SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

February 3 and o~Wellington Racing Club

Summer Veeting February 23, 21. 28. — Dunoiin Jockor Club

Autumn Meeting. Marchßiind9-WaiigiinuiJoclC(yClub'aAntuma

Moe'dog. March II and 10—Nopler Park Kaoiog Club's

March lsT^G. f?—t&wke'd Bay Jockey Club's

Autumn Meeting. March 31 ano April 1 -Tarasnkl Jockey Club's

Anniversary Meeting. Apiil 11 and 12 —C.nterbury Jockey CljVb Autumn Meeting. April 11 and 12 - Auckland Racing Club's AuluiLii Meeting.

To Correspondents.

VjiNGUAnD.—The lion. J. Wnite's two-year old colt, by Chester from Cinnamon, is named Abercorn. L.H. (Cambridge) —Kobort tho Dovil was got by Bertram out ot Os'-off, who won Iho Grand Prix cc Paris «nd JDnncitter St. Leger in ISSO, beating Bend Or in the latter race. In iho eamo year Robert tho IJevil won the Akgumext—Malua is a Fijian word, and ig ustd ehitfly in the imperative mco-J, ns "go gsntlv," ''wait a whi c " Ai en adverb of time h mrana "by andbyo." It ia sometimes used by worn n man expression of taanki,aa '• muduu" is used by men.

TURF GOSSIP.

[Gv lIirroNA.J The Wellington Cup comts up for decision on Thursday next, and tho horpos boing lnuol) of a class thro ia every promise of a good field seeing tbo past ond an excellent contest. Those tlmt huvo made the final payment fur the raco are :—Pasha, S4 ; Administrator, S 3 ; Tetford, S ; Tigredia, S; Spade Guinea, 7.13; Silenao, 7 10; Artillery, 7.9 ; Rumour, 7 7 ; Armourer, 7.5 ; Salisbury, 6 12 ; Lady Norah, 6 ; FariHngale, 6. My idea ia that the race will bo fought oufc bot.vcon Pasha, Lady Norah, and Spado Cluinoa, nnd to pick ono of the trio, I incline most to tho chances of I'jsua. Tho entriss for tho Groat Northern Derby to be run nt tho Auckland Summer Meeting of ISSB 89 have now been made up, and they number exactly tho same a3 last year, viz., 73. Tho names of mostly every New Zealand horsoonner of note appear in tho list, but I thought (hat Australian breeders wouli have been better represented, and, stran^o to say, tho Hon. J. Whito'a namo is missing from the nominators. Mr S. Gardiner, of Bundoora Park, Melbourne, has entered t.vo, ooa boing a colt by Marquis out of our old friend Lurline, while tbo other ia a filly out of Calumny, who claims Motea (full brother to Darebin) for her Biro. Mr C. F. Agnew, of Tas mania, has entered three of The Assyrian's progeny, nnd I only hopo that when the eventful day comes round we may see one of them contesting the raco. For the Great Northern Foal Stakes, there are G7 entries, of which number tho Now Zealand Stud Company contribute 46, The weights for tho Wangaoui Cup, to bo run on tho Sth of March, made their op p^arance during the week. Waitiri (Sst 121b) strikes mo as being tho best treated, and if Bha retains her proeent form she must prove hard to beat. The powers that be of tho Onehunga Racing Club have had under consideration this week the best means of altering the awkward home turn on the course. Before next meeting comes round it is intended to make it so that there will bo no further cause of accident, and the work, I under stand will be shortly commenced. Taeman has bidden farewell to the turf, nnd Sir O'Brien intends either disposing of tho son of St Albanß or standing tbe horso hiuieelf next season. Under tho heading " Tafniati'a Triumphs," Sir Launcolot has written an interesting articlo giving full paiticulan of his career, from which I gulher that tc Mr C G". Eady, a Hobart bonifacG, wo are indebted for tho importa tion to thia colony of Taeman. Mr Eady, having purchased him from his breeder, Mr J. Field, of Calstock, Tasmania, and being desirous of testing how far New Zealan 1 waa fuitable for tbe disposal of Tusmanian-bred stock, shipped Taeman lo Christehurch in company with Calstock and Albion. B»ir»g put up to auction at TatieraaUV, ho f l» to Mr J. Beecher's bid cf b'Ogs. Mr O'Brien, however, had hia eye on bim; and when a throe-year old bo passed into that trainer's possession for 120ga—another instuaco of a low-priced youngster turning out tobo agood racehorse. Tasman's pedigree ia full of some of the stoutest t(rains of bl od lo bo found in the "Stud Book," and the following ia tho full record of his performances : — At Syra— Van in 17 race?, winning 8; second in 5; third in 1 (the race in which ho finished first, bathe was disqualified); and unplaced in 3 At 4yrs-llan in 19 races, winning 12 ; second in 3 ; third in 1 ; nnd unplaced in 3 At oyrs - Kan ia 10 racee, winning 8 ; and unplaced in 2. At Gyrs—-Kan in 7 races, winning 2; second in 1 ; third in 2; and unplaced in 2. As an aged horse—Kan in 8 races, winning 1 ; second in 4; third in 1 ; and unplaced in 2. From this it will bo f can that Tasman has run in Gl races, winning 31 ; fioisbiDg Becund 14 times ; third 5 times; and un placed 11 times ; and his winnings in stake 3 have amounted to a triflo over £5,500. A rapture h»3 occurred between the well known Sydney sportsman, Mr W. Cooper, pnd T. Lsrnond, who has acted as hii trainer. Tho outci ma of the matter is that Trenton and tho other members of Mr Cooper's team have been put in the bands of Foulsham, the wily Victorian, who will prepare them for the V.R.C. Autumn Meeling. Judging by the prominent place he now occupies in tbe list-, tho Hon. James White prbmißts to be far and away at tho head of the winning owners on the Australian turf for the season 1886-1887 Up to the present only eight racing men have run into the thousands, at their head being the owner of the blue and white banner with £6,255; then cornea Mr C. L. McDonald (owner of Hortense) with £3,145 ; and he is succeeded by Mr Gannon, £2,865; Hon. W. A. Long, £1 920 • Mr S Martin, £1,743 ; Mr W. J. Fo'rrester, £1,680 ; Mr T. Jones, £1,420 ; and Mr Strickland, £1,050. Writes " Vigilant:''— In my opinion, the most improved colt of the season ia Volcano, who has thickened out a good deal eince the spring, and is bound to be troublesome durihg the autumn. Trident looks much the same as when ho beat Treuton in the Canterbury Plate-if anything scarcely as fine, though. Of tbe youngsters, Abercorn is certainly the handsomest, and perhaps it will be as well if I hint, right here, that this colt will be worth watching for next season's Blue Ribbon. That good colt First Chester, who, it will be remembered, ran such a wonderful second to Nordenfoldt for the Victoria Derby, baa once more commenced work, and, as it ia said he appears to have been benefited by hia holiday, he may return to bis old form. Thus tho AdeaWe correspondent of a Melbourne weekly,- cpeakinj; of the Ednardstown races:—"An amui-ing epi sode occurred at the end of the race.. ; The jockeys ran a longer couree than had been marked off for the mile and a half, and Mr Peenoy, to whom Mirago belongp, objected t, o the longer distance. Not seeing that hvi own hor*e had won, he ru»hed in to tbe secretary nnd pulled out his money to enter a protest against tho winner, on account of th» distance being too long ; but on boing informed that, Mirage had won, ho very -quickly and naturally changed his story -to 'Oh, well, never mind, I won t protest; • come nnd have a drink.'" • The accounts of the Dunodm Jockey Club presented nt the nimual meeting, and ><hieli cner a period of eighteen ■ months, show thit the eight race meetiogs held during that time yielded a profit of £4 521, and after paying v vtiy large sum fur interest on the purchase money of tho Forfcury Fark property and expending £800 on itnprovornenlP, the Committeo is -nblo to ™riy "■ cash b»llince of £1?22 12i lOd forward to the current year. The jumping mare Zip has been seived by TiFthe course of a chat a Victorian sport ier scribe bad with the well-known Victor iaa jockeys, Mick O'Brien and Alick Robertson, a few dayß after the publication of tbo cablegram announcing the sad end • which befel Fred Archer, P>oberteon very • intelligently and very correctly, it has since proved, ventured tho opinion that the famous English jockey's vitiated mental coidition was brought übaut by a too fre quent use of Turkish baths. Ho also said that on one occasion after taking three of the-e baths in quick puccesMon himself he feltfquite light-headed and gidtty, and he believed that if hi had treated himself much more severely at the time, and bad had to "take off much more weight by this piooese, it would have tffacteil his bram very seriously. O"Brien folly endorsed all his confrere *eaid abuut tn<> pernicious effects oi tukiog too maoy Turkish batbs, ■ and added that, as far as he himt'elf «?as concerned, he could not take even one se vere bath without keeping a wet towel on his bead during the operation.

Colonial and English Sires.

Mit H. Redwood, the father of the New Zealand turf, writes toaChristchurch paper on this subject as follows : - Sir,—ln answer to Mr Logan's enquiries aa to the respective) merits of colonial-bred sires and Englieh circs, in my opinion there is not much difforonce, and one is quite as good ac the other ; but if I muat givo the preference it would be to the colonial circs from good families. Look at Sir Hercules' got; ho was bred in New South Wales from pure blood, and what horse ever got bettor stock ? As regards bone they were slightly deficient, but they have good tendons and excellent constitution. Such horses as Coseack, Zoe, Flora, and 10, grand dam of Trenton, Waimea, dam of Manuka, 4c. Then take II Barbiero. He was a colonial-brod one. Considering his chances, how could you expect greater successes than Strop, Zingara, Ladybird, and others ? Thoy aleo were not largo boned oneß. took again at his son Dead Shot's get: Mats, Pinfire, Choliebore, and others. Theso had, if anything, too- much bone, and all his get showed great size and subatance. Asnin, Yattendon, what bettor horees have we now than those he got? The last winner of tho Derby, in Now South W;ilup, Trident, is by a eon of his. Take Maribyrnong, what an excellent sire he iB. Piecatoritta nleo appears to be able to pro duce race horeee. If Totara had been pat ronised by tho beet mares, I thoroughly believe he would havo left ua something better than tho average, as what few were trained showed both speed and staying powers. I feel quito sure that a great doal of the breed goe3 in at tho mouth, both as regards fixe and bone, and also the goodnesß of the intis2u!ar system, and feet too. Some aoila will not give boue, and if borees are rearoii on tho food that is taken fiom such land in oata and hay, they will also bo de ficient in what is appreciated in a thorough bred horse—viz , that nice quality that ie co requisite. As regards what our friend pays about his mare having thrown a good ono to a certain sire, probably if ho had bred again to tho same siro ho might not have had a horse worth anything as a racehorse, and tho iiret eon might havo been able to plaj the game of Cain and Abel with him. As an instance of that, look at Lurline and ho. sieters. Tho former was as good an al' round maro as could bo found, yet what de pentUnce could bo placed on any ono all her eisteis? Such U the lottery of breed imr, and probably hail less caro been taken nf tho sisters, and had thoy been allowed to rough it more on good grass as well os corn, they might have been better than they wore. I have seen great rubbish produced from Englieh sires, and I do not like breeding from tVem without they have come from really good families, or could bear racing and training in the land of their birth. Musket, Traducer, Perkin Warbeck, and a few other.", were good runnora at Homo ; could stand a preparation and raco with the bost; and I do not know an iu stanco in this country where euch horees havo been ueod at tha etud, although col onial bred, whero the stock has failed to bo good. No breeder must expect all to bo good, or even middling, and before a good colonial bred one is condemned, let him bo treated in a similar manner as regards the mares, and I do not fear tho result, as tho same law holds good hero as elsewhere—like produces like. 1 hear tho Auckland Stud Company intend to import an English horse of known capacity aa a racehorse-getter, and with their good selection of mares, as a com mercial speculation they act wisely by doing so, becaueo they eoinewhat remove the chanco of want and success in tho pro geny of their stud. But there is no denying that a horaa like Nelson, bred as he is, and with his constituMon, temper, legs, and feet, although not a large-boned horae, would probably be a success at the stud, and if I were a buyer of yearlings, and saw what I liko by him, 1 would j,'ivo iia much for them as if thoy wero got by Robert the Devil or any other eire. As ro garde tho latter siro, his family on the female line wer quite in obscurity, and were almost given away. Look again at one of the first favourites for next year's Derby in England ; his sire and dam wera quite in the ehade, acd were sold for mere pence compared to what their son is worth ; I see £10,000 has been refused for him. There is one thing that must be borne in mind ; no man would go to the expense of importing a horea from Home without be had something to recommend him— of that I feel certain ; and that is ono reason of the success of the imported ones. Mistakes havo been made in brceJing from colonial sires who have been lucky in being born in a weak year, ac tho racing term ie, which moans there is nothing good out, and being bleesed with good action and a good trainer, they have shown up well and won most of best things, whereas, had our beat colonial ones been about, they would scarcely have saved their dutonce, and—as nothing suc ceeds liko success—they have been patron ised, which has been a mistake, and brought tho colonials into disrespect. I feel certain that our best colonial horeea are as good ac can be found on the face of tho globe. What I mean by the beet are those that are descended from the very best blood to be got in the world, and well reared and well managed ; and how many have we produced in New Zealand? I think thoy could be counted on your fingera and tooe, and I almost fear I cannot naroe co many in New Zealand. But I will just try to say what I consider good ones, and I have known tha turf for over forty years, viz:—ll Barbiero, Ziogara, Zae, Flora, Chevalier, Strop, 10, Symphony, Man uka, Papapa, Lurline, Calumny (Lady bird and Peeress I pass aa not being Al), Korari, Mata, Welcome Jack, Black Rose, Alpine Roeo (for a mile and a quarter, Pasha and Administrator), Nelson, Nordonfoldfc, Martini Henry, and Tienton. By stretch, ing the point a bit, half a dozen others of more recent date could be included, and this lot would all be worth sending to Sng land. And to conclude this long letter, I may say that if Mr Logan will breed from horses of this description I am confident he will not be disappointed. -1 am, &c, H. Ekdwood Spring Creek, Jan. 13.

The Tall Woman and the Small Man.

In minor matters it is of course universally admitted that short men, as a rule, prefer tall women, while tall men admire little women. Park pairs by preference with fair ; tho commonplace often mns after the original. People have long noticed that this attraction towards one's opposite tends to keep true the standard of the race. They have not, perhaps, so generally observed that it alsoindicates roughly theexis ten ceineither individual of a desire for its own natural complement. It is difficult here to give dertni o examples, but everybody knows how in tho fubtlo psychology of falling in love, there are involved indumerable minor elements, physical and mental, which strike us exactly because of their absolute adapta tion to form with ourselves an adequate union. Of course wo do not definitely seek out and discover such qualities ; instinct workafiir more intuitively than that; but wo find ntlast, by subsequent observation, how true and how trustworthy were itsimmediate indications. That is to say, those men do so, who were wise enough to follow tho earlie«t promptings of their own hearts, and not to bo ashamed of that divineet and doep e§t of intuitions, lovo at first sight.

Shocking Exhibition in France.

A tukriblk scene hae juet been witnessed at Dijon. A mesmerist, M. Tercy, accom panied by a cataleptic young woman natntd Mdlla. I>ucia, entered a cage of lions in Sipnor Salva'B menagerie. The animals seemed at lirst quito stupefied on eeeing ttrange persons before them, but they soon bfgan to chow signs of dangerous temper, M. Torcy Io?fc no time, and having sent Millie, Lucia into a magnetic trance, he told h6r to fix her gaze oa tho lions and to place her arms beforo them, which she did with perfect impunity. She was then plunged into a cataleptic fit, her body was stiffened, and her feet and legj fastened to two stools. The lions, goaded by the keepers, were made to jump several times over the young woman's body. This inhuman exer cise was continued until the audience, wound up to the highest pitch of terror and exciteaeu1-, owing to the ominous gro^liDg of the infuriated lions, cried out, "Enough!" The three actors iv this extraordinary scene were loudly cheered by the spectators; but it ia to be hoped (remarks tba corres pondent of the " Uaily Telegraph," whe de-cribea the scene), in the interests of civilhai un, that I ho authorities at Dijon will speedily put a stop to any repetition of the degrading spectacle, which was more worthy of an assembly of Cherokee ludiuns than of the inhabitants of a large and pros perous French city,

THE GARDEN.

[By Houtus.]

Calondar for wook ending January z:>,

(lloirruHls willing to answer any quorlcs. Cor respondents must givn their full numos and addresses, though not for publication.!

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Ficl-8 Elastica ("A.M").—Tho abovo tree is eßßly pro regard from cuttings, espcci .liy if you could obiain alttile buitoiuhont But the best way for you to raise plants woull be to layer any old ones you pcsiess They would miko much better plants tho fl stro.tr. Tho bo»ttimc 'o layer Is during March or April. They will Bucceod best if layered in rich, sandy soil. If your soli is stiff yon can easily procure a little sand to mix with the soil they are layered in. You a-c of tho samo opinion as mysolf. The above makes a very hand some shrub.

Codlin- Moth i" AmatcuO.-Nolhins can help you thiß seaeon. Pick off all infected fri.it and see that the grub in ttio apple is de stroyed. I append an extract from an A moi i c.\n paper which may help you for r.exteoason. "The Jllinoiß State Entomologist haa for two years been maklnc experiments under vary ing conditions and upon different variitksof fruit, at a as the result ot hia observations ho now states authoritatively that at least 10 percent ol apples now destroyed by the co'lin moth, H8 won as ot other fmit ruin d by ctli r insect", may bo saved by ono or twoarrailPK.) with a toliiiioD of Paris grc^n ii'ado io eirly spri.ig while the fruic is Bill in tho early btav-oi o growth. Carofol obstrvat ons show that when the poison Is tl.u* applitid th-'oiniot Iho Bliihtest dancer to be arinrehcodo.l by Iho consumer of frui<. when maturo that hau bo *n so (rented. Souio of the o:chardls!o about LoisG-ttos baro during the pnet joar or two experimented wtih solutions of both Paris (? oen and Lor don purple. at d both have beer, eft'-ictivoin putting a Btop to the ravages of the codlin moth. The romo'y is certainly easy of application, and a-i it seeun to huvo buon would appear to bo no further ground for tho claim ih»t there ia no known rcmody for the codlin moth, whatover may bo mid of som-i of tha othor lnieot pests which are causinK trouble and loss in the orchard. Sowing Primula Seed (Prlmola).-You should bow it at onoe in the following mixture : Ono half cood fibrous loim, ono fourth leaf mould, ono fourth well-rotted stablo manure, uml aboutooo fifth Band. Place this mixturo in a phallowpan. well dralccd i sprinkle the socd th'nly over the surface. After towing, profs down tho Burfaco tolerably firm, nna water. Thon place a equaro of whitewashed Rlats over tho Dan, Icoud watering gently till tho Eepd got mlaaten, which should bo in about thivo walks' time, aft. r which romovn tfeo tl<s(. and keep in a tlndy position. When thei havo attained the height of about half tin inch put off Into small rota. K»ep n-av tho pins', and Rive plenty of nir, nover a lowing the fr.me or houeo to at aln n high tempo v-

Celory. Tub abovo is one of tho most populur lato autumn and winter vegetables hero, and should be grown more oxtoiisivoly by our amateurs. There is still timo to plant out for the lato crsp, but to got good-sized

plants before the wintor sets in, no time should be lost in planting. Early planted crop 3 intonded to bo u*cd os soon as they become largo enough should bo cono over at onco. A few of tho small outsido seed lravoa should bo removed, and tho whole of the remaining leaves should then bo brought togolhor in the hand and tied loosely with a strip of flax juat underneath tho foliage. The tieiugup should bo done very loosely,as if dono tightly it will not allow tho centre loaves that are now pushing up room to grow, in which case they would get cut nnd in time would cause tho stalks to rot. While tiling up, pull with tho hand all weeds which may bo growing in the trench or about the plant. When the wholo row is completed give a heavy doso of wator (liquid manure if possible). Next day have tho soil on tho side 3of the tronch broken up into a fino state, working it in towards tho pants, coming back cover the row, catching with ono hand whilst with tho other the earth is still farther drawn about earh plant. The earth should be packed slightly about eneh plant, for if loft too looao it is apt to work into the heart and cause tho plant to decay. About six inches of soil should be thus plucod about tho plants, allowing them to stand until they havo grown another eight inches, whon another earthing up must tako plnco, carry ing on the work as described abovo. Celeiy should be earthed up about throo times, co as to give each plant a cood loogth of blanched etalk, and when tho last earthing up takes place the sides of the ndcre should be slightly beateti with the hack of tho spade co as to keep tbo soil in posi'in. Tfc is not a good practice, ex cept in tho caeo of the lato general winter crop, to finish the earthing up of more. Celery then will serve for throe weeks or a month at most, for if too much ia earthed op early in the autumn it is not possible to water, and with the dry autumn wo usually get it suffers from tho want of water, for, ns will bo oasilv undorstood, when ths earthing up is completed it would bo impossible to water in tho usual way. ', The water would never reach tho roots, and irrigation would be required. Tho abovo is also Iho reason that I havo always recom mended the planting of successional crops. After watering celery never earth up till th» foliage gets quito dry, as when earthed up in a wet state it is Mablo to cause rot. After planting out celery plants the roots should never be interfered with, and if possible the soil about them should bo kept in » moist state so as to get a fine juicy stalk. Celery sttmted in growth for want of moisture is sure to bo etringy. Some times ot homo I have eeen paper tied loosely round the Btalks before earthing up, with a view of keeping the earth out of tho hearts. This gave fine clean stalks, but invariably gave a disagreeable tasto to the celery, and is not to be recommended hero.

A MIDDAY DANCE.

Factory Girls Engage a Band by the Month.

Tub factory whistles were sending forth the shrill shrieks with which they daily record nnd welcome the noon hour, when four itinerant musicians hurried out of a Second Avenue Elevated Railroad train at Forty second street, and almost fell headlong down the long]stairway that jleada to the street. The smallest member of the group carried a bras? tube neirly as large as himself, asd was the first toreach terra firma. Heedless of tho progress of his fellows, he ran toward ThirdAvenueasfast|»B his short.fatlogs would carry him, and finally Btopped before a big four-story brick factory. To unsliughis bat tered instrument was the work of a moment, and before any one of tho others of the quartet arrived, he was at work sending torth the deep, heavy tones of an obligato on the tberae "Johnny Get Your Gun." Presently the big man with tho yellow clarinet came up, and taking up tho melody distended his fat cheeks until, as a by stander remarked, ho looked like a full moon in a fit. The alto horn and cornet players followed closo behind the clarinet, and while a crowd of young girls trooped out of the building the band played "Stick to Your Mother, Tom," "Tho Siren " waltz, "All for Her," and other pelections of tho came cla?s. For twenty mimtles or tnoto was the tooting and screeching continued, and then the musicians gathered tbouißolves up and started down the street. Not a penny had they received, nor had they tried to co'lrct anything. What, then, meant this midday concert ? Inquiry developed tho fact tbafc the band played in front of the fame building three times a week, and wna paid by the girls employed in the place onco a month. While the mu»ic played in the street the girls danced in the factory, and in Ibis way defied a rule of tho establishment that no concertina orllutina niueic would bo Dermitted in the shop during tho noon bflar.

" We used to havo a foreman who played the accordion for in to dance by every noon," said one of the girls ; " but he was discharged and music was forbidden in the place. Where there's a will, though, there's a way, and now we dance to the music of Zartoweki's band instead of the accordion. The boss can't prevent Jiar toweki from playing in the street, you know. When Zartoweki has a picnic or Turn Verein entertainment to play for he sends up a hand organ in placo of his, band."

A Matter of Custom.

A compakison of the manners and customs of various European nations^ducl B s many interesting facts, among which tho follow ing is by no means the least: — When a person afflicted with the influenza so far loses control of himself ac to sneeze in society, the Italian will bow gracefully, wave hia hand politely ia front of him, and ejaculate, "Salute!' Under similar circumstances the Spaniard will appear slightly pained, doff hia som brero, and exclaim, " Con Dois I" The Frenchman, that politest of beinge, will cry, "A vos soulhaite, monsieur !' with an air of great concern. The Turk will salaam as gracefully as his rather cumbrou9 dreaa will permit. The Teuton will invoke the blsssing of God upon you, and the Englishm'in "will shout: " Bless me, what a bad cold you've got."

The Extraordinary French Murder Trial.

The sensational trial of tho Lobon family j at Blois, for burning alivo thoir mother, j brought out no factß beyond thoeo stated in the indictment. Iho pii>ui:( r.- wevoalli subjected to sever questioning by the pro 1 siding judge, and the woman Thomas, tho victim's daughter, wns driven to ronfops that sho puehed her mother on tho tiro " because she worriod her so." Ono of tho eons, howevor, who peoms to havo taken pirtin this fearful crimo only on compulsion, distinctly etatod that tho q .estion was whether ho or the old mother should bo burned alivo to dissolve tho spell which the was supposed to havo cast upon tho family. Thoroupon ho said, "J had rather pho bu burmd than I." 110 holpcd to put her on the tire and tho daughter, lighting a wisp of straw, set tiro to the old lady's nightgown, while tho young woman's hus band took a more oc'.ive part. Tho wretched victim tried ro get away from the fire, but her son in-1.-iw kept her on the blazing hearth by stamping on her stomach, and tho medical evidence showed that abe had du:d in fearful agony, boing literally broiled to death. Her hourt wai found to be actually calcined; nnd the position of tho bones showed that i-ho must h»va mndo frantic efforts to cscnpe, Tiio head waa only charred, co thai, lipr sonso of feeling must lmvo continued unimpaired to tho last. Tho Court sentonced tho woman iind her husband to death, and tho two brothers to ponal servitude.

The Perils of Football.

SuAKOBLT has tho football season got inlo full swing cro our attention i.i again diroctod to tho very dangerous nattuo of tho gamo by a sad fatality. Danlol Houghno.v, a married nun, whilst playing in tho Football Cup Tio .vntch on Saturday latt, noar Glaegow, botwoen his club, the Mearns AthlotiOß, and tho Aovvood Club, was struck in tho abiiomon by the knee of an oppo.-ing player. Houghnoy was carried oil' the Mold and died on tho follow ing day. It is also stated that threo other playora of tho Mearna Club wc-ro injured. Wo nro not acquainted with tho.particulars t.f this sad caso, and d> not know nhclhor tho play was unduly rough, but wo do not ho.Mtnto to «ny that football now adays too often dßßonoratos into a ppcciea of " froo light." Tho nuinbor of broken leg? nnd othor accitlontd already eus taincd this, souson boars a tribute to this. Wo havo no wish to coo iho gimio dono awny with : it U enormously popular, and ailords recreation and oxoroiso to thousanap, many of whom, woro football abolished, might spend their spare timo in a much worso mannor. J Jut wo nro strongly of opinion that it must bo modi fied. Surely regulations could bo devised which, whilßt retaining Iho manly charactor of tho game, would reduco tho undue element of danger. It ia regrettable that at sonm schools the pl-iyiui; of footh.-dl by tho boys is made a compulsory matter. At schools tho game is played iindor tho best- con ditions, tho maUore bting nble to check any unduly rough pluy, and tho playorn hting boy^, not man. Intt no br.y ehould becompo'lod to play such a gamuaa tcotball, —" lj:\ncot."

Easting Before Sleep.

It is a common improssion that to lako food immediately boforo going to bed nnd to sleep is unwise Such a su;- gcation is answorod by a romindor that th o tnttinct of animals prompts thorn to go to sleep as soon as thoy havo oiton : and in summer an after-dinner nip, especially when tho inoal is takon at midday, in n luxury indulged in by many. Neither durknoi-s nor roioona of Iho year alter tho conditions, if tho ordinary hour of tho evening meal i-i (i or 7 o'clock, nnd of tho first morning meal 7 or S u'vlcck, nil interval of twelve hours or moro olupeon without food, and for por.-ons whoso nu trition is at fault this is altogether too long a period for fasting. That such an interval without food if ptrmitled oxplains many a roetUwa night, and much of the head and backache, and the languid, half-rested condition on rHnj,' v hich is accompanied by no appetite. Tho meal itself often dissipates thc^o sensntion?. It is therefore dc^iralilo, if not ofsonlinl, when nutriment is to bo crowded, that Iho last thing bef.iro going to bed ebou'd uo tlio taking of food. Sleupleesiicse is often caused by starva tion, and a tumbler of milk, if drank in tho middle of tho night, vill oftnu put peoplo to sloop whou hypnotics would fail of thoir purpose.

Curbing the French Press.

French writers havo to exorctso cxttvino caution in dealing with men and things. Even if an accident occur, they have no legal right to print tho namos of tho par sons concerned—that ia to cay, if they do so, and tho persona complain, tho ijowb papers can bo niado to pay dan:ages. A curious ca=o was narrated to mo io iilu» tration of tho emnowhot depres.=ing condi tions under which French nowsgathereM ply their trade. "Lo Matin," an enterpri.-i ing morning newspipcr, recently published iin interview with M. Clemenreiu!, n well known deputy.' The next day M. Clemen ceau deniod that ho hid expressed tho views attributed to him by tbo reporter " Le Matin" proclaimed it-i confidence in its representative. Thon M. Clemonceau piled tho paper and obtained damttgop, tho editors of " Lo Matin " not being permitted oven to offer evidence] establishing that an interview had taken plane.

Made for a Princes.

A bridal drees made forthoPiincee* Mario Josepha de Saxo is of brocado, copied from some antique stuff, with tho whito satin ground brocaded with silver. Tho dross has a very long train. Tho skiit opens in front over an apron of white satiti brocaded with silver. The pointed Louis XV. waist ia high in tho neck. The wreath of orauge blossoms is combined with a ditdom of diamonds All the court drefses made for tho Princess are superb, but thofe intended for indoor, walking and family visiting purposes are quito simple, and often only of woollen fabrics Among the first named ia a toilet for presentation at theCjurt of Austria of whito plush ehot with eilver. Tho front of the ekirt i? of white satin and laco, trimmed witn narcis sus A garnituro of white ostrich plumes surround the train and waist. Among the plumes are diamonds. Tho coiffure con sists of plumes nnd a band of diamonds. A ball dre?a of nymph pink eatin is wholly covered with Alencon point lace. Bunches of queen ro?es aro fastened to tho skirt and wninb tindor emerald ornaments. Tho jewola aro also omoralda.

Favourite Gems.

I was chatting the other evening with Mr Kunl?,, luinornloiiiHt cf TiffanyV, and who, by tho way, prepares tho annual K Ke n report for Iho U. S. Geological Survey, when tho recent ftivourites in the way of pierres de ffintaisie, with which fashion delights in decorating itself, Said ho : " Ono of tho handfomeat stones to which my attention has of Into been directed in the Golden Beryl,' fo named on account of its brilliant golden colour. Everyone is familiar with peryls of ono kind or another, the emorald and pquiimarine for ex-implo. Thero aro common and precious beryls. Tho latter are never found in puftbient quantities to les=en their (rem value, and I havo never eeen one larcer tban Fix or eight carats. The Golden Beryls of which I was Fpeaking are of the latter claee, and aro a native pro duct from a mine recently discovered in the Berkshire hills of Connecticut. In thip, ns in most instances, they are a by-product of mica deposit?. Theee aro by far tho finoet specimens I havo eeen." 'Beryls of even a yellowish colour," paid Mr Kuntz, "are rare; much more so are those of such luetro, clearness and rich goldon colour as distin guished thet>e Irom Connecticut, 1 doubt very much whether they will be unearthed in any considerable quantity, and I aesumo that this deposit will shortly be exhausted. In composition and crystallization they are ; identical with the emorald and aqua-marine, save in tho matter of colouring. In hard ness they rank as oight, with ths sapphire at nine, and tho diamond at ten. They have a high degree of brilliancy. Asagera, they are new in the market, arfd are decidedly handsomer than the topaz. If fashion sets its fancy upon them I can see no reason why they snon' ' not become st onoe very popular. As ior diamond?, the poorer qualities are going down in value. The finer stones are ns much pri.~?d a? ever. Rubies were never jd greater demand nor commanded better price?. Artificial rubies have of late been sold in itntnensa quantities, and it requires a cleverexpartto distinguish them from the genuine."

SUNK IN HONEY.

An Old Story Revamped from Days That Havo Gone By.

A man was out. in tho woods searching for honoy. Climbing a large! hollow trco, lie discovered an immenec find ef tho lus cious produce. By Eomc means, howovor, he missed his footing and slipped into tha hollow, sinking up to his breast in honey, lie struggled to got out, but without avail. lie culled and shouted, but aliko in vain. Ho was far from human habitation, and help thore was none, for no one hoard his crios. At longth, when he had bogun to despair of doliveranco, ho was extricated in n moct remarkable and unexpocted way. Strange to cay, another honey-huntor catno to tho sarr.o trco in the person of a large boar, which, emo'ling the honoy, the econt of which had boon diffused by tho efforts of tho imprisoned man, mounted tho tree and bogan to lower himself, hind part fir^t, into tho hollow. The hunter, rightly conclud ing that tho worst could bo but death, which ho was certain of if ho remained whoro he \va«, clasped tho bear about tho loins with both hands, at. the eamo timo shou ing with all his strength, Tho bear, what with tho handling and shouting, was very seriously frightened and made speed to got out of his lix. Tho man held tight and the bear pulled until, with \>U immense strength, ho ctrow tho man fairly out of hi« strange prkon. The bear being relented mndo tho best of his way oil', more frightened than hurt., leaving tiio man, os the story quaintly snye, in "j >j'ful four."

SWALLOWED HER TEETH.

PumpUlu :.Plo an<l Artificial Molars Go Down at Once, M;s Henhy Leu, of 217, River street, who tho othor day swallowed liar fal.^o tocth, is s ifforing intense p.iin. It was while eating a yicco of pumpkin pio that tho teeth loopened from tho plato, slipped down her throat and lodged in tho vicinity of Adam's apple. Whon sho discovered that hor teeth woro lodged in her throat sho pressed both hands to hor neck to p.-ovont tho baeth from entering lior stomach, aud in doing so imbedded them in her neck in ttuch a way fl h it they would noithor go up nor dow-J. Sho throw herself on n lounga and iv a gasping manuor cubed to hor duughtor, 1"> yoars of :it;\ to hii»!on for a pbysicdun. Not knowing tlio cau-o of Ihiir motlioiV trotlbio, hor live iit-110 children gathcrod around her and roused tho neighbours by their crying Jir.". Noornnd Van Bipor wore summoned, nnd, after making sovor,=l uttompts to re niovo tho ortiiicial molar?, ordorod a con voyanon nnd had tho woman taken to tho hospital. Alter live hours' [-.robing the tooth woro lint>liy fo cod into her ftoinneh. In an hour afterward sho vvns eoi/.ed with griping pains in tho bnwol", which hutod for thrco hours. On Saturday morning pho whs fooling much bettor and requested lo bo tiikon back to hor family. While being convoyed to hor homo sho was again cei/.cd with pains, nnd it was with grout difficulty that pho was kept from throwing liorcolf out ol tho waggon. j When n reporter of tho "Journal" vis- I ited tier homo in the evoning nho wan lying on 11 lounge with her hnmla profßed a gainst her Bidos, and, judging from tho wild oxpreßsion in hor eyes, s-ho will bo a maniac in lce-s than twenty-four hours ii tho teeth aro not removed from hor f-tomach. At 5 o'clock in tho afternoon sho concluded 1 to walk around tho room, thinking that ' :i lit Ho exorcise would rcliovo her of the ! torrible afiony. Sho had scarcely taken a r do/.en stops when i-ho ecreamed for a»*ist anco to tako hor back to tbo lmir.co. All of tho host-known remedies havo been ad [ ministered to hor, but thus fur luvo tiikon no elfcct.

Tho doctors mo timid about oxprosping n.n opinion. Thoy have decided to tako her back ii tlm hospital. Tho cjro has created eonaidtrablo oxoiteiaont in Iho vicinity whoro Mr* Leo ru^ido-1, and it is expected (hat novoral proininont pliyML^ins will hold a concti'talion and docWo upon somo method by which the tocth cm bo removed from Iho BtiirbrorV stomach.

Beating the Automatic Chess Player.

C'hi:ss in a fonturo of thid cafe, nnd tin toby hungrt a t:do of tho present wed;. An amateur plnyer, who had met and boon defeated by nil tho experts who had viaitod tho pltico, laid a vrnger that ln» c uld bent thu automaton that i« oh exhibition in t> city imiuemn. If ho couldn't vuniuish a wuodon man, hotaid, ho ivould quit playing oho-s and return to hopscotch. Sovoral frtenda went. «Ult him and thu pnity ohar tried iho mys'orious dummy fur mi hour, excluding tho general public. Tho ami tenr dcclarod that ha couldn't think clouily without a cijar botween his teeth, and ii- out the elfocte of tobacco in stimulating ttit; intellect of au habitual emokcr. For that occasion tho udo against smoking was suspended. Lighting a large and peculiarly

atrocious (-mailing cigar, the amateur placed tho men on the board, oponcd with tho Evnna gambit and pull.d. Ih ro marked that strategy v.as ono nl tho greatest elements of t'je game, and whou iho party assented lo that proposition, ho nddod that ho would show them fcnino .-Ira'o^y of a brilliant: nuturobefore tho gatnt Uiie over. Automaton moved p'omptly. A matour followed and piitrcilclontls cifemoko into automaton's beard. Dummy knocksd over » hi; hup in making Iho next muvo. Amateur picked tup and strategic.lly te plaucd it on v different equaro, capturing it l>y ldn iio.vl play. Moro emulto, and dummy stcmo'l lo grow eonfiiced. Ho miwcd a kiiighfc, picked up a queen by miJtnko iinil placed il hnro nniiileur roitVl rtw;i it in Amateur wa« calmly confident-, and non chalantly puffed llio"i-it;ar. In ton minutes ho said " check." Tho automnton could not rcPßuo his king, and it wuh " check mated." Amateur gathered in tho stakes and blow a parting cloud of unoko through tho figure's beard. A Foptdchral sneeze ro vorberated in tho mysterious interior of tho automaton, and a convulsive commotion among hia complicated viscera testilied to tho complolo success of amatonr't> strategy. Smoking in tho muFouui is now abpolutoly tabooed. But it is intimated that tho mysterious atiiomatiz chess-plnyeriftn human being whoso oye3 look through tho whiskers of the image.

HUMOROUS.

A man does not neod to own a railroad to oho a train. Whon a man wants to find fault he will do co if ho has to ppotul all his timo looking for it. If you wish lo communicate with tho linny tribes of Iho eon, first drop thoru a lino What is stronger in death than life? An old yollow-lojrecd hen. If men could only hoar thoir own [uncial norroons and road their o«"ii hoadntonoH I hero would bo no living in tho world with them. " 'ficrc, iiorp, idle tiers," retmrkad the nolor wlion ho raw tho usual rows of Otnpty benrlioa b- foto him. Why waß Goliath surprised whon ho wns ftruck by n Rtono ? Uecauso such a thing never ontored his head bufi to. A lady lecturer believe* that women ought to retain their own names when they get married. She das retained hers Ihua fur.' It costs but llttlo to live according to tho demands of nature, Iho main expense is livinc according to tho requirements of fafthinn. There are foinc men who havo an much genius that Ihry can't do anything hut tit around all day nnd think about it. A correspondent n?t<R how to servo a dinner. If it is a good dinner and you are hungry, juft cat it. That's the way wo would Eerve a dinnor. " Yer cunt etulf that ere down this chicken," from v young lady in Indiana, meant that, f>bo did not credit her teacher's ptiitement that the sun is larger than tho earth. Ma»bor : "Excuso in", Misa Sharpo; I had quito forgotten you, 1 am co absent minded, don't chcr know." Miss Sharpo: " Yes, I havo noticed the absence of mind." What is moro pathetic than to soo tho situi.lo faith with which a biildheadod man will buy an infallible hair restorative from a baldbcaded barber ! The Baiber's House.—A barber on Tyoe pido wa? told one windy day that hia shop woa blown down. "Ifno can that bo," wns tho reply, when aa hey the key in lny pocket ?" A "Bneter."—Kverybody knows hnw bad it is to be out in the etreets when it's rainipj; " cata and dogp,'1 but what is realiy a ivor* state of. affuirs than even this? Well, if you mast have it, hailing omnibu.-ea " Curinuß world thip," eaid bu old inftDto a fellow traveller on a bridge oar. " Very," was tho laconic reply. " And it's strange," continued tho venerable philosopher, " very eh-ango tbatEO few of us yet oat of it alive.''

THE "STAR" CIRCULATION.

Auckland, 7th January, 1887,

We hereby certify that we have ex amined the Books and Vouchers of the "EVENING STAB" Newspaper for he year 1886, with tht folloiving re sults ; — Number of Copies issued to the public and actually circulated for the year ending 31st December, 3,894,865, giving an average daily issue of XQj'JQQ.m The issues for the year 1885 ivere 3,252,393, giving an average daily issue of 10,491. This shows an average daily INCREASE of 301 co2>ies. JNO. MILNE ) Public J. WAYMOUTH J Accountants.

NEWS OF THE MONTH.

SUMMARY FOR HOME READERS.

AUCKLAND. N.Z.. January 20th, ISS7,

Anotueu unovontful month, politically con sidorod, had noarly closed whon tho weari eomo monotony was to some extent broken by Iho Premier's nddroas to his constituents on Tuo?day ovoning last, a rtmane of which is givon in another column, With this ox coption, lhe past four weeks havo boon barren of political soneation, although thoro has been n mild intcrost ovoked by tho an nouncement that tho Now Zealand Parlia ment will muot for tho transaction of business i> month or six iveclis oarlicr than usual. Tho object of the early mooting is to allow of tho lleprcscnta lion Bill having full consideration and being passed into law In araplo timo to havo tho next gonoral election conducted in tho redistributed districts, which ara to be mapped out, on a population basis. This question, and that, of tho reform of tho Legislative Council (or Upper Houee), are the only matters likely to cau»e eerioue dis-

cutfcion in tho moribund Parliament, which moots in tho courso of two months for its closing session. Sir Julius Vogel libh remained at Wni wera up till tho closo of thi=i week, having derived much bonelit from the water*. Bo soon returns to tho eeat of Government, and tho Premier and other Ministers will ppeodly also converge thither. His Excelloncy tho (iovornor hus boon residing at Uunodin for some weeks, and hns now gonoon a tour of tho WostCoatt Sounds. Sir Geo. Grey, whoco Bplondld library has been Rent from Kawau to its now nabitat in the Freo Public Library bui'dings in Auckland, hns beon rathor in disposed of lato, but wo aro glad to say la recovering. Sir Fredorick Wnitakcr has also beon unwoll, but no ecriouß results aro approhendod.

Thoro oro low but, wido?proad murrauis of discontent becnuso of tho continued in action of tho loado's of Hor Majesty's Op position in Now Zealand. Sir 'John Hall hiis remained completely quiescent fiinca hia return to tho colony, and so far as is known thoro Inn been no ra/iprmh incut bolweon him md Major Atkinson with n view to tho (ormttion of a solid op position to Hie present Government. It h felt on many hands that a Ministry coin prising Major Atkinson, Sir John ball, and tho Hon. John Bryco, would command tho "onfidonco of tho country, but " hopo do forred " in this matter is baginniog tn havo its usual effucts. It waa roportod tho other day that Mr Bryco was about to consult wilh Major Atkinson prior to addressing hie constituent', and thin may huvo to bo tbo first stop towarJa the formation of an op position planol campaign. By Ihoway, it is stated thattho Bryco Hidden libdawardhfts novor bcon acted upon owinj; to tho indo qiaion of Mr Hu-don ill tho iniltor of a new trial, und of CtmriiO Mr Bryco ia kept o-it o! tho damages nud cxponnos awarded him. Mr 13. ' Mitcboleon, M.II X foi Maredon, has intimated his intontion of retirin", and alroady a requisition is beinL' »ot up nuking Mr Allan Macdonnld, formorly M..11 11 for tho Eo«t Coast dis trict, to contest tho seat. Tho probability is that Mr Mitcheleon will not resign, but will allow tho seat to bccouio vacant at tho termination ct tho proeent Parliament.

ThoCustotns revenue fort ho throo quarters of tho financial period ended 30th Docember shown a deficioncy on tho nine mouths' proportion of the estimate of i!)1i,247, and a falling - off com pared with tho corresponding period of ISBS of £102.572. The total rorouuo lot the last nine months was £061,252, and that for tho tiMt three qu'irtorn of ISS.S was £1,01)5,837. Tho beer duty also shown a falling off both on tho estimate and on tho amount col lectod for tha lirat three quarters of ISS.'>. Tho nmount collected for tho niuo mouth? ended 31st December last was £38,210, or a dcl'u-iuDcy on Hio proportionate e-itimitc for tho year of £3,039. Tho falling off on tho amount collected during the same period last your is £2,120.

Tho economists of the Hou?o of llopreson tatives who have made onslaughts upon tho Ministerial residences will find now ground for attack in a return just issued. Another £994 was spent during the year onding 31st March on theso coatly appurtenoncea of Govern ment in furniture maintenance and repairs. Tho proper course to pursue with regard to I base establishments is to make Ministers a fixfld allowance for house accommodation, and soil the residences. Tho same return contains a statement of tho travelling exponses of Minis ters during the year, a? follows : — Travelling allowance, £1,323 ; travelling expenses, £777; expanses of attendants, £711 The most exponsivo travellers were : — Minister of Minos, £799 ; Native Mtnirtor, £195; Sir J. Vogel, £483.

A happy idea, and one which is as much to bo commended for its originality as Us fit ness to give expression to iho aspirations of the people of Auckland, has emanated from Hie Colonial Treasurer and been very warmly taken up by the Council of the Auck land Chamber of Commerce — tho idea, namely, of holding a Marino Exhibition in Auckland. When the plan of holding In dustrial Exhibitions in various parts of New Zealand was formulated over a year ago, it was promised that an Exhibition .should be held in Auckland in IS9O, with a. possible connection between the Exhibition tind Iho celebration of tho opening of direct railway coiniun nication between this city and Wellington. The augsestion now is that the Exhibition of I SOU should be a marine ono, and should have importance added to it by being thrown open to exhibitors from all parts of the world. Tho appropriateness of having ouch a "show" in tho maritime city of Auckland is apparent, and it is very gratifying to citizens to know that, instead of an Industrial Exhibition, like that recently held at Wellington, there is a prospect of having an International Marine Exhibition in the Corinth of the Southern Hemisphere.

Auckland occupies tho leading position among New Zealand cities as a shipping port, and she has from the first taken the foremost plaoo us a shipbuilding centre These facts will add immensely to the in terest attaching to such an Exhibition us that proposed, and will stimulate exhibitors in all parts of.the world to enter the lists. Tho results of this kind of exhibition can not fail to be beuoficial. A large display of the finest models of marine architecture, along with tho latest marine appliances, will serve a good educational purpose, and will at tho same time prove highly interest ing. Then the Exhibition would give an op portunity to the. different electric lighting companies to show their inventions and sub mit them to a practical test in presence of ship-owners, ship-builders, Harbour Board representatives and others. The applica tion of electric lighting to the illumination of wharves, the lighting of steamers, as well as for lighthouse purposes, could thus be demonstrated, and many companies would be sure to send their ap pliances for exhibition. So thoroughly were

our commercial representative men enamoured with this idea, that they asked Sir Julius Vogel to visit Auckland before he returns to Wellington, and give a public address on the subject—an invita tion to which Sir Julius readily consented.

Tho irado of tho color.y fhow« signs of reviving, a ,d this ib cl.ictiy duo to the improved prioflß of colonial Pro<juct ? , amla vigorous prosecution of public works. Three works of somo importance descrvo mention, especially on ac, t!VV P?J™H w are just about to bo started. On Monday the Minister of Public Works (Hon. B. Richardson) performc 1 «1\ I c.°, r, em°nX ?,' turning the first FOd of tho Midland Ka. ■ way, which is to be constructed by'ling list.capitalists ou the land grant system. This work 1b expected to b a of Pjiit bo. eht to Canterbury, and we .trust all ant.o po tions in connection with it may bo «^. ot!; AtNapier, the port and capital of Hawkc, s Bay diatticb. the firjt bock of the break water was laid on Tuesday last by M -J. D. Orraond, and tho ceremony was made the occasion of a great popular de monstration. Napior U at present one or tho most goaliead places _ in tho colony, and the energy and entorptiee of .hor p.oplo arc worthy of all commendution. lhe third public undertaking has a raoro immediate connection with .f. n«*l»* trict. Work in connection with making the first eection of tho Kaihu Valley Railway is to be started at once- the contractor Mr Owen, having recently visited Dargaville to arrongo tho nocesaary preliminaries IMO sectioii ot which Mr Owen has the con tract is 16.J miles long, and is esti mated to cost, with rolling stock and building, a sum of £58,000. Tho kauri bu-h which will bo tapped by this railway is said to contain 300 millions of ioet ot good Umber, und in ndditioo to work lor over 100 man being found in 'ho construe tion of Iho lino, it i« estimated that within a year 300 mon will bo employed hi cutting down tho timber for transit along thg lino to Auckland or Helon.vlUo. Although the whole of tho railway plant und ro. mgßtoc. Zji be brought from England the prose cution of this enterprise will do munn to cau»e a revival in tho Auckland labour market. Work is still proceeding on tho Main Trunk Railway to connect Auckiaik with Wellington, and Sir Julius \ ogol etatoa that the lino should bo coinplolod in sno.

Mr E, W. Blair, C E., under instruction* from the Ciovornincnt, lias made a report upon tho sehemo for connecting AucKianu and Mnnukau by a canal. This has always been n. cherished project, and many roams of papor have been wasted in discussing it. M r BlairH report appears to show very great ditli.nilties in tho successful working of such a canal, owing to the differences in the tide levels on the East and West Coasts of the island. These apparently may be partially overcome by the construction ot a central look, but tho strong current would act destructively upon the canal mcl nialco it costly to maintain. lo construct ,1 canal for coastal steamers is a projoct possibly within the attainable means of the port authorities, if such a work were considered worth Ilia money ; but the.greater undertaking of a canal for ocean steamers of the iirst class involves the stupendous work of arresting tho treachor- UUS sands of Manukau bar, and from even New Zealand's small experience ot harbour works wo can form a pretty shrewd idea of how many hundreds of thousands of pounds may ho thrown into the sea over such experiments. -tlic advantages of the work are also not _so great as is popularly supposed. A saving of three hours in point of time in the voyago to Sydney is too infinitesimal for steamers to pay the canal dues and incur tho rinks of tho passage out of the .Manukau, Mr Blair expresses no opinion upon the effect which the tide raco through the canal might have upon the harbours of Auckland and Manukau, but he says enough, wo think, to show that the experiment of constructing such a canal is not likely lo bo made during tho present generation.

Tho business transacted during last year at tho Tost Olli>:o Savings Bank in Auck land gives evidence that tho " depression ' hap been felt as woll i\k heard about. Tho Chief I'ottninpttr has made tho following (iliatruct of tho year's transactions in tho Money Oldor and Savings Bauk Dej'arL m.nts :—

-7.SU Money Orders Inncd for .. £99,900 n n Uoniinlssion on tl-.uv l.o'JO lo 10 S8 319 Moacy Orders paid tor .. 103,3318 0 1503J8ai-lDßßßuukdoptsi«for 151,800 i 11 l2'oi7SB Bvioßß Bank withdrawals for 176.1711611 I 171 scnns'itaoloectl. KJecoss of withdrawals orer deposils 21.011 U 0 l)n. Atoroditof dopoeitoraou Jan. 1. „,,,., Iggg £SIG.HI 1 3 Deposited during 1888 ■■ ■■ 151.5C0 111 InieruM paid au3 allowed.; .. srall v Total £3V'J,273 IS 1 Cli. Ainnunt of wittidriiwals durlntf 1888 176,171 IS U Aiiiouninl cru'ln of duputilurdou 31st Dec, I^o 2^,B''2 1 2 'I'Olul £37'J.2'3 18 1 While it ia satisfactory to leim that 2,41)5 now accounts havo been opoocd againet 2.171 oloaed, tho withdrawals tiro found to exceed tho deposits by £21,011 Vii. Thin, although it is apparent thnt thtro his been a drain on tho reecrvo funds of tho industrial elacsc->, it ia ovidout that habit? of thrift aro being moro widely diseeminatod, and tho fact that in tho Post Otlioo Savings Bank ulnno a earn of £154,860 4a lid w«s deponted by Auckland working men and their families, an tho savings of a single year, proves that thore ia still a considerable surplus of in como over expenditure.

Fires hay» been very prevalent of late, and their dentructivenees has been increased by the prevalence of extremely hot ami dry woather. Bush fito< have been numerous in Auckland district, but their ravages havo not boon ec> serlni? ai in eomo former \ ens. A deplorable affair i-1 r^porfod from i)uno din, viz , the total destruction of a largo factory and warehouses, involving the death of four men, whu were overwhelmed by tho failing ruins.

Mr Gulliver, tho City Valuer, has just completed tho valuation of tho property in the eoveral wards for municipal rating purposes. A return which has been pro pared, and which is boforo v«, thows a substantial incroaso in tho East Ward, and email iucroasGS in the Grafton and Karangahapo Wards. There is, however, a largo reduction in the valuation of the North Ward, and emaM decreases likewise in Pousooby and South Wards. The follow ing table shows the valuation for tho current year in comparison with 18So 6: -

ISSSB. ISSG-7. Increase. i Eastward £115.<.K6 £1:>I,1S:) £2,227 Grufton Ward iti.lliK IO.Mi 230 KaraiiKuhnpo W'd 27.U51 27,9X1! a 1.1 North Ward BS.U2J 55,1'JS 3,121 Decrease. Ponsonby Ward 50.551 81,470 101 South Ward G7.U00 <i7.l!H> JOl Dec £370,180 £369,023 £1,072 Auckland is not singular amongst the cities of tho colony in hiving a reduc tion in its valuation. I» Christcburch tho assessment is £23,000 leas thau last year.

Tho Auckland Fico Public Library and Art Gallery aro to I o formally opened by Hia Worship the Mayor on Saturday, the sth nf March, at 230 p.m. Bir Geo. Grey's library has been insured by tho City Council for £5,000.

To-day is the anniversary of tha founding of the colony, aod is observed as a general holiday in Auchland. The worklDß. men aro holding their annual Eight, H»urs' Demonstration with athletic sports in tho Domain, and the annual Regatta is taking place in the harbour. Tho Wellington Anniversary wan celebrated on Saturday last. Tho 20lh of January, ISOO, "ill introduce tho Jubilee Year of Now Zonland, aud tho International Marino Exhibition at Auckland, which will in all likelihood be opened on that datp, will be but ono in cident in I be many joyful observances which will mark tho auspicious onoision

Crimiual sonsationa during the month havo been the Great Barrio* murdnr trial, and the trial nf Th^mi? Hill fcr the. alloged poisoning of Ciptain Cain. In the <!r,~at; Barrier caafi, the two prisoners, John Cuffrey and Henry Albert Term. wero found guilty of (ho wilful 'DUrder of Robert Taylor, and wore sen tenced to be liaoger] Christehurch has f up plied a froah criminal horror, in tho shape of a cbargeofprocuringaborfoti preferred against Dr. Ruseell, of that city, and 2 women. Whon arrested on tho charge ihe doctor tried to poison himself by swallowing a quantity of aconite, but ho was driven to tho Hospital and hie life saved, Tho accused were com mitted for trial.

Ostrich fanning is to have a fair trial in the Auckland district, under conditions favourable to the success of this important industry. A telegram from our correspon dent states that the barque Johannn Broder sen with 49 ostriches on board was towed into Kaipara Harbour on 26th inst. These birds are being introduced by Mr Victor Nissen, who, we learn, left Auckland, in July last on a trip to Australia. via Mauri tius, and thence to South Africa, -with the idea of feeing the industries of other conn, tries. The upshot of his inquiries and observations was that after travelling

through South Afrfca ho dooidod upon taking back with him a number of ostuches to this district, where on tho Otimatoamw, ho holds some 10,000 acre.. In Porti^atol. South Africa, Mr Nissen charteiecl the Danish barque Johann Brodcrscn for convevinsr his cargo of 50 birds to Kaipara, the S being Selected by himself from out of the best breeds and troops of birds in South Africa, somo of thorn originating ram tho famed Nobecl flock, near Wullrpdfthth in thoMossol Bay district, where they were secured at a cost of 150 guineas each. Ilia birds were shipped on board the Johann Brodcrsen in November at Port Natal. A male bird was accidentally killed during tho voyaVo, and six others we're lost by sickness SS.X^^^hasl^ he ostriches so far, that no further mishap will occur to damp his enterprise. Ostrich farming has been successfully established in Panterbury where tho climate is not carl' ™« table as here, and there is Sable expectation that the ostriches now landed at tho Kaipara will but prove theVrrt of many importations to Auckland district.

THE PREMIER'S ADDRESS.

Sib Kobbbt Stout addrassod tho electors of Dunedin East in the old Knox Church on Tuo-diy evening, January 25.

Sir Hubert Stout prefaced his remarks by a.i>ing that it would ho impcwihlo for him to discuss tho wholo of the subjects of which he wished to speak in his address?, tbonfoM ho would haVe to meet them a aecoud lime, as ho had dona tart year Tho depression had not been confined to Now Zealand. In this colony there had been a falling off in Ihc rcvonuo, and ho was specially gratified to find that loss money had boon spent in intoxicating liquors. Great advance had r eon mado in thifl col ony In tliid respoct, duo to the tfin-.xr.inco pooplo. Anothor fall waß bawd on tho fall of. good* Tho cry of economy last sofwlon, raised by s, '"oral nSSnbon., w.w merely rated by thaw win wished to diep'afce Ibo Govormnont. Ho fallv recognised that if this colony was to a«eumo tho position ol J OTpwJn colony tho strictest caro would be neceaaar, ~n tho part of the Government and people. They mu»t bo prepared for le*s help from tho Government. Ac to tho bum of last eepsion, ho hrst dealt with native miters a question which unfortunately pot ™r o cooperation in tho South Inland. Ho ', however, "lad to say that last session M,o members from tho South endeavoured to master it, and no longer bo lod by those known 03 Maori prophets. With tho view of provontiii" jobbery and tho stopping of Mjoenlators from purchasing native land, lua Government promised a motnod of dealing with the native lands question. Tney pro posed that once the title to a Maori block was ascertained, no person nad a right ever to -o to the owners and nay he was repay to buy tho land ; and that any Maori who wished to sell bis lands in future would hate to sell them through tho Govern ment Commissioner, and Bell them alao on similar conditions as prevailed with respect to waste lands of the Crown. Land sharks were thus abolUhod. Provision was Bbo made for preventing Maori omen the revenue from their land in drink. A counter proposal to this bill was free trade in native lands. That meant that men with the largest purso, and those who could speak the Maori language ana bribo the Maoris, would have the preference, and they only could get ni.tivo lands. This the Government strongly oppowri, and after much trouble and great paUonOO on Mr Uallanco's put, tho bill bocame law. Native schools wera reorganised ana ho was clad to say that under Mr Popo sable roanasremsnt great results were being reaped from natives aohools in various localities Native children woro also beiog tau.rht English, and if this had been dono forty year? ago thcro would not have bean tho trouble'that had been seen in Zealand Ho nest dealt with tho local go vornmtnt proposals of last session. Colonis inr functions were undertaken, and it Vas recognised that nnloca tha coloaial Gnvercmont was to bocomo a hu ? o board of roads and bridc;o?,tho responsibility of man agement and the maintaining of their, must bo canton local bodies Thishadbeendoner.y thornoiFuro pawed last session, and mem ber* coming specially from country district?, many of whom opposed tbo Government, admitted tho mcasuro had been well de vised, and thoy wcro cordially Bupportcd, with tho result that it pMSed almost witli acclamation. Thi-i bill would enable the General Government to re.-i-t all claims for roads and bridges, and ho hoped would eo:>n put an end to eome thiog not unknown even in our Houeo of Bepresentativea — what was popularly known a» " IoR-rollin ?." Sir Rcbeit next dealt at length with tho land question. Tho unemployed difficulty had not been lost right of in doaling with this land question, and pooplo without moans had been enabled to obtain homos in the country, arid mado comfortable for Ufa. During ISS6, notwithstanding- the depres sion and low price of agricultural and pastoral products, they had besu enabled to sottlo moro peopl« on tho land than wore over settled in any year bsfore. With the largo homesteads system he disagreed, and in Auckland it had proved a failure. Whilst he recognised that New Zealand, cooei'Jerng its position and soil, muat for a lone timo°remain an eminently agricultural and pistoral country, he was nut blind to this fact, that no country could bo great were it to bo dependent on one or two industries. The Government had aecjpted tenders in the country for woik formerly nvited from Eomu Ho admitted that the tariff required revision. It would not do to ignore local iadus-trio;*. Then in railway tariff administration it would bo mischievous to tho people if the railways wore only re quired to pay tho coat of their workings and that the rest of the colony was to be taxed to pay interest on the cost of construction. Next they came io retrenchment. Retrench ment in the public service could only come in two ways: First, that tho General Go vernment was lessened ; and, eucond, that payment for their work was lessened If the general work was lessened, it meant either that the local bodies acknowledged and ehould perform the functions pre-

viouely performed by the General Govern ment, or that tha people would look tci tho Government for fewer conveniences, If they wished to cheapon tho Civil Service, they must proceed on some eystom, not neglecting the rights that had grown up with old servants, but in EOmo systematic plan that would ba fair. Tho Civil Service Keforui Act was proposed with that object, but some of its main provisions wcro excise! by tho Legislative Council last session. Thero wero some departments that could not bo reduced. For oxamplo, in. the Educa tional Department, though they had reduced clerical expenses in tho Wellington office, tho General Educational Department would go on incroasing as tho nuinbor of our chil dren incronsod; but tho Government this year would be able to show a very Urge saving in the public expenditure. Un the vote for tho worjtiug of the railways a largo saving would bo shown on the estimates for tho past two months. A small reduction would also ba >"liown in (.he Justice Department. In the Native Department tborowou'.d be;ieavinrrof at lcn?t £1(1,000. There would bo a saving in (ho Mining Department, in Customs, in the Colonial Secretary's Department, and, in fact, in every department of tbo Govern ment, so that whon tho Kstimatoa nextyoar came down, iostoad of paving £20,000 or £30,000, as he had promised in the House, they sh uld be able to show double that It might be asked what was to be their future policy in reference to railway con struction, aud in reference to loan. He hid no new policy to enunciate, nor a po! icy different from what ho announced last year at Invercargill Ho hud stated then Ih it. tho timo for our borrowing must soon nease, and he was still einvincod that if wo woro to provWp, not for a more tcropor •'■rv prosperity, but for pevinanent stability i Q -nr fin»"cn, horrowinc must coase. (Conti died #i erg.) The Premier wont on to say ihat In thought thoy should abstain a f.oi ether from borrowing next year. Ho turther sated that the Government would be able to make a reduction of £00,000 on fee Estimator, andjindicated increased Custom taxation in tho di re lion of aiding local industries. On the que-tion of Representation he eaid the Government would re introduce their bill of last session, and he hoped to carry it. H] was prepared to miike an allowance of from 500 to 1,000 population in favour of country districts. Ho was confident that only thrift on the ptit of (he people was necossary to rtstore prosperity. A vote r>f cor.iHenoo in the Premier was carried witb acclimation.

POLITICAL.

Sir; F. D. Bell is to repro33i<t Ke.v Zealand nt the proposed Colonial Confoiecoo to be bald in London.

RELIGIOUS.

A BiiiLi! Society has boon formed at Thames. Thames Presbyterian Church and manse aro free of de>.t, and there is a credit balance of £12. Tho Fresbytoiian Synod of Otago haH resolved that a loyal address bo presented to tho Qaeen on tho occ-ieion of her jubiloo, and to tho Govorcor on his present visit to Dunedin.

llev. John Dunlop, M.A., of Dundee, Scotland, has been appointed Profossor of Theology in Otago. R.»v J D. Jory, who has been for oleven years a Wesleyan missionary in Fiji.is now on a visit to Auckland. Key. J. Guy has bean olected Presidsoti of the' Primitive Methodist Conforeaoe, and Roy. J. Sharp Secretary.

The Presbyterians of Onehunga and Mangero have erected in Mangere cemetery a handsome marble monument in memory of their late miniator.tho Rev. James Bruce, who died on 20th September last. The Church of tho Sacred Heart at Pon sonbywasformally oponod on 16 th inßt., when all the services were well attended. At 730 o'clock mass was celebrated by Father Lcnni han pi-iest of the parish. The building was again crowded at 11 o'clock when nontin'eal Hi»h Masa was colebratod by the- Uio-ht Rev. Dr. Luck, 0.5.8., bishop of the1 dioce?o, assisted by the Boy. Fathers- Kehoo, Egan, and McManus as deacons.- The Key. Father Lonihan conducted in the chrir MissSliaiia-rhanpresidingat theorgan, Tbo opening sermon was preached by the Roy. Father Egan, Ma text being, "Be hold the Tabernacle of God, ana He shall dwell with men, and they shaH I c His people, and God Hinifelf shall bo their God'" At Vesper?, tho church wag sgain crowded, tho cermon being preached by Bishop Luck.

Wesleyan Conference.

Tho annual Conferonco of tho Wesleyan Methodist Church of Now Zealand opened at the Pitt-street Church on 18th met.-the Rev H. Bull, President, in the chair. Tbo following mombors of tho clergy wore pre sent : -ltom W. Morley. A. .Reid J. Berry, , W J Williams, K. Bavin, J. Wallia, BT.'-K. Dewsbury, T. G. Carr, H. H. Lawry, C ft Garland, W. dittos, C. E. Barley, W. Worker E. Best, J. A. Taylor, W. J. Wat kin, S Lawrv, J 8. Riabworth, J. Dellow, J. J. Mather, M. L. Wniti,, T. F. Jones. T. G. Brooke T G. Uamuiond, Raraeka, HoriTe Kurei, I. Kakena, (9. T. Marshall, J. Dukos, S Grifli fh Wi Warcna, W. Lee, W. ■iineley, T. N. Griffia. K. S. Bunn, W. C. Oliver D. J. Murray, W. Caumber, J. Srump, ". Law, J. s'smalley, J. T Pin fold, T. J. Wills, Wm. Kowee, and VV. B. Election ok Pb*SH>EKT.—The election of President for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, Iho Conference previously agreeing that an absolute majority of the votea of those present bo required. The llov W, Gittos was declared elected, bud declining tho office, tbo llev.W.C. Oliver was elected, and was introduced by tho retiring President. The newly • elected President, having been duly welcomed, delivered a few remarke appropriate to Iho Officers —The Kov. .J. Dellow wai elected precentor, Key. H. It. Dewebury secretary, Row. J. Dukes and D J. Murray assistant secretaries, and Key. 0. H. Gar land corresponding.secretory. _ Fiji Mission Wokk. — Tho Eev. Mr Jory, the missionary from Fiji, was next called upon by the President to addres3 tho Conference lie thanked the Conference for inviting him to bo present. Ho then spoko at eomo length regarding mission work in Fiji, and concluded by preeentinp the following roturns :—1,200 churcho3 and other proaching places, 55 natives ministerp f 1 (,00 catoohiets and teachers, 1.900 local preachers, 3,500 class leadors, 31,3C0 mem bers of our Church, 1,400 Sanday-echoole, " 700 Sunday-school teachers, 42,000 Sun day scholar?, and 100,000 attendants oa public worship. Theie figures, he. felt suie^ would bo very gratifying to the Conference. The Conference, during ita session, ba» transacted a largo amount of business.. The »i P ort.-howeJ all the cor*9xional funds., to bo in a healthy condition, A resolution wa3 canied in favour of taking steps to eecure if possiblo, th 3 incorporation of tho Tongan Froo Cburch with tho Weslayan body, from which it seceded.

Tragic Fire at Dunedin.

(bvtbleoraph own cokresfosdekt.)' Ounedts, Jan. 2-4. *■*■;• « A tout ono o'clock on Sunday afternoon-,/ ■„. January 23, a very destructive fire brok>. out in the large factory of the Dune-*"' din Iron and Woodware Company. ThftjH premise?, which cover about two acres of fi'|J grjund ia a square blosk, and extendiDg-! . from Princess-street to Bond-street, having _ also a third frontage to llanor-atroot, wore.. ■ burnt down about ten years ago whenr belonging to tho Guthrio and Larnaek' Woodware Company. They were then" rebuilt on a much more extensive scale.,, 1 There was a tremendous crowd preeent, aad as an alarm of powder being on-liwhjj premises was raised, they were running' about wildly, although never interfering^;* with salvago work. There was a consider- /; able quantity of cartidges in the bdi|3J§B ing, and those could be heard popping: - I off in a regular fusilade, but the roari'H of tho fire Rnd the falling roof" |f and walla drowned if.. Two or three: I heavy explosions of powder took place, ;|| but did no damage. Shortly after three o'clock the fall of the upper flocra .. of (ho ironmongery department and '| their ponderous contents caused Bad_ I loss of life. The basement of this depart- I merit was used as a store, and it could be I entered from the basement of the furnitnra; : ;g department adjoining, by a low arched opening, some eight feet in width. Afj| number of people entered this way,y?-j| and made their way upstairs, passing vf=| out articles within reach. The strain to which the floors above were subjected ww I tremendous. The topmOßt . floor with the contents had fallen upon the ona 1 beneath, that upon the next one, and so on till at this juncture the whole fell with ona great crash to the basement. Those on the right Bide of the archway, on the | basement of the furniture department ~" eecaped but foil back horror-stricken"*jjj and envelope.! in smoko and fragments a| of debris. They had barely time to recover .;:| themselves when a cry for help informed ,Sj them that one or more men lay buried ;^ bsneath tho burning mass. 16 ap-.'|| psars that whon tho first fall took i;| place ono man named Wallace, a Eea^.'Sj; faring man, was buried up the waiat. A number wore ongaged trying to .roapuß-|ii|| him by prizing up the tliirjgs covering him whon the whole two floors above gave way and pinned three more. One was A« lv Miller, a carter in the oinploy of the coin*,:.'|i pany: the nther was E. Eaquilant, a young man who is the son of a bookbinder ;:]*l in Dunodin ; and tho fourth ie unknown. It.,,1!! took a tew hours, hard work among' Who ';|| great heat and »moke before the bodies wet'B ;C| recovered. Etquilaut and Wallace; warß-;& alive ; Miller and tho other two were dead, eg

Wallace died about half-past ton. He *M;S a sailor on board the Bhip Waimate, and wan ~.;. 27 years of age. Eequillant died a few minute? nftonvarda. IJvs. Brown, Fergu- 39 son, and Mclntyre (Timaru), were on the :■; scen3 for five hours, to render service. In a dangerous position they administerad chloroform to Esquilant and Wallace. The ; men and the doctors who were working to relieve them did so a*; (ho p»ril of their ; live», end tho way they ail worked tras ad mirable All the machinery iacompletely wrecked, -; and the only parla of tho factory savedarn sg the drying rooms, pmithy, Iho top storyjol J the furniture department, and tho iron yard. TUo Insurances areas follows: —Liverpool,LondonandGlobe, £5,000 ; London an.l Lanoishire, £o,000; Phcenix, £2 500 ; Siuth British, £2,500;; ,;: Royal Union of New Zealand, £2.000; Victoria, £2,000; Sun, £2,000; Royal, £2,000; United, £1,700; National, £l,1B0;r:& No«- Zealand, £1,500; Northern, £',000!;, Equitable, £750 ; Continental and Engjistt ofiicea not represented in New Zaalanai_ ? £11,295. Total £40,905. ." ~'M At the inquoat the verdict was thatH. .■ E. B-quillant,Robait Wills, AndrewMillaTi and Richard Pascoe oiot their death by w* ' cidont. A rWor was nddedexpreesingsyin- n pathy with Mri> E?quiliant, and expreseing ;, McKenzie, and Constables Ohi'sholm and . Cltirke should receive tome fitting reifaro,: their conduct being deserving of great. ;.

Near GreyruoiiHi, the skeleton of » big \rhaie hns be in found in the sandstone lock about 25 feet above the level of tne : creak in the locality, and about 100 iWp; above the lovel of the 66a. The. bones ««/

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 18b7

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