THE EDITOR'S DRAWER

Condensed Correspondence.

•"Si'AKKtmBTBKE,"—A correspondent, Writ-fl ■ing undor this vom rfc plum", makcß ani appeal to tho Auckland Councillors not to' cut down any moro trceii in tlio 6trcOta. '.

Amatf.i-u Orsß?. Glut..--" Enthusiast "< would liko to 'know if tho Auckland Ama tour Opera Club is disbandod. He thinks that aftor tho excellent production cf " Los Cloches," instead ofvesting upon their oars, or dying a natural doath affcoY- such a bril liant and apparently successful start, their; zeal should havo received encouracement, I and, fired with furtftur ambition, they ought 'j to bo ablo by now to place another opera beforo a most appreciative audience.

St. John's AniiirLAN-pis RdcinTv.—W. E. Browne writes approving of tho suggestion to form a branch oC this Socioty in Auck land, and also in. outlying districts, where modical aid in case of accident is often diflicult to obtain. Ho adds:—"Some four yoars since, when the Hastings branch was founded, Lady Braesey took a tttost lively interest in its establishment; in fact, quite, took tho lead. Now that lady Brassey may ehortly be expected amongst us, would it not bo a graceful act to request her to. inaugurate such a Society here? But v.ho will set the stone rolling ?''

A Saw. Strec.E.sTioN.—"Three Lamps," writing v,Uh refevenc6 to the now Pousohby .osorroir, says:—"l would suggest that tho S«.uic bo not further gono on with, but Tatli.er that it be converted into a Paddy's Market, for which the style of building, position, and close proximity to the majority of the working classes mako it very suit able Tho rent from E.Vno would be a good sourco of revenuo, and no loss of lifo would ba entailed."

Entouraok Local Industry.—Writing on the subject of freo trad., ,v AdVanc6 New Zealand" says:—"lt is folly to talk of goods boing cheap unless the labour can bo got to earn cash to buy thorn. Every pound paid {or imported goods means at toast twelve shillings sent away to benefit t.ho workmen of othor countrios whilo ours aro idle Would it not bo better to pay two shillings extra duty, and get tho other ton in labour, than starve ? Then no complaint would bo hoard from cur farmers, und tho •Incr_n?_d prices would moro than compen sate them for tho extra cost of tho fow things they havo to purchase ; and in a fow yoars local competition would reduce prices to le;s than is now paid for imported articles. As long aa our population is idlo, and wo continue to import what can bo pro -duco<i hero, so long will tho country con tioiso to bo impoverished, till repudiation c.mes to the rescue. Working men of New Zealand, you hold the key of tho position drop your absurd prejudices against colonial productions, rosolvo to give thorn a fair trial, and not to purchase an imported article untilyouhave proved that no colonial ones r,an bo got for a triflo extra money and equal in quality, mid tho depression will pass away—liko dew before tho rising eun. Most of you know that it is easier to pay oi for goods when fully employed, than Is when only working hali-timo. Busxn.ss men are complaining now. Why ? Bo.iuse workina men cannot earn monoy to buy theiv goods."

The Bcrhley Eiixtion. —H. R Soaly writes on this topic a long lotter, from which wo mako the following extract: — "Mr Rylands was returned at the last election, as he was too ptrong at Burnloy for the caucus which had previously sup ported him, although Mr Gladstone did his utmost te socuro tho election of hia oppo nont; and his son, Mr Horbort Gladstone, wont to Burnley and told tho electors ho had como to drive a large nail in Mr Rylands's political cofiin. Mr Chamberlain was also too strong at Birmingham for tho caucus, or, porhaps I should say, for the caucus manager, Mr Schnadhorst, who remained in Mr Gladstone's interest, and was even ad mitted to a conference on the subject in the Cabinet after Mr Gladstone's leading col leagues hod retired from it." Wo have not space for the extract from Mr John Bright's letter on the Liberal caucus.

A TOOR HUT HoN-t.ST SOMHEE,—" J. 0." writes supporting Mrßlack's protest against tho action of tho Hospital and Chari tablo Aid Board in tho caso of Jamos Hill. His letter closes thus: — "I remember, sir, that when a cortain Maori chief who had helped to slaughter hundreds of our soldiers and out-sottlors, and was tho cause of many moro being ruined, paid a visit to Auckland hundreds of pounds were spoilt in fcteing him and helping him to en joy himself ; but when ono ol tho soldiers who helped to settle our country's diffi culties lies helpless, stricken down by disease, and whoso wifo and daughters aro worn out for tho want of rest and medical attontion, and aro unable to obtain either, to theso our benevolent country turcs its back and rofußcs to give tho sufferer Hos pital room. It is a shamo, sir, and such acts as theso cannot be too severely con demned,"

Mount Ei.es Rifle Range.—"An Old Volunteer," referring to the letter from Mrs Aldis on this subject, write.:-" The question of the rifle range is in a nutshell. Are the Volunteers required ? If so, is it not necessary they should know how to uso their rifles ? To gain this knowledge is it not nccossary to havo a rifle rango easily acces sible? Was not the Mount Eden rango in existence before Mrß Aldia came to tho neighbourhood, or oven to the colony ? And asregardsMrsAldis'spictureof invalids, has not Mount Edon enjoyed the reputation of being ono of the most healthy suburbs ? Is Mrs Aldis aware that if tho range is shifted to an unreasonable distance the Volunteer force of Auckland would melt away nnd become a thing of the past? She might not care about such a result, but I doubt whether the public would bo satis fied, aa it would bo enbj6cted to the militia laws, not pleasant ones, I can assure you, as I had a taßte of them yeare ago. When David Crockett, the American politician nnd backwoodsman, went canvassing, of course he had to argue matters. To answer him his listener had to take tho quid of tobacco out of his month and throw it away. David, when leaving, presented bim with a quid larger than the one sacrificed, aud loft him no worse off. Instead of abus ing tho Volunteers, let Mrs Aldis inform the Government of a substitute,"

GOVERNMENTAL RETRENCHMENT. — On this important subject, " Quiz" writes as follows : —"Allow me through your co'utmia to make a fow suggestions to my follow colonists. (1) Do away altogether with the honorarium —or rather pension—paid to the mombers-of tha Upper Houae, who are sup posed to bo large landed proprietors and to represent the aristocracy of the colony.- (2) Reduc-o the honorarium paid to tho members of tho Lower House to 15s per day. Total amount for each session not to exceed £7-5 (3) Discontinue tho practico of granting to members of both Houses freo passes over all tho railways. L.t them in common with the civil servants of the colony pay their passages by rail and coach, and claim a re fund from Government iv producing proper vouchers. (4) Reduce tho numbor of Ministers to two ; that will be quite suffi cient to answer questions in tho House, and to explain the views of Government. It is a well - known fact' that all details are workod up by tha undor Secretaries, who are required to coach the several Ministers, and to bo present when any do bat of importance ia going on so aa to be able to give information to their chiefs It appoars to mo that the best proof that so many Ministers are not required is that— with tho oxcoption of two, viz., Hon. Sir Kobort Stout and Hon. Joseph Tola—tho present holders of office have dono but little since Parliament was prorogued but travel about tho country, mectinir deputations, and making specious promises which they havo no intention of fulfilling. Surely it if iho duty of the members for the different districts to .find out tho roquiremonts of their constituents and represent them t-i Ministers. In one department especially wo find tbe Minister, his Private Secretary, and his Under Secretary, travelling all over tlio country, and simply doing tho work which oufht to ba entrusted to tho paid agents of the department. I throw out these fow suggestions for consideration, and hope that when Sir Robert Stout in troduces his now Representation Bill ho will accompany it, as he did in tho caso of a bill last seßfion, with an elaborate statement of the iniquity of the presont system of go vernment, and suggestions how a very con Biderable saving can bo effected. Another item in expenditure might be altogether saved,viz ,tha Miniateiial resideneee in Wel lington. Why should the colony be taxed to provide furnished houses for Ministers in addition to £1,250 per annum salary and travelling expenses ?

Factoby Acts in New Zealand.-On thia subject, " Pro Bodo Publico " writes : —" I believe it is tbe law of thia coun try—and a very good law, too—that all em ployers of labour shall post up in their fac tories and workrooms a time-table of work ing hours, and that the authorities shall see that the employes only work the hours as stated—more particularly in the cases where

boys and girls are employed. Granted that some are willing to worl- after hours to obligo thoir masters, and is all very woll so tar as it goes, but if this is allowed, by and by it will bo made t compulsory to work at 'tho plca>u<ro of maa'tors and mistresses, and, as a natural result, in many places the wel come Saturday half-holiday will bo done away with. Knowing as we do tho groat boon derived from tho enforcement of tho Factories Act in England by tho working classes, we, and especially those who do not earn thoir livelihood by hard mauual labour, should be slow to hasten tho time when the hours of daily toil shall be increased."

Tuk Rifle Range. -"Eden" writes: "In tho early days of railways, Sydney Smith remarked that nothine would be done to present accideuts on them until a bishop was smashed. With reference to tho rifle rango at Mount Edon, which is now both a nuisance and a danger to many, it would eeem that a catastrophe is boing waitod for. Already a University profes sor has (not been killed outright, but has) had his peace of mind seriously broken up. Is it absolutely necessary that some valuable citizen shall bo destroyed to em phasize tho necessity for removing marks men to some place whero thoy may be both useful and harmless I When the range was constructed, many years a .o, it was well suited for its purposo at a moderate distance from toivn, and with an all but unoccupied country to shoot into. During the last tuh years tho district has rapidly filled Up:; hundred's of houses havo beon built up and inhabited. It is only iron sanse to say that all persons living within a milo south west of tho rango are to accept it as an eternal and immovoable part of things as they are, and should move nwaj if they do not like the noiso or danger. Professor Aldis has enlarged upon the worrying nature of tho irregular dropping fire going on, which to invalids and nervous persons is so painful. The present writer has boon somotimes tempted to Bay 'Bothor.' But thero is another aspect of the matter—tho danger from stray bullots. If ono of your intelligent stall'of reporters will pay a visit to the range —say on Sun day afternoon—and make a careful examina tion, ho will find tho floor and sides to abound with, and almost consist of, baro stones and rocks for a considerable distance from tho targots. Looking closely, lio will find that almost evory stono has been well battered ; then, applying his knowledge of angles of inoidonco and reflection, ho will perceive that the upper part, of the rango is perfectly adapted for diverting bullets in overy imaginable direction, and pretty much without retarding their velocity. On ascending tho mount, and noticing the direction of the rango, ho will sco that bullets diverted to S.W. will neatly rise over tho lower slopes and drop into a district woll covered with houses and gardens. In my ground two pino tree? havo had thoir tops cut off by bullets. In ono caso the bullet was found just in tho direction through tho troo abovo indicated, and its point was fcored whore it had struck a point ot stone and had its direction tion changed. I havo hoard a bullet 'swish' through tho air across my neigh hour's ground. A cart on tho road up the mount was struck by n bullet. Several noifrbbours havo told mo they have known bullels to como into their grounds. In fact, it has for somo yoars boon evident that a riflo rango in tho midst of a popu lniiß part of tho town is, to put it mildly, an anachronism ; and although it is only tho dwellers near to it who suffer, and aro likely to suffer still moro seriously, yot it is quite a mattor to bring beforo public notice and opinion. A now and eafo sito can oisily bo found ; giving longer range, level ground, soft earth to shoot into, and perfect safety from stray bullots. As Mrs Aldis lias pointed out, the lariro proportion of men using the range do so for tho purpose of acquiring skill for carrying off prizes. This object (and the slighter ona of mere pastirao) is not of sufficient importance to justify tho conlinuod uso of tho prcsont rango, which is, I repeat, both a nuisaneo and a danger."

Coal Sdi-clv asb Railway Repokm.—A correspondent challenges tho remaik at tributed to Mr Prico Williams when speak ing at tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce on tho Biibjoct of our railways. Ho says : "Tho average passenger earnings of tho L. and A. W, Railway is ahout l>. 10d per train mile run ; consequently to oarr, their present revenue ac ono-oighth of a penny por passenger por milo thoy would require to carry a constant load of Uoli pas fongors per train : that is, I consider a rcduclio ad absurdum. Again, whore aro the boundless, tho inexhaustible supplioa of coal in Now Zealand . Certainly not in tho North Island. I have trudged, tramped froc: near Tanranga, Cambridge and Hamil ton to the Bay of Islands in search of coal, and havo failed to find any except in patches. Mr Price Williams says that when tho sun of England has set, than that of No k Zealand will bo in its zenith. Yes, it will bo then, but not till then."

Waitemata BuinnE.— "Timely Hint" writes: " Whon reading your report of Major-General Sir G. Whitmoro's con ference with the Volunteer officers of tho district, I was particularly struck with tbe necessity that exists for a bridgo to span the harbour. It ever such circum stances do oventuate as thoEO to which Sir Georgo alluded, tho cost of ferry lee would receive but little consideration ; but even then, sir, the transport of troops by moans of ferry boats would bo a very im perfect scheme It U hard to say what strategy might have to bo resorted to in our harbour, and then to cross in such closo proximity to tho batteries would render water transport moro or lees vul nerable, especially in the caso of a retreat, whore the batteries would bo in actual conflict with an enemy, whereas by moans of a bridge, somewhere about Northcote (as often hinted at before), troops might bo advanced or retired at pleasure out of tho line of fire, and without the confusion and disorder of shipping and unshipping such freight as civalry cr artillory."

Maori Claims to Northebn Lands — Sydney D. Taiwhanga writes : " Will you kindly permit me to insert in your valuable paper the names of the blocks which I pro test against tho village settlement scheme nt Mr London's meeting in tho Excelsior Hall on tho 16th mat. : The names aro aa follows: — Taka huo (Nos. 1 and 2), One, Ngapipito, Okaka, Whakarongorua, Te Uwhiroa, Toka whero, Mangakino, Pukohuia, Waitapa, Waipoua, To Puhata, Manganui, Marunui, Waipapa, Okahu, Awhetua, Putumakautu, Arakioro, Opauteke, Waerc kabakaha, Pekepekarau, Kaitaia, Toun gako, Popurona, Kairara, Whangaruru, Parahaki, Karuhiruhi, Tauwni, Hukerenui, To Papa, Pungaere, Wairua, Puma, Mngwunowao, Tangihua, Ngatahuna, Te Wharau, Murmotu, Ola, Waihoanga (Nos 1 and 2), To Tauroa, Orohaua, Epakauri, Opuhuti, Untihia. Waoku (Nos. 1 aud 2), Waitapu, Te Huia, Wai matanui, Tauhoa, Wharoro, N.atuaka, Panowhonua. Wairau, Tarairo, To Patoa, Tautehoro, Waitaroto, Opuheto, Nuhaka, Pakiri, Tautoro, Piitumutumu.Mokau.Awa ru, Tukuwbonua, Tunapohopohe, Mataki, Omahuta, Te Katote, To Whau, Te Mataa, Mangowhoro, Owataroa, Rakauwahi, Puko wbarariki No. 1 and No. 2, Arawbatatotara, Aikura, Punakitere, To JBoro, Aukumoroa, To Tihitihi, Wainamaku, One No. 2, Okorlhi, Omauta, Pukanae No 1. and No. 2, Kanaoo, Ruahino Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Ota ngaroa Nob. 1, 2, 3 and _, Mangataraire, Ta Huehue and Herekino. All situated in the North of Auckland, containing an area of over six hundred thousand acroß." Tho writer goes on to say : " And now, as regards tho amount wo are willing to accept (at present), that is before tho next session of Parliament, tho sum of £20,000 as full compensation incurred in coin? to and fro, in order to plead before Parliament for compensation or restoration of theso lands. If this is not granted by tho Government, we will be compelled to take legal action, and as a teßt ease proceed against ono of the occupiers of Tangihua, Punakitere, or Taheke blocks."

South Australian Wheat Harvest.

The returns of tha wheat harvest of South Australia show a net increase of 20,000 acres in tho area under cultivation. Tho total area is 1,970,000 acres, yielding 10 835,000 bushels, or 5 bushels 3llb por acre. After deducting 2,000.000 bushels for seed and 1,732,500 bushels for food, tho surplus for export is estimated at 7,103.500 bushels, or 193,000 tons for shipping. This is 115.000 tons more than last year's exports, but 130,000 tons leas than in 18S5. The two laßt eesaons together did not yield as much as ISB-1-85 by 50,0"0 tons. If each of the past two seasons had been equal to that of ISS4 85 tha colony would have been richer by four and a half millions sterling. Tho southeast has tho bo»t average. Somo of the yields aro reported as high as •10 bufhels of whe-it ; but ihe general average is between 18 and 20 bushels. In some favoured spots in the northern areas the crops have yielded from 10 to 26 bushels, while the average of several dis tricts is given at from 8 to 10 bushels.

Tree Trade v. Protection.

By H.W.T.

In the article reprinted by you in your issue of the 15th inst. on tho vital importance of employment for our population, you say truthfully that "it is a mattor of life and doath to Now Zealand to keep her popula tion horo, and well employed, and in order to do so tho demand for extra duty to on courago particular branches of industry must bo concodod. There is no doubt about that; but in carrying out such a policy we do not hold with Sir Julius Vosjol that small increases of duty will sullico, Theeo merely take so much moro out of tho pockets of the poople with out benofiting industry. When a duty is imp3sed avowedly for Protective purposes it should bo of such n substantial character as will accomplish the object for which it is sanctioned, and not como ns a cunningly devised schomo to increase taxation and swoll a falling revenue." I commend to tho thoughtful considera tion of overy woll wishor of the bright and fertilo land we live in—now unhappily over shadowed by a cloud of doprossion of which no man can soe tho ond—tho following as a recent view of Protective and Freo Trado policies in colonies side by side ; no guessing or imagining—but results—things as they are. Can anyone not prejudiced or wil fully blind fail to sco which colony is in the rijriit line ? I

Extract from tho Spcoch of tho Hon J. P. Garvan, Minister of Justice for New South Walos at Boga.

(Reported is Sydney "Mail," January 15tii, ISS7.)

Mr G'arvau then wont largely into tho question of Protection and Free Trade as affecting the different countries, drawing frequent comparisons betweon tho Btato of Protective Victoria and Freo Trade Now South Wales, and also referring to the stato of European countries under separate tarill's. Ho quotod from a report by iho Finance Minister of Canada, show ing a vigour and improvement in trado sinco that country had embraced a Protec tive tariff, wagos having increasod over 30 per cent, moro, whllo goods woro just as chonp as undor Free Trado. Ho nlludod to tho wonderful improvement in tho United States, prosperity having come by loap* and . bounds under Brotectien. He also gavo an account of his recent visit to Moama, and showed tho striking

results of tho two tariffs. On the Victorian Bido of tho river, where thero was inferior land, ho caw a Bottled and thriving township and farms ; whilo on tho othor side, under a Free Trade tariff, tho country, although bettor and with a larger scopo, was unaottled and lan guishing, for tho reason that the Victorian farmers sent their produco into our colony froo of duty, and hid tho whole of tho market; but, our farmors had to pay duty in sending their produco on tho othor side of tho rivor, und thorofote farmers going to that part preferred to sottlo in tho othor colony, Ho found that proportionally there woro Hix farms in Victoria aa against ono in Now South Wales. Vic toria had boon hold up as a shocking ox amplo cf Viotcction, but thia colony (Nun- South Wales) with greater resources was in a worso condition with all its inherent sources of wealth and larger area, her coal ond mineral resources which Victoria had not. Tho accumulated savincs in oach colony wore an indication of tho woalth and progress tinder tho distinct tariflV, oach with a population of a million. Take tho savings indicated by tlio deposits as shown in tho difloront banking returns. Now South Woloa had £27,100,000, whilo Vic toria on tho same date had £81,861,000, showing a great balan,co por head in favour of tho latter colony."

Thus Mr Garvan, on his own colony of Now South Walos and the adjoining ono of Victoria: Whilo on tho subjoct of the bank pavings, I see tho balance to credit of depositors in tho Now Zealand Post OHico Savings Bank shows a curtailmentof £'21,011 12s during tho last year—anothor sign of tho timos. I appeal to ovory truohoartod colonist in Now Zealand, and especially every artisan and mechanic, to no in hoart and eoul for a Protective tariff. I would oven appeal to tho importers hero to do tho same, although at first sight 1 may be thought Quixotic. Cannot all sao—im porters and merchants, as woll as working mon—that if nil woro in omp.oyment all busine?s would bo bettor ? Aro thorc no importin. houses in Victoria, with all hor Protoctivo tariff? Go to Melbourne and sec. I beliove importer? and morchants would bo in a hotter position by 50 per cent, had wo a Protective tariff than thoy are

now, for thoy would havo as customers a wollempli-.yod and prosperous community, who would have tho means of buying twice, ayo thrice, tho amount they do now. Tho merchants would still imnort as they still do in the United States, Canada and Vic toria, but it would be those things which cannot, from a varioty of causes, bo mado at a paying prico hero. I placo beforo your roadoiflthe following reaeona for a protective tariff in Now Zealand :—

1. Bocauso forovery manufactured article imported instead of mado in New Zealand you aro sending away money to employ artisans in other countries instead of keep-

ing tho cash hero to employ your own pooplo. 2. Bocauso America, Canada, Victoria, Germany, Franco, &c, havo proved cloarly tho wisdom of fostering what wore at first insignificant industries by high Proteotivo tariffs, whilst Now Zealand allows them to laud all thoir surplus goods free of duty or only lightly taxed. Vet wore a Now Zealand manufacturer to mako a threshing machino or other pieco of work, and Bond it to San Francisco or Now York, oreventoMolbourno, he would not bo allowed to land it without paying twenty, thirty or thirty-five per cent, duty on it. Is this a fair position for our artisans or manufac turers, or can any branch of industry ad vance in New Zealand under such astato of things ? 3. Because nil our industries aro at tho lowoet ebb. Engineers, boilor-makers, saw mills, cabinet-maker., and. indeed, all in dustrial branches aro nearly at a standstill, shops half employed and numbers of arti- Bans walking about or employed on relief works.

i. Because mechanic of all descriptions are brought to New Zealand by Govern ment nnd assisted emigration, paid for by taxation out of the pockets of Now Zealand settlers, and finding no opening bore, clear

out many of thorn who cau to Victoria und other countries.

5. Because you must soo that in tho nature of things without a protective tariff you will have to compete with the surplus goods of America, Britain, Ger many, Boltiium, etc., often shipped hero and sold at less than thoy would bo offered lor in the place where they are made. French and German lin_s of ocoan steamers are now established, running to Molbonrno

and Sydney, with already a branch boat to the islands, and as they aro heavily subsidised by their respective Govorn-

ments, and will be assisted every way, they will have every facility for introducing choap wares into any of tho colonies that aro simple enough to leave them free of tho Protective tariff.

G. Because America has, by a high Pro tective tariff, established immenso indus tries within a comparatively short time, which now not only supply cheaply their own demands—whilst at tha samo time em ploying hor people—but are competing in China, Japan and othor places with Britain in tho supply of woven goods and ether tbings, and, indoed, can land somo kinds of wovon fabrics at 1 iverpool as cheap as thoy can l->o made in Manchester.

7 BocauaeCanada tried Free Trado for years alongaide tbo Protective tariff of tho United States, and finding hor industries woro being completely cru«hed out (liko those in Now Zealand at tho present timo), was absolutely compelled to adopt Ike the States a Protective tarifi, under which Canada is flourishing and prosperous, em ploying her own people whilst manufac turing- her own material.

8. Because Victoria—the most progressive colony in th? Southern Seas— has proved tho immense benefit to her working people of a high Protective tariff which sbestill keop* up. The result of Protection thero has baen to start flourishing industries, and Bhe will be shortly, if not now, entirely indepen dent of outside supplies for many of her manufactured goods, although she is heavily handicapped by there being no coal so far discovered within her borders. An order for one thousand goods waggons for the Victorian Railways is now being executed there. I sea Hudson Bros, of Sydney have tendered for 250 of them, bur, the Victorian Government have made it a condition that the work shall be ' done in Victoria, and Messrs Hnlson aro consequently about to put up sheds at VVillia_i«town for tho purpose. Tho Phccoix Foundry at E'lllarafc are also making twenty locomotives for tha Viotorim lines, tbe Victorian railways showing a large increase of revenue. 9. BecaußeNew Zealand ia peculiarly adapted for a Protective tariff. We have abundance of

raw material in our own bordors-co.il, timber, iron, gum, gold, silver, &c. —only lyinc waiting for dovolopmont. Fellow colonists of New Zoaland, be not i led away with tho cry of " buying in tho i cheapest market." Just think what it ro ' suits in to you. Undor a Protective tariff tho competition between local makers I would make things as cheap aa beforo, with this important difference—that tho goods would bo manufactured and the monoy paid for their making ,in tho colony. Self-pre servation is tho first law of nature. All re cent events in connection with Protection show conclusively that tho question ia rapidly pissing irom the men of theory to tho mon of practice Experience teaches fools. Whon there is no work and tho cupboard is empty, men begin to try and find out tho reason why ; and Canada, Victoria, and America havo sottled the question on a Protective basis. Aro they all fools ? Look at the results in oach country for an nnswor 1 A great struggle (by no moans sottled, aa all agree) is now going on in New South Wales on tho samo quostion, tho New South Walos working classes wishing to know how, if Protection is so bad, it has landed Victoria with a largo increase of revenue, whilst Now Siuth Wales, after twenty yoars of Froo Trado, has landed with a deficit of nour throo millions. A recent speaker in Now South Wales (Mr E W. Sulivan) has stated " that New South Wales has tried Free Trade for over twenty yoars, and tho result has been te mako tho greater- portion of tho colony a sheep walk." Remember that oven tho oft ba-prai.o I low prices aro not always to tho advantage of tho community. In tho eirly days of tho Otago goldrields, we paid three shillings for v pound of ham, und sixpence for an eg., yet wo thought nothing of it. Why? Because wo were all in employ aud earning good monoy, and it was a loss effort to pay that price then than it is now to pay a third of the money, What is the use of cheap imported goods to us if we are out of work and not able to buy them, cheap as thoy may bo? What is to be come of our boys (oven if wo do marry them to our girls) ? They can't all bo farmers, and what is tho uso of a boy learning a trade if thore is no work at it ? Cheap goods may placo you in tho posi tion of an Irish lad. 1 knew somo yoars back, who whooling a bag of potatoo3 that hud cost in Auckland (whoro ho was) somosovon shillings, said to me," Many a bag like that I bought in tho Old Country for eighteen ponce,"'and to my quostion, "Woll, Tim, why did you leave?" answered, " Becuuso I could not raise tho eighteonponco to buy it with." Wo nro oppressor! by taxation becaueo our people aro fow in numbers -unomployod und non-producing. Lat us at all coats get all mado in tho colony that can bo mado, in placo of, as now, importing it. Let us got our industries undorwoigh, and all hands omployod, a good homo market (tho most advantageous mnrkot tho farmers can havo) for the settlers' produco, nnd then lot tho Government tax us for im provements, public works, otc , nnd wo shall never fool it. Yon can take any amount out of a full sack—nothing out of an empty ono, and tho colony at presont re presents tho empty ono. Lot my follow colonists who believe in tlio foregoing facts vote only for members who will pledge themselves to carry out a Protective policy, and wo shall then sco tho yet-undeveloped resources of this truly favoured, though oppressed land, brought out to maintain a largo anil prosperous population.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

The Wreck of the Barque Kebroyd.

The Adolaido .underwriters have recoivoJ

n telegram from Captain Gibbon, tho surveyor, stating that ho intends to put tho stranded barque Kobroyd undor Flindor's Island for anchorage. Ho will then proceed in tho .Tosaio Darling to tho stoamor P.dmorston strandod on Secret Kock. Tho insurances on tho Palmorstoti amount to £5,000 in tho South British ; but 'ho vossol is re insured in tho Australian General for _1,U00; tho Dorwont and Tamav for i' 1,00'); tho Victoria for .C.'iOC ; National of New Zealand, _500 ; Equitable of Now Zealand, £500, Joaving £1,500 to Hio South British. Tho weather is splendid for saving the Kobroyd's cargo.

The Unemployed.

A mooting, numbering sovoral hundreds, of tho unemployed assembled insido tho Domain gates, Sydney, whon sovoral of those presont addressed the mon. It was pointed out that a groat amount of real distress existed amongst tho artisan classes, nnd it was recommended that

mmodiato steps bo takon to bring ho case boforo tho Government, As is

usual on s?uch occasions, tlio crowd included not a few of those who novor work, nnd who do not wish employment, and ono or two of those seemed to bo in favour of ad vocating extreme moans to " obtain broad." However, tlio groat majority of tho unom ployed had oviticcd but ono dosire—that of laying the case fairly beforo tho Ministers. In reply to questions, tho deputation in formed tho Premier that two of their num. bar camo from Queensland, ono from Mauritius, and ont from England. Thoy then put the case of the unemployed boforo tho Colonial Secretary, nnd asked him to consider it. It was stated that many of those tboy represented woro in great dis tress. Somo had not tasted food for -IS hours.

Sir Henry I'arkos.in reply, said that as to those persons who woro actually wanting food, of course soinothiug must be dono im mediately, and, fortunately, thoro was a Cabinet Council to assomblo in 10 minutes, when he would bring tho mattor beforo tho notice of his colleagues. Tho only thing thoy could do was to try to get things into such a state that labour would bo in demand. He was sure that thoro woro cases of distress, because ho had taken pains to ascertain. But ho need hardly toll tbe deputation what they as sensible men must kuow, that a body of unomployod persona

was always swelled by people who nevor worked. He did not say that the deputa tion belonged to that class. But still thoy existed, 113 no doubt thoy had found out. Well, so far as tho ca«eß of real distress re quiring immediate aid wore concerned ho would bring tho matter beforo tho Cabinet within the noxt half-hour, and anything that could bo dono should bo done, and in structions »hould be given to deal with theso casoi at once, and stops would also bo taken to find work without dolay.

The Case Against Neil Peter Sorensen.

The following latter has been addressed to tho " Courier " by Charles Leslie, dated Bloomliold, 16th February :—".l notiuo in your iseuo of tho Sth instant a letter Bignod ' Thomas Woitmoyer,' asking lo know my reaaons for wishing tho release of Noil Peter Sorensen. 1 have great pleasure in complying with bia request. My first reason is that it never wa? my intention to appear against Sorensen on any chargo, but simply to havo taken a civil action against him for daraa.es, and I told tho Police Magistrate at Brisbane and Judgo Mem also the samo. I may also mention that Thomson, who is now in Woogaroo Asylum, and Mr Milman, late police magistrate at Cooktown, wore the sole causo of my being brought to give any evi dence against Soreneon en a criminal chargo. Thomson in tho first placo sworo an infor mation against Sorensen before Mr Milman, and the latter gentleman by intimidation induced mo to givo tho ovideneo which I did, and it ia my earnest wish and dosire to see Soronson liberated, for, as I havo stated boforo, I consider hiß eentoneo was unjust."

The French in the New Hebrides.

Tho Government agent on tho labour schooner Helena, which ia now at Bunda berg, Queensland, has addressed a letter to tho immigration ngont there, contain ing the following intelligence which was ascertained by him ro the movements of the French in the New Hebrides: " When in Port Sandwich on December 9th, the French officora told him that thoy were about to oroct forts for the protection of tho port, one at North Head, one at tho ond of tho harbour facing the entrance, and one near the company's store ; also that the number of soldiers was to bo increased to 220, and that new barracks were to bo built. Whilst in Uroparapara on January Sth tho natives reported that men from a French warship had pegged off land near the entrance to the harbour on both sides of the Heads, on which it was said they intended to eroct small bitteries. while 1! at Port' Olroy tlv3 French despatch vessel Guichen citns to an nnnhnra.o and landed a white mis-ienary priest "110 boarded tho Guichen,and way. told by the cominandor that they had three days previously landed three other priests, namely, two at Mahe, in Villa Harbour, Sandwich, and one on private property at Proctor's Bay, which has, or will bo. bought by the Wesleyan Missionary body."

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

(FIIOM Ollli. LIJ.NUON CoKUIiS.ONDENT.)

Lonhon, January 7, Mr Froudo Visits West Indies.

1 Mv Fbouoe is so woll satisfied with the i result of his trip to " Oceana" that ho I moans to "do " tho West Indies in similar ■ style, and sails almost at onco for Cuba. Tho proposal put forward by tho 1 " Timos '' that tho women of tho Empire ' should presont a jubileo testimonial to tho Queen has been warmly aDproved by all ' sorts and conditions of fomales, and will doubtless be actively takon up in tho colo nios, if timo permits. As a woman, Her Mujoßty has always Fet a bright oxamplo, whilst as a ruler sho has at least proved superior to many masculine predecessors. A Novel Lawsuit. A somewhat nov-61 lawsuit will keep a goodly numbor of barristers busy noxt month, and givo tho club " flanours " a nice now scandalto gossip about. Whon a cer tain noble lord diod somotimo back 'twas found he owod largo sums of money for "bijouterie" of a costly character to various London jowollorß. As tho deceased peer had always posed as ;> very staid and serious person, the executors naturally as sumed the ornaments must have boon given to his wifo. Her ladyship, however, knew nothing about them, and was as disagree ably surprised by tho bills as the executors. Inquiries wore sot on foot, and in duo course resulted in thotracingoficost oftheriiigs and bracelets to certain fair but frail demoiselles. Ono valuable diamond necklace, worth, it was said, closa on £10,000, could not be discovered. Detectives hunted high and lov.-, but where tho docoasod peer took it after loaviog the Bond-strott jowollor'B they failed to ascertain. Por a time the tradesman's claim was protested by tho ex ecutors, but at length tho partios arrived at a mutual compromise and tho affair droppod. Tho mystery is now, 'tis said, to bo cleared up by a lawsuit which a pretty and popular actress is going to bring against a firm to whom alio entrusted a priceless diamond necklace. Thoy sold it at what they allego was a fair price. Tho lady denies giving them authority to part with it, and claim's damages. •'.Truth's" Home made Toy Exhibition. "Truth's" annual exhibition of hnrao made toys for tho hospitals and workhouses is becoming quito a feature of tho anti- Christmas season. Last Saturday and Monday, rank and fashion flocked in such substantial crowds to Willis's Rooms (where tho show was hold, instead of, ns heretofore, nt Limmor's) thnt tho Cerberus who demands your card had several times to refuso admittance till tho throng insido thiunod. Tho toys scorned to rro more numorous and ingenious than evor. A pyramid of good new sixpences (sent by tho generous donor who supplied a similar treat last year) (tanked ono of thu tables, which was also sur mounted by a gigantic practical windmill, worked from behind by a handle. A model of a village fair, containing over 10(1 little figures, attracted a lot of attention, and somo boautifully-drossod mtrveilleuse dolls secured tho first prize. A Master Schlizzi (yo gods, what a name !) sent 100 scrap books made up by himself, and some thoughtful lady, mindful of tho old folks in the workhouses, had forwarded an immense gilded cono composed ot neatly-packed screws of tobacco and packets of snuff. Has the word competition mania reached your ond of the world yet? A perfect rago for gambling through theso modiums foems to have so zed a section of socioty. Un questionably some of tho promoters mako ruthor a good thing out of thoir puzzles. A young fellow who came up from London with mo in Iho same carriage (a lad of IS), told mo ho oilored a £2 prize for the greatest numbor of words out uf " abstinence," en trance one shilling. Over 100 persons coin pctcd, so that (hat ho trousered. Nuttall's is invariably tho dictionary gone by in theso competitions. Masculino Fashions. Ono result of tho present "seasonable" weather has boen an eruption of fur coats. A few years ago it was considered tho hoiglit of snobbishness for anyonoundor tho ago of ."i0 and tho rank of a duko to wear such a thing ; now, no gonuino " mashor " is complete without one. lniorncss capos, t, >o, which wont wholly out of fashion for many yoars, aro again tho rago. At first men merely had them in black cloth lined with silk, for wealing over dross clothes ; but since the cold set in, 1 havo scon thorn in all sorts of materials. Tho ulster overcoats of tho period have small caposattachedto tho sLo ildvr. ,and very well they look, especially on big men. Tho next masher craza will, 'tis slid, tako tho form of " pink " swallow tails, and vests mado of tho sumo material and colour as hunting coats. Tlio /< itiiesse done ol Paris already wear them with knoo-brooclios and black silk stockings, and tlio Princo of Wales (ac cording to tailoring report) is favourably inclined to tha novelty as an iniprvotnent on tho ordinary " pink" worn at hunt balls. Fashions tn Precious Stones. Tho latest novultios in jowellory aro pink " catsoyos," very rare and valuablo stones, which make up into exquisite dress studs. Talking of dross studs reminds mo that thero again fashion lias retrograded. Two years ago n singlostud in tho centre of your dress shirt was dc rigetir, now it would look Hebraic and vulgar. .lows and racing men used, in point of fact, to wear such leviathan diamond or opal and diamond centre pieces that even tlio " mashers" got disgusted, and rushed to an opposite ex treme. This winter two tiny little pearl or catseye studs in the dro-s shirt are tho " chic" thing, and, what is batter, in excel lent tasto. Kubics arc, just, at present, tho most valuable precious stones in the market. At a llegont-street emporium last week I was shown "0 rubies intended for a necklaco for Ltidy Londonderry. Tho linn had beon IS months colloeting the stones and matching tho colours, and tho cost r.f the parure would, thoy said, approach 2,000 guineas. Vordi's "Otollo."-.C10 for a Stall. Tho chief musical event of tho early part of the coming year will bo the production of Verdi's " Otello " on a scale of unsur- ' passablo completeness at. the famous Milan Opera House of I a Scala. Peoplo are jou.neying to Italy from all parts of the world for tho occasion, and so great is tho excitement that for tho niero promise of a seat in ono of tho grand tier bnxos, a well-known London imprebsario has bad to pay £10. Vtrui stakes his reputation on the work. On the morning after tho inaugiirablo re presentation he declares ho shall decide if it pleases him or not. If tho opora suc ceeds it will i-o given to tho world; if it fails tho score will bo promptly put in tho firo Those who have heard tho veteran com poser hum over portions of this opus nil"' with tho piano prophosy oven a greater triumph thau "Aida" for "Otello." Thny are in Terror lest somo casualty at the premiere should load the crochetty old fellow to carry out his threat of destroying the score. One of hie most popular works, it is remembered, failed totally on tho occa sion of its production. This was tho world famous " Traviata." Verdi could not attend rehearsals, and the part of tho frail and consumptive Marguerite was played by a sixteon stono prima donna, who converted the dying econo into a burlesque, well nigh smothering tho tenor whenever pho foil upon him. Tlio audience roarod with laughter, and tho opera was damnerl. Nowadays, of courso, the "Traviata," with Patti ac fair and frail horoino, is far tho biggest draw in tho repertoire of Italian Opora. Christmas Theatricals;. Sotting asido pantomimes and burlesques, tho chief event of tho Christmas theatrical poason, which commences to-night, will be Mr H. A. Jones's five-act drama "Tho Noblo Vagabond," at tho Princesses. It is in thirteen scones, mostly representing country life, such no turnpike roads, old inns, tho squire's mansion, tho park lodge, Ac , &c. Ono of the most novel, and, it in to bo hoped, amusing tableaux will repro duce "Maplobury Mop," an old English statute fair with all its frolic and license Dashing Charlos Warner plays the hero, supported by George Barrett as villain and tho new beauty Dorothy Done, tho lovely daughter of tho Squire of Maplobury and tha heroine. The fatal reputation for bad luck which attaches (only too justly) to tho Opera Comique has killed "Our Diva," a really humourous and melodious comic opera, which ran for a twelvemonth in Paris, and would have drawn all London to tho Avenue or Comedy Theatre. There is money in this piece still, just as, there was in "Falka," which had a three years' run ia r,he provinces, though damned by an un lucky combination of circumstances inth', inctrnptili*. "Harbour Ughti" completes l.'io liist year of its exiilance to-nighr,. Neither this play nor " Sophia " at tho Vaudeville shows tho faintest signs of wauine popularity, but "Jim tho Ponman " at tho Haymarket will give way after Christmas to a new drama of metropolitan life by H, A. Jones. EdwarS

Toiry has initiated hia soason at tho Oiym -1 pic with fair success, "Tho Churchwarden," like most of Pinoro's comedies, exactly hits, iho taste cf after dinner theatre-goers, who want abovo everything to laugh. Mrs Oliphant's Notion of Hell. Blackwood's ".Magazine" lor January contains an article by Mrs Oliphant entitled "Tho Land of Darkness," which should be carefully avoided by norvous or over-sepsj tivo folk. Doscribod in plain language, it is nothing less than a weird attempt to picture , a poseiolo home of lost souls, and realise the pains of holl. Tho author manages to roueh on this most awful of supernatural subjects with tho same skill she showed in tho " Little Pilgrim." Tho article neither shocks tho serious nor offends against good tasto. Nevertheless, it is tho most harrow ing and subtle of imaginative studies I ever read. Literary Topics. An English edition of " Lippincott's Magazine," which has for a long time been a popular American periodical, mado its ap pearanco en New Year's Day. The most striking feature of "Lippincott's" is that instead of portions of two or moro serial stories, it contains ono complete novel, about the length of an ordinary single volume Btory. TheßO tales, which aro all by well-known authors, will never bo published in any other form. To road them one must buy tho magazine. Each novel has, how over, a separate frontispiece, aud can easily bo detached from the rest of the magazine for binding purposes, should tho purchaser desire it. The novel in the January issue is a weird, uncanny tale by Julian Hawthorne, entitled, " Sinfiro " All who carod for tho same author's "Archibald Malmaison" (published some yoars ago)3hould read it. Tho " Atlantic Monthly" during ISS7 will, in addition to Mr Marion Crawford's " Paul Putoff," contain an interesting ex periment at collaboration by Mr T. B. Aldrich (of " Marjory Daw " fame) aud Mrs Oliphant, in the form of a story entitlod ■'The Socond Son." The initial number of the now " Seribner's Magazine " has not set the Thames on firo. The " Romim-scances of the Siege and Com mutio of Paris," by Mr Waßhburno, who was United States Minister to France at the timo, aro interesting, and the contents and illustrations generally about equal the " Century's " average, but thoro is nothing specially novol or extra first-rate about the vonturo. The lines of Miss Olmc Koosc's "Broad Arrow " aro laid on almost exactly tho same basis as Marcus Clarke's well-known "His Natural Lifo," savo that in tho latter talc tho wrongly-convicted " lifer" is a woman instead of a man. Naturally, too, Mi.-s Koeso's pictures of convict lifo and convict misery aro loss lurid and intense than Mr Clarke's. Sho dwells, indeed, rathor on tho discomfort of rosidonts forced te employ convict servants, and on tho mis d .meanours of tho said domestics, than on prison lifo. Tho plot is. poorly concoivod, and tho miscarriage of justice which leads to tho heroino's lifo Bontor.ce rather im probablo, but roadora who caro to know what Van Diornon's Land was liko in tho bad old tiniuH may do worso than spend Us on " The Broad Arrow." True, " His Natural Lifo " is a far botlor novol, and costs tho sniuo price, but somo of Mr Clarke's descriptions aro rather strong meat f.ir ladies and youngsters with deli cate nerves. Porsonal and General. Frank Thornton ia back again from Aus t.ralia with pockets full of monoy and any number cf amusing Antipodean experiences. Horace Lingard produced " Capita," tho now comic opora by Lecocq, which he hopes to take on tour (with " Paika ") round tho vroild, at tho Court Theatre, Liverpool, last week. It, scorns to have boon fairly successful. "A Woman's Truth," a drama in fivo acts by your oh' friend Waller Reynolds, was produced at Nottingham Grand Theatre last week, and aftor running thero a fort night will start on tour. Mr Kinloch Cooke, who will bo remom borcd as crossing sworda with Sir Francis Uillon Bell not long ago, is busy passing through tho ureas tho final sheets of his life of Sir Potcr Scratcliley. The (.noon haß accoptcd tho photo of tho New South Walos contingont which adorned the late Exhibition. In tho "Times" of Monday, it was formally announced that .tho great Aus tralasian firm hitherto entitled P. and S. Palk (of Melbourne, Adelaide. Sydney, otc ), will henceforth consist of Mr I.'. Fulk and his son, Mr Julius David Falk, and bo known in London aa 1\ Falk and Son, and in Adolaido as P. Falk and Co. Mr Sales ifalk retires. The "Emigration Bureau" initiated the now yenr by the issuo of a comprehensive batch of carefully revised circulars, ten in numbor, and dealing with ovcry subjoct of interest to tho intending emigrant. The applications to the "Bureau" continue as r.niuorou.s us over. Mr Sydney Preston announces through '. tho "Timet)" that amongst persons for . whom lor^o suras of monoy are waiting aro Josoi h Stevens and Henry Stovons, in terested in the estate of Samuel Stovons, of j New Zealand : Henry Harrison, believed to f boa missionary in Fiji ; and the descendants of Shadrack Peck, beliovodto bo somewhere ( in New South Wales. A perfect crr.zo exists at presont amongst j magazine editors for stories by Mr Barine . Gould, tho clovor author of " Mohalah," [ "Court Royal," and "John Horring." Tho serials iii " Cornhill " and " Chambers," , I told you last month, would bo by him, ' and now it tranepircs ho hus also sold a complete novel, entitled "Tho RedSpidor," tc "Temple liar." Miss Lawless (author of "A Chelsea Householder") and Vernon Leo have boen p selected to supply the " high class''fiction for " Murray's Magazine." Tho apostle of i testhoticism's lucubration is ontitlcd , " A-mour Duro," and Miss Law-loss's "Major Lawrence, F.L S."

Recreation for the People.

(Ky Tiiii Bi:v. C. Stkonc, or the Mki.uoukne " Age '')

I have read with interest your article oa

Saturday lost on recroation for our working classes. The Biibjcct is ono woll worthy of attention. Would it not bo well if some thing corresponding to tho German Bier Garten wore adopted here? Those who have lived in Germany can appreciate the Bier Garten institution, In somo modified form it, might, perhaps, with advantage bo introduced here. Tho groat obstacle is tho difficulty where, of an ovoning or afternoon, paterfamilias and his house might spend a pleasant hour or two listening at intorvals to good; music. In public gardens thoro is a difficulty in tho way of cliar_ing entrance monoy, without which a Bier Garten cannot bo maintained very woll ; and land being, unfortunatly, porhops, in tho hands of private speculators not a foot is to bo had for such public pur poses, excopt at a largo prico If Borne philanthropic, und at Ihoeamotimo wealthy, citiz-jn would take tho matter up, I think ho would confer a groat boon on many who are compelled lo live in tho city, and who roally havo no placo of rosort with thoir families on a hot afternoon or evening, unless they trudgo off to Brighton or St. Kilda, to broil for a fow hours on the beach, at consider able expense if there is a family. Tho Con tinental Coneort, on Saturday afternoons, have baou nioant in a measure to provide a place of recreation ; _ but the oxponso of keeping these up is great. Tho Exhibition-building, whore in winter thoy woro held, is not attractive and tho Zoological Gardens ore too far out of the way. At tho closo of your articlo you spoak of tho necessity for tho ostabliah inont of a creche. You must have forgotten that in Coliingwood tho Social Improvement Society, of which I havo the honour to bo president, establishod an institution of this kind, on the model of tho°o at homo, about: a year a.o. Tho public havo supported this creche liborally, but as yet tho people for whoso benefit it is intended have not availed themselves of it to a large extent, and as yotthecrec/ieis not self sUpporting,as wo had hoped it would bo. Had we anice cot tage with n lit! le garden about it, perhaps tho day nursory could be made moro enticing ; but whoro in Coliingwood is this to bo had, except at a prico beyond our moans ? Will no philanthropic parson present ub with a pieeo of .round ? Tho conditions, too, it must be borne in mind, are not the samo in Loudon or Paris as in Melbourne, and it may tako eomn timo before tho poorer ciasseß in Melbourne gain confidence in the bona tide, character of such institutions and thoir promoters. With your permission, I would beg to solicit subscriptions for tho Fupport of tho Coliingwood creche, which has already received generous support from the publio, nnd has Rained tho approval of those in high places in the colouy who havo visited it.

A down town rirug.is.t has a parrot which ho has taught to say. " What a pretty girl !" whenever a woman, young or old. enters his store, and they do say that a poor, weak man can hardly get into the store to buy a cigar ou a fine after noon.

CONQUERING SOCIETY.

Social Rise of an EngllaTi Woman

Determined to' Win.

We are a nation of flunkeys, and we have a sincere respect for successful flunkeyism. Who has not watched with interest and j amusemont tho career of Borne middle class English woman, married to a man who rolls in money (honestly or dishonestly mado is a mere detail) and who is bitten with tho social craze? Her Srst step is to havo a nice home and n good cook. It is easy to pick up a few men, Her husband can put tbem on boards as dieters, or she can scrape acquaintances with a few wholps. at Sandown, or some such place. These she gets to dinner. One or other ot these has a wife. The wife is obtained by a little adroit management, and one wife socurea others— "cc nest qua la premiere femme gui coute." Her dinners are "so nice," and she always takes care to see that Mr — sits by Mrs —. By pursuing this courso she ovontually gets very grand people, who like to sit by oach other, to come to her dinners. By degrees she receives invitations to official omnium gatheruma and crushes more numerous, perhaps, than select. She now professes a great sympathy for some middle aged nobleman, who, in return for sym pathy, gets her invited to one or two really good houses where he nas a firm footing— his wife's, perhaps, or somebody else's wife's, Tho time has orao for her to give a ball The sympathising no leman puts her into the handd of some lady of quality, who, for a consideration, asks the guests. The ball is lavish and is talked about, and it is followed by a few concerts, where tho beat artists that money can procure discourse music. She now joins the Primrose League and tho committees of a fow charities, to which she subscribes largely. Finally, she gives a ball, at which Bhe hereelf invitoa the guests. All the pro fessional beauties are there (this is a mattor of a littlo money or a trifle in jewellery), and it is graced by the presence of royalty. This is speedily followed by a few Sunday picnics at hor villa in tho country (Ascot or Maidenhoad, for preference). Sho is now mado. She haß attained her goal. Sho is on tho highest rung of ber ladder. Sho cuts her old acquaintances (this, indeed, is a painful necessity). She can refuse to invite this or that person to hor partios. She can deplore tbe number of up.tarta that manage to find their way into society. Sho is respected, admiied, and envied. Hor only thorn is ber husband, who is dull ond vulgar— a mere money-making machine. She makes him subscribo largely to tho Tory Party funds. This assuro3 his election to tho Carlton Club by tho committee as an "eminont Conservative." A second sub scription leads to his election as a Tory member by a constituency. Between the club, tho House and the city, ho is not much in his wife's way, and when bo is at home ho discreetly holds his tongue. If she aspires further, sho buys him a Baronotcy by taking a financial interest in all exhibitions and testimonial build incs, and by the proffer of a very substan tial sum at a moment when funds are wanted for a general election. Were I con sulted by ono of those aspiring dames as to the best road to " socioty," I should say : Above all thines ace that your husband is a Conservative, and iib soon as possible, look out for a Primrose habitation, with a good many socioty ladies in ir, lor yourself.— " London Truth."

Defence of Coaling Stations.

Lor.ii Carnarvon has again called the attention of all truo patriots to tho scan dulously undefended stato of our coaling stations abroad. Ho declares that the great self governing colonies set a bright oxamplo to the Imporial authorities in this respect, for Sydnoy and Melbourne have undertaken their own defence without applying to tho Impend Exchequer for a singlo shilling. But the condition in which the Capo iB loft he Btigmatisos as dis graceful. The Capo colonists have offered to bear tho portion of tha cost of protecting their ports, but the Imporial Government lag far behind thorn, and the consequence is that tho whole of the shipping at the Capo would, in tho temporary absence of tho fleet, ba at the mercy of any passing cruiser. The Eubject of the coaling stations is attracting so much notica just now that the Government will bo unablo to with stand tho pressure of public opinion in favour of putting theso distant, though vital parts of tho Empire upon a proper footing of dofenco In this connection it may bo interesting to mention a suggestion of Sir lly. Bessemer by which steel forts and tur rets could bo supplied to tho various coal ing stations at a moderate cost and with groat despatch. Sir Hy. Besssmor's plan is simply io cast tho entire fort in ono piece. Taking the ease of a fort with a curved face 100 feat long, 16 feet high, and o feet thick, hodeclareathatif amould woremadeof bricks and linod with fire clay, 16 hours only would eullieo for the casting of tho fort in one solid piecs of steel " weighing 060 tons, re quiring no backing or superstructure for its support, and no expensive fitting together of separate parts, and having all its ports and loopholes formed in the required posi tion by tho act of casting." Sir Henry Bessemer's plan certainly has the merit of simplicity, and it would be interesting to know whother it is really a3 practicable as be asserts.

The Food of Famous Men.

The meals of Charlemagne consisted never of- moro than four courses, and his favourite dishes woro eggs and roast meat, particu larly vonison, which was served on long spits by his foresters. Luther preferred Torgan beer and hock to all other beverages. As a young man, Melanchthon was very fond of barley soup, and he would often exchange a diet of meat for a bowl of it. Small fish, vegetables, and all kinds of farinaceous food he liked, but largo fish and moat ho disliked, and he hated all public mcala ordriaking bouts. Torquato Tassawas very fond of preserved fruits and all kinds of fancy sweets. Henry IV. was often ill from eating too many oysters or melons. His, favourite driok was yin d'Ar' ois. Perter the Great liked nothing better than Limburg cheese. Charles XII, King of Sweden, preferred a pioce of bread and butter to anything else. Voltaire, liko Frederick the Great and Napoleon I, was vory fond of coffee. His favourite food was oat cakes, but ho pre ferred oranges to any othor fruit. Tho Dutch lady scholar, A. M. Schurmann, ate spider.! as a delicacy. Leasing preferred lentils, and Klopstock, who was a real gourmand, fod on salmon, mushrooms, pastry and smoked meat. Of vegetables ho liked peas best, and grapes aa dessert, together with a bottle oi good claret or hock. Kant retained till his old ago a preference for pork, all kinds of pulse and stowed fruit. Ho dovoted throo hours a day to his dinner. Schiller was in bis youthful days very fond of ham. An old noto-book belonging to a Stuttgart restaurant contains some items about "Mealß for Dr Schiller in 1752," from which it appears that, besides a bottle of wine, ham was every day among the dishes on Schiller's table. Matthison confessed a preference for peas, beans and pork ; Lord Byron for Chester cheese, with ale or por ter; Pope was " greatly interested " in ven ison, Jonathan Swift in turbot.and Sir Wal ter Scott in roast goose.

A Great London Charity Crippled.

Perhaps tho worst sign of tho agricultural depression yot rc.cordod is that Guy's Hob pital in asking tho public for subcriptions. "Guy's" has hitherto been a very proud hospital, nnd has kept fcouae magnificently in the interest of the suffering poor on an income of over £41,000 a year, derived from estates in hand But the annual yield of these estates has been diminishing steadily since IS7O until, at tbe present time of asking, it has come so low as £26,000, with every prospect of further decrease. This means immense and far-reaching suffering, for with the fall in income at the hospital there ia, of course, a decrease in the num ber of bods. The total of 650 beds of the old prosperous times has been reduced to 500 and then to 400, and it is believed that the worst has yet to come. At one time when money meant money and land was land, Guy's lived in great charitable state on its fortune of £220,000 from Alderman Guy and £180,000 added by William Hunt a cen tury later to make the round £400,000, and never asked tho public for a penny. Tbe money was laid out in estates in Hereford shire, Lincolnshire and Essex, and the pro ceeds of it have givon tho poor of the south and the southeast of London a harbour r>f refuge in sickness and in accident for 160 years. Now Hereiordshire, Lincolnshire arid Fssex have, in a manner, turned traitor to thii noble causo. Their rentals are afflicted with a falling sickneES which all the skill of Guy's cannot cure. —" London News."

A Huge Rhinoccrous

A Late Addition to the Zoological Cfarflerns at Ctentt-l Park.

i Bono, the new rhshoe'erous for tho raooa gerie in Central Part, haa _frrv_d from :New Orleans. She is fourteen gears' old, but is not so large as Bonibi, Who died l*tet spring; she is of African birth, while Bombi came from lodic'. She 'Was pur chased by Superintendent; Con*lin in New Orleans last month at the sale of » Isfrg* ; collection of animals belonging to Cole* ■ circus. The rhinocerohe was the only one i in tho country, and bad been foreight years tho leading attraction of tho Cole collection. Sho was captured in Dahomey, Africa, and : for several y'oara was shown in Eurooe be fore she was brou'o'E. Js tbe United States. It is estimated that Boh. „a»tr*vellel over 15,000 miles. : The preparations for Bohu's journe7 from New Orleans to Central Park were maSe with groat care. Mr Conklin had bid her in at the sale for the Park Board for 4,200'd015. Her keeper, George Williams, who has had' charge of Bohu for three year?, accompanied her on the trip. Her cage, a large circus waggon on' wheels, was driven on a flat car. Then a modern house was built up around the cage. All along the route through Alabama crowds of negroes flocked at 'ha stations and wondered what kind of animal was panned up in tho bi" car. At Montgomery a snowstorm de layed travel. Keeper Williams, who slept in the car, covered the cago with blankets, and filled it with straw. At Cincinnati the discovery was made that the cage was too high to get through tha tunnels and under the bridges along the route,- niwl tbe roof was cut down two feet. Bohu stood the journey well and made little complaint as long as she received hor two buckets of bran and oats regularly. The public will soon bo admitted to see Bohu, but it will be several months before she is in good condition, Mr Conklin says, and about a thousand poands of fleßh will have to bo placed on her eidSa. At present she weighs a ton a"nd is twelve feet long.

A Trio of New Books.

John Wesley, Madame Blavatsky,- and Lord Shaftesbury ate hardly a trio ono would bracket together; certainly one would not sandwich the lady between these eminent religionists. Lives of them all have recently appeared. Jahn Wesley's is very good, with some new facts as to the shrew he was unlucky onough to wed with a for tune of £10,000 in the 3 per cents, four child ren, and the temper of a fiend. We have somo strange pictures of Madame Blavataky scandalising tbe English colony in India by woaring a red flannel dressing-gown, emoking innumerable cigars, and Bwearing like a trooper, and able all the while to " forecast the vicissitudes of hor own career." It would have been a new sensa tion to know a lady at whose " first com mand and look there came rushing to hor through the air her tobacco punch, her box of matches, her pocket hand kerchief, or anything sho ask el." The biographer of Lord Shaftesbury is distinctly silont as to the great philanthropist's father, the sixth earl, who was Chairman of the Committees of the Houee of Lords for forty years, and as to whom it was always a moot cfuestion •whether hie, or Lord Eldon, or Lord Stawell, consumed the moßt port wine. Lord Eldon's allowance was three pints, and when Lord Shaftesbury dined with him they regularly made doacl men of three bottle-1, and were able to appear afterwards in their places in the House of Lords as •'sober as judges."

Canon Kingsley and His Dog.

It is pleasing to recall the distinguished Canon Kiugsley's attachment to dumb ani mals among the traits of his everyday life. Like Mrs Somerville he believed +hat some of the created-beings inferior to man wore destined to share the blessings of a future stato of existence. His dog and his horse man, possessing the patience and much of the skill of a Rarey, he was a pattern to all who rode, reasoning with the animal he gov erned and talking to it in gentle tones, mind ful that the panic fear both of horses and children is increased by harsh punishment A Scotch terrior named Dandy was the rector's companion in all hia parieh walks, a diligent attendant at cottage lecturoß, and school lessons, and a friend of the family during thirteen years. Ho was buried near home, undor thoso fir trees on the lawn beneath whoso ahade his master him eolf now lies. Fklell Fidelcs is the inscrip tion on Dandy's gravestone.,Closo by lies his retriever, and Victor, a tockal, presented to hor distinguished Chaplain by the Queen, rests on tha samo spot. Even in this brief narrativo ono would not willingly omit to mention the Roctor's cats, the delight they afforded and the affection they yielded, nor tho "natterjacks' (running toads) of the gardon, tho sand-waspi, which frequented a cracked window frame, the fly-catcher that nested every year beneath tho master's bed room window, and the favourite glow-worm of the church-yard.Kingeley's children were taught to handle gently even toads, frogs and beetles, these being, as he would tell them, "the works and wondorß, like all things He has made, of a living God," That such lessons were effective his little girl proved one day by requesting "Daddy" before numerous guests, "to look at this delightful worm," a vory long one, which wriggled in her hand. "Study nature," he Baya. "Do not study matter for its own sake, but as the countenance of God; Study the [forms and colours of leaves ahd flowers and the growth and habits of plants —not to classify them, bnt to admire them and adore God ! Study the sky ! Study the water! Study tress 1 Study the sounds and scents of nature ! Study all these as beauti ful in themselves, in order to recombine tbe elements of beauty."—"The National Review."

Questions to a Fretful Wife.

"Hester !". exclaimed Aunt Susan, ceasing - her rocking and knitting and sitting up right, "do you know what your hußband j will do when you are dead ?" j "What do you mean?" was the startled , reply. ] "Ho will marry the Bweetest-tempered , girl he can find." I " Oh, auntie!" Hester began. ! "Don't interrupt me until 1 havo ( finished," Eaid Aunt Susan, leaning back ( and taking her knitting. " She may not be i as good a housekeeoer a's you are—in fact, , I think not; but she will be good- j natured." "Why, auntie-" "That isn't all," composedly continued , Aunt Susan. " To-day your husband waa halfway across the kitchen floor bringing '. you the first ripe fruit, and all you did was , to look on and Bay, 'There, Will, jußt see , your footmarks on my clean floor ! I won't , have my floors dirtied.' Somo men , would have thrown the fruit out of the window. To-day you screwed up , your face whe* he kissed you because , his moustache waa damp, and said, 'I , never want you to k'ss ma again. Whon , he empties anything you tell him to spill it. From morning until night your sharp voice , is heard complaining and fault-finding. , Aud last winter, when you were sick, you , scolded him for allowing the pump to freeze and took no notice when he said, ' I was bo anxious about you that I did not think of the pump.'.- .7 " But, auntie— —" l: Hearken, child. The strongest and most intelligent of men all care more for a woman s tenderness than for anything else in the world ; and without this the severest and most perfect housekeeper ia sura to loro her husband's affections in timo. There may be a fow more men liko Will—as gentle, as loving, as chivalrous, as forgetful for solf, and so satisfied with loving that their affections will dio n long, struggling death; but in most cases it takes but a few years of fretfulness and fault-finding to turn a husband's love into irritated in difference, "But, auntie " "Yea. well you aro not dead yet, and the sweet-naturod woman has not been found ; 'bo you have time to become so serene and sweet that your husband can never imagine that there was a better-tempered woman in existence." "

A poacher, surprised at his work and pursued in his escape by a vengeful thrown axe, remarked,- as he vaulted the fence : " I have no fault to find with your remark, but I object to the axe-sent," Inebriated young man (to policeman who has invited him to-" come along ")—I shay (hie) offshur. ish this joke?. If tish (hie) y' mushn't carry it too far. Policeman — I'll only car-y it ac tar as the station hooso Wife—l don't sea how you can say that Mr vVbite.hokei' has an elfeminate way of talking. ■ He has a yory loud voice. Husband—l mean by an effeminate way of talking, my dear, that he talks all. the time.

ALLEGED WIT.

A taking way.—The thief's.

No gas meter was ever yet known, tay cheat a gas company. A Waterproof Garment.—Tho coat of a toper's stcmach. What bar is that which often opons but netfer shuts ?—Crowbar. ___ Univer-al Love.-The love that ever"yoa. ftss for his own joke. There arc mon ait whom you can threw o. suit of clothes and it will lit thorn. _M bridge- should never bo condemned until ft _as been tried by its piers. The reason thai tramps arv so poverty stricken and' wretched is becan-otbey doot advertise. A tourist without money is a tr_mp. A tramp who has money is a tourist. Curiously enough, when autoram conn-, the result is autumn Jeoveß. The fellow who put th* tiring in » nut shell farad it cracked a day srr two after wards. Gentility is said to be eating moat with a. silver fork when the batcher haa not bee paid. _ _ • A correspondent has such a cold m his head that he can't wash his face- without freezing the water. The roan who was "moved to teats" complains of the dampness of tho premises, and wishes to be moved back again, A thrifty housewife thinks men ooght tO be es-ful—thoy might as well be smoking hams as Brooking cigars. " I look doyen upon you, sir," Yes you' seem to be in a caidition to look down for tho sky, and feel uptfaid for the ground. California capers tell of a bead of cafcbage. weighing "forty pounds." I- was two feefc through. " Nonchalant" means that peculiarly in different look which is put on by men " who never pay " when dunned for money. It should be written none shell out. We lately Beard of a housemaid, who*,, about to leave a family rather unexpectedly and urged to give a reason for it, simply safer, " I can't stay, the young ladies speak, s.tfb bad grammar." Lost, fron* an Antiquarian's Collection.—• The key to the pantry of the " Castle-in-the- ' air." Also a piece of embroidery executed by the " Sphinx of Egypt" witb " Cleopa tra's needle.' - -. . Among tho appropriations by the Hawai ian Legislature we notice "ToKoolopoka, 2,000dol." If it cost that to cool it, heating it must ba a burden to tho taxpayer. A hotel in the Isle of Wight, much fre- , quonted iry clergymen, is kept by a man appropriately named Saint. The liquors in the establishment aro unusually bad. '' I say, Mick, what sort of potatoes are. those you are planting ?' "Raw ones, to be sure ~ your honor wouldn't be thinking I would plant boiled ones" A housopßlnter in Everton painted a door bo exactly in imitation of oak that last year it put forth a quantity of leave*, and grew an excellent crop of acorns. -••..... A culprit being asked what be bad to say why sentence of death should not be re corded againßt him, replied, "I haye nothing to say. Too much has been said already." -• ' .', "My learned friend," observed an advo cate during a recent trial, "practises his arguments before a glass." "Belter prac i tice tfrem before a glass than after a glass." I was the reply. '7 Sediment. —"Caall this a cup iv coffee fit to'dfrinkf said a visitor to an attendant in a Tyneside refreshment-room the other day. " Wey, luiks thoo here, aal the sedi ! ment's floating on the top." , Mr Wifeless: "Mihe, yon rascal, what are you doing there . How can you dare to wipe ray goblets with my handkerchief ?" ~ Mike : " Sure, nn' sorr, it's not your hanker chuff at all, at all. jft's moine." ■ -..- A gentleman, taking an apartment, said to the landlady, " I assure you, madam, I : never left a lodging, but my landlady abed tears/ " I hopo, sir," said she, "it was not because you went away without pay ing.' 7 Rowland Hill rode a great deal, and by exercise preserved vigorous health. On ono occasion, when asked by a medical friend what physician he employed to be always bo well, ho replied; "My physician haa beon a horse, and my apothecary an | ass." <•- r . "Where do you come from?" asked in , Dallas man of a neighbour. "I am just a from the Fair grounds." "Have the judges of live stock awarded the prize to j the biggost jack?' "They have." "Bid my uncle or my father get it?" "Neither of them. A strange donkey from Eastern ; Texas got tho prize." An epitaph, of which the following is said to be a copy, is cut on the stone over a . Cornish minor's grave at Calumet, Mich. : ', Him cannot como to we. . But us shall surely go to be. Husband—"My dear, that is a long ; motto you are working." Wife—"Yes, John." ; He reads on it: - . While the lamp holds out to burn ' The vilest sinner may return. -.:: "Is it to be hung in the vestibuleof-tho ■"' church, my dear 7" " No, John; I'll hang it on the chandelier ih the hall." Parson Squire -"I understand, deacon, that the church carpet is being ruined by the water from dripping umbrellas." Beacon Goode —"It is so, parson, and something has got to be.done." "Why I not have a rack in the vestibule and leave the umbrellas there instead of carrying them to the seats?" "I'm afraid that i. would spoil the solemnity of the benedic tion." "You think bo?" ' "Yes, every body would want to be firatbutto get the- . best ones."* ; 7=' The Rev. Dr. S. ,H. Virgin, of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Brook lyn can scarcely be classed with the foolish virgins. In his .remarks at the celebration ' of Forefathers' day he declared tha. "when the Pilgrims,landed at Plymouth they fell upon their knees and then fell upon the aborigines." Speaking of the young men of the day and their tendencies to ape the English dude, he said : "We want no more of the foreign dudes, the Yankee doodl' do." A coloured man snee sued a neighbour for damages for the loss.of his dog, which his neighbour had killed. The dofoniant ■.■;■■ wished to prove that the dog was a worth lees cur, for whoso destruction no damages ought to be recorded. The attorney for the defence one Sam Parker (coloured) to the witneSß-stand, whereupon the following conversution ensued:—"Sam, did you know this dog that was killed; by Mr Jones ?" "Yessahjl war pussonally acquainted wit dat dog." " Well, tell the jury what kind of a dog he was." "Hewar'a big yaller dog." "What was he good for?" " Well, he wouldn't hunt, an' he wouldn't do no guard duty ; he jes' lay round an' ate. Dat made 'em call 'im what they didi" "Yes, What did they call him?" "Well,' snh, I don't want ter hurt yeir feelin's, sah, an' 1 is mighty eorryyou ax me dat, sah ; but de tack is, dey call 'im ' Lawyer,' sah I" "... '' Black—" How do you get along at your new boarding-house?" White—"Very well indeed. I am well lodged, well-fed, and everything is made comfortable for me." ! Black—" lam surprised." White— "; "Why so?" Black—"Because I boarded there myself, and 1 wfes half^starved. I can't; understand why they treat you differently." White—"l tell you. You re member the ..landlady's, baby?" Black— " That squint-eyed brat ? I do, I can bear him yelling now." White—" The baby is not handsome, I admit. It cries considerable ''I ■'■ allow; but I can't make it any handsomer.: nor improve its temper, therefore I make the best of it. I call it a pretty little dar- • ling, a sweet little thing. I make excuses for the noise it makes by saying all children are bo.' Tho other boarders laugh at mo, but the laugh is on my side when they are sawing away at tough round steak and I am I luxuriating oh tender loin. It doesn't take much effort to smooth over the rough places of life." ' '

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAK, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2. 1887

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Post Card Proof. ■'■ Salisbury. Term., April 4* 1883. Gents :— 1 was uflUotod with serious Kidney and Urinary trouble for twelve years. After trying all the doctors and patent medictnoa I could hear of, I used two bottles of Hop Bitter* j and am perfectly cured. Washington , , D.0., April 8,1883. To the Sop Sitters Co.: Sirs:—l write this as a token o( the great appreciation I hare tor your Bitters. I wal afflicted with Inflammatory Rheumatism sevei years, and no medicine seemed to do me an] good until I tried three bottles of your Ho] Bitters, and to my surprise I am aa well to-daj as ever I was. I hope you may have great suo cess in this great and valuable medicine, i Any. one wishing to know more about my cure. CM learn by 16th8t £ ■ \ ' i Froseeate tne Xwlndlera!! If when you call for American Hop Bitter* isrr green twig of Hop* out the white label and lir. Soule's name blown in tit* bottlt), the ven dor hauds out anything "out American Hop B'ttera, refuse it and ai.ua that vender as you would a vipei' i and If he hoe taken your money tor. anything iUuti indict him tot the fc»u4 aril •uo him for dunitgoa for Ue swlndj||.a|d we Trli' TV -*"" "V , *r> tß"'nJHit