Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953), Wednesday 24 December 1890, page 2


(ESTABLISHED .1842.) With whichis inorpomted Published every Monday, Wednesday,: and Friday Evening WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1890. Christmas, 1890. ie its erer recurring .cle Christmas is with as once again, and in accordance with custom handed down since news papers were newspapers we have the duty to perform of saying a few words appropriate to the -occasion to all and sundry. The task is one beset with no small difficulty, inasmuch as the sub ject has formed the these around which so many gifted intellects have woven their thoughts and transferred them to paper for the entertainment and benefit of their fellows, that one feels the dis abilities.under which he labors in en-. deavonng to say something that will at least have the merit of novelty. Yet after all it is a question whether the necessity exsts to strive after novelty in connec tion with such a subject. The sacred story of Christmas, which has been re peated for these 1890 years, is still new enough to most people; they ask for no variation in the manner of telling it, and little children at their mother knees still listen to the story of the magi and the shepherds who watched their flocks by night with the same wondering interest as did those same mothers, and their ancestors before them down the long line of ages, did when they were just opening the pages of life's story. Under the circumstances then is any apology for the lack of absolute newness of senti ment and phrase needed ? We feel it is not, and at once declare our intention to deal with the Christmas season in the same manner, to the best et our ability, as our predecessors on this paper have addressed their readers at this period of the year for almost half-a-century. There is every appearance that the present Christmas in Portland will be rather quieter than usual. The principal contributing cause to this condition of affairs is that the atmospheric influences seemed to be turned topsy-turvy in this year of grace. Satirists have held tip to ridicule the unreasonable allegiance of Australians to the gastronomical arrange menta that prevail at Christmastide in the old land where the temperatute is as a general rule more suitable to the die. eassion of hot and smoking goose and turkey, plum pudding and mulled wine than it is here with a thermometer rang ing up to and over 100 in the shade. int if present appearances are borne out there will be little absurdity in the situa tion to-morrow. With a persistency that is incomprehensible, and not a little vexatious to many of our people, the weather has kept cool, and the culminating point was reached on Monday night when unusually heavy hail storms took place. Naturally the result has been a far less appreciabhle addition to our floating popu. lation than would have been the case under what we may style normal con ditions, the bulk of new faces seen in the streets being those of aforetime residents who have come to participate in those family reunions which this festive season, above all others, is so fruitful in. We are now, however, referring more particularly to the present week ; the New Year Season will witness more activity, as then the tifle competitions will be in full swing. Matters may not be as bright just at pre sent as we would all wish them, but let us hope for better times to come and for

the nonce tLrow trouble to the winds and enjoy our Christmas with a free heart. But hold, this brings us to an important part of our subject. Ibere are some un fortunately who cannot.say '" begone dull care," to whose hearths Christmas brings little joy, " whose experience indeed is rendered still more bitter by contrast with that of those more fortunately situated. There are not a great many. happily, of the very t'oor in Portland, but still thore are some to.whot a little thoughtful and judiciously administered kindness will bring a few rare beams of sunshine. We are quite sure it is the wish of our people that the season should be one of general rejoicing, and it is more from want of thought than inck of inchuatiun that they would fail in a Ghristian duly to unfortunate fellow creatures. Know ing this we take the liberty of reminding our readers of the claims upon them that are none the less strong because voiceless, remembering that " We all can do better than yet we have done, And not be a whit the worse; It never was loving that emptied the heart, or girloving that empte;d the purse." There are probably some who will cynically turn from the advice to be merry for a brief space, will grumblingly ask what is provided locally in the way of enjoyment, and, answering the ques tion themselves, reply simply nothing. It is merely a question of disposition. There are an infinite variety of ways of enjoying one's self even in quiet Port land. Sterne says "I pity the man that can travel from Dan to Beersheba, and cry 'tis all barren. And so it is, and so is all the world to him who will not cultivate the fruits it offers." And we pity the man who cannot spend an enjoy. able Christmas in Portland even under existing circumstances. Those who have pursued the paths of artificial enjoyment, in which the appetite grows with what it feeds on, may even find a relief from that which has began to pall on the senses and may not spend the least enjoyable Christmas amongst us. Portland people in 1842 spent their Christmas Day in playing quoits, and the then editor of the Guardian, in commenting on the fact, says :-" It is pleasant, therefore, to see a happy few who can for a brief period throw off the cares of the world and their costs at the same time, betake themselves, with quoit in hand, to the green award, there vigor. onsly to contest for the prize awarded to the successful competitor." It is not unlikely that we will see some of our citizens contesting a game of quoits at Christmas, 1890, and; the words of the writer in 1842 will equally apply to-day. The same editor was evidently not quite a total abstainer otherwise he would not have counselled two litigants to settle a dispute "over a Christmas tankard of ale or noggin of whisky.'! But we have rambled long enough, and in the effort-to keep a trifle clear of platitudes have perhaps not given the seasonable sentiments sufficient promi. nence. Briefly to sum up, however, ounr advice .is to be cheerful, although. matters may not be altogether to our liking, for as the author of " Proverbial Philosophy" says-" Not few nor light are the burdens of life; then load it not with heaviness of spirit." Next we re peat ilte hope that all who ae.ahble will deal kindly with their less fortunate brethren; and. this will go a great way toward the fruition of the next wish that all may enjoy the festive season. It is with the full belief that they may have it if they honestly desire and for the time being look only at the bright side of things, that we again wish our readers, one and all, ',?Icrrj Ohristlaa. PosTALr, ARaiseoexTs.-The jallow. ing will be the holiday arrangementR at the local Post and Telegraph Office : Thursday, 25th, Christmas Day, offices closed. Friday, 2Gth, Post Office open from 9 till 10 a.m.; telegraph office open as usual. No money order and Savings' Bank business will be transacted. De livery by carriers in morning as usual. Saturday, 27th, offices open as usual. No money order or aaringst banks business will be transacted. S:1',-Treasary closed from Wednesday till Monday. WrEaE TO Gio.-In the way of public fixtures there is as usual little provision made for the holidays in Portland, but if the weather is fine those who desire to enjoy themselves can easily do so. To night the Portland Band will enliven the proceedings by playing a programme in one of the thoroughfares, and as usual the streets will doubtless be thronged with, faces, old and new, To-morrow services will be held in the English and Wesleyan Churches, and in the evening the Portland Band will agair, turn out and play on the pier if the weather is suit. able. On Friday, in the town, the children attending the Presbyterian Sabbath School and their friends will proceed to the Government paddock, where the annual picnic is to be held, and there will probably be a very large attendance at this gathering, which always proves enjoyable. Then the Bravo runs an xeur-aion to Julia Percy Island, and given fine.weather this should prove a most enjoyable outing. There will be thea usnal number of private picnics to favorite resorts, boating and beach excur. sions, ?c. Then on Boxing Day the annual rifle competitions commence, and though such contests are not much as a spectacle they will attract a large number of persons interested in gunning, and who would as soon watch marksmen scoring bullseyes as others would note the pro gress of a horse or boat race. Going outside the town the Myamyrn lRaces will attract a number of people from P'ortland. The entries, which appear in another column, are fair for the main events, and the lesser contests will doubtless fill well, as they always do. This is all we can think of; the bill is certainly niot lengthy, but Portland is so fortunately situated that one does not require to be very fertile in resource to secure a day's enjoyment. P.nczrs were lying at the Pier Station this morning for J. Maddock, Wilkinson, A. J. Thomas, HIuxley, Rev. B. Butchers, Mise Gorrie (c/o iry . . Butchers), iMrs. W. J. lIenty, F. A. Wilson. MIrs. Cameron, J. L. Cathberteon (c/o I'en colt), Miss M. J. Gill (Walook), F. F. Levett, i1. Thomas, Mrs. Mitchell, T. F. Williams, Mliss McDonald, J. (Quinlivan, I. Wilson, M. M. Boniace l(Lorotto Convent),Backer. Fisn.-Some of the fishers got among the barracouta again yesterday evening and this morning, and by the 9.45 train sme 20 baskets were sent away,

IIItISTMAIS D)ECon.TIONS.-A usual at th!: period of the year a number of our business people have spent considerable time and trouble in giving their show windows a seasonab'e appearance. The butchers keep up their reputation in this I respect, these wary knights of the cleaver c evidently knowing the weak side of hbouman nature, particulnrly at this time of the year. Mr. D. Brown's window, par. ticularly on the small goods side, would make the mouth of a gourmand water. ( lHere those varied preparatlons it. sausage form make a setting for2 wee sock;ng pigs ready for the spit. This morning early there was a splendid show of meat. As usual Mr. Brown and his e-.ploydts have been busy decorating. and the floral dis play resulting from their efforts is very pleasing to the eye. Mr. Osbourne's shop presented a wonderful sight late last night and even early this morning. The puzzle was where to find room to hang the carouses, and to do this erory available nail and hook was mnade use of. This maybe imagined when it is mentioned 4 that 3G lambs, 10 sheep. I bullocks, 2 calves and 2 fat pigs were slaughtered, and when our representative visited the premises at midday a fresh supply was being awaited. There also the floral decorations had evidently received much attention. The fruiterers are also to the fore. In Bentirck Street, Messrs. B. Lear and Crichton, in Julia Street, Mesdames Lear and Charter and R. Frost, and in Percy Street Mrs. Vickery and Miss Mason all have good displays in their particular line, the show of cherries at Mrs. Vickery's being specially fine. Messrs. Keiller. Teague and Quinlivan have good shows of fancy confectionery and other mystaries of their craft, and some of the drapers have also made an effort to render their show windows specially attractive. Mr. T. Huxley has an elegant display of fancy articles suit able for Christmas presents, and the Guardian' fancy goods dep6t window also presents an attisotireliature, particolariy to juveniles who are expecting a visit from Santa (lans. Mr. R. Frost, who was casually mentioned in connection with the fruiterers, deserves a special note for his floral and evergreen decora tions, both inside and outside the shop. \Ve had almoost ommitted the shop of Messrs. W. Andersan and Co., where the custom is still followed of arranging in attractive form dried fruits, spices and other preparations having seasonable associations. This is the only firm we see that now takes the trouble to keep up a custom that was wont to be pursued by glmost all our grocers. MnstcsL.-The Portland Band will, weather permitting, play the following programme in the street this evening : March, " Dear Little Jessie." Schottische," Al Fresco." Waltz, "Land and Water." March, " Fraternitic." Lancers, " Heroic." Grand March," Kissengen." Waltz, " Rich and Rare." Galop, " Poet Horn." Finale, " God Save the Queen." It Is more than probable that the band will also play on the pier or some other convenient spot on Christmas night. PnAsruL AccIDF.T.-An accident of a very peculiar and painful nature occurred a short time back to a well-known shearer named Donald MeKinnon. lie was en gaged sheasing at Sluattleseamere station, and while shearing a lamb the animal kicked, and happening to strutsie McKin non's hands, the shear blade was driven in to his cheek in an upward direction, splitting the lower eyelid fairly in two, and leaving bat a very small protection for the eye itself. McKinnon was taken to the Port Fairy Hospital as qutckly as possible, and the injury attended to. He is now at home at Darlot's Creek, Gon dah, and doing fairly well, which is a source of thankfulness to his numerous friends, for Donald is a man who is highly respected throughout the whole district. MV'Atr. RACEs.-The committee of the Myamyn races, which are to take place on Boxing Day, have been busily exerting themselves during the past week in preparing the running track and other. wise perfecting arrangements in connec. tion with this popular gathering. The races will be held in Mr. Dudden's pad. dock, that gentlemsan, as usual, having granted the use of the land, for which Myamyn people in general are thankful. Visitors from this town who have not as yet had the pleasure of witnessing these races, cannot do better than come up by the 9.43 a.m. train on Friday, and they will be landed directly at the course, and be able to leave again in the evening at ten minutes past six. so that a pleasant day may be spent without inconventenoe. ANoTHrs M.cu tsi.--Lnst i'5su we mentioned that a new reaper and binder had been imported, and now we are in formed that a new Hornsby reaper and mower is to arrive by the Dawn this evening for Mr.E.A. Lane. This machne should prove of service in the Blswarra district, while it is pleasing to note that our farmers are going in for machines that lessen the labor on the farm. POSTx E oN CARtS.-Senders of Christ mas, New Year, and Birthday cards through the Postoffcle should be careful to observe the regulations in order to save trouble nd inconvenience. The postage charged is Id for every 2oz. within Vic. toria or any of the colonies, and Id for every ounce to the United Kingdom. Complimentary remarks may be written on the cards, but those remarks must not be of the nature of information such as should be conveyed in a letter. The following is the explanation which the department gives in this respect: ,, Birthday, Christmas, or New Year canrds may have written on them complimentary or such like remarks, together with the namtes and addresses of thie senders and of the persons for whom the cards are intended, also the date of sending. For example:-' To John Smith, with best wishes, from Mary Smith. Christmas, 180t.' But cards having messages or other communications written on them, such as 'Hoping to see you shortly.' •eo sure to write soon,' will be liable to letter rate of postage." Woor..-The following is a return of wool received by rail sp to date as kindly furnished by Mr. Mitchell, the local sta. tionmaster :--Hamilton, 3.10S: lIeywood 43; Milltown, 20; Condalh, GIG; Branx. holme, 1,319; Grassdale, 392; lienty, 738: Saudford, 1,027; Wannon, GO6; Colcraine, 2,01; Glenthompson, 237; Casterton, 2,601; Merino, 1,561; l)un. keld, 10. Total, 13,781. Accou.se are awaiting payment at the local Treasury to the following:-II. and L. Rosenbloom. VW. Osbourne, J. lRoss, T. Smith, H. Slaster, and J. G. White,

RIFrLES MATCHE.-On Friday morn ing the annual competitions in connection with the Portland Rifle CIlub commence. Firing will start at 8 a.m. eacts day and conclude at 6.30 p.m. The ranges have been put in perfect order, and two new canvas targets have been erected, making in all 10 targets. An efficient staff of markers, fire in number, has been en gaged, and the executive arrangements promnise to be eminently satisfactory. Captain Jones is the executive officer, and the honorary secretary, Mlr. A. Wilson, will be assisted by a paid secretary. All members of the club are expected to give a day's assistance, and it may be mentioned that the com mittee's cab will leave the Post Office every morning at 7.30. In addition cabs will ply to and fro between the town and the ranges throughout the day. Ammunition, refreshments and all ,ther necessaries can be procured on the ranges, and competitors are notified that they must call at, the office and obtain a ticket for presentation to the register keeper at the firing point. The entries for the matches are beyond all expeotat ons there being between 300 and 400 for the three principal events - Bay, Pioneer and Junior Matches. Everything therefore pro mises well for the most successful com petitions yet held under the auspices of the Rifle Club. Correction.-Mr. J. R. Woods in-forms us that in copying the weights for the Heywood Races he inadvertently placed Mr. James Hanlon's name instead of Mr. G. Mabbett's before Rhoderick Dhu in the Hurdle Race. CHARGE AGAiNST AN EDITOR.--A Syd. ney telegram to the Argus says :-Mr. H. Bloxham, the editor of the Central Aus. tralion newspaper, Bourke. has received a letter from the principal under secre. tary covering the copy of a letter signed by the police magistrate and ten justices of the peace. The latter letter draws the Premier's attention to an article re cently publishe 1 in the Central Auedralan entitled "A Crime in one is a Godly Action in Another." The article makes reference to the manner in which Mr. Parnell's zecent escapade ha* been dealt with in comparison with previous ones of the Prince of Wales. The under secretary's letter calls on Mr. Bloxham to show cauose why his name should not be removed from the magistracy as that of a person unfit to hold Her Majesty's commission. Mr. Bloxham has replied, maintaining that the fact of the editor being a justice of the peace should nit preclude him from criticising thie actions of any public persons in the United Kingdom, and further alleging that the police magistrate was actuated by personal feeling. AT the City Court, Lewis Robins, a wharf laborer, was Lrought up on two charges, the first being iosulting be havior" and the second "tbrowang a missile to the danger of persons in a public place:' After hearing the evi dence, during which it was elicited that defendant was one of a mob of 400 who were hooting and throwing coal, Mr. Patoe addressed the accused as under: This affair c:early shows how the men were brought together like a pack of hounds to howl. Yoea are one of a lot of men who are led by the nose by some schemer. You go and kick up a row, and you hoot and yell, and yet you say you did not know toe man you were booting at. I sm sorry for you. I know a good many other men are led in the same way as you were, and when you are led that way you forget that you are Englishmen. A mob of 400 men go and hoot at a single man. That does not look like the act of Englishmen. I am sorry to see you here. The feeling of the Bench is that in a case of this sort an example ought to be made of you. Both cases have been clearly proved against you. At the same time we make allowance for you because you were foolishly led, and probably led by some schemer into conduct for which you are now sorry. We trust there will be no repetition of this sort of work. On this occasion we will fine you for the in sulting behaviour 40s or 14 days, and for throwing the missile you are fined £5 or two months. Now, these penalties are small, considering the offence, and we wish to intimate that if there is a repeti. tion of this we will fall back upon heavier penalties. But I trust this will be the last we shall see of it. If there is a good force of police there, Captain Dyason, I think you need fear nothing. If any of these men should in future show a dis position to assault or annoy you, give them over to a constable. We will bind them over to keep the peace, and failing that, we will send them to gaol for 12 months. llEcErvEn.--We have to acknowledge receipt of the lamilton Spectator Alma nac for 1S31. As usual the issue con tains a large amount of useful and locally interesting matter, it is well printed, and the information contained therein is doubtless with trifling exceptions accurate. We make the reservation by reason of the fact that the prrsondll of the Borough Council has been unchanged since the previous issue. This is doubtless an oversight, while the crediting of MIr. St. Leger, the local postmaster, with fillis g the Sub-Collectorship of Customs, &c., is probably a printer's error. We have also to hand the initial number of the Hlamil. ton T'ribu'e, a tri-weekly to be pub!ished in Hamilton. The paper is fairly printed, and contains a qulantity of interesting matter. It claims to hare discovered a deficiency in Press representation in Inam. ilton, and aims to fill it. Probably when everything settles into working order the appearance of the paper will be much improved. From Messrs. W. P. Ander son and Co., Melssrs. Campbell and Sons, and Mlessrs. W. Tnlloh and c., we have received lithe sheet almanacs. In each instance the picture is a pretty one, and fit to hang up in any room. Exccvutons.-By reference to another portion of our present issue it will be seccn that the cutter yacht BIravro will run an excursion to Julia P'ercy Island on Roxing Day, leaving the pier at 8.O an.m Should the weather be favorablo a trip to the Island will prove extremely en. joyable, and the fares are fixed at a very reasonable figure. Those who desire to do so can return the same evening, while if any excursionists prefer to remain on the island over night the Bravo will call for them on the following day. There is shelter on the Island, i may be mentioned, and spending a night upon it should en tail no discomfor:.

ISPOITANT To PucnLrcAs.-Licensed victuallers are reminded that their re. newel payments most be paid at the local Sub-Treasury on or before the 2nd Janu. ary next, otherwise the licenses became absolutely forfeited. Sro;s?\o S?Aenows,-An esteemed correspondeni, writes from the southern district as follows :--" Uhancing to see a number of sparrows busy amongst the cherry trees the other day. I was surprised at the sweet notes at their voice, as they chirruped and chattered in evident satis faction of the feast they were enjoying. I noticed, moreover, that number of theme had splashes of yellow on the breast and lips of the wings. Seeing the catwatch. ing the feathered feasters, I threw down some grain in the hope that tabby would catch one for examination. This she quickly did, and the imupression I have is that these sparrows have been crossed by canaries. large noubers of which have been allowed, through carelessness, to escape from aviaries about here. Per. chance we may yet convert the sparrow into a song bird and make him turn his attention to thistle down and plantain, instead of grain and fruit.-Spectatjr. Burr ALo 3McNSTo tLR. - In another column it is announced that consodrums for competition in connection with the Buffalo entertainment must be in Mr. Dolphin's hands by Saturday, The enter. tainment is to be held on Tuesday night, and reserved seats may be booked at the Guardian office. A Losano paper received by a Gauter. tonian contains the following Interesting item:-" Few people are aware of the remarkable charges that are going on in Palestine to-day. It is my firmest con viction (writes a converted Jew) that the return of the Jews to the land of their fathers has acta/JlU begun to take place I I also as firmly believe that many of your readers who read this to.day will live to see the restoation completed. Events are moving very rapidly in these our days. We are living in very earnest, solemn times. Jews are returning in thousands, and every fresh out.break of prosecution in Bassia or elsewhere only gives a greater impetus to this woolesale immigration. Jerusalem has 83,000 Jews to-day; ten years ago about 12,0001 Large colonies have sprung up in every part of the country that had no existence ten years ago." The same paper contains the portrait of the Jewish lad 12 years old who, in Russia, for plucking some apples off a tree, was brutally brandel with lunar caustic on the forehead, chin. and both cheeks with the word, " Jew" and "thief" in Russian, Polish, a.d Hebrew. Stock SALE.-Mr. W. Gough con .docted his first monthly stock sale at Condah on Monday, when there was plenty of stock, but few buyers. It was the general opinion that the date was not the beat that could be selected in view of the near approach of the holiday season, and this probably accounted for the abesnce of many of the district cattle buyers. The greater portion of the stock, however, was sold privately at satin. factory figures. TUEsonA's Herald says :-There ap pears very small prospects of the difl culties in the shipping trade becoming rapidly settled. To-day both parties maintain a firm attitude, and declare their intention of seeing the matter out. Every thing is quiet at the wharves, and to the casual observer there is not mouh differ. ence in the ordinary work with the ex. oeption of the coal trade, and there com paratively few men are working. Some 15,000 or 16,000 tons of coal are waiting to be unloaded. A LaxENTA ,BL FALL, - Saturday's Herald supplies the followin,:-A very sad case came under the notice of the Bench at the South Melbourne Court to day, when William Everatt, a plasterer, was charged with deserting his children. It appeared that about seven months ago the accused and his wife and four children lived together in Hill street. They were happy enough then, but the accused lost his employment, and was compelled to go to Geelong to seek for work. After his departure he forwarded £2 lOs to his family. He then becamea slave to drink, neglected his family, and nothing was heard of him until his arrest. In the meantime his wife became ill, and was compelled to enter the hospital. During her absence the children were cared for by Mary Williams, a married daughter of the accused, who left her own home for the purpose. The daughter and the wife of tire defendant informed the Bench that the accused had always been a good husband until he gave way to drink. The latter acknowledged his fault, and said he would make amends for the future, The daughter said she would remain with the family till Everett got employment, and thie Bench then adjourned the case for four weeks, so that the accused might have an opportunity of proving hIis good intentions. Mr. II. Ball, een., on East Strath. downie. has given us (eAr:) an account of a somewhat remarkable fecunndity in a ewe, hris property, which died recently as the result of eating some poisonons herb. T'his ewe, which was the first sheep hq ever owned, and which may therefore be said to have been the onoc'eas of his flocks, was given to him by Mr. Bichard Growe, of hMingbool, as a pet. and she has given birth to 25 lambs during her 12 years of life. Shite reared all the lambs, She was of the crossbred variety, and this year yielded 5.1lb of wool, which, sold with Mr. Balls general staple, brought 8d per lb. Srxt.vAloS Anov.-A picnic in connec ticon with tire Salvatron Army is to be held on New Year's Day at Hieywood, when music, singing. praying and rejoio. ing are promised. IT will be of in'e:est to our readers t' learn that the costs of the P'remier Per manent prosecutiomsa-that is so far as the Criminal Court proceedings are con cenlaed-totals £4,7".0. 'lhant is to say, that is the sum paid to the counsel re tained and the jurors, excluding the oeicial expenses. Mlr. l'urres received £I,SuO. Mr. Douovan £i)00, Mr. Gold. ham £700, anl Mlr. lIavles £00. A sum of £G70 is to be paid to the jurors trho tried the case, and £ 150 to those wsho were summoned but not empannelled. Mr, ". \. MlcMullen on Satrmray took a party of eighlt to Nelson. To accom plish this hIe had to drive six horses, a feat said to have been hitherto nnat tempted on that road. The journey was a vleasant one, not a single mishap occurring. At this time of year themre is always good fishing and we hope the visitors will thoroueghly enjoy themselves,

ata?sxTAS CouPsrLxurs.-The members of the Portland Guardian staff desire us to acknowledge receipt of Christmas greetings from the Nhill and Taliara Mail, K~ineton Guardia,. Essendon Gazette and Hamilton Spectator. Coxesnrnalt the terribly unseaworthy state in which the Calliope has been found on being docked, it is simply miraculous, remarks our London correspondent, how she contrived to weather the frightful hurricane that drove the other vessels in Apia harbor ashore. Some month" before that disastrous gale she was cursorily examined in Sydney, and declared to be in urgent need of an overhaul. It is eetinated by the &dmir. ality officials that £15,000 will have to be spent upon her before she is fit for another commission. It has transpired that her engnces were seriously displaced by the strain put upon them in the sec. ceseful attempt of Captain Kane to get out into the open see. It is believed that the Calliope will remain;in the dockyard hands until April. News from the manager of the Coreena No. 2 bore at Barcaldioe (BIriebane) states that boring was continued to a depth of 904 feet, when a tremendous supply of water was obtained, which is estimated at two millions of gallons per day. It is believed that a much greater supply would have been obtained if the bore had gone deeper, but the manager was afraid of the entire plant being washed away. The water is now running in torrents all over the Downs. BAx or- VcroatI.-Customers of this bank are requested to forward their pass.books. to be written up. ISTELLIotSECE has reached Wellington that a serious accident occurred on Thursday it the coal mine owned by the Mesurs. Ralph, at Huatly, in the vicinity of Auckland. A drive suddenly collapsed without warning, and buried four men. A rescue party was immediately set to work, but as they cannot reach the entombed men before midnight, there is no hops of their being rescued alive. GOrxAe SINoGna A£D GnxAso BEnE. -According to some calculations by the Times correspondent at Vienna, the consumption of beer by the German singers at the festival in that city amounted to 24,003 gallons. There were 20,000 singers. and the consumption was spread over a day and a hall. It would thus appear that each singer drank between six and seven pints a day. A Bir or ADVICE FO? BOYS.--" Aim to be kind." says Horace Mann, "generous, magnanimous." If there is a boy in school who has a club foot, don't let him know you ever saw it. If there is a poor boy with ragged clothes, don't talk about rags in his hearing. If there is a lame boy, assign him some part of the game which does not require running. If there is a hungry one, give him a part of your dinner. If there is a dull one, help him to learn his lesson. If there is a bright one, be not envious of him; for if one boy is proud of his talents and another is envious of them, there are two great wrongs, and no more talents than before. If a bigger or stronger boy has injured you and is sorry for it, forgive him, and request the teacher not to punish him. It Is much better to have a kind heart than a great fist. A WA~oxasu resident had a dream some two months ago of a certain horse winning the New Zealand Cup. He described the horse of his dream to a friend, who told him thae the description was that of Wolverine. The dreamer at once backed the horse named, and won £100. Tnu Victorian Steamship Owner's Association advertised on Saturday that five days from that date all contracts, in which the strike and lockout clause is included, will be suspended, unless the present difficulty with the wharf laborers is settled in the meantime. SAVs Moser by sending to Lincoln, Stewart and Co., Limited, 238 Flinders street, Mellourne, the largest tailoring establishment in the city. They will post to you free on application samples of tweeds and instructions for self-measurement. A really good serviceable all wool suit to measure for 42,. Try them.ADVr.] A young Dane has drowned himself at Newcastle (England), to escape from marrying a woman, it is said, who threatened to shoot him unless he married her.