Lot our City Futhers take this matter in hand, and pa=s a bylaw giving power to tho Sanitary Inspector to examine any yard when a complaint has boon made, and fix upon tho most suitable site for those necessary out houses. When owners of property build without taking into consideration tho Decessary spaco required for outhouses without creating a nuisance to scrao one, by all means let thorn suffer themselves, and not thoir neighbours, who would prefer to lire under more favourable sanitary conditions."

The Attractions of Tongariro District and Lake Taupo.

Since I wrote last to you another party has ascended tho volcano Tongariro. They started from tho Tckaanu Hotel—a very comfortable place and commodious too, and a splendid basis from which to visit all the surrounding country, where a month can profitably bo spent in examining all the wondrous thing? of thia picturesque, grand, and most impressive district. Here may bo seen springs of various kinds, difl'ering from thoso of Rotorua. Some of them aro saline, and tho bath in one ia most cxhiliratiug. Others create a beautiful gloss upon the ekin, making it beautifully soft aud pleasant to the touch, it is paid Tho water of the Ketetahi spring is almost black, and the Maoris and whites declare it to be of all other baths tho most efficacious for rheum atic affection*, effecting a curs in an incred ibly short time. The whole district of Tongaiiro ie, to my mind, fur more interesting than Kotorua ever was, even in the days of the far-famed pink and white terraces. Tho district abounds in wonders and beautiful lako scenery, especially if you choose a clear day for riding round the ba«o of Ngaurauhoe, where a road is in courEe of construction. I hoard Mr Lowis, Under-Secaotary of tho Native Department, givo what, was to mo a rnoet glowing description of tho grand and charming views ho had whilst riding about the district. Here you can see heuing from the moun tain the numerous sDringa which form tho Whanganui, Whangashu, and AVai kato River*, gathering in volume by the junctions of numerous tributaries until they form the splendid rivers named. Here I must particularly mention tho Whanga nni. In "doing " (as it is oftentimes called) thia district, the tourist will never regret going down that river; many who have done so have spoken in glowing terms of it. At present it is trmorsed for some distance in canne?, but afterwards in boats. Some have (I have heard) ridden from this dis trict to the Whanganui River, then gena down the river, and arrived at tho town ship iv twenty-four hours. The sister mountains Ruapehu and tha crator Ngauruhoa, though the grandest and most prominent objects, do not by any means comprise all that is to bo seen. The district, including Tongariro range, is teem ing with objects most interesting to the inquiring mind. Here may be eeen pocuiiar^fieh which, it ia believed, issue from dark subterranean recesses, wing lees web-footed birds in the lake on the top of Tongariro range (how came they there ?) and many other wonders. The landlord of the Tokaanu Hotel (Mr Blake) is untiring in hia efforts to secure the comfort and well-being of all who givo him a call, and will provide on ehorteet notice all nsceesary travelling appliances.

James Davis,

Protection v. Free Trade.

Kei-ly to "H.W.T." by "EM."

" H. W T." published a sort of manifesto on the above subject in youis of Wednesday last. All that he says and the quotation he odors from a speech of Mr Garvan have beon replied to and shown to ba fallaciej, timO3 without nuinbor. Ido not intend to travol o'.gv this ground again, but as he ha? formulated nine reasons why Now Zealand should adopt a protective tariff,. I propoao very briefly to reply to each of thoeo reasons in order.

1. For every or any articlo imported, whether it can be made iv the colony or not we do not Beud away a einylo sixpence in money, but we send the products of the colony on which the labour of tho pooplo has been employed. If ho will look at our import and export table?, no will tititl we import in round figures £7,000,000 a-ycar, and wo export the same amcTunt. Tho im ports are tho productions of o her countries who can uiatmfacturo tho articles choapor and better than we can, and our exports are our productions', which we ciin do better than thsy can. Suppose wo rou'uco our ira ports-say by £2,000,000 -determined to produce the articles ourselves by protective duties, thus making them dear, we should havo alflo to reduce our exports by tho e;mo amount. We simply displace labour from a profitable to an unprofitable channel, in creaee the taxation and make everybody poorer. 2. The countries namod have not provod tit all the wisdom, but tho great folly, of fostering locil industry by hij;h protective duties Taken over a eerioa of yours, it. haß rosulicd in ureat misery to the artisana. All tho goods wo either import or export, aro surplua produce of the countries con cerned, and auy that are brought here are only admitted at tariff rates, generally 13 por cent, ad valorem. Wo do not pay any duties on the Roods wo oxport whothor to Molboiirno or United States ; tho receiver or purchaser pays the duty. It makes no diilerenco to the sender whether Hioro is a tariff or not, excipt that it places a ro- Hlriction on tho amount of business ho cau do.

3. If all our industries are at their lowest ebb, tho next fluctuation in trado muat im provothom. Tho improvement in our ehope, for instance, cannot proceed from making articles thpy sell one-fourth dearer, which would bo the oll'-ct of protection ; tha* would cause, us to go to a lower ebb still. Aro not nil tho traders in Queon-streot puehirg all their energies to roduco prices in order to attract curtom ?

i. Fot nocessarv to reply. Government has ceased to bring out emigrants.

5. No, 1 will almcßt entirely answer this. He surely rioos not a«k us to boliove (hat the countries nnmo.i will, as a principlo, send their productions to us at less than what (hey cost. Ido not think they r.ro such fools, and I am not fool enough to nc cept tho assertion as a fact, if that is what is meant, what is the difference between Franco and Germany subsidising linos or steamors, and our doing the same as we do to Europe, Fiji, and the South Seas ? 6. America hai certainly established in duatrics, but she n- ithcr supplies her own demands cheaply nor thnt of o'her coun trios " Uradstreot's Jourml" made a thorough investigation into the state of her industries two yeirs aa;o, and brought out tho following facts -the inquiry hoing into the state of tho leading manufacturing in dustries in the twenty-two Northern States :

— "There had been n gennral reduction in wages, varying from 'JO to 25 por cent , and in some ca?es to 30 per cant. Tho reduced forces lie., number of men) at work rango from 33 per cent, to 12 por cent. Tho total number reported out of work is 31fi,000, or 13 per rent of tho whole number bu=y in ISSO " A=> to (ho industries which siiffrml most, they report—"Six highly-protscteJ industries, iron and fltool (also foundries and machino shops), clothing, cotton, woollon, tobacco, nnd glass manufacturer.', which employed 34 por cent, of all industrial workers (as reported in 18S0). havo thrown out one -half of the t.ital number of workers since JSS2— 177,000 in number." Th»«e extracts could bo greatly multiplied, but listen to tho Hon A. S. Hewitt In the House of Representatives, quoting from evidenco laid bofrro tho Sonato Com mittee on labour nnd education— "There wore miners of iron oro work irg in Pennsylvania for 75 cents a day (.■>) l.'id); that their abodes were extremely miserable, and that th«y sulforrd frotn n truck system, tinder which they piid 100 per cent more than tho iron and ftool workers did." It is recorded by tho " l'nll Mall Gazette " " that at Darby In Pennsyl vania, under a system of tariffs which was to guard them against tho pauper labour of Europe, and in tho works of a corporation o-vned by prominent c'tizens of Now York and Philadelphia, children of nino years old and upwards were employed nnd workod from G. 45 a.m. to 8 p.m." Tho Secretary of the Treasury (Mr McCullnch). after allud ing to tho " dire distress " of tho manufac turing industry, fays : " Many forced into bankruptcy, othora closed thoir mills to escape it, few running full time; and aa a consequence a very lurgo number of operatives are either deprived of employ ment or are working for wages hardly sufH cient to enable them to live comfortably or eve-n decently." Also: *' Unless markets now practically closed against U3 are oponed, unless we cm share in the trade which i* monopolised by European nations, tho do pression now so severely felt will continue, nnd may become more disastrous " Tho Hon A. S. Hewitt, already quoted, snys in closing hisapeeeh in Congress: "Such is the commercial picture presented by n country which has bad twenty-live years of un'nter rupted protection under a highnr tariff than ever existed in any civilised country on the globe." To show that she cannot compete in woven good«, I quote her trade* in woollen goods in 1885. She exported £161,653, of which £21,90S was to England. Tho sarno year England exported £18,847,0r>3,0f which £2 585.33G was to the United States in spite of their high protectivo duty. With such a trade England can afford to smile at, tbo email competition America is able to bring? fco bear. 7. Regarding America and her prosperity 1 would refer "H. W. T. " to a letter from tha correspondent of the " Daily News." you published a few months aj^o ; it will open bis oyos as to tho State of Canada. Owing to the high tariff, one of the States wishes to rotire from the Dominion. I most emphatically deny that any industry has heen completely crushed out in this colony as i result of free trade.

8. If Victoria, asie currontly reported, is paying 2.1 per cent, more for her locomotives and railway plant than eho could import them for, ehe is inflicting a gross injustice on her community. A debt is boine piled up, the effect of which may not bo felt now, but will in a fow years.

9, I fail to see what peculiarity there 13 about New Zealand why she should have a protective tariff, except to hinder her pro gress. With free trade f>he would mako a steady and healthy progress, whilst under protection she will so on dragging for years cot able to absorb tho population which will spring up.

Municipal Corruption.

All England is to-day diseasing the i-sue of the case of municipal Jbribery at Salford, Lancashire, with special interest because, although it is often charged that the whole governing system from the War and Navy down to th 6 veetr> is honeycombed with fraud, this is the first time it has got into Court. Hunter, who ia the Gas Engineer of the Corporation, was recently charged by a coal merchant, named Lever, in a letter to the Mayor and Aldermen, with exacting commiasions of from 25 to 35 cents a ton on all the great amount of coal he bought. Hunter brought a charge of criminal libel, the effect of which was to prevent Lever from testifying in his own behalf. The four days' trial developed the facts that practi cally all the coal merchants in Lancashire had known fnr years that Hunter was thus plundering the trade, that the Alderman had seen him spending £5,000 on an income of £800, and investing £2.000 in a single enterprise without ever asking a question, and that the practice was a common one among like officials in other corporations. The Judge changed sharply against Hunter, specially blaming him for closing Lever's mouth by a criminal instead of a civil action. Tho jury acquitted Lever umicl loud cheer? from a crowded court, which the jiidge was [jowerlest> to prevent. Lever was followed out ai:d cheered in the streets ol aJancheotti1 by a great timing. U'hsu hi, reached his home in Bov.dou, ho was make the object of a popular demon stration by bmdsof fcratemen, delegations, etc., although the result of tho trial had only been known an hour or so. Numerous trials will follow, and, perhaps, lead to general inquiry. If they do, the state of things revealed will rival affairs disclosed in New York,

THE QUEEN'S HIGHWAY.

FItOM PACIFIC TO ATLANTIC.

BY STUART CUMBERLAND.

[Special Correspondence to Auckland

Stab.]

FECM OTTAWA TO MONTrJAi. TUe train eervi:e between Ottawa nnd Montreal ia a very good one, arid the dis> tanca of 120 miloa is got ovor in 3 hours and

42 minutes,

Montreal ia at present tho eastern tor minal of the Canadian Pacific Railway, although it has a connection to Quebec, whore it joins tho Inter-Colonial lino which runs diroct to Halifax, on tho Atlantic. Montreal is tho biggest city in the Domin ion, and it has a population of 180,000, having lonpr sinco outstripped Quebec, the ancient capital. Montreal is entered from tho west by way of Itochelaga, where, in tho days long sinco gono by, thero originally stood a famous Indian settlement.

Montreal is second only to Quebec in his toric importance, and I regrot that space will not permit of my making moro than a brief montion of tho chiof historical incidents in counestion therewith.

.EARLY COLONISATION OF CANADA,

Jacques Cartior, a nativo of St. JMalo, was undoubtedly tlio discoverer of Canada proper, although tho Cnbots and Jai-pard Cortoroal had, somo 40 years before, navi gated tho coasts of Newfoundland, Labra dor and Qudaon's Straita.

Cartior followed Vorrozzani, tho Floren tine, who, in 1524, had boon Font out by Francis I. of Franco. This monavcU was moat anxious to establish a footing on this newly discovered continent, and his famous cnying will ocho through tho pages of history f.r nil time- "Shall the kings of Spain and I'ortugal divido an Amotiea between thorn?" ho oxcluimed. "Faugh, I would liko to ceo the clause in Father Adam's will bequeathing that vast inheritance to them."

Vemiz/.ini's annexations were tho chief groundsoftholongand bloody conflict which later on was waged between Great Britain and Franco for tho possession of this mafj niticont ompiro boyond tlio se.i=, and tlio maritime supremacy that went with it. Carticr'» first expedition took pinco in 1034, and ho discovered on Ihut occasion (lie mighty river which ho afterwards named thoSt. Liwronce, Tho natives assured him that no man hud ever tracod tho river to its stmrco, but (liv season being well ad vanced ho doomed it prudent to go no furtlior thon, leaving further exploration until another summer. Tho following yoar ho was despatched with threo finer vessels, tho largoit of which was 120 tons (t,ho two vosbolh of tho previous expedition did not exsocc) (iO tons burthen), in which ho was commissioned to " form settlements in the country, and open traffic with tho native tribes." At Stadaconn, now Quebec, ho inado tho friendship of Doniuicona, the pro.it, Algonquin chief, who mq<!o him n state visit, uccompanied by f>oo followora in 12 huge canoes. At this plaen ho decided to winter, but, boing anxious to oxploro tho river, ho to >k to his boat*, and having panned the sand bars of Lake St. Poter, he, on October 2nd, ]!i.'!o, reached tho populous Indian town of H.ichelngn, nestling under tlio wooded heights (which nro still tho glory and prido of tho city) which ho loyally called Mont Royal. In tho course of timo this has been Anglicised into Montreal. Cartier stayed atSt.idacona till tho follow ing spring, whan ho returned to France, taking with him, inoro by forco than per suas-i in. the King Ponnacoivi and nine of his chiefs as living trophies of Ma expedi tion.

After remaining five year.' in Europe, Cirtier returned to tho St. Lawrence in company with tho Sieurdo Robieval, whom tho French monarch had created Lieutenant Governor and Vicoroyof his nowly-acquired possession*. The early efforts of the French to colonise thesa region-' wore, however, fruitless, principally on account of the attitude nf tho native?, who, from a frank friendliness, had boon rendered severely hostile through the trcnehory of tho explorers with rospect to Domvicona and his warrior?, who never returned from their enforced sojourn in Franco.

Half n century later tamo Samuol co Champlain, and ho, having founded a stronghold at Quebec, advanced his explora tions of tho St. Lawrence beyond Montreal. Hi.-> was an extraordinary life of irlventuro, and, as ono of his biographers put it, " A noblo sou), whoeo character was moro liko that of a knight orrant of medieval romance than that of a practical soldier of the nineteenth century." Afterwards cimo prie«ts of the Jesuit and Rocollut orders, and tho barbarous cruelties they suffered at tho hanrle of the Indians are frosh in tho memory of tho French Canadians to this clay. Theso priest? were undoubtedly ths original foundersof civilisa tion in tbo far West.

It was not till tho spring of 1642 that tho foundations of Montreal, tho futuro com mercial metropolis of Canado, wero laid by Montmagny, with all tho pioua pomp and churchly ceremonial poasiblo amidst such primitive purroundings. Ono hundred uml eighteen year.) later (he city, atter c:; ---porirncitig tho varying fortunes of war, finally surrendered i!?o!f, midor do Van dronil, to tho combined armiea of Ainhersr, Haviland. and Murray. With this surren der tho English conquest of Canada was completed, Wol.'o bavins;, un the 13th September of the previous year, won Quebec, or tho iiold" of Abraham All that wan then left of tho nvignificjnt empira dreamed of by Francif, and fostered by succeeding monarolie, were tho two little fog-bpgirted inland* pffNcwfoundhnd oallod St. Piorro and Miqueton. Beyond these unprofitable rocU?, Franco hue to this day no possessions on Hip American continent.

THE CITY OF MONTREAL.

Montreal i» a city of churches, and tho air is nearly always rilled with the chimo of bolli. Tha tinoflfc ot tho sieved buildings is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame, tho two towora of which are con spicuous for a long distance. Montreal is a very Catholic place, there boing in ad dition to tho French Canadians many Irish professing Romanism. Tho finest of thopub'i? buildings is tho Windsor Hotel, which i« not; only the beat houee of ontortainment in Canada, but, in my opinion — and I have tried all tho principal ones—tho beet on tho Continent. A • * f "ißain" beiaurv fro.Ti tho mountain which Cartior named oan bo had of tho whole city and the St. Lawrence. How different i» tho view now to what it was in tho French navigator's time, when taking in the same view from tho eolf-Famo mount, which, although cut into by carriage drives and footpaths, i? jn°t as attractive us it was three hundred and fifty years ag.i, when Cartior, in a audden burst of enthusiasm, named it after tho French King, his muster. Whon Cartiar looked there woro nothing but forests bordering on tho St. Liwrence, save hero and there where tho Indians had cultivated patches of tho soil. Hochelaga at that time roproeentod what has sinco become Mont real, and it was a town of pome sine, forti tiud and encircled by wooden palisades. Tholndi?n3- a tribo of A Igor quins living there, wero, as far ns I can gather, a good way advanced in civilisation. They culti vated tho land, built huts of some comfort, and manufacture! articloa which required considerable mechanical s~ill. They were the most poli»hed of tho aborigines, and second only in warlike prowes3 to the bloodthirsty Iroquois. Tho Algonquins were the allies of tho French, who united tho armorial boariDgs ot" the tribo-an evergreen oak-with the " Lilies of franca " on their banners.

' Tho Iroquois were the allies of the EDg- Heli, Champlain have unwisely incurred their hatred by espousing the part of the Algonquins ngainst them whilst governor of Quebec. Tlio French suffered severely for this; for tho latter woro not only etrongor but they were absolutely rolentle?e, and markcrt their sense of tho wrong done them by :apino and massacre ; a;id on one occa sion they crossed tho river during a severo thunderstorm, when the inhabitants were unprepared for thorn, and butchered every man, woman, and child who came within their reach. Louis XIV. was especially enraged against the Iroquois, and he in structed M, de La Barre, the governor, as follows: — "As it. concerns the good of my service to diminish as much as possible the number of the Iroquois, and aa the savnges, who are stout and robust, will parve, moreover, with advantage in ray galleys, I wish you to do everything in your power to make a great mimber of them prisoners oi war,-and that you will h?.vo them shipped by every opportunity which will offer for

their remova

When Muiitren.! capitulated i» 1780 to the English, city was described as " of an oblonn form, surrounded by a wall flanked with eleven redoubts, a ditch about eight feet deep, and of proportional width, bat dry, and a fort and citadel.'1 The British rule was welcomed by the inhabitant?, as it accorded them perfect liberty of thought and action. In fact, the

famous French statesman, Papinean, said, in doQning the feoling of the French as to the results of the ce'nquest •—" From that dily tho reign of law succeedod to tllat of violenco ; from that day the treasures, the armies and navies of Great Britain were mustered to afford us an invincible protec tion agaitut external danger; from that day tho better part of hor laws became ours, vy'iilo our religion, property, and tho lawa by which they were governed reranined un altered." ... , During tho war of 1812, tho United States armies mado throe unaucceaful attempts to capture Montreal, meeting with defeat on each occasion, tho French and tho British fighting side by side in the common defenco of tbeir homos.

Montreal has prospered wonderfully will-i confederation of the provinces, and aho is now ono of tho wealthiest cities of hor sizo on tho American Continent. Splendidly situated on tho Sb. Lawrenco, with a direct outlet to tho soa, and with fully half the continent contributory to her coffer?, Mont real hue a magnillcent future before her. Thoro is nothing of mushroom growth about Montreal; everything is staid, solid, and even old-faehionod. It is not so quaint or so thoroughly French as Quebec, but it is sufficiently quaint to afford a striking contrast to any of tho oldor cities of North America. Ita principal streets aro long and narrow, with short, side streets cutting into them. Tho shops have a French daintiness about them, ro miodine ono of French town? beyond, tlio sea. Tho woman aro, for tho most part, nattily dressed ; their complexions are ox cellent and their figures perfect. They are Fronch in everj thing—dress, walk, looks, and sprightlinoee. The men folk aro, as a rule, undersized and somewhat mean look ing ; but tho upper classea are very dignified nnd stately, with tho manners of tho tiuio of Louis Quatorzg, and their language ia the French of that poriod. Tho relations botweon tho two □ationaUtiaa are, in both business and social muttors, friendly but not cordial. Tho French aro us two to one compared with tho British, and they have almost Iho entire control of municipal and local Par liamentary afTiirs ; so that althorgh tho Jattor wove tho conquerors, the former aro now virtually the rulers. Moreover, tho feeling with respect to British rulo has been considerably modilied since Papiuoin's timo; and at tho present moment they havo a strong fooling of resentment toward Sir John Macdonald's government for hang ing Louis Kiel. They have mado tho matter a raco question and it will go hard with Sir John at tho noxt election in consequence. Tho French Canadians are v diliicult people to rule. Thoy are, ns t understand if, not contont with complete religious liberty and tho retenion of their own forms of legal pro coduro, but they want to hava a control ling interest in tho Government nf tho entire country, entirely forgetting that, although tho system of representation is bnncd upon Quebec province, newer provinces with fast ii.creating populations aro springing up, and that thry will not long countenance this injurious dictation in affairs political. Sir John h:m (.leered the Parliamentary barque clear of shipwrecks whero a less tkillcd statesman might have run it upon the rocks of raco strife. Breakers are looming n he'id, and unices the Katmcks moderate their cle rounds 1 fail to toe how thoy aro to bo avoided The French nnd British havo pulled well together in tho past, and it is sin cerely to bo hoped thatwitha little more give and (;iko on both *idoe, thoy will continue in tho future to put shoulder to shoulder in tho cenoral ambition to build up tho Dominion.

THE CLIMATE OF MONTREAL

In summer Montreal ii tho mrst delight ful placo imaginable, with its cool shady squares and, in tho newer parts, its tree bordered avenuos. What a dear old place is Notre Diiino • stroot, and tho Place d'Armea Squaro in front of Notro Dame Cathedral, with the silver-tongued bells sending forth a tweet g!ad potl In winter Montreal is exceptionally at traetivo with its gignntic ico pa'aee, and its exhilarating sleigh drives. I navo been in Montreal in spring, summorand winter, and I loved it right, well on each occasion. It i.j a place to love ond to remember always Thousands of Americana como both winter and summer to Montreal and Quebec, Ihe latter especinlly being their Mecca, for they h'tvo nothing so ancient, so historic, or so goiieially interesting in a>l Yankoelanci. Aa a port, Montreal,"with its natural ndvan taires of lake and river communication, will advance* with tho growth of tho North west, and in course of liino will provo a far midnbJn rival to New Yak itself. Tho river channel between Montreal and Quebec hns b'jon so much improved that vessels of any draught can now como up tho St. Law roaca to Montreal; and in emnmer tlio Allan steamers (plying across tho Atlantic) moka it their terminua. Thcro are alto rivor .steamers running daily in tho Fummer ni.iniha between Montreal nnd (Junboc.

The Urand Trunk has a direct line of rail bstweon Quebec ami Mont.eal, landingpas eei.^crs at Point l.ovis, oppositotho Quebec citadel, from whence tho Intercolonial trains rp.ko their departure for Halifix Tho Canadian Pacific connects with Quebec and tho Intercolonial by means of a iino they havo recetitly taken over, cilicd tho North Shore. So, on arriving nt Montreal after making tbo trip across ihs liritisii portion <.f North America, pas-en pcrs cm, if they wi=h it, rail from there direct to Europe, or proceed to Now York, or continue on tho iron highway through British territory for clo?o upon another thousand miles until Halifax is reached, trhere they can tako a vessel for Liverpool via St. .John'e, Newfoundland. This latter route I elected to take.

LADY GORDON'S REMINIS CENCES.

Soojic3 In tno Oriont Which Woro of

Uncommon Intei-ent.

Eaktbhn Ufo is to this closo observer a per petual panorama. Sho sees from her windows a Turkish wedding procession with a pretty boy of 13 for bridegroom, dressed in scarlet robo and turban, preceded by flaring creapets and surroundud by carrying tapers and einging songs—or a Coptic brido dressed in whito and blazing with diamond?,

passes by ; abyatto3 with harp, eack but and dulcimer, playing and singing beforo her, and little girls in scarlet hab arahs, noting as bridesmaids. Or, tho scene changiog, ns lifo itself change?, a poor man who has lost his little son creops out of his desolate homo and stands under her window, wailing, " Oh, my boy !" wetting tho <!uM. with his tears, and calling on the passers-by to grieve with him Or a littla half-black, not 2 years old, wearing " a bit of iron wire i? ono oa», and irou rings round his ankles — and nothing else," solemnly gazes at tho Inkeleezeh Sitt fnr an hour or co, and then dance 3 before ber "to amu.'o her mind ;" his uncle having made hisa fit to be seen by •emptying a pitcher of water on bis head to rinse off the dust —" which," says Lady Duff Gordon. "U equivalent to a clean pinafore." The precocity of Eastorn children is marvellous. A bay of 12 foil des perately in love with a pretty Baroness X., more than twico hU age, put on a turban for tho h'rft time to look liko a man, and seated himsolf cross-legged on the carpet before Lady Duff Gordorj, to tell her of bis devouiins passion, and begged some medi cine to "make him whito" and improve him in the e\ es of hi? beloved. The Eon of tho Sultan of Darfoor, " pretty, imperious little niggor" about 11, dressed in a yellow silk caftan and ecarlot burncosu, being pre sented to her, exclaimed scornfully, " Why, she ha woman ; she can't talk to me 1" But a box of French sweetmeats altered his opinion, and on being a=ked hoi. many brothers ho had tho young Princo condescended to reply : " Who can count them? They are like mice!" Tho Arabs often carry their reverence for the other ?ex to the opposite extreme. Omar submitted to be bullied and lectured by Zoynib, a Nubian girl of 8 who had been given to Lady Duff GordoD, and whon laughed at for his docility answered: "Bow I pay anything to it? That one child I" When Abd-el-Kader wag expected at Cairo Lady Duff Gordon's donkey driver asked her if he were not Akhu-lßennt (a brother of girls). She said she did not know that he had ony eistera, "The Arabs, oh lady," was tho reply, "call that man 'a broth-Dr of girls,' to whom God haa given a elf an heart to love all women a3 hi 3 eieterp, and strength and courage to Sght for their protection." Even polygamy i^. according to Lady T)uff Gar don, often merely consideration for tho necosMtiea of the " wer.kf.r vessel." Hear ing that Haesan, the janissary ot American Caneulate, had married his brother's widow and adopted bath her boys, sho said the two wives did not sound to her very comfortable. " Oh, no," replied Omar, " not comfortable at all for the man, but he take care of the women. That is what is proper. That is the good Muslim."

Frauds by a Local Preacher in Melbourne.

Our Melooilrne cabis news last week re ported the conviction of a'ilWSil poacher | n Melbourne, of a sorios of gigantic frauds. Tho following particulars of the case, ad duced in tho Poiice Court, show tho charac ter of tho frauds perpetrated by this hum bug. Augustus »myth, of South Brune wiok, a loßirf pronciior, waa charged by a new arrival in tho colony ilamert Ilotallick, of obtaining, by moanß of falso protbriCoPi tho sum of £3,500. Mr C. A. Smyth, Crown Prosocutor, appeared on bohalf of Retallick, and Mr Purvea and Mr Hood for the accufod. Tho ca?o for the "prosecution is brielly to tho cfT-;ct that tho prosecutor arrived in this colony in tho month of Juno, ISBS. bring ing with hia.^a sum of £5,040. Directly after landing in Melbourno ho wont to tho Victoria Co fee I'alaco, in Collins-street, with ono Sarah Hetldry, and in tho roading rcom he fell in with tha accusod, up to that time a perfect stranger to him. It ■.vs=i Sunday evonint:, and Eotalliek being a religious man, was much shocked to ccc persons plajing cards. Ho was pleasod, however, to notice that tho accused 12 ---fusod to join tho game, and this gratify ing oircumstanco v.'as tho first thing that drew Ketallick's attention to him. Boiiig a stranger in the city, and ■without friends or acquaintances, Ilotallick openod up a conversation with Smyth, telling him ho had just arrived, and asking for friendly advice Afler some conversation Retallick d'ecovered that ho had met a "pious, God fouring, honest man," and mado an appointment to moet him on tho following day. When tiioy met Retalliek confided in Smyth his pecuniary position, and by tho letter's advice deposited £5,000 in tho English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank. A fast friendship then sprang up between them,) and boing taken to varioiu prayer meetings by Smjth, Rotal'ick became to lovo him exceedingly, to use hia own words. Eventually ho mado him advances of money, which Smyth undertook to invost upon mortgages to a very profitable ex tent. After waiting a considerable timo and not getting his deeds ho conferred with Mr Crisp, his solicitor, henco tho present charges of fmud. Tho prosecutor in his evidence said: — The prisoner stated on sevoral occasions that the party to whom ho had lent tho money was immensely rich, but ha did not want; anyone to know that he had any thing to do with a morffcaao. A few days subsequent to this ho informed witness that ho had received a letter from hia solicitor in Sydney, which was to the effect that their client considered tho busio3es transaction no strictly private that the acceptance of the third porran must bo doclined. About tho saino timo accused referred to tho making oisoinarepiirs to a gato at his Ascot Vale property, aud witness accompanied him thoro. Pointing out tho property to witness, ho said he paid £1,000 for it, and was gotting £50 rent per annum. In tho early part of February he informed witness that ho had something

"sticking out1' for the witness's "broad Oiculdors." About tho 4rh or sth of February they wont to the woodyard at Brunswick, whero nccuted was going to take a wood eidit/g. Witness was to be tho working foremin, and to receive £8 a week, He rcmarkod " This is a business that will become a hig thing offer a bit," and ndded, " tho officials at the railway stations do not tako cheques for rents and freights without pormiE&ion from the rail way authorities, who require me to pay £600 os a guarantee in drawing cheques." Accordingly witnofs gavo him a cheque for £.")00, and be said, "of course whatever overdraft you are charged, I'll mako up." On tho fifth of April uccused visited witnots, and piid tl o interest. He said, "Lend mo £300, and I'll mako everything square at the end of tho year,' and witnees did so. On the 7th of April witness told accused that ho had an application from Mr Sims, houFO ngont, at Brunswick for £000. fi ccur-ed said, " Well.Thomas.if you lend £400 here, and £COO there, and other 'urns elsewhere, you will want a clerk to collect your interest. If 1 woro you I'd take up a mortgage of £3,000 or £4,000 at once," and witness asked accused as a prac tical man if ho thought such a mortgage could be obtaiucd. Accused said ho knew one of tho best and oldest firms in the colo nios at Sydney. A fosv days later ho said to witness that he had received a letter from hi? solicitors, which read thus:—

"Dear Sir,—ln reply to your inquiry, wo havo c'ients, one for £7,000, ono for £5 000, and ono for £3,700." Accused pulded that lio was point: to take up the £f),000 one, and askod witness what he thought about tho ono for £3,700. "It was at 7-i por cent, and he thought 8 per cent, would bo obtained." A few days Eub ecquout to this convereation ho called the attention of witness to some property in Park-ftrost woet, near Brunswick, which was for private sale. There was a fine house, fh?(i.', fee, on tho land. One morn ing afterwards lio paid, "I'm asked if I will ?tand to my offor for it," adding " Its a bargain, but its under the power of tvnstrnoe.who livo in England,and a deposit of£GOO is required." Accused did not have onoufh money to pay tho deposit, and wit ness let him havo £850. At tho same timo witness was informed by him that tho £3,700 mort^ago wop secured. Up to this stase witr.sps had advanced him i"t,350 Wit nef's lixed deposit, was upon tho 30th June, and on the 3rd of July he gave tho accused his bank book and tho deposit note to with draw Hie account. On tho following Monday accused returnod him tho bank book. When witness gavo accused tho bank book he also gave him a blauk cheque for tho purposes of winding up the account. Tho body of tho cheque was in accused a handwritin?, except the word " self;" wit oem noticed by tho bunk book that there WBS a bnlarco of £019 5s 3d. After doing Fomo figuring relative to interest in various sums, acensori saH, "Now, Thomae, I have already got £3,350, and have secured that mortgage fur you. If you lot me havo £300 more it will make tho £3700. I will give you a receipt for the £3,700 until tho deeds coino. Witness then received a receipt from him, and also a ohequo for £302 10d 3d, the balanco at bank still remain ing to witness. On the evoning of the 7th licensed eaid, "Thomas, will you bring me that receipt I gave you, for I don't think iff is right, and I will give you another." Witness complied, and received another, which was now produced in Court Soon afterwards tho accused wont to Sydney, and returned in two days, paying that ho had arranged about tho d< eds, which would be forwarded in duo course to a fifm of solici tors in Mdbonrno. Witness was given to understand tint ocicueo-1 had taken up tho mortgage of £F,OOO. On the 9th September accused visited tho office at the wood yard and said, " I have mado yon a power of at torney, Thomns, and I am going to Sydney for a fortnight. It's' very likely that whilst I'm away your doeda aid mine will bo Ecnt to Melbourne You'll be likely to got a telegram from a h'nn_ of Folicttbra tliera for tho purpose of signing for tho-o deeds " Holding the power of attorney in his hand, amused faid, "Be auro you take this, for you'll also havo to sign for mine." Witness wrote to accused, and received tho follnwing reply :-"Syd ney, 15thSeptember, ISS6. My doar Thomas I have waited until to day, thinking I mi^ht bo able now to say definitely when I ehail be ready to return, but I cannot yet say. I roceiv6d your Monday letter yester day, and was glad to hoar from you, and fo far it seems you were then getting along all riirht, except there is your usual misgivings as to your own capacity, and underrating your own abilities and service. Tho scant supply of blocks, and above all the sad calamity you narrate of Saturday ovoning, is sad news indeed But poor Hawkins's

fate is most appalling. lorn glod it was at a time when you were not at hand to realise to great a shock. We must for a tiino grin and bear theexactionsof tbeßailway Depart mont. I hope the deputation on Tuesday made a favourable impression. I am };lad to hear that you enjoyed your Sunday evening's outiDg. It in a bless ing to have a relish for good things in the midßt of life's worries and toils; for, after all, the endless life is more important by far than this mortal life. May we live in a growing preparation for the better and brighter world to come. lam afraid I shall not get to Melbourne this week. . . &c - Believe me, dear Thomas, yours faithfully,—C. A. Smyth" About the 24th of September he returned, and paid, " Well, Thomas, I went to thn policitor's qnite ex pecting 10 bring back the deeda with me, but to rr.y surprise they had not com menced toprepare them. You know what Folieituva are, especially those large firms ; but I've hurried them on, and they will be sont to M elbourne very soon. Your interest on the deede commenced on the l<it of Anpusti." On the Oth of October he said, " Xhotnas, I am going to New Zealand to morrow by a fast boat, which will take me there in e'ix days. I'm going on business, and will return in 15 or 18 days. Witness did not see him again till the 22nd November. Meanwhile Retallick, at

laab becoming suspicious, vfpnt to the Federal Bank, and found that accnsed had no account there ; also that accUSea s statement about managing Parry and Har court's drapery business at South Mel botlrno at n salary of £6 for the first three mrtaths and £10 per Weok afterwards was a falsehood. Smyth; however, persuaded Retallicfc's thai ho had, wronged Mm, and saying that ho wanted to e*op any possi bility of an evil report that hs &ad gpna with Retalliads's money, persuaded hitri to sign the following: -"Brun3W)ck,Nov. 23rd, IS.SG. To all whom it may concern. —In con sequence of Mr C. A. Smyth's return to Mel bourne, I hasten to make what amends I can for having somewhat prematurely spoken of his abaenco tiS causing aie some anxiety. It appears that a postal fflisssraags of a latter and other matters led to the uniottafd cir cumstance referred to, and I am extremely sorry for any pain I may havo caused him or his family.—Thomas Retallick." To this tho accused added, " I hereby appoint Mr H. Jonos custodian of this memo , and request him to submit the samo to the perusal of all infcarestod parsons." Wltnens signed tho memo, because there was nothing in it likely to do him any harm, and it would satisfy the accused. Subsequently prose cutor received tho following letter ••— " Gee long, 2(ith November, ISSG. VeCt Thomas, I hastened by cab to eoe you before you had started for home, but arrived too late. I was prepared to give you fair satisfaction, which is, of course, a relief, although acting upon advice I should just at this period act otherwise. One thing is certain, my position has been mado so painful by your indiscretion that it has almost prostrated ma, and I have reached this place to-night f.o very ill that I thought I would drop you a line, as 1 am not going to crush my life by parading about Melbourne until by some reasonable means I am set right with the public, and my health is such, with my heart affection, that I am only acting on medical advice, I waa obliged to seek to day, by coming here for rest. If I feel equal to it, I shall see you to-morrow or Saturday. I owe you no,ill will, and hope you are fealing bettor.—iours, kc.j G. A. Smyth." Of course the confiding Retallick never saw his money.

THE SUN'S HEAT.

It Will Last 10,C00,000 Years as li

is Now.

A BKILLLINI audience filled the theatre of the Royal Institution last night (January 21st) while Prof. Sir William Thomson ex pounded the latest dynamical theories re garding tho ''probable origin, total amount, and possible duration of tho sun's heat." During the short 3,000 years or more of which man possesses historic records thero was, the learned physiciat showed, no traco of variation in solar energy ; and tliero was no distinct ovidence of it even, thcugh the earth as a whole, from being nearer the sun, received in January 6i per cent, more heat than in July. But in the inilliooß of yeara which geology carried us back, it might safely be paid there must have been great changes. How had the Bolar fires been maintained during those ages? The scientific answer to this question was the theory of Helmholtz that thßßun was a vast globe gradually cool ing, but as it cooled gradually shrinking, and that the shrinkage - which was the effect of gravity upon its mass—kept up its tempera ture. The total of the sun's heat was equal to that which would be required to keep up 476,000 millions of millione of millions of horse-power, or about 78,0i10 horss power for every metre a little more than a square yard—and yet the modern dynam ical tht ory of heat shows that the sun's mass would require only to fall in or contract thirty-fivH^uetres per annum to keep up that tremendous energy. At this rate the solar radius in 2,000 years' time would be about 100 per cent, less than at present. A time would come when the tempera ture would fall, and it was thus inconceiv able that the sun would continue to emit heat sufficient to sustain existing life on the globo for more than 10,000,000 years. Applying tho fame principles retrospoc tively, they could not suppose that the sun had existed for more than 20,000,000 yoar? — no matter what might have been its origin whether it eamo into existence from tho clash of worlds pre-existing, or of diffused nobulouß matter. There was a great cling ing by geologists and biologists to vastly lODger periods, but the physicist, treating it aßa dynamic question with calculable elemonts, could come to no other conclusion materially different from what he had stated

Sir William Thomson declined to discuss any chemical source of heat, which, what ever its effect wheo primeval elements first eamo into contact, was absolutely insignjfi caut compared with tho effects of gravity after globes like the sun and the earth had been formed. In all these speculations they were in the end driven to the ultimate elements of matter—to the question—when they thought what became of all the sun's heat—what is the luminiferous ether that fills space, and to that most wonderful of forces upon which Faraday spant so much of the thought of his later years, gravity.— " London Telegraph."

More Cases For Psychical Research.

The two following incidents related by Mr E. W. Perry in the new number of " Lip pincott's Magazine" will be of interest to the " Psychical Research Society " : —

One bright summer night, nine years ago, the schooner Charles Y. Richmond w"aa working her way up through the Straits of Mackinaw againac a pleasant westerly wind. Leaving the wheels at mid night, I turned in forward, and within a mfnute after putting my head on my pillow was sleeping as aoundly as one not too tired and without a care could sleep, lulled by the gentle, monotonous lapping of the waves against the planking of her bows a few inches from my head. I realised no thing until I found myself standing, rather less than half clad, beside the weather windlass-head, and shouting to the man at tho wheel —

" Down with your helm. Hard down, now, lively !" Then to the men below, " Tumble out, men, and be alive about it, if you don't want to go down in her !" By that time the waspish old mate had come forward, and demanded, — " What the devil do you mean by giving orders on my watch ?" " I don't know, I'm sure," I replied, half asleep, and wholly bewildered by finding my=olf on deck when I should have been below. Tho man at the wheel had, of course, promptly obeyed my order, and the - Sooner was al ready paying off on the other tack Instinctively we went to start the tack of the fore-staysail, and there, within twenty feet of us, was a big black schooner in stays. Had not my unconscious order been given as it was in the very nick of time, one of the two vessels must have crashed into the other. Even though no Hveß might have been lost, great damage would have resulted from the collision. I have never been able to find a reason for my action. In the discussions that took place among the crew, it was suggested that my ears might have caught the sound of the dashing of the waves against the bows of the other schooner ; but it was agreed that the lap of the waves against the bows of the Rich mond must have drowned the other sound. It wbb thought that I might have heard the creaking of a block or the whipping of a rope againßt a spar on the other vessel ; but any sound of that kind would have been heard more plainly by the men on the deck than it could be heard by anyone in the forecastle. In short no tenable hypothesis appears, unleps it may be in the supposition that some influence, which we call un natural because we cannot define its origin nor describe its nature, impelled me to act unconsciously and at the right instant and in the right way to prevent impending dis aster.

"In the spring of 18S0 I was sleeping in my room at home. Suddenly, and without cause so far as I knew, I sprang out of bed nnd hurried through the noxt room to the bay window overlooking the tracks of the Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. My wife, awakened by my hurrying through her room, asked : —

"What is the matter? Why did you get up so early ?" "I don't know," I answered ; "but I believe some accident has happened, or is about to happen." I turned from the window to drees, but before I reached my room two or three quid; whistles eo;:nded' throneh the fog. A second later we heard a dull, grinding crash of timber and the loud roar of escaping steam. The heavy morning express had run into the rear end of a long freight train standing on tho main line. Two men wore killed, and the engine and many freight nara wore wrecked. The incidents deecribed happened in the exact order mentioned, and were discussed so often and so soon after their occurrence that they were clearly fixed fa out memories.

CONCERNING SHETLANDERS.

Some Interesting Facts Regarding TRcIJ- Mannor or Life. The Shetland and OrSnay Islands belonged to Norway until 1468, when,- 3a history informs as, "they were unpledged to James 111 of Scotland as a part of the dowry given with his queen," for about that tireo he was married to Princees Margaret of Denmark. It is added that " tbeae isfonda were never redeemed. Shetlcade'rEf ai» a small, active and hardy people, Tory genial,- too, and dis tinguished, whether rich or poor, for very industrious habits. No loss are they noted for intense love of country. Much of the farm work ia carnod ou by the women of the household. Fieldß and eardene are their great doligbt. They are adetftsin culinary lore, and spin, weave and malic up stores of household linen and flannels. No less successfully do they cut and make all family slothing, and as well prido themeolves upon the number of bass of stockings, thick and warm, which thoy exhibit to neighbours and friends with intenae satisfaction. Thrift and thought fulness develop many bright touches of ornamentation, but tho maiden's own wit mu3t device the outlining1, her own dainty touch accomplish the delicate needle wcris. Shops full of beautiful patterns and gayhued materials are unknown joys in Shetlandom. The flowers of the field and the trees of the wood moat furnieh not only patterns, bat tho colouring ncodad for the wools and threads. Every maiden rnnst be her own puTveyer for every pigment needed. The great luxury of the peasant woman is tea drinking. This article, brought from distant ports, would be beyond their mean? unless (secured by exchange, and is said to be a universal moans of payment for little services rendered. An errand involving hours of travel will be cheerfully accom plished for " one drawing " of the yearned for refreshment, and this may be eaid of many household Eervices. Skilful spinners will gladly "give mony terns to the wheel" for a complement of the delicious beverage, , Shsep are largely a source of trade to farmers of these islands; the mutton ib drtrk in colour and of a fine favour, the fleece it soft and of Boch delicate texture that from it may be spun a thread as falmy as dainties cambie,' 1,000 yards are often spun from one ounce of wool, each thread being three-fold, thus making 3,000 yards in all. Stockings knit from this can be drawn through a finger ring, and for deli cate hosiery two guineas per pair, or even more, are often paid, Within a few years more and more of this exquisite thread is used in making shawls, pure white Oc dark gray, which command very high prices; they are like cobwebs for delicacy and ligltnees. What the camel is to an Arab, the sure footed, tough-fibred pony is to the" Shet lander. One familiar with their customs haa said that, though bred on the wild heaths, the " aheltiee," as the pomes are sometimes called, can bo tamed in one night. The hunter, throwing his lasso with skill, secures a frisky colt, and for twenty-four hours keeps bira a prisoner. The small creature hea'S no other voice than his master's ; the hunter feeds and careises him, and gradually the terrible restlessnea? subsides. Hereafter he becomes a docile, affectionate burden bearer and companion. He needs no stable, and has a happy faculty of ODjoying whatever he find toeat. A dun-coloured " sheltie " of exquisite sym metry, aeon by a tourist, could atand under a diDing-tabie and a little lady could seat herself upon its back without lifting her feet from the ground. They are favouritea for the saddle, and many are gent to other countries for the pleasure of ladies and children.

HOMES OF THE ANCIENTS.

James Stevenson, of the United Statea Geological Survey, has juat returned to Washington after an absence of aeveral months in North Arizona, New Mexico and Southern California, making geologic and ethnologic researches in connection with that bureau. Mr Stevenson's explora tions in former years were among the vari ous Ptiebio Indian trib3s, and the ancient cliff and cave dwellings along the tributaries of the Kio San Juan and other streams (lowing into the Rio Colorado. These streams flow through the regions within Southern Colorado, New Mexico, Ari zona and Utah. In these regions some of the most interesting archreologic remains are to be found. Those remains are so thickly Bcattered over the country, and comprise co many different kinds, that it would be impossible to refer to them in detail in one brief article. Enough can be said, however, to show that no country in the world can surpass the Southwestern Territories of the United States in richness in arcbreologic data. Among the classes of dwellings are the " cliff,'' those dwellings bu-lt in great excavationß high up in the fides of canyon walla, the cavities for which have been carved bygeological and climatic influences, and the faces or fronts built urj artificially in masonry. The "c»ve" dwellings are those which have been carved out artificially along the faces of bluffs just large enough to accommodate one family each. There are two other classes, the agricultural and pastoral. The former are those which were located in valleya, along stream?, and about which are found imple ments and other evidences of aboriginal agriculture. The latter are somewhat similar, but more scattering, and indicate that they were only occupied by herders. Mr Stevenßon's researches this season re sulted in tho discovery of several ancient villages, one of which ia located on the Little Colorado. Tbia village extenda over an area of three miles. Many of the houßes stand two and three atoiies high, built of square flat stones Bet in mortar. Several of the larger buildings, forming one group, are situated along the banks of a small canyon. This canyon presented many evi dences of the handiwork of the aborigines who inhabited the dwellings along its banks. In the walls of this canyon are many small nichea and cavities which had been walled up, leaving only a small aperture through which to place small articles. The piaster, some of which the party dug out, still retaina the finger-marks and imprea eions of the masons who built them. These little bins must have been for the purpose of atoring wild Beeds and grain, for Buch were all they contained. Agriculture in the sense as now understood was unknown to the people. The domestication ot animals waß also unknown to them. Away from this group of dwellings, up the canyon for several miles, were found houses and corrals of variouß shapes and sizes. Sur rounding thia village ia a series of volcanic hills or knolls from fifty to 300 feet in height. On the summit of each was found cither a round or octagonal shaped tower or fortification. This was evidently the object from the fact that only one entrance was found to any of them, and they were in all cases furnished with portholes about breast highland were bo constructed inside as to indicate per manent dwellings. It was quite impoaaible to conjecture the age of this village, and none of the Indiana now inhabiting that country could enlighten the sxplorera on the subject. They only refer to them as the homes of the ancient. Thorough examina tions and a complete survey were made, all of which will appear in the report of the Bureau of Ethnology.

FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

RISING IN THE WORLD.

Toward the middle of tbe last century a little ragged boy named Saunders made his appearance at the door of an attorney's office at Clement's Inn, London. He was cast upon the world in absolute want; he knew nothing of his parents; he had not a friend, and he know of no roof beneath which he had a right to lay his head. He asked for the opportunity to do errands for a crust and a coyer in return. The attorney found him bright and prompt and employed him, and the boy proved to be faithful and earnest in the discharge of auch bueinees as was given him to do. By and by the boy, when he bad been ad mitted to sleep in the office, expressed a desire to learn to write. The attorney rigged him a low desk in a far corner, and set him copies, and was pleased also to assist him at times by personal direction. Tbe boy developed a bold, clear, and beautiful hand, and by the time he was 15 he had be come a correct and rapid writer. He was now transferred to the inner office and set at the work ot writing: important legal papers. This gave him an insight into and a taste for legal lore, and he studied hard— studied co hard and to euch good purposo that in time he came to afford his employer sound and valuable counsel in important matters His diligence was untiring, his faithfulness unswerving, and his ambition unchecked. He worked his way up to the bar, and became one of the moat eminent and effective practitioners of his time ; and this man, whose entrance into the struggle* of life had been from bo low and unpromis ing a station, by a proper uee of the fortu nate qualities inherited, became, upon the death of Pembeitan, fcord Cb,ief Justice of England.

POETRY.

BENEATH THE TREES,

Under the spreading trees. In the oalm, sweet summer tune. Now azure skies aro serene and light. Jnst kissed by thd fairest of cloudlets white Hour, and purple, and amber bright, Hl thU peerless Southern dime t

UcdsT the stately trees Atthaoloasofadabbathday; For the evoniiig breezsa are cool and sweet. And the odorous bicssoms are fair » greet. That lurk in the nooJfool a choice retreat Not very far away.

Under the whispering trees Where oft I have been before. Musing alone lnmy early youth, JJroamlnjj that love was a deathless truth. I? joining its bliss would be mine, forsooth. In those halcyon days of yore.

Only an Idle stroll On the flower-besprinkled gross, VVhoro children In froliosome mood are at

lanooen£happy, and bright^™ they as they oull wild blossoms andflow rots gay, Making me smile as I pas*

Only an idle stroll 1 But to-night, aa I linger hero, I ltet to tt voice that is sweet to me. A voice ihat la dulclag my heart with glee. Ah! it should be a passing phantasy. The face and the form that are near.

But there's light in her laughing eye* A smile on her.fair young "C». A strange, sweet epell in her very name, Tho' it speaks of an early bafltai aim 1c bears an enchantment to me the same, Enshrinod in my soul's embraCß.

And as we meander on Beneath the majestic trees, I Hat to the warblers that flit and movo 'Miti the leafy branches and houghs above, And recall the dream of my Dorian love In a war that cannot displease.

Ah me ! such a night aa this Bridges over a lapse of years These golden moments with gladness rile Make mo half forget the remorseless strife, The wii» and gloom of my joylcaa me, "The Borrow too deep for tears.

The light In her soft blue eyes Hcri^-bS^l » yd Btemptthem not Though sacred indeed la this sylvan root. For a Nemesis shadows my present lot, As It did In my earlier days.

The star*, like angels' eyes, Look do wn from their dome of blue, And moonbeams rare glinting athwart the Theiongsters are silen^but on the brecs) With its weird myßterlous harmonies Her voice I am listening^ Hußßy<

HelenßvlUe.

AT THE ORGAN RECITAL.

The Conversation of Two Young so.

doty Ladies,

Miss Sealskin-Oh, these seats are lovely ! Miss Sable-Aren't they? We can see full t*, hall is ! Mias Sable-Oh, yes ; it's the thing, you ""mUi's Sealskin-Yes; I was awfully aorry I didn't come down to the farefc one. I dined at the EUiott'a last night, and they were all talking about it.. . MissSable-I see lota of people who'll be at the Oadtfßllader daDce to night; so you 11 bßML r!|ea\ B kin-Ye,, indeed! Bain, hail and frost couldn't have kept me away MißßeSable — There's Maud Me^otone. She goeu in for music, you know, and shown regularly at all these places. Miss Sealekin-And can't sing.or play a n°Mi ea Sable-O.no, indeed! 1 •««»*» ' going on the other evening to this very fame organist who » playing now She said: "I never play. 1 appreciate the lofty genius of the old masters far too much to attempt, in my feeble way. to interpret them." It was too touching to hear her. Miss Sealskin—What a humbug she ia! Miss Sable-Oh, frightful! Mias Sealskin-Oh, dear, lishall split my glovo if I applaud any harder. It wm a lovely thing, though. Miss SaDle—Tuet too sweet. Which is it on the programme? ~. , Misa Sealskin-The aecond, I think. Thia " Fugue " of Bach'e. Mias Sablo-Ob, yes. I do bo enjoy B Mtes Sealskin-So do I. What a funny looking person thiß pianist is. Miss ! Do look at his a Misa Sealskin—He ia not a bit swell, ia °MUa Sable—Yes, indeed !Do you re member Professor Capo ? Mias Sealskin—Ob, yes! Waant he IOMiL? Sable-Perfectly ao! Such ex quisite teeth! ,"':', Miss Sealskin—How long do yon sup pose this wretched creature is going to ' Miss Sable —I'm sure I don't know. Have you got any nougat? Mies Sable—Yea; but dare we eat itt It's awfully vulgar to munch here. Miss Sable — Put some in my muff and I'll manage it with my handker chief. Mica Sealßkin — I'm just dying for gome. Mies Sable—lt's awfully good. I just dote on almond nougat. Misa Sealskin-So do I. There, he is done at last. Why, how they do applaud. He must have played Bomething. Miss Sable —Let's see —oh, it's this

'• variation " of Beethoven's Miss Sealßkin—No ; we were wrong be fore. That other piece wasn't the " Fugue." It was thab LUzt'a "arrangement," and this ia the " Symphonic." Miaa Sable— Oh, yes; I do believe thin will be a recall. Miss Sealßkin—lt looks like it. There, I cannot clap any more. Miss Sable—He's coming back. Don't look novr, but Jack Meredith- is directly across the hall from us.

Miss Sealskin —Is he? Who's with him ?

Miss Sable—A man I don't know—swell, too.

Miss Sealskin—All Jack's friends are swells. Miss Sable—He's awfully nice, too, I think. Did you ever notice what; lovely ties he wears ?

Mies Sealskin—Yes; and what a lovely bow he makes. I juat love to meet him on the avenue. ..• ; • ,

Miss Sable—He's talking to MrsDeTwil lenham. .

Miss Sealskin—l don't see how he can. I think her'aira are detestable.

Miss Sable—So do I; but then you know Bhe's a De Twillenham.

Misa Sealskin—Yea, I know. She has begun her afternoons, you know. Miss Sable - Oh, yea, indeed ! We have cards. I shall show at about the third.

Miss Sealskin — Mamma . has put the second down on her tablets, but I think 111 tako the third too.

Miss Sable—lt's apt to be the most suc cessful. Do look at that Robinson girl trying to catch her eye. Mies Sealskin —She toadies fearfully. Quick ! Mrs De Twillenham is looking this way. There! I'm awfully glad she bowed. See, the crowd all around her are looking to see who it was she recog nised. ■

Misa Sable—The Robinsons will be cold with envy. Miss Sealskin—She ought to be. Such crowding and pushing as ehe is making ought not to be encouraged. MUb Sable—Yes, they're awfully common. Nell Gadabout said ehe took in one of their dinners and they had glass stoppers ip the carafes. Fancy decanted water 1

Mies Sealskin —Isn't that too absurd ? Miss Sable—Ob, here is the basso. Miss Sealskin—Rather good-looking, isn't he?

Miss Sable —Rather. I don't admire that sort of man, though. Mercy, what a voice! Misa Sealskin—Down in hie boots,! should say.

Miss Sable—What is he (singing? Oh, :rom the " Messiah." I hate oratorios.

Miss Sealskin- So do I. They're too awfully severe, I think. Miss Sable—Frightful. There's only one thing more. Let's go after this. Miss Sealskin—Very well. Mrs de Twil lenham is putting her wrap on. Miss Sable -Yes; and Jack Meredith has taken his hat. Miss Sealskin—We'll just about meet them in the lobby. .

Miss Sable—Oh, my dear Mrs de Twil lenbam, how do you do J Good afternoon, Mr Meredith. Hasn't this been a charming hour ?

Miss Sealskin—So restfnl and soothing. I have been in a perfect trance of dreamy enjoyment. '•

There are sixtoon United States Senators who. favour woman's rights. That ie knowing that there Was no earthly chance for a bill to pass, they put themselves on record as voting for it. Ate not some oi our New Zealand legislators tarred with th§ (jamest}ok? '-' ~ \"

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 18S7.

3



Post Card Proof. Salisbury. Tknn., April 1,1383. Gents :—I was amioted with tsorioui Kidney and Urinary trouble for twelve years. After tryiof? all the dootnra and patent mpdfcinos I oould hear of, I used two bottles of Hop Bittera and am perfectly cured. a F . Boom Washington, D.C., April 3,1583. So the Hop Bitters Co.: Sirs:—l write this as a token of the grea appreciation I have for your Bittera. I wai nfflictod with Inflammatory Rheumatism sevei years, and no medicine seemed to do me an] eood until I tried three bottles of /our Hoi Bitterß, and to my surpriso I am as well to-da] aa over I was. I hopo you may have great suo cesa In this great and valuable medicine. Any one wishing to know more about mj cure, cai learn by addressing me. E. M. WILLIAMS, 1103.18 th Bk Prosecute the Swindlers!! It when you call for American Hop Bitters Isee green twig of Ho-as on the white labei and Ef. Soule'3 name blown, in the bottle), the van iftV hands out Bnyth'nf? but American Hop K..ters, refuse It aart ehua that voncor as yon would a viper: and if he has taken your money tor anything dac, indict him *or the fretifi fcr.<j sno him for cnnißP'os for tho '<TTinfll3, nui we WIU V*T /o° Ulmridly tor -•*•> oomrtotton. English and American engineers com , plain of the conditions of the New South I Wales locomotive contract, which practi- I cally precludes them from competing.