Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Tuesday 31 December 1872, page 1


SUMMARY

FOR

EUROPE.

INTRODUCTORY.

There is less stir in political matters now than has been the case for the last six months. Parliament has met, with the new Ministers on the Treasury benches, a somewhat unsatisfactory Ministerial statement has been made by the head of the Government, the work has been hurried through " anyhow " to onable country Members to be at their homes at Christmas, and ParlianuMit'now stands prorogued until the 6th of May next, to allow Ministers to mature their Stans, and to come before the House with some

efinite propositions for releasingtheColony from its present difficulties. After the adjournment at the end of October, until the 12th of December, to allow the Ministers time to g_o the country and

become aoqùainted with their duties, the sitting only lasted nine days and a reference to our summary of the proceedings in both Houses will show pretty well how the business was rushed through. One of the most important political matters at present attracting the attention of those who take a real interest in the wel-fare i of the country is the proposed Inter-colonial Conference. The . dates fixed for this Conference have been arranged so often, and ss" frequently altered to suit the different Colonies;'that many have almost despaired of its ever taking place. From the first it was apparent that the place of meeting would either be Sydney or Hobart Town, and it has now been settled, end we hope finally, that the Conference is to be held on the 13th of January, and we believe st'Syaney. _^ j

VICE-REGAL.

His Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Mrs. Do. Cane are now residing at Government House. On December 3rd His Excellency and Mrs. Du Cane, »ocompanied by Mr. C. M. S. Chichester, the Private Seoretju-y, started for the North, to attend the annual show of the Northern Agricultural Society st Longford. _ At the dinner, after tho show, the Governor delivered a long speech on agricultural topics, While in the North His Excellency went to Kelso in the steam-tug Tamar. He also laid the foundation stone of the first blast furnace at the Tasmanian Charcoal Iron Company's works, and made s speech at the luncheon following ; visited the Hospital and Gaol at Launceston, and the annual school/east at Glendhu. His Excellency and party Mt Launceston on the 11th, and after staving at Melton Mowbray for one night returned to Govern-ment House on the 12th instant The Governor also attended _ the annual meeting of the City Mission, at which he mode an admirable speech ; the distribution of prizes at the Hutchins Sohool sod the Queen's Orphan Asylum, and also delivered speeches at both places. On the 27th His Excellency S ve his'akaent to a number of bills passed during

e lsst session of Parliament.

PARLIAMENTARY.

Parliament re-opened, pursuant to adjournment, on the 12th of December, and the following is a summary of the proceedings in both Houses :

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

i On December 12th Mr. J. R. Scott, the Colonial Secretary, was introduced as a new member. The Colonial Secretary explained the circumstances under which the new Ministry'was formed, and skid that the financial statement would be made in the other chamber.

On the 18th December the Colonial Secretary was appointed to a seat on the Library Committee, in place of Mr. F. M. Innes, arid the President, Mr. J. M. Wilson, was appointed to the Committee of Elections and Qualifications, in place of Mr. F. M.

Innes.

On December 16th the Cemeteries Act Amend-ment <BdI was read a second time, committed, read a third.time, and passed after considerable dis-cussion. In reply to a question put by Mr- Grubb, the Colonial Secretary Baid that the interest payable nedor the Main Line Railway contract waa paid on the dates referred to, namely, 23rd July, 1872, 13,126 ; and 25th October, 1872, £3,125 to the representative of the company in Tasmania, Mr. Audley Coote, whose receipt had been given for bath payments.

On December 18th there was no business of im-portance transacted.

On December 19th the Appropriation Bill and the Lands Revenue Appropriation Bill were brought up from the Assembly, and passed through all their stages without amendment. A bill to authorise the raising of £25,000 by the issue of Treasury Bdls, to redeem bills falling due in 1873, and a bill to authorise the raising of £25,000 by debentures ter the purpose of temporarily meeting the guaranteed interest on the Main Line Railway, were passed through all their stages

On December 20th a bill to make provision for working and carrying on the Launceston and Western Railway, and for rating the railway district, was brought np from the Assembly and passed through sll ita stages. The Main Line Railway Act Amend-ment Rill, giving the company power to loose a small portion of the Queen's Domain, was brought upirom the Assembly, and passed through all its stages with amendments. The Escheated Estates BilJ, the, bill to further amend the Hobart Town W>ter Act, tho Governor's Salary Reduction Bill, were passed through all their stages. A resolution (agreed to by the Lower House, providing £25,000 forJqrnUhiiig the Government House, in accord-ance with a despatch from Lord Kimberley, was elsa agreed to, and a bill to »mond the Waste Lands Act »vas passed through all its stages.

On December 21st a conference was held between the'tWo Houses on an amendment mode by the Council «in the' Main Line Railway Act Amendment Bul, Jsnd it was agreed" to insert the following elrose with reference to the power to be given to the company to etater the Domain-" Notwithstanding sajrthlng to the contrary in the Act 24 Vic.'No. lf£, the Governor-in-Council may grant any lease fo« any land in the'Queen's Domain for the pur-gases set-forth in section 3 of the Main Line Ballway Act, 'provided a lease shall not be for ata« than 25 acres of land, without the sanction of Parliament." The Local Public Works Bdl was .eased through all its stages, and the amendments ?sadSjby the Assembly in the Scab Act Amendment Bul were agreed to. A bill to appropriate, during the year 1873, £2,840 from the Boab Aot fund was psssedthrough all its stages, and the House ad-journed until December 30th, with the view to the iprorogstion of Parliament by proclamation until

dley next,

i HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

The House of Assembly met, pursuant to adjourn-ment, on December 12th. The following new mern lhere were introduced-Mr. F. M. Innes, Colonial Treasurer ; Mr. C. Meredith, Minister of Lands ; Mr. J. A. Jackson, Attorney-General. Mr Giblin mtunated.that jt was not his intention to proceed «rttb the second reading of the Primogeniture Aboli-tion Bill. A bill to amend the Main-Line Radway Act was res4 a first time. The orders of the day : for, the second reading of the Charitable Institutions

.Relations Bill, and the Marine Board Aot Amend-ment EUI, Sheriff's Appointment Bill, Bankers' Drifts, Act Amendment Bdl, and the Juvenile Offenders Punishment Bill, wero all discharged. The Locsl Public Works BUI, and the Hobart Town waterr,Act,, 4800, Amendment Bill were read a , esooodtime. j There was a debate on the Waste Lands Act Amendment Bilt, which was 'also read a second time. Mr. F. M. Innes, the Colonial .Treasurer,' then rose to make his financial

statement, saying that'ho did not so much intend to i ms*e,», financial statement as to make those ex

, Blindions'!$hat were usually offered by a new

,,,, ,MJr. He', then proceeded to explain the oir 'cum»teùces urider willoh the Government took , Oflo»,-»nd |spoke in justification of the coalition in one' administration of gentlemen who might hold dûunëtrioally 'opposite views on some points, citing British Parliamentary precedents in support of his position. > He thought the deficiency at the end of .1872 more likely to be £8,000 than £6,000, as

stated by his predecessor, but it was impossible to - ¿»tarantee accuracy on the point. A total expendi-

ture of £253,470 would have to be provided for. With.respect to the Launceston and Western ? Ballway the aura of £12,000, in addition to the sum ' eet, down on tho estimates to meet tho engage -'menta of 1874 would be required. With re . apeetito the' Lend Fund the estimated deficiency

lor.the. present year was £13,100 10s. The estimate that, baa been given of the land fuud " weA87She considered to have boon of an exaggerated

character. The deficiency in the Land Fund for 1873 > might.be taken at £12,510. The total deficiencies ^amounted toaii approximate of £70,662, and this was . not more than theestimate of his predecessor in July

«.i. ' THeJLaiid Fund was dwindling down year by

reference to the announcement of finanoisl measures 'by.an inoossiBgiOovernment warranted him,in not

..op»»sirWaTth»»riran estimate was formed from ...tee laaese and, land, property from the valuation

filb, the result, wonM/be the sorriest thst could

well be imagined. He found that comparatively with the imports and exports the debt of Tasmania exceeded the debt of any other dependency of the British Crown, and tho policy of the Government would be one of retrenchment wherever it could be effected, and to effect this in some instances legis-lative means would be required. The burthen of supporting charitable institutions might have to be thrown more on the people in the different localities. With respect to Port Arthur» full investigation would bo made, and placed before the House when Parlia-ment met again. In the meantime the estimates of his predecessor would be submitted, and the

desire of the Government was that the next session should commence in May next.

The Criminal Law Amendment BiU was road a second time, and the bill to incorporate the Main Line Railway Company and the Launceston and Western Railway Vesting Bill a first time. The'

order of the dav for the debate on the Scab Act

I Amendment Bib was posponed, and the orders of

I the day for the second reading of the following bills ! were discharged :-" BiU to incorporate the Main I Line Railway Company, No. 23," "Landlord and I Tenant BiU, " " Christa College Incorporation Bill," I" Launceston and Western Railway Vesting Bill,

No 22," " Drainage and Irrigation Bill, No 3." ,

On December 13th the Assembly met again, and on the order of the day for the House going into Committee of Supply being called on, a debate on the Colonial Treasurer's statement took place, the late Treasurer, Mr. T. D. Chapman, opening with a long speech, in which ho first of all combated the statement of Mr. Innes, to the effect that his ac acceptance of office was consequent upon the voto of want of confidence in the preceding Government, saying that it was weU known that Mr. Inues was

the chosen leader of tho new Government before the vote of want of confidence was passed. The policy of the new Government, as stated by the Colonial Treasurer, was unintelligible to members I on the Opposition benches. It was true that the

land revenue had dwindled down, but the late I Government hod tried to save the public estate. He I felt an entire want of confidence in the present Minister of Lands, and did not think there I would be any unity in the present Cabinet. If

I the scheme of the Colonial Treasurer was to put

i more burthens upon the ratepayers, and to look I j to the Customs stUl further, he would be disap

Çrintod. He did not agree with the Colonial I

ressurer that the deficiency for 1873 would lie

about £7,000. He thought the time would come I When we must resort to direct taxation. Mr. Chap- I man then accused the Colonial Treasurer of having painted the financial position of the colony much blacker than it really was. The debate lasted for some hours, and it was resolved that the House should not go into Committee of Supply until the next meeting. An Act to provide for the Licensing of Hawkers and Carriers and a Bill to Legalise the Marriage of a Man with his Deceased Wife's Sister

were read a first timo.

On Decomber 17th the Main Line Railway Aot Amendment Bill was read a second time after a debate, and the hon. member for Cumber-land, Mr. John Swan, was appointed Chairman of Committees. The House then went into

Committee of Supply. The estimates of expen- I diture for the six months ending June 30th, j 1873, were then passed. From the General Revenue the total was £86,053 18s. 5d., and from the Land Fund, £4,271 19s lOd. The two Appropriation Bills were brought in and read a first time ; the House went into Committee of Ways and Means, and, the Colonial Treasurer, in moving that a sum not exceeding £30,000 be raised by the issue of Treasury bills secured on the public revenues of the colony, bearing interest at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum, 'redeemable in the year 1874, the proceeds of the

said Treasury bills to bo placed to the credit of the ' Land Fund for the purpow of redeeming Treasury bills for £30,000 falling due during the year 1873, stated that this motion »vas put on the paper by his predecessor, but instead of taking £30,000, he only required £25,000, and he would move the resolution accordingly substituting £25,000 for £30,000. The resolution, as amended, was agreed to. The Colonial Treasurer then moved " that a sum not ex-ceeding £25,000 be raised by debentures chargeable on the public revenues of the colony, bearing interest at the rate of 5 por cent, per annum, redeemable in the year 1834 ; the proceeds of such debentures being appropriated to the payment of the guaranteed interest to the Main Line Railway Company during the years 1872 and 1873." The motion was agreed to, and bills to give effect to both resolutions were brought in and read a first time. The Main Line Railway Incorporation BiU was read a second time ; and after a long discussion and Beveral divisions with respect to who should be elected, Mr. Hodgson was appointed on the Com-mittee of Elections and Qualifications.

On December 18th a bill was introduced to appropriate moneys from the sale of certain escheated lands to the general revenue. The Launceston and Western Railway Vesting Bill was read a second timo and committed. The two Appropriation Bills, and the bills to raise money by Treasury bills and debentures wore read a second time and passed

through all their stages. A bill to amend the 21st* section of the Police Act was introduced and read a first time. The Launceston and Western Railway Bill was committed and reported with amendments, and the bill to legalise the marriage of a man with the sister of his deceased wife was read a second time after considerable discussion.

On December 20th the Launceston and Western I Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. The Main Line Railway Act Amendment Bill was com-mitted, reported with amendments, and the report adopted by the House. The Escheated Estates Bill Was passed through all its stages, as »vero the Hobart Town Water Aot BUI and the Police Act Amendment BUL The House went into committuo of supply with reference to Lord Kimberley's despatch about the Governor's salary, and the Colonial Treasurer moved-" That the committee of tho House, having had under consideration the despatches of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State in respect to the salaries of futuro Governors, resolved that the House is prepared to accede to the proposal of Lord Kimberley oy providing'a sum of £3,500, ond that a bill to that effect bo introduced by tho Colonial Treasurer," The resolution was carried, and, the House having resumed, a bill was intro-duced, and read a third time, and passed. The Cometones Act Amendment Bdl was read a second time, and passed through all its stages. The debato on the Scab Aot Amendment bill was thou resumed, and the bill was committed. The Waste LandB Act Amendment BUI was read a third timo, and passed.

On December list there was a conference botweon the two Houses on the amendment in the Main Line Railway Act Amendment Bill, resulting in the adop-tion of the clause published in the proceedings of the Legislative Council. The Scab Act Amendmont Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Houso then proceeded to tho considération of the second reading of the Public Schools Bill, which was with-drawn after a discussion. The House then adjourned

until the 30th of Decembor.

On December 27th Parliament was prorogued by proclamation until May 6th.

His Exoellenoy the Governor notifies by a procla-mation published in a Gazette Extraordinary, issued on December 27th, that ho has "assented io the name and on behalf of Her Majesty" to tho following Bills passed during the last session of Parliament :

No. 7. A Bill to appropriate certain Sun» arising from the General Revenue to the Survice of the Colony of Tasmania for the first Six Months of the

yesr 1873.

No. 8. A Bill to appropriate cor tain Sums arising from the Lind Revenue to the Sorfico of the Colony of Tasmania for the first Six Months of the year

1873.

No. 9. A Bill to authorise the raising of the Sum of £25,000 by Debentures.

No. 10. A Bill to authorise the issue of Trosaury Bills to the amount of £25,000.

No. li. A Rill to appropriate certain Sums of Money arlning from the Salo of certain Escheated Estates in aid of the General Roveoue of the Colony

of Tasmania.

No 12. A Bill to further amond the Hobart Town Corporation Aot.

No. 13. A Bill to further amend the Hobart Town

Water Aot, 1860.

No. 14. A Bill to enable the Municipal Counoil of the City of Hobart Town to lease a oertain Piece of

Land.

No. IA. A Bill to further amond the Police Aot,

1805.

No. 16, A Bill to further amend the Waste Lands

Act.

No. 17. A Bill to furthor amend the Cemeteries

Aot. 1865.

No. l8. A Bill to facilitate the Construction of Local Pubho Worki.

No. 10. A Bill to further amend the Main Line of Railway Aot.

No. 20. A biU to make further temporary provision for carrying on and working tho Launceston and Western Railway, and for rating the Railway

District.

No. 21. A Bill to further amend the Soab Aot,

1870.

LEGAL.

A case of great importance to Odd Fellows, and to the members of Friendly Societies throughout the Colony, wsa heard in the Poliue Court on December 10th. Mr. William Hissey, as a trustee of the Loyal Perseverance Lodge, A. I. O. O. F. pro-ceeded against Mr. William Aldred, as a trustee and treasurer of the Lodgo, the complaint being that Mr. > Aldred had hi his possession certain moneys of the branch Lodge, to the amount of £500 12s. Id., oertain Beourities, papers, a bank book on tha Commercial Bank, a bank pass book, l8 vouchers, 7 hüls, and other effects of the branch

i

lodge, which he continued to withhold from the trustees, and which he refused to give to the treasurer of the lodge. The information was laid under the 22nd seotion of the Friendly.Societies Act, and before the case was gone into, tho Police Magistrate remarked that although the law, as it existed, would allow him to make an order, it gave no means' of enforcing such an order. » This being the case, he must demur to sitting! upon the case unless the defendant stated that he would < abide by the decision. This, after some discussion,- Mr. Aldred consented to do,,, and the case proceeded. It appeared that Mr. Aldred iwas a trustee and treasurer of the Lodge when it was suspended owing to certain complaints whioh did not at aU affect him. The Lodge being in a stato of disorganisation, a meeting was called at which the chairs were filled by the Grand Officers and not by the >officers of the Lodge, and these Grand Officers signed a warrant' for the payment of sick relief to one O'Byrnei Mr.

i Aldred, the treasurer, refused to pay this> warrant,

on the ground that it should have been signed by the Lodge officers. For this refusal Mr. Aldred was fined £1 and suspended. He appealed 'before he paid the fine, and in accordance! with the rules the appeal was not considered. He then paid the fine and appealed, but then he wob only re-ferred to a previous letter that had been,senti him. Then a meeting of the Lodge was held,

a number of the Grand Officers being present, | mid a new trustee and treasurer were elected, tho Grand Officers voting. Mr. Aldred ' ou the ground that ? the elections .were . illegal still retained the moneys and effects of tile Lodge ; and notwithstanding that the action taken by the Grand Master and Board of Directors in suspending the Lodge, and suspending Mr. Aldred, had been confirmed by the Tasmanian Grand Lodge, the decision of the Police Magistrate Vas, that Mr. Aldred was right in all that he had done. The de-cision was to the effect that the demands mode upon Mr. Aldred.for the property were informal ¡that Mr.

Aldredhadneverbeendepnvedoftheofficeaof trustee I and treasurer legally ; that the meeting at which the new trustee and treasurer were elected was i illegal ;

and that the Grand Officers were neither more nor j

looa +i,n" intnirlnrn there : that no surnatures but I

less tuan ininiuuiu mun , mu uU n.b..,."...», """

those of the officers of the Lodge mentioned in the | rules would have justified the payment of the money on the sick warrant ; that Aldred's appeal should have been heard after he paid the fine ; and that Aldred generally was right ; and the Grand Master, Board of Direotors, and Grand Lodge altogether wrong. i

His Honour Sir Valentine Fleming, Acting Chief Justice, sat in Chambers in Bankruptcy jurisdiction on December 20th. In re Harvey, an insolvent, the case was adjourned in order to allow the insolvent to furnish certain accounts to the satis-faction of the trustee, and thus escape the penal consequences of his neglect to supply them.

RAILWAYS AND PUBLIC WORKS.

In our lost Summary we mentioned that there had been a strike amongst the men engaged in the con-struction of the Main Line, Rail way. A meeting of 1 working men interested in the strike .was held at

the Hope and Anchor Hotel on the 4th inst., when a resolution was adopted to the effect that no able I bodied men should work for leas than six shillings

per day, for 0 hours a day, and 8 hours on Satur-day. A committee was appointed, and it was re-solved that none but those on the committee should communicate with the contractors. There were about 250 men present, and the proceedings were quite orderly. Tho resolution was presented to the contractors, who replied that they did not desire to employ the workmen assembled at the meeting on any terms whatever, but that their ganger would engage such men as might offer at what they found to be the fair and rea-sonable value of, their work. This reply was not so satisfactory as the men wished, bnt they did not publicly show this feeling till the 9th inst., when the strike assumed more dangerous proportions. On that morning some men were set to work in the Domain at wages ranging from 5s. per day downwards, according to their com-petency. They began at 6 o'clock, and were going on steadily until a number of idlers went down and tried tn induce them to leave work. The men at work, however, were persistent in their refusal to foUow the advice proffered them. The idlers left shortly after eight o'clock, but returned a little after nine, having obtained a reinforcement, so that there mußt have been some seventy or eighty altogether. On this occasion they did not exercise any persuasive eloquence, but immediately ordered the men to desist operations, and so intimidated the workmen that they were compelled to comply with the peremptory dictates of overpowering numbers. The two men working in the lowor cricket ground were also made to throw down their toola, and at the command of the same body of intimidators, although they stated that they were in indigent circumstances and were anxious to continue at work. The whole of these proceedingf wore carried out in a very orderly manlier, though there was no doubt about the determination of the loafers to prevent any man from working for the contractors at the wages oliered ; and, strange to say, a fuss of activity on the part of tho police authorities at thiB outrage has ended in nothing, not even a prosecution. For some days the works were at a standstill, but some of the men, taking probably a more sensible view of their position, accepted the terms of the contractors, and were sot to work in the Domain. The cutting and levelling for the terminus, in the lower cricket ground, has been extended over half the' length of the ground, and between the battery and the rifle butts the men have been at work blasting the solid rock that impedes operations in that direction. Very fair headway has been made, aud the gangs of men are now at work at several different spots along tho line of the rivor between the butts and Government House, where the basalt does not appear to be so near the surface. , Until the men engaged in England by the contractors arrivo, it is not expeoted that much progress will be made. The contraot, as will be observed by our summary of the proceedings in Parliament, has been the subject of »oran discuaaion, andi a bill to further amend the Main Line of Radway Act was only passed through both Houses after hon. members had had their say.

A return was laid on the table of the Assembly last session, showing that the earnings of the Launceston and Western Railway from the 12th August to 31st October, 1872, were £4,458 15s. 7d.. The estimated cost of working the trafilo on tho line from 1st November, 1872, to 30th April, 1873, was £6,602 4s. lOd. The gross earnings from 1st November, 1871, to 30th April last, were £&,043 li. 8d. The return ou the whole shows that the line wUl be worked at a weekly profit. In our lost Summary we gave the returns from this railway for five weeks up to the 1st December. For the week ending 8th December the receipts were £311 0s. 7d., against £219 12s. 6d. in the corresponding week of 1871, showing an increase of £91 8s. Id. Weok ending 13th December, £255 ; corresponding week last year, £254 7s. 8d. ; increoso, 12s. 4d. Week ending 20th December, £213 2s.

10d., against £277 18s. for tho corresponding weeki of last year, showing a decrease of £64 15s. 2d. The total increase on the three weeks, as against the corresponding period lost year, is £27 5s. 3d.

The Sorell Causeway is nearly completed, and under the contract of Messrs. Oldham and Helmer, I will, in about two months, bo handed over to thoi trustees. On the present Government will then' devolvo the completion of tho approaches and tho blinding of tho newly laid motsl.

The following fresh tenders have been accepted during the month for public works :-For works on road betweon Port Esperonco and Surges Bay, J. Mawdsloy, at £180 ; and for various extra works at prices in contraot. The tender of Alexander Smith, at £399, for extension of breakwater at Penguin Crook, under tho pnmsions of the Local Pubbe I Works Act, has been accepted by the promoters, and approved of by the Government,

What a little entorpriso can do has been shown in tho oreotion by Air. W. Martin, of Kangaroo Point, of a beautiful stone houso for an hotel, on a pioco of ground closo to tho wharf, which a few months ago was a rooeptaclo for rubbish. The, house contains six large bedrooms, ladies' and gentle-men's parlours fitted up in the most modem style. There is also on the premises a largo stable, capable of containing eleven liorsos, in addition to standing boxes. A good skittle alley has also boen erected, around tho floor of willoh a number of evergreen ferns from the mountain sido have beon planted.

THE MASONIC HALL,

The directors of the Freemasons' Hall Company, limited, met on Friday, the 29th ult., and adopted plans and specifications for the Masonic Hall to be erected in Murray-street, just below the Savings Bank. The architect is Mr. Henry Hunter, and tenders were invited for the erection of the building, which were received on the 18th instant, when the tender of Mr. James Gregory, for £2,568, was unani-mously accepted by the directors. The new hall

will be a very handsome building of freestone, and when completed it will be a great addition to the street architecture of this city. The front will be of stone, and the building will be a little higher than the Savings Bank, which it will join. It will be of two stories, and on the first floor there will

be four windows and a principal entrance facing Murray-street, while on the floor above there will be five windows. The entrance door will be approached by seven stone steps, the pediment over which will be supported by Doric columns, the

tympanum of the pediment being filled with carved

scroll work, supporting a shield bearing the double triangle, There will be an ornamental iron railing in front, and the hall will be both handsome and substantial in appearance. In the interior of the base-

ment there will be a kitchen nineteen feet six inches

by 15ft. 3in., provided with the best cooking ap-paratus, and there is also accommodatíon for the hall-

keeper. Tho system of drainage, as seen in the plan, appears to be good. On the ground floor the entrance ii from the street into a spacious lobby, which leads I into a hall 9ft. wide. From 'this hall access ia sot i t ? the banqueting hall, which will be 33ft. by 24ft.,

uudl4ft. 6in. high., Itwillhavefourwindowslooking out into Murray-street. From the hall there is a door leading to the "library and reading room, wliich.is 20£t. by 16ft., and on the same floor is the committee room, 15ft. 3in. by 12ft. Oin., with fl'ivatory accommodation.,, A staircase, 9ft. wide, lciida to the second story. From the landing we enter a robing room, and a door from this chamber leads into the ante-room, which measures 20ft. by llift. The ouly entrance to the lodge room is from the ante-room. The lodge room will bo a splendid apartment, 20ft. high, and 43ft. long by 24ft. 9in. wide. It will havó' five" windows looking into Murray-street, and round the top pf the wall will be a richly'ornamented cornice, bearing Masonic

emblema! At the 'east end of the room will be a dais Cft. wide, extending the whole width of the hall, and'ascended by three'steps. In the centre of'the dais, and close totho wall, is a niche, formed by two Ionia pillars'supporting an entablature, and this'is where the Masters tohair will be placed. At i the, west end'of the'hall will be another niche,

formed i by Doric pillars"'and entablature, and at the _ south side will be a third niche bearing the Corinthian order complete) 'These are for the chairs of the 'other high officers of the Order. From what we, can see'by an inspection'of the plans, the building Should be one of the handsomest in the city, and "well suited to the purposes for

which it is intended.

GOLD-FIELDS.

The news received from the gold-fields during the past month has been rather scanty. At Nine Mile Springs the alluvial diggers continue to find suffi-cient encouragement to keep a considerable number of diggers on the ground. The machinery of the

Shamrock Gold-mining Company, Nine Mile Springs, I which coat that company about £1000, was sold ' three weeks ago by public auction at the Court

Houbo, Launceston, undor writ of fi. fa. Tho j machinery consists of engine and crushing battery of I fifteen stampers, tools, &c, and the whole, sold in one lot, was purchased by Mr. ,T. H. Lompriere, on behalf Of the Tasmanian Charcoal Iron Company, for £490. At the River Hellyer district five pro. specters have been at work since May hist, and only obtained five ounces of gold, and other parties have been nearly equally unfortunate, the floodod stato of the river preventing continuous mining. About 51 Chinese have visited the holds, and of those there were about 31 remaining last week, and these were earning only enough to pay for, rations. Tommy's and Le Hung's party of 14 have been there over three months, 'and have about 20oz., if report is true, the others 10a». ; ,the only gold sold by the Chinese is 3Joz. Th» Chinese do not intend to have their claims surveyed, and are downhearted about their 'prospects for the future» In the South scarcely anything has been done during the past year in the way of prospecting, but ' we now leam that a party of three, under Mr. Brown, of Forest Road, intend starting about the middle of January ou a prospect-ing tour. Proceeding westward, they expect to li ml gold within 50 miles of Hobart Town. Though the party of three will start, in any case we understand they would have no objection to take some suitable

mates.

At the City of Hobart Company's claim no Btono belonging to the company has been crushed during the'month from 'the company's reef, but the battery has been partially employed in crushing some stone from the new reef on the same claim, which yielded an average of 8 dwts. 3 grains to the ton. The quartz was merely the opening up of the new reef, and 4fi tons were crushed, the result therefore is

considered satisfactory. The battery is now em-ployed in crushing i a quantity of surface stone, being the tailings of alluvial washings. At the mine the works aro being actively proceeded with. The main shaft is completed, properly timbered, and secured to a depth of 150 feet. Two steam engines, one of 12 and theotherof 8 horse power, areemployed, one pumping and the other hauling. The mining manager reports that the drive is now within about seven feet of where he expects to strike the reef. The two last cakes of gold sent to the Sydney mint showed the very satisfactory value of the gold one realizing £3 19s. 2d. per oz., and the other £3 19s. 4d. This shows that the Black Boy reef gold must be very pure. The average value realised for all the gold obtained since the commencement is about £3 19s. per oz. (| , ,

MINERAL.

Additional information is being received almost daily, calculated to prove that Tasmania, if not so rich in the precious metals as some of the other Australian colonies, has an abundance of the more common and more useful minerals, the possession of which has made Great'Britain the first .among nations, and which, let us hope, at no distant future wUl materially contribute to the prosperity of this

'colony. A few days ago a fine sample of Piper's

River slates, admirably suited for roofing purposes, was loft at 77ie Mercury office, forwarded by Mr. TyBon, of Launceston, and they have bcon inspected by several gentlemen engaged in the building trade, who consider them in aU respects equal to those im-ported from England. They have also been favourably reported on by'the beat authorities in 'Melbourne. It is proposed to form a company of a few partners to construct a tramway to the quarry, and provide the necessary plant. The present proprietors have spent about £300 in testing ? the quarry, andaré weU satisfied with the result. The slate is stated to be abundant, and should the

quarry prove equal to what is anticipated, we shall soon, instead of having to import roofing slates from England, be able to export them in considerable quantity to the other oolonies, thus materially reducing their oost.

Discoveries of iron ore of various degrees of purity I have been mode at several places in the south,

and on the east coast, as well as in the north, and in a few months it is anticipated that foundries will be at work smelting the ore. At the newly created

township of Leonardsburg the Tasmanian Charcoal j Iron Company's Works ere making steady progress. A substantial settlement is being formed, and there are 150 men in constant employment. The cere-mony of laying the comer stone of the furnace at the company's works, Anderson's Creek, was per-formed ,on ' Friday, the 6th instant, by His Excellency the Governor. The company originated with Messrs. James Scott, M.H.A., and Mr. T. C. Just, who, having convincod themselves by personal inspection of the abundance and value of the oro, communicated with Mr. Win. Leonard, who after-wards came over from Melbourne and reported on the matter. "This report being favourable the promoters obtained leases for five allotments of 80 aores each under the terms of the Mineral Looses

Act, 1870. They then arranged with one or two leading commercial 'men in Melbourne, represented by the Messrs. Lempriere-old Tasmanian residents -and formed the Tasmanian Charcoal Iron Com-pany. The share capital was fixed at £80,000 in 40,000 shares of £2 each, every share being 'paid up'to £1 to represent the value of the estate, the remaining 20s. being left at call. Operations were ootnraenced in September lost, and since then a substantial jetty has been buUt at West Arm, a tramway formed from it to the mines, a distance of nearly five miles, oharcoal burnt, brioks for buUding madei' the erection of tho furnaee com-menced, and several thousand tons of oro laid bare.

The foundation stone of the furnace stack was a block of refractory freestone from Mr. Meadows' quarry near Kelso, three feet square, and bearing the figures 1872. The Rev. Mr. Brooke having invoked the Divine blessing on the work, Mr. Just presented His Exoellenoy with the hammor and trowel to bo used on the ooooaion, and informed him that they were the first implements ever fashioned from Tasmanian iron, The ore from which they wore produced had been taken from the neighbour-ing hiU over which' His Excellency had that day ridden, and the iron was forged in an ordinary portable forge at the manager's residence West Arm. The implements had been finished in Launceston. Tho trowel bears the following inscription :

Tasmanian Charcoal Iron Company, Limited.

Presented to

HU EioolIenoT Charlo» Du Cano, Esquire,

Governor of Tasmania,

On the oocaalon of his laying the foundation atone of tho first

ameltlnir furnace erected In Tasmania. 8th December, 1872. <

Tb« Ant article manufactured of native iron on the company's

ground

Before laying the atone a small oanlstor containing the newspapers of the day, and aparohment with an inscription giving full details as to the laying of the foundation atone and the organization of tbo com-pany, was placed ina cavity previously prepared for it under the site chosen for the stone. On laying the stone His Exoollonoy remarked that in un-dertaking an important Work like that they had a great deal to do, and a man-whether a mason or not-when he had work to do, beat displayed his , ability by proceeding about it at once without talking I about it. He des/ed, however, briefly to oxpross

the pleasure he ieWas Her Majesty's representative in Tasmania in performing the- important work of laying the foundation of the first iron smelting furnace, and he hoped should ho evor again visit Tasmania to find it doing-literally and metaphori-cally-a roaring business. He trusted that tho flame when it was onco kindled would not bo allowed to go out until it'had, as he bolieved it would, resusci-

tated the fallen fortunes of this island, Whon heleft Tasmania he Would carry with him no moro' inte-resting recollection« of the time ho had passed hero,

than the memory of that day, and he should treasure j

the trowel ,ána hammer with which he had been i presented, and hand them down in his family as I heirloom». (Cheers.) ' ' i

A luncheon afterwards took place, at which the usual loyal and various appropriate toasts were pro-posed and responded to, after which the Vice-regal p.irty and other visitors returned to Launceston.

^ Very fine ore- has also been discovered on Evans estate at Launceston, and about three quarters of a ton of this ore was recently forwarded to Melbourne, a portion of which was smelted at the Hail way Foundry, Melbourne, directly froiù the raw lnematite ore. A sample'of the iron has been forwarded to this office, and competent judges con-sider it a really superior article. -

In our last Summary we mentioned that in order to test the quality of some of the ore obtained from the East Coast, a 'quantity of it was smelted on Wednesday, the 4th, instant, at Mr. James Clark's iron foundry, Collins-street, and from the result a bell weighing upwards of 181bs., aud uni bars of pig iron weighing about two cwt., were cast. The nell measures 0j¡ inches in diameter at

the mouth, and is about 11^ inches high, and gives j

a remarkably clear sound like that of the best steel. Titel ore from which the castings wore made is a very" pure huuriatite, and the" result has been to prove satisfactorily the real value of the iron deposits on this side of the island.

On the 6th instant we were shown by Mr. S. H. Wintle a remarkably beautiful and rich specimen of what he called native iron. It consists of an aggregation of acicular crystal of the metal, with only a very slight trace of oxide in two or three small spots. It was broken off a mass many pounds in weight, and is said to exist in vast quantities. The locality is at present a secret, but it is un-doubtedly the richest find yet.

(Recently a very heavy specimen of iron ore was forwarded to Mr. Graves, of this city, by Mr. Kelvedon, of the East Coast; and on the 10th instant about a ton and a half of iron ore, obtained from the immediate vicinity of Long Bay, not far from Mr. Abbott's coal mines, has been forwarded to1 Melbourne by the Southern Cross, s.a., in order

to have its richness tested.

Several specimens of tin ore have been discovered in various localities. Recently Mr. B. Brookes, who had been prospecting in the Pattersonia district, took a sample of very pure tin to Launceston, which

he stated had been extracted by Dr. Mason from ore found within twenty miles of that town.

About a fortnight ago we aUuded to the fact that iron ore had been discovered at Southport, on this side of the island, and that steps were being taken to test the nature and extent of the deposit. Mr. Wintle, the gentleman to whom we then alluded, has recently returned to town, having had the Í¡round 'tested by sinking &c.-practical miners

laving boon employed by him for that purpose, and the results, ho informs ub, aro moro than satisfactory. The oro exists as red vesicular lirematito highly magnetic, and of which there are millions of tons. Ponderous masses, some of them several tons weight, are scattered over the surface of the ground, - the interstices of the embedded portions of the blocks being filled with a rich gravel derived from the blocks them-selves. The facilities for shipment are all that could be desired, the deposit being only a few hundred yards from the water'B edge. Up to the present time Mr. Wintle has not been able to do more than make a chemical analysis of the ore, which has turned out highly satisfactory ; but he iiitonds in the course of a few days to conduct an ordinary dry assay by smelting. He has, in conjunction with a gentleman of this city, taken out alease of the land occupied by the ore. There is every probabUity that in a short time Southport will become a very thriving place.

Mr. wintle has laboured long and earnestly in the cause of geologio science in this colony, and now those labours, regarded from a pecuniary point of view, have more than a probability of being crowned with success. He has established the fact that we have iron ore doposits that will bear favourable

comparison with those of the north, in both quality and quantity. On theso grounds alone he richly deserves the good wishes and thanks of his feUow colonists, and in which his enterprising colleague claims an equal share.

We are, without any Bhadow of doubt, on the eve of a great change for the better. The cloud, which has so long obscured our commercial horizon, is beginning to lie cleared away ; and therefore, »vhou science, energy, and commercial enterprise'are brought to bear upon the exigencies of the time, as these in question have been, we have good reason to bo thankful that there aro those in our'midst who wiU employ their timo, knowledge, and means to

this end.

Wo arc informed that the services of Mr. Wintle

aro likely to bo forthwith secured by a private company for an examination of the mineral resources of the south western portion of the island. A specimen of the Southport oro is on view in his window, Murray-street. He informs us that ho has in his possession no less than thirteen varieties of Tasmanian iron ores of high specific gravity, and each exist in considerable abundance.

RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT.

At an ordination held at St. David's' Cathedral ou Saturday morning, the 21st instant, by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Tasmania, the Revs. F. B. Sharland, B.A., and G. W. Shoobridge wore admitted to priest's orders, and Mr. J. Nothorcott was ordained deacon. The ordination sermon was preached by the Bishop himself, and was princi-pally addressed to the candidates.

In accordance with the annual practice observad for the last thirty years, the annual united gathering of the Protestant Sabbath-schools of Hobart Town, with the exception of those pertaining to tho Church of England, took place on the 26th inst. (Boxing Day) in the Domain. Prior to proceeding to the rendezvous indicated, the Sabbath-school children and their teachers assembled at tho Wesleyan Church, Melville-streot, which was opened at 1030 a.m. for their reception. Tho service commeuced at 11 a.m., and concluded at noon. Tho address w.is doliverod by tho Rev. Jos. Scott, pastor of St. John's Presbyterian Church. Among the clergymen present »ve observed the Very Rev. Dean Cox, the Rev. W.C. Robinson, RevE. Symonds, Rev. G. Clarke, Rev. R. M'Loau, Rev. Mr. Stephenson, and the Rev. J. Long.

Messrs. 0. E. Walch and W. F. Rrownell attended

to the seating of the chUdran and arranging tho order of the procession among the 16 schools. After tho servicos in the church had concluded, tho children, numbering about 1,600, with their teaohors, marched down Elizabeth-street and along Livorpool-Btreot,to the Domain, whore the rnmaindor of the day was agroeably spent, the several schools forming picnic and pleasure parties. In the ovoning, at half-past six o'clock.a tea meeting in connection With the gather-ing was held in the school-room adjoining the Mel-ville-street Wesloyan Church. About 200 persons sat down to the tea. After tea a public meeting was held in the same place, at which the Rev. F. E. Stephenson, tho pastor of the church, presided.

There was a social mooting in the Brisbane-streot school-room on the ovoning of the 26th inst., to welcome Mr. Sandford Scott on his return from England. There was a modorate attendance, and the Rev. Mr. Robinson occupied the chair. The room was prettily dooorated with fern leaves and flowers, the latter being worked into appropriate words and sentences. After toa had been disposed of, Mr. Scott, one of tho most energetic of Sunday School workers, gave his friends an account of his ad-ventures and journeyings, in England, and the United States, Canada, Italy, Gormany, and othor countries on the continent of Europe, and at the oloso of his address was loudly appktudod. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Simmons, Mr, Lodge, and Mr. W. R. Giblin, and altogether a very pleasant evening was spent.

On Tuesday evening, 10th instant, a tea mooting was held at the Wesleyan Chapol, Oatlands, in tho interest of the Sabbath School. At the public meeting, T. Littlechild, Esci., of Hilly Park, presided. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. R. Philp, E. Thomas, C. Standage, H. Hutchison, of Horton College, and by Mr Davis, of Ross.

The annual children s service in connection with the Sunday Schools belonging to the Church of England was hold, on the 29th inst., in the now Cathedral, this being the first occasion that building has boen used, as it is still in a very incomplete state. . His ExceUenoy the Governor and the Hon. Mrs. Du Cane, accompanied by Mr. Chichester, Privato Secretary, were present. His Lordship tho Right Rev. Bishop Bromby then entered the chan-cel, accompanied by the Very Rev. Dean Cox, Rov. Canon Davenport, and the Rev. Mr, Sharland. There were other ministers in tho body of the Cathedral. The Bishop delivered an address to the children. Tho number of persons present must havo boen about 2,000. Of ohildrcn there wero-accord-

ing to numbers furnished, and estimates mode of those who did hat supply a return-040, and about 120 teachers. The schools represented wero: St. David's, Harrington-streot; ditto, Collins-street ; St. John's, Goulburn-streot ; Trinity, Campbell street; ditto, Ware-street; St George's, Battery Point ; All Saints, Maomiario-streot ; Bethesda ; New Town, St. John's. Tho Boys' Home and tho Industrial Sohool for Girls also sont thoir quota,

THE CITY MISSION.

The annual meeting of the Hobart Town City Mission was held on the 16th inst. at tho Mechanics'

Institute. The attendance was very small. The

Hon. A. Konnorloy occupied the chair, and His Excellency the Governor occupied a chair on the right hand. After prayer, and a few remarks from the Chairman, the Secretary, Mr. Rothwell, read the report, which was of a satisfactory nature.

Tho agents have during lha teat year devoted 3,230 honra to domiciliary visitation ; they have nude 1,500 calla and vlalta. and of these 160 to the sick and dying ; they have distributed about 11,600 tracts, many of which have been read and some hare baan greatly useful ; and among other Instanoes of gratifying and encouraging success, they have Induced 47 drunkards to take the pledgo of total

I abstinence, and 00 persons to attend church ; they have

assisted in providing for 23 friendless ohlldren, and hare suc-ceeded In bringing 178 moro undor a certain amount of educa ti nal superintendence and care.

The report added that

The continued necessity for this Mission and the character of the oity population fur whom it Is provided, may be in l> irt estimated from the fact that the sphere of Its operation is laid to extend over districts containlpg no fewer than 1,800 houses, and inhabited by no less than 3,000 adulto-this means that nearly one-third of the entire population of the city is nIFccteil by the labours of your agents. It Is not to be sup-posed that this vast mass of the population is neglected by tlie churches and ministers of the city and the agencies em-ployed by them ; but It Is the fact, that the personal know-ledge and visitation of your agents extend mon or less intimately over these large districts ; that their work Iles dispersed through this whole multitude ; that lu not a few cises they have brought the Gospel to families and individuals nut otherwise reached ; and that their assistance and experi-ence were always at the disposal of the ministers of the etty, and of all those whose benevolence leads them to the succour of human suffering, or to the rescue of them that are ready to

parish.

Tlie financial statement showed that the receipts from various sources had been £228 13s. 4d., in-cluding an anticipated sum of £12. The expendi-

ture was £248 Is.

Tlie Kev. F. E. Stephenson (Wesleyan) proposed the following resolution :

That the report now read be adopted, and that it, with the Treasurer's statcmont, bo printed and circulated under the direction of the following gentlemen, who shall constitute the Committee for tho ensuing yoar i-Kevs. O. Clarke, J.1 Long, U. A. Ogllvlo, J. Storie, F. E Stephenson, the Hon. A. Kennorloy, Messrs. C. O. Abbott, W. Ayton, 8. Bridges, J. Blundstone, O. Dlnham, P. Facy, A. Gellie, J. Gellte, G. Htddlestone, T. Mccormack, and G. Salier -, Superintendents, Revs. W. C 'Robinson and J. Scott; Auditors, Messrs. J. Smith' and T. J. Crouch ; Treasurer, Mr. J. W. Woolley ; Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. Rothwell.

This was seconded by Mr. Lodge (Independent),

and carried.

Dean Cox. (Episcopalian) proposed the following

resolution :

That this meeting recognises the continued necessity for this Mission within the city ; receives with unabated in-terest the details of tho agents' work both In the way of preventing and of alleviating sin and suffering ; and desires to sustain them with its full countenance and sympathy in their labour of pious oharlty.

The Eev. J. W. Simmons (Independent) seconded the resolution, and it was adopted.

Canon Bromby (Episcopalian) moved :

That this mooting desires to place on publio record its acknowledgment of that gonerous donation,- amounting during the last two years to £30 a quartor, which has enabled tho Society during tbeso two years to maintain ita second agent ; and now respectfully appeals to all Christian people within the city for a larger number of subscribers, and for the necessary funds to maintain more adequately during the coming year the operations of the City Mission.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Crouch, and

carried.

His Excellency then rose to move a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and after explain-ing the reason that he had not taken the chair, ho said : As to the general objects of the Mission, I can have but little to say after the excellent speeches to which you have already listened. It is not, as we all know, as Dean Cox has reminded us, in remote regions, and amidst races who differ from ourselves in language and religion, as well as in social manners and customs, that missionary work has alone now-a-days to be done. We may be quite sure of this, that wher-ever a city or largely populated town exists in any portion of the vast English empire there is as much scope for missionary effort aa there is in any of those almost unknown regions where missionaries encounter all those perils which the apostle has enumerated in his simple arid touching language. It has been well said that the world had not been what it is without cities ; that cities have been a

lamp of light along the pathway of humanity and religion, that withm them science has {riven birth to her noblest discoveries, and behind their walla free-dom has fought her noblest battles. All that is true enough, but we must not forget that under-neath all the outward show of urban wealth and civilization it has been decreed that the poor we shall have always with us. I fear it will be long indeed before a class may not and will not be found in every city for whom your places of worship of all denominations will stand open in vain. I fear, too, it will be long before dark haunts of misery and sin cease to exist which your ministers of religion, with all the goodwill to do so, cannot reach with-out tho aid of such lay agency and co-operation as this society affords. (Applause.) I nave on a former occasion endeavoured to show, and I think not altogether without success, that there is scarcely a religious or charitable and benevolent institu-tion in tliis city which is not indebted to the City Missionaries. And without going over that ground again, I may briefly say that I do most hrmly believe that by their agonoy many a family of the class I have specified is reached, and not merely a sonso awakened in the parents of the obligations and proprieties of Christian and social life, but their children rescued also from recruit-ing the ranks of the criminal class of the commu-nity. Our friend Dean Cox has said that we have no opposition to encounter. Of course we have no actual opposition to encounter, but I must say that in listening to the report this evening, and in attending theso meetings, and others of charit-able institutions, I find that while there is no actual opposition, there is something like it-there is an amount of lukowarm sympathy. For this is a work in which all, no matter how high their social posi-tion, might well bo proud to take a (personal part, and not leave merely to the agency of two zealous but overworked men. I was reading this afternoon tho eloquent speech of my friend Sir James Fergusson at the farewell banquet reoontly given to him in Adelaide. Ko part of that specoh pleased me more than where he urged the manifestation of greater sympathy and interest on the part of the higher

classes in the charitable and benevolent institu-

tions of the colony, and mentioned the great work that is boing done at the present time in the missionary way in London by young officer» of the Guards,-young mon, lot me toll you, who can boast amongst their numbors some of the best and noblest blood in the realm, and who have banded them elves together for the relief of distress aad the visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliotion, in tho very poorest and worse famed distriotu of the great metropolis. I think when we see work like this done in the mother oountry, the higher olasSes of Hobart Town sooioty ought not to be ashamed to join in such work. (Applause.) It is work such as this in England that tends to break down barriers and jealousies between olass and class, and make the poorer classes patient and enduring in their sorrows and suffering, and loyal to the institu-tions of their oountry. And if such a work as this cannot commend itself to our support on the nobler and higher ground of religion and humanity, of justice, pity, and mercy, let us at least come down to the lower and more common-place plat-form of State economy. Let ub picture to ourselves that every pound voluntarily given to aid the cause of tho City ¡Mission will probably in the long run savo a hundred to be wrung from you by the tax gatherers, to maintain tho police and gaols and defray tho cost of those paupor and charitable institutions whioh may well cause the native hue

of evory Colonial Treasurer's resolution to be sicklied o'or with tho palo cast of thought as he endeavours to frame his annual budget. I tniBt, howevor, that in appearing here this evening I may honestly and consoiontiously claim to be animated by the higher and more disinterested motives whioh I have specified,-motives which, at all events, I am certain aro the mainspring of every thought, word, and deed of your president, whether it be in publio or private life. (Applause.)

The Rev. J. Storik seconded the resolution, whioh wa» carriod by acclamation.

The Chairman roturnod thanks, and the proceed-ings oonoluded with prayer.

CHRISTMAS EXAMINATIONS.

Tho usual publio examinations of the pupils at-tending tho various sohoola in the oity and its vicinity, and the distribution of prizes prior to the Christmas vacation, have taken place during the present month. The limited space at our command, and the great length to which the annual reports and speeches were extended, preclude our giving moro than a few introductory remarks and the prizo lists of the principal schools, which are ap-pended in the order of date. The first public examination and distribution of prfces took place on Tuesday, the 10th instant, at

ST.-MARY'S PRESENTATION CONVENT.

The room was tastefully decorated with flowers, and presented a very pretty appearance The at tondanoo numbered about fifty, and included his Lordship Dr. Murphy, Bishop of Hobart Town, Mr. Justice Dobson, the Hon. Ch'arlos Meredith, Mr. James Gray, M.H.A., the Rev. Father Corbett, of St. Kilda ; Rev. Messrs. Hennebry, Woods, Beochinor, Kolan, and others, Tho premium for Sood conduot was awarded to Miss Malonoy and

liss Griffiths, thoy boing a tie, but on "cutting," I Miss Griffiths was the winner, and she was crowned 1 with a floral wreath by tho Bishop. Tho same

honour fell to tho lot of Miss Beoohinor for amiability,

Tho following is tho prize list as supplied to us, but in some coses tho pupils " out " for the prizes, ties coming very frequently : -

HiHioiiY-Roman, Grecian, and English.-1st Division : Miss Beochinor, Miss Flanaghan, Miss Moloney, Ml* Gray, Miss Balfe, and Miss Griffiths. 2nd Division : Miss MoLoughUn, I Miss O'Mcara, Miss Kean, Miss Matthews, Miss llumphrri, | Miss Morriu. Miss Cassidy, Miss Bacon, Miss Lucas, ana Miss

Maples. 3rd Division : Miss B. Flanaghan, Miss Trelogxan, Miss Adah Hunter, and Miss Margaret Tnlofgtn.-2nd Class-1st Division: Miss Teresa Robinson, Miss,Floren» Cuas, Miss Marr Fltigerald, Miss Susan Pemberton.

French -1st Division : Miss Robinson, Min Beechlnor, Miss Griffiths, Miss Flanaghan, and Mia Moloney. 2nd Division : Miss Kean, Miss Lucas 3rd Division : Min B. Flanaghan. Miss M. Treloggen, Miss Adah Hunter, Miss Margaret Treloggen.

Italian.-Miss Robinson, Miss Beechlnor.

Grammar,-Miss Mclaughlin, Miss Beechlnor, Misa Klanaghan, and Miss Kean. 2nd Class : Miss Mabu, and Miss Maryanne Shea. *

Gioobafuv.-Miss Humphry», Miss Flanaghan, and Miss Kean. 2nd Class : Miss K. Morriss, Miss Maryanne Thornton,

and Miss K, Mitchell.

GmaKAL Improvement in Btuoibs.-Miss Barber, Misa Robinson, Min Knif ht, Min Cassidy, and MU» Brown. Sod

Class -Miss Jane Shea, Miss Mclaughlin, Miss Teresa Lucas.

Arithmetic -Miss Humphrys, Misa Moloney, Mfas > Ueechlnor, Miss McLoughlln, Miss Griffiths, Miss Kean, Miss i '£. Robinson < /

i Needle Work-Miss Flanaghan, Miss O'Meara, Mila

Ilcechlnor, and Miss Matthews

WRITING -1st Division Miss Kean, Miss Lucas, Miss O'Meara, Miss Cassidy 2nd Division : Miss Morriss, Miss Bacon. Miss Griffiths, Miss Teresa Lucas, 3rd Class- Im-

provement In Studies -Miss Berdie Clarke, Miss Annie Fleming, James Maher, George Griffiths.

Music -Miss O'Meara, Miss Beechinor, and Miss Flanagan. Singing -Miss O Meara, Misa Flanaghan. and Miss .Beech! nor 2nd Division Miss Bacon, Miss Barber, Miss Flan» ghan, Miss Lucas, and Miss Cassidy

Drawing -Miss Gray '

The prizes were presented by the Bishop who, at

the termination of the proceedings, congratulated r the pupils on tho admirable manner in which they^ acquitted themselves, ' i , j .1

THE OITV SCHOOL. j ,

The annual distribution of prizes to the pupils attending the City School took place at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Tuesday, the 17th inst.' The head-master, Mr. H. M, Pike, presided, and there1 were also on the platform the Hon. A. KennerleV,'

the Rev. James Scott, and the Rev. G. B. Smith. ' The proceedings wero opened by Mr. Pike rending the report. ?» -..

THE " CHRISTIAN WITNESS" PRIZES.

The Hon. A. Kknnkhi.kv, as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Chi Mian Witness, said ho hod a special duty to perform in presenting the Christian Witness prizes, and before doing so he rood the letter which appealed in the Christian Witness of the 13th July last, in which a' corres-pondent signing himsolf " Homo" had offered1 to give £20 in prizes of £1 each to be divided between four schools in this city, of which the City School was one. He thon presented the prizes. Alfred Watchorn received the prize for good conduct iii and out of school, as also the History prize. Á.

Sherwin got the prize for Reading, W. Weaver for ' Arithmetic, and J. Lindley for Dictation.

The Head Master presented the remainder of the1 prizes. The foUowing is the

General English (IncludingGeography, History, Reading, ' and Spelling.)-'st class, F. Belbin. 2nd class, H. Knight.

3rd class, A. Sherwin. 4th class, J. Robertson. 6th class;. Geography and History, J. Weaver ; Dictation and Spelling, A. Hodborg. 6th class, tieogmpby and History, firstpriseyf Robertson; second prize, T. Todd: Dictation aud'apeonar', first prise, E. Allsopp ¡ second prise, A. Walch : Extra pris* for diligence, T. Clinch. 7th class, General English, first Èrice, W. Bloomfield ; second price, W. Brownell ; third prise,

I. Watchorn. 8th class, General English, firatjprlae,'?. Chancellor ; second prise, H. Duthie ; third prise, H. Fysh.' i

Enolish Grammar.-1st class, F. Bolbin, tod ela»», H. Knight. 3rd class, T. Callaghan. 4th doss, J. Colvin. Stn class, T. Allwrlght 6th class, C. Propsting.

Puns Mathematics-1st class (Including Arithmetic,

Algebra, and Euclid), W. Weaver. Euclid-2nd claas, dom i awarded. Algebra-2nd class, H. Knight 3rd olasji, jr. Bennett Arthmetlc-2nd class, P. Chadwick. 8rd rta*», H. Brownell. 4th class, 1st prize, C Knight; 2nd prise; V. Murdoch. 6th class, 1st prize, T. Todd: 2nd prise, A Chancellor. Uth class, 1st prize, W. Bloomfield ; 2nd prise, W. Brownell. 7th chus, M. Chancellor. ,

Latin.-1st class, J. Wilson. 2nd class, F. Dea Voux, sid class, H. Hutchison. 4th class, J. Colvin.

French.-1st class, W. Lodge 2nd claas, H. Knight. M class, H. Brownell. 4th class, G. Byer : 2nd prise, P. Stan-field. » . .

Whiting.-1st room-First prize, F. Bennison: seoond prk», F. Bennett : third prise, J. Robertson. 2nd roottf* 1st.prise, P. Pybus; second prise, T. Todd ; third prise, H. Russell. 3rd room-First prize, W. Bloomfield; second prise, P. Wilkinson. ^

Diiawino -First prize, R. Sherwin; second prise, F. Pike ; third prise, E. Castray; fourth prise. L. Giblin.

Dbillino.-First squad, P. Chadwick ; second squad, W. Baynton. Mr. Hood's prizes-First squad, H. Knight ; second aquad, A. Hedberg. '

Scholarship Mementos.-Finit prize, A. Watchorn; second prize, J. Lindley ; third prize, W. Fowler. 11 ?

Swimming Prizes.-Hedberg race-1st prize, P. Chadwick : second prize, H. Owen. Swift race-First prize, H. Owen ; second prize, R. Sherwin. Junior long race-First prise: J. Lindley ; second prize, T. Allwrigbt. Juniorshort race -Fist prise-P. Stanfield ; second prize, II. Evans. 8

Chhistiah Witness Prizes.-Moral Conduct, A. Watch-orn ; English History, A. Watchorn ; Arithmetic, V. Weaver ; Dictation, J. Lindley ; Reading, A. Sherwin. . i

ST. JOHN'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizeB in connection' with St. John's Grammar School, Macquarie-street, took place on Wednesday, the 18th instant, in the school-room. There was a moderate attendance. The head-master, Mr. E. Pitfield, read the report, which was of a very satisfactory character.

At the conclusion of the reading of this report,

the prizes were presented by the Rev. James Scott.. Tlie following is the -

prize list.

First Claus -Examination prize, Edward Walsh ; Latin,

prize, Henry Calder; English and Reading prizes, LesUe» ' Gordon Corrie ; Writing prize, John M'Mockan. - - .

Second Clash.-Mark and Reading and Writing prise»,. Charles Stuart Agnew; Examination and Reading prisée, Frank Borresford Corrie ; Latin prlzo, Vivian Larchtn Butler;' Arithmetic and Wrltlngprize, Edward Gregory. ' ' ' -!>->.'

Third Class.-Examination prize, Alfred Anderson ; Mark and Geography prize, Alfred Stone ; Reading and Spelling prize, Louis Fleming ; Grammar prize. Fred. Butler; Writing; prizes, George Cheverton and Charles Toby ; Arithmetic prize,

Arthur Gregory.

Tho Rov. James Scott expressed the pleasure he felt at being present, and congratulated Mr. Pitfield on tlie success of his undertaking in beginning's new school in this city.

HORTON COLLEGE.

On Wednesday, December 18th, the annnsl dis-tribution of prizes took place at Horton College. "

The President in his opening address, after ein pressing thankfulness that the half-year had pasead) without acoident or sickness, referred to the »eery satisfactory bohaviour of tho boys, and to, their, equally commeudable diligence in school work. The, following is the * . ¡

prize list.

Clahiics.-First class, Cecil Allport ; sooond class, Phillp, Pitt ; third class, Hedley Sailor.

Mathematics-First class, Cecil Allport ; second class. Phillp Pitt. " '

Arithmetic.-First class, Robert Bayles ; second, *rffl,

Hamilton Boyeo.

French.-First class, Cecil Allport ; second class, Ifetvaä* Blockhouse. .;

History and Geoorapiiy.-First outsu, Robert Bayiea; second class, Frank Hart ; third class, Eustace Smith. ' ,

Enolisii Grammar -First class, Cecil AUport ;' second class, Phillp Pitt : third class, Arthur Perry. ,;

Sobikturk.-William Browne.

Good Conduct.-Robert Bayles. IllI.KiKNi'K-Robert Lethbridge.

In tho course of the evening, a presentation waa mode to Miss Parramore, of Beaufront, who for» years has been the kind and constant friend of the. college boys, of an interesting collection of the egg», of native birds in a noat glass case. After the National Anthem had been sung, hearty cheers were,

given for Mrs. Horton, Miss Parramore, the lady -visitors, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Richards. > , i i »

HARRINGTON-STREET SCHOOL.

The first annual distribution of prizes took place on Wednesday, the 18th instant. There was a good attendance of parents and friends of pupils. The room was tastefully decorated with flowers l(*ml flags. Mr. Gray, the master, having given a» account of the examination and its results, reed the following ,. »

REPORT. i

Mathematics (Arlthmetlo, Algebra, and Euclid), in which E. T. Simonits obtained the highest number of marks, bai was so closely followed by R. Burn that a second prise wes awarded. . '.j-,j

Enolisii-In this division the work was well prepared by most of the boys, but E. T, Simonas gained the prisa by . large number of marks. ' '"

French.-Only three boys did at all well In this subject ; Faoy, who takes the prize, however, did very well indeed. Napier, who has only been a very short time studylM.-the language, has made such progress as to entitle hin» to a tfophl prize. ' ". . '.'

Scripture -Thts subject (open to all the boys) waa well prepared by most, and the prize fell to G. A. Reynolds., .".,

Latin.-In this subject no boy was passed : it being neds essential for success that credit should be obtained m,ren-dering English Into Latin In other branches of the'liwajaissjs several boys did well. , i , , j j ¡j

A special prlzo »vas awarded for writing, drawing, corases* tlon, and book-keeping, taken together, and this waa aalaed by P. Facy, G. A. Reynolds, who was second on the Us», Basse; only 7 marks below. In the Second Class the IS sabjaou under study «ero divided Into groups of 4 ; and s prias offered for each group of subjects.

A. Hagon obtained the prize for arithmetic, spelling/, dicta-tion, and book-keeping. Wm. Simmon« for history, 'geo-graphy, grammar, and paning, and H. W. Fordoes», for writlng, composition, drawing, and reading. A good contact Crise was awanted bj'vote of the school to M. W. _

he following is the prlzo list for throe classes :-Ftnt Class : Marks, T. c Marsh : English, Ë T. almonds ; matrnaiatan». E. T. Slmond», R. G. Bum : composition, drawing, 4o,,P.W. Faoy ; Scripture, O. A. Reynolds : French, P. W. Facy and W. Napier. Socond Class : Marks, Hagon : W. Simmons, J. W. Fordham and Hagon for other subjects. Third Clase : Marks, C. James; examination, Strutt and James. ' .,, ;

DERWENT SCHOOL. ' t

The annual distribution of prizes at the Derwent School took placo an Wednesday, the 18th ¡nstailt. Alter reading the report, which showed thst'the

result of thooxamination just concluded was satis-factory, except in a few instances, Mr. Nor,nan,"(the teacher, presontod prizes as follow :- T '

Arithmetic-First class : Examination prize, C. Mttohall. Second class: Examination prlzo, li. Horne. Second elsa»: Mark prito, A. Stokell, Third class : Mark and eiarrdaassen Crise, I). Riddle Fourth class : Examination prise, J.tCssSk.

ourth class : Mark prlso; F. Latham. ".'j Mensuration ani> Aloebiia.-E. Hunt.

Grammar.-First class : Mark and examination prise. K. Hunt. Second class : Mark and examination attie, F. Pike. Third class : Mark and examination prise. Georg« Slaves»

First class: Mark and examination prise, »..Smith. .Seeofd class : Examination prlzo, A. M'Oregor. ,' ,.

Gkoorai'Iiv.-First class : Mark and examination prise, J. Stokell. Second class: Examination prise, C. Pender. Seeoed class; Mark prise, A .Stokell. Third class:. Examuutloa prise, George Orpwood. ...'."

Enolihh IIiHTonv - First class : Mark and eiamraauoa prise, J. Stokell. Sooond class : Examination prise, H.

Enulihu Rkadino.-First chu» : Prize, J Adcock. Heoond class : Prize, T. Brownell. Third class : Prise, J. D. Clark.

Penmanship.-First class : Prlzo, F. Smith. Beooad else» : Prise, Geo. Orpwood and W. B. Propsting. i ,? ,

Tostrv.-First class: (None awarded). Second el«*:

Prize, R. She»,

Latin.-Flrtt das» : Prize, B. Hunt. Reoular Attendance - E. Fisher. Good Conduct.-C. Pender.

Improvement.-Writing : J. Shea. General ImprovesBewt : T.p. Johnston, li. Jones, A. Adcock, C. Smith, »ad G. W.

BopK-KEEFiNo.-prize to be competed for In March aext.

THE RAGGED SCHOOLS. ' '' ''?

The publio examinations and distribution offsiese j at the Ragged Schools commenced on Wedne«a)»T,

the 18th inst. The examination of the Wetcfcotav ' street Sohoot was hold at 10 a.m. end completadas

12-30-p.m. Tho Collins-street Sohool examinemos» wrainenced at 2 p.m. and sennhaled about'1 MfJ

p.m. The examination at the Cascades Road School was held on Thursday, ti:' 19th, at 2 p.m. These schools hold an important place among our scholastic institutions, "their work is carried on amongst the "waifs" and stray children which abound in this city. The averago attendance of these childi'on at the several schools is as follows : Watehorn-stroet, 114 ; Collins-street, 131 ; Cascades Hoad, 129 ; total, 377. The average numbers on the several school rolls are, Watchom-street, 1G7 ; Collins-street, 180 ; Cascades Road, 186 ; total, 533. At each of these schools about 50 prizes of books and other useful articles were presented as rewards . for good conduct, cleanliness, proficiency, attention

to their studies, punctuality, regularity, improve-ment, Ac. The teachers of the several schools, namely, Mr. Bryant and Miss Proctor, Watchorn street ; Mr. Myles and Miss Proctor, Collins-street ; and Mr. Wickens and Miss Mitchell, Cascades Road, were each deservedly commended for their efficient training of the children under their charge.

OYSTER COVE P0BLIO SCHOOL.

The annual Christmas feast in connection with this Behool came off on Wednesday, 18th ¡nat. The school-room had been tastefully and elegantly decorated for the occasion by the ladies of the district, and altogether presented a most picturesquo

appearance.

The following is a list of the prize-takers, a prize being awarded for general proficiency in each class, and two for regular attendance :

Fourth class : Caroline Smith. Third class : George Hughes. Second class : lstdlvislon. William Henry Smith ; 2nd division, Harrtet Wilson. First class: 1st division, Elizabeth Watt and Gwrge Smith, equal ; 2nd division, John Smith. First prize, regular attendance, Robert Hughes ; second ditto, Eleanora

Soul thorpe.

? THE HIGH SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes to pupils of the High School took place on Thursday, the 19th instant, in the presence of a large number of the pupils, and ladies and gentlemen. Among those f resent were Sir Robert Officer, the Hon. F. M.

nnes, Hon. T. D. Chapman, Hon. J. Whyte, Mr. Sharland, lion. C. Meredith, Rev. Canon Davenport, Rev. Mr. Sharland, and others. The proceedings were opened with prayer, after which the Rev. Ë. D. P. Harris, the Rector, read the report, giving an account of the progress made during the year, and from which we make the following extract : " In July an examination was held for two New-castle Scholarships, one for boys under twelve, the other for senior scholars, The first mentioned was conducted by the Rev. C. H. Cope, who reported in favour of W. Peacock, giving praise to Chesterman «aid E. Taylor. The senior one was conducted by the , masters with the aid of Mr. Cope. The scholarship was gained by H. M. Davies-Pike and F. C. Burgess passed a very good examination. The MacNaughtan Scholarship and two Newcastle Scholarships (senior and junior) will be open far competition next July. lu the Council of Educa-tion s examinations we again won the great prize and leading honour . of the year, namely, the Tasmanian Scholarship. Douglas Stewart was the Successful candidate ou this occasion. In the degrees we'did not do so well as usual, but Davies passed an excellent English, French, and Classical examina-tion, and Burgess gained the second prize in French, » prize which he did not receive on the degree day, owing to an inadvertence on the part of the ex-aminer. Early in the year we received intelligence that the Gilchrist Scholarship at the London University had beon obtained by Hughes, an old pupil of our school, and one who lies added to its honours by obtaining the Council's me lal. George Anther, one of our Tasmanian scholars, took a good place in the Classical Tripos at Cambridge. Lewis Agnew, another old pupil, succeeded in passing

the Matriculation Examination of the Melbourne

University, .fearnley was placed among the prize-men in the May examinations at Trinity College, Cambridge. One very sad and sorrowful piece of intelligence reached us in the course of the post year, S. Robinson, who had been at the school for several years, working his way up from the lowest forms to the distinction of a degree, and afterwards of a Scholarship ; and who had gone to Edinburgh to prepare for the medical profession, died after a short illness in the course of last December. Ho hod been much liked by tho boys and much esteemed ¿hy the masters, and there was much sorrow and madness iii tho school, when I received and an-nounced the painful intelligence." _

After reading tho report, the Rector requested Sir Robert Officer to present the prices, which he gives annually for proficiency in Classics, Mathe-matics, and English. Sir Robert Officer presented the prizes accordingly, complimenting C. Fiko on paving won the Classical and Mathematical prizes, * and S. Chapman on having won the English prize.

The Rector then handed to Prior a special prize awarded for excellence in Mathematics, and the Rector's French prize was handed to C. Pike.

The Rector, in handing over to 0. Lord the Moral Conduct prize, given by the late Mr. Hopkins, addressed a few words to the recipient, and said that

if he continued as he hod been m school he would always be esteemed amongst men. '

The Rector's prize for Moral Conduct was awarded to Sharland, whom the Rector also congratulated.

The other prizes were then distributed by the Rector, and as each boy came forward he was loudly cheered by his frinds. The following is the

TRIZE list.

First Form.-Examination : Busman (first prize) ; Burgess (Latin); Barrett (Arithmetic). Marks: Barrett

?Second Form.-Examination: F. Bowman (first prize); f. Bowman (Arithmetic) Marka : F. Bowman

' Lower Third Form.-Exam ¡nation : H. Prior (first prize) ; W.' Edmondson (French). Mark» : Sharland.

Vtr/at Third Form.-£xamiiiatlon ; Davenport (first prise) ; W. Peacock (Mathematical). Marks ; Davenport.

''Foürt;/ Form.-i'jamiiiaii'on : Lindsay (first prise] ; Morgan and Levy (Classics) : Hughes (Mathematical) ; McDonnell (English). Marks: HarbrooandStutterd.

"Lower Fifth Form.-£xai>i (tuition; Ford (first prize); M. Busman lÉnglhh) ; Butler (French) ; Fisher (Mathematical) : ffarks; M. Suspjan.

Upper Fifth For«.-Examination : S. Taylor (first prize) ; Lewis (French and Mathematical). Marks: MacMlllan.

Lowie Sixth Form.-i'lnininaiioii ; Barrett (first prize) ; Hull (English) : Pierce (Mathematical). Maris ; Pierce.

Officer Prizes.-Classics. Pike ; Mathematical, Pike ; English, Chapman.

Rector's French Prize.-Pike.

Special Mathematical Prize -Prior.

Rev. Mb. Btorie's Scripture History Prize.-Barrett. Boarders' Ditto,-Stutterd. Prize for Maps.-Tindale

JmsT Writino Prize -Robertson ; second ditto, Hassall. ¡Book-keepino.-Ayton.

Mr. Hood's Drilling Prize.-Sharland

Hopjíiüs' Moral Conduct Prize.-O. Lord. BkoTOR'h Ditto.-Sharland.

"After'the distribution of prizes, tho Rector said £hsA he intended to have during the next half-year classes for singing and mechanical drawing.

HUTCHINS SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the Hutchins School took place on Thursday afternoon, the 19th instant, at the school. .The attendance was large. His Lordship Bishop Bromby presided, having on his right hand His Excellency the Governor (who was received with cheers), and His Honour Judge Francis, and on his left His Honour Sir Valentine Fleming, His Honour Mr. Justice Dobson, Conon Hudspeth, and Canon Bromby. Among those present besides wore the Rev. G. B. Smith,' Mr. W. B. Watchorn, Mr. Hawkes, M. L. C., Professor Strong, of the Melbourne University, Mr. Belstead, Mr. Watson, Mr. Barker, Mr. T. EvanB, Mr. J. Morriss, Mr. Stone, Mr. C. Butler, Dr. Bedford, Rev. Mr. Wayn, Rov. Mr. Shoobridge,' and Mr. R. C. Boyd. The proceedings Were opened with prayer by the Bishop, who then called upon the Principal, the Rev. J. R. Buckland, B.A. to read tho report, from which we make the following extract :-" It is not for me to go into 'detail as to the many honours gained by the High Behool and Horton College ; the published returns speak for themselves ; but for the Hutchins School I may say that out of 2G exhibitions open to boya under 14 years of age, 14 have been gamed by the Hutchins School boys ; that in the A.A. examina-tion, out of 46 first classes we have gained 15 ; 4 out of 14 gold medals ; and that of 27 boys who have gone up from this shool, 15 havo got a first class; 4 a second class, 7 a third class, and only one boy has failed to pass. I consider that the suc-cess of the pupils of this school in the examinations for the Council's exhibition, as well ns for the A.A. Degree, is a fact to which I am justified in calling your Lordship's attention. Of our old pupils, Henry Knight has during the past year got a com-mission in the engineers after passing a very good examination at Woolwich ; and Charles Barnard has gained an exhibition of £30 at Guy's Hospital during his second year as a medical student. Four of our old scholars, Roope, Morriss, Butler, and Nairn, have, during the year, been admitted as barristers and solicitors of the Suprorao Court of Tasmania. In April last there was an examination held for three Newcastle Scholarships tenable at this school, two of whioh were open to boys above 12,' and one to boys under 12. The two senior Scholarships were gained' by Canaway and L. Butler-the latter having resigned the Scholarship after holding it for six montliB ; it is now awarded to Doran, who came next on the list of candidates. The junior exhibition was won by C. Buscombe. For the Council's exhibitions in June we sent in three candidates, and for the third year in suc-cession one of our boys, Creswell, who was an exhibitioner from one of our publio schools, headed

the list with 1,003 marks out of 1,200. Another of our boys, Roberts, was fourth, and he has another chance next year, and our third boy, Perkins, obtained honourable mention.' In June also, Adams, who had been nominated by His Excellency to a naval cadetship, passed with groat credit his examination for entoring the navy. He was examined on board the Clio, at Sydney, and is now on his way to England to join the Britannia. For the A.A. Degree in September we sent in four candidates, all of whom passed-Tibbs, Reilly, and Butler in the first olass, and Meredith in the third class. Tibbs gained the gold medal and second prizes 'of books for English, Latin, Greek, and Mathematics. Reilly, who took up ono subject less than Tibbs, gained first prizes for English, Latin, Greek, and French, books to the value of £40 ; and Butler first prizes for Mathematics and ; Natural Philosophy, and the prize for Chemistry

was divided between Butler and Meredith."

At the conclusion of the reading of the reports, " the Principal presented tho general prizes. The MacNaughtan prize was awarded to Canaway and Doran; they being exactly equal in their number of marks. Canaway recoived a copy of Words-worth's Poems,,and Doran "Lord Dorby's Trans-

lation of the Iliad of Homer." The following is the j

PRIZE LIST.

Examination. , I Maclaughlan Prize for the best examination, Canaway, I Doran, equal. !

Greek.-First class. Doran ; second claw,- H. Perkins ; I

third class, C. Bascombe.

Latin.-First class, C. Morriss ; second class, Gourlay ; I third class, McDowall ; fourth class, G. Banks Smith ; fifth class, Molloy.

French -First class, Reilly ; second class. Gourlay ; third class, Gaynor ; fourth class, Nairn, G. Banks Smith, equal ; fifth class, Molloy.

Es.oi.iuh.- First class, Canaway; second class, McDowall, Molloy, equal ; lower division, Walter Perkins ; third class,

Harrisson. i

Mathematics.-First class. Canaway, Doran, equal ; bccond ' class, Giles ; third class, Molloy : fourth clau, A. Morriss.

Marks of the Half-Year, "

Greek.-First class, C. Morriss ; second class, II. Perkins third class, L. Tarleton.

Latin.-First class, C. Morriss ; second class, Gourlay ; third class, McDowall ; fourth class, (J.- Banks Smith; fifth class, Watchorn.

French.-First chvis, C. Morriss ; second class, J. Huybers ; third class, L. Tarleton ; fourth class, Nairn ; fifth class,

Watchorn.

Mathematics.-First class,, C. Morriss ; second class, Giles ; third class, Molloy ; fourth class, A. Morriss.

Enolibh.-First class, C. Morriss ; second class, McDowall ; lower division,. Walter Perkins ; third class, A. Morriss, Hudspeth.

Improvement in Writino.-Giles, Snowden, Walter Farquhar.

Special Frizes.

His Excellency the Governor's Prizes-English Verse : Canaway. Latin Verse : Doran.

His Lordship the Bishop of Tasmania's Prize for Scripture History: McDowall.

The Head Master's Prizes.-English Prose Composition : W. Buckland. Scripture History (Junior Class) : A. Abbott.

Mr. HoweU's Prizes -Best Examination in Euclid ; Doran. Second best ExamlnaUon in Euclid : Lovett

Mr. Justice Dobson's Prize for Good Conduct : McDowall. A special prize was also given to Creswell for gaining the

£20 Exhibition In June.

After the presentation of the prizes Híb Lord-ship the Bishop of Tasmania delivered an address defending the Tasmanian system of education from the defamatory remarks of those who said that it was a pauper, an eleemosynary system ; and he pointed, in support of his position, to home, where the whole system of education was liable to this very Bame charge of being eleemosynary, for, regarding the

munificent endowments which had been made at Westminster, Eton, and other schools, the very same charge could be made. He thought it would be a short-sighted policy to allow any departure from the present system.

Sir Valentine Fleming having proposed a vote of thanks to His Excellency the Governor for his presence, and kindnesB in presenting prizes,

His Excellency acknowledged the compliment in an appropriate speech. He observed that he had noticed some remarks which a distinguished novelist, who visited these shores about a year ago, had been pleased to communicate to a London news-paper. Those remarks were to the effect that although his own Liberal training induced him to think it theoretically a gloomy look-out for a colony which bad for its Governor a former Tory member (laughter) tor a Tory county and of a Tory Government, who had moreover married the daughter of the greatest Tory of the century (laughter), he was hound practically to confess that the simple Tasmanians didn't appear at all to agree with him. They, on the contrary, wore fond of their Governor, who reigns in a pleasant, patriarchial way, and seems to have a very nappy time iu Tasmania. His Excellency then said, I will not to-day, after the remarks of His

Lordship the Bishop, enter into any defence of your system of superior education for which I have readily done battlo on other occasions, but which needs no champion within the walls of this room My further remarks will be more usefully, as I tlunk, directed to the objects to bo aimed at in teaching rather than m discussing the mentsor demerits of any particular system What to teach, and how to teach it, is a question upon which, now a days hardly two peoplo think alike, and I am perhaps just a trifle of the old patriarchial Tory in my views For in spite of all that I have heard and read of late years to the contrary I still maintain that for a ground work and foundation of any liberal and comprehendsive system of education there is nothing like a certain amount of classical attainments and scholarship But I also agree with those who main tain that it is not so much tho thing which is studied as the manner in which it is studied and the acquire ment of the habit of study, which is all important The great object to my mind to be aimed at in training up youug minds, is to engender habits of earnestness,accuracy and attention and it is because I think that classical study and Biliolarship tend to engender those habits in au especial degree that I have always been thoir warm advocate

THE COLLEGIATE! SCHOOL

The public examination and presentation of prizes at this school, conducted by Mi A Ireland, took place on Thursday, 19th instant, and at three 0 clock in the afternoon a large number of the parents, relatives, aud friends of the students assembled m the upper school room at the large aud commodious premises m Davey street, which have recently been leased by Mr Ireland for school pur poses, instead of those which he has hitherto occu pied at the crossing of Macquarie and Harrington streets The chair was taken shortly after three pm by the Hon A Kenncrley, M L C The Rev Dr Nicolson and the Rev James Scott were also present Mr Ireland, the Principal, commenced the proceedings by reading the reports and prize

lut

The Christian Witness prizes were presented by Mr Kennerley The following is the list of the Christian Witness prize winners -Moral Conduct, T Manden, English Reading, A Lovett, Dicta tion, P Fámulo, Arithmetic, T Sa\age, English History, F Self

PRIZE LISTS

First Class

Written Arithmetic - Marks T Savage 303 D Tohnston and P Farmilo 35° ¿.rai m alion I Savage l"u V Seir 122 G Pemberton 100

Mental Arithmetic -txaminat on F Soif 01 G Pemberton f>8 D Johnston 57

Mathematics - Marks F Self V>5 D Johnston and C Hutton 109 Examination T Savage V0 F Sell B4 C Hope 80

Algebra -Moris T Savage 110 Farmilo 109 Bowden 108 ftnmmotfon D Johnston irO Savage 135 S. Kiaby 85

Grammar -Marks T Savage 189 D Johnston 187 P Farmilo 170 Exa nination T Savage 295 D Johnston

20' F Self 252

Geography -Marks T Savage 231 D Johnston 223 F Self 207 Examination F Self 140 T Savage 110 C Hope 80

History -Marks D Johnston 194 T Savage 193 Examination F Self 192 T Savage 152

Bookkeeping -Exai mullion G Pemberton 71 W Dart and T Savage 49

Dictation -Exat tinalfott Farmilo D Johnston A Lovett Maps-F Self SOO C Hutton 271 G Pemberton 221

Penmanship - P Farmilo 154 C Hutton 151 T Savage

160

Second Class

Written Arithmetic -Marks Senior section-J Wig nail Singer Junior section-G Hunter T Haywood

Mental Arithmetic -Exai tinado» Dart Cousins J WlgnalL

Grammar-Marks C Hoggins W Hope -Examination Hoggins Dart

Geography -Marks T Haywood C Hoggins Examina turn O Hoggins H Drake

Enolisu Reading -acuminado« C Dart T Haywood Dictation-£xa»i(natioii W Cousins Dart Haywood Penmanship -Maris Cousins 132 It Smith 127 O Dart 12«

Special Subjects

Latin-Special class T Savage senior section W Cheverton junio? section O Hope

French -Senior section T Marsden Junior section C Hope

Third Class

Written Arithmetic -JUariU Sonlor section-Moore 205 H Kennedy 10J Junior section-A. Lipscombe 2°9 H Robertson 203 Exa ninat on Senior section-Grahame 01 A Mooro 87 Junior section-A Nichols 03 A Lips

combe 83

Mental Arithmetic.-£xat titialion W Cowburn C Grahame T Downie

Orthography -Marks -Moore 2,1» Robortson 231 £xam(iiatio» T Downie 97 F Wiggins 94

Meanings.—Marks: A. Marsden 232; H. Robertson 230. Examination: A. Marsden, 95; H. Robertson, 92.

English Reading -irai m aiton. A Marsden 205 II Robertson 193

Penmanship -Marks A Lip combe 128 A. Moore 1"4

Writing

First Class-For running hand C Hope text hand Pemberton These are nearly equalled by Farmilo Self Savage Hutton Murdoch Burt and Mitchell

Second Class-For running hand C Dart -Text han 1 R Smith Cousins Singer W Dart Boss Kennedy and W Dart taking good places

Third Class-A. Moore with A. Lipscombe T Lipscombe F Wiggins and Cowburn very close to him

The Jarman Prise given annually foi the greatest impove mont fell to tho lot of A Nichols

ST MARY'S SEMINARY

The first annual exhibition and distribution of prues to pupds attending St Mary s Seminary took place in the Odd Fellows Hall, at 3 o clock on Thursday, the 19th instant Among those present we noticed besides his Lordship Bishop Murphy, who presided, the superiors of tho Seminary, tho Rev Messrs Woods, Honnebry, and Beechinor, Messrs J Gray, M H A , J Dooloy, M H A , Balfe, Hunter, &c The proceedings wore opened by a numio parliamentary debate, m which upwards of twenty students took part, who exhibited a far greater amount of sana froul than is generally to be seen m similar oratorical dein enes At the conclusion of the debate the Rector of the Semi

nary, Rev T Kelsh, read the report of tho studies prosecuted at the Seminary, and the examinations for the year 1872 His Lordship then distributed the good conduot prizes to P, Ryan, M Lannon, F Murray, and L. Gillon, after which Mr Ramsay, the Vice Rector, read the prize list as follows, the prizes being distributed by the Bishop as the names

were collei -

Fifth and fourth classes -Euclid M M Edwards French M M Edwards Latin and French W Byfield Algebra W J Connell English History First prize M M Edwards second prize W Byfield Scripture History First prize P Ryan second prize W J Connell Roman History First prise M M Edwards second prlzo P Ryan third prize W Hunter English Grammar W Byfield English Gram mar and ««Geography M M Edwards second prize, GeographjrP Ryan Arithmetic M M Edwards secón I prize W Byfield and W J Connell Catechism M M Edwards second prize W Byfield Book keeping First prize P Ryan seoond prize W Byfield and F Hill Greek First prize, W J Connoll socond prize J Kelly

Writing First prize M M Elwards V Hill P Ryan M

Rourke Dictation First prize W J Connell soconl prize, M Rourke Composition W Byfield

Third class-Reading First prlzo J Briggs E Fitzgerald J Shirley and F Chatterton Writing M Davidson Die tatton J Murray English Grammar and Geography J Briggs second prize E Fitzgerald English History Third Erizo J Briggs E. Fitzgerald ml F Murray Scripture

[(story J Briggs French M Rourke Latin J Briggs Arlthmetlo F Murray and J Davidson seoond prize J Shirley Catechism M Davidson and F Murray Bock keeping M Davidson

Seeond class - F Davidson spelling catechism and geo grapby J Humphreys arithmetic J MoLoughlln reading G Groom catechism arithmetic and geography E Lucas arithmetic W Mclaughlin reading J Lennon spelling G Davidson geography

After some short delay prizes wero given for the best debaters, Masters Edwards, Fox, Hunter, Connell, and Byfield, and the Rector announced

that two prizes were to be given to the holders of I scholarships-the first one, presented by Rev. I Father Hennebry, falling to the lot of Master ¡ Edwards, and the second one to Master Joseph ' Briggs. ' " ' -

I THE TASMANIAN ACADEMY.

The twenty-fourth annual examination of Mr. Bromfield'e pupils took place in his new school, Upper Murray and Arthur-streets, on Friday, the 20th December, when the following prizes were

awarded :

. Orthography.-First class, Wm. Payne; majority of I marks, 00. Second class, Albert Page; majority of mark»,

111. Third class, John Meredith ; majority of marks, Si Fourth class, Amy Bromfield, majority of marks, 127.

Reading_First prlzo, Albert Tsylor ; second prise, Lilian Page ; third prize, Jesse Baker.

Writing.-First prize, Geo. Anning ; second prize, Chas. HUI. ,

Arithmetic -First prise. Geo. Roberts. Latin Grammar -Henry Broadribb.

Ueooraphv.-Richard Hill ; second prize, A. Henry.

Dictation.-Rosannah Domeney ; second prize, Adolphus

Taylor. «

Exemplary Conduct (elected by the boys). - Henry

Jordan.

General Improvement.-Chas. Jordan, Herbert Payne, Samuel Broadribb, John Geo. Hollis, Louisa MoMurchy.

PUBLIC 80HOOL, BATTERY POINT.

The distribution of the Christian Witness and other prizes took place at Battery Point public school, on Friday, the 20th instant, at 2*15 p.m. Besides the pupils and their teachers there were present several former scholars and teachers, a few of the children's parents and friends, the Rev. G. Banks Smith, the Rev. James Scott, the Rev. E. Symonds, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Symonds, and several other ladies and gentlemen. '

" CHRISTIAN WITNESS " FBIZE LIST. Good Conduct.-Edwin H. Chesterman. History.-Alfred H. Chesterman. Reading -James Mitchell.

Arithmetic.-Edwin Alex. Jack.

Writino from Dictation.-Lulls» Snowden.

OENEKAL PRIZE LIST.

Readi.no_Sixth class: J. Mitchell. Fifth class: John

Dore. Fourth class: Jas. Gleeson. Third class: Amelia] Harley. Second class, first division, L. Lipscombe ; second division, C. Sampson. F'rst class, first division, E. Stuart ; second division, G. Lee. r

Writi.no.-Sixth class: Margaret Johnston. Fifth class: A. Warner. Fourth class : V. Johnston. Third class : R. Speakman. Second class, first division, B. Burgess ; second division, N. Tibballa. First class, first division, ET Hawthorn ;

second division Ara. Petersen.

Spelling (Writing from Dictation).-Sixth class : Lillias Snowden. Fifth class : John Cassidy. Fourth class : S. Staples Third class : A. Mitchell Second class, first division, S. Speakman ; second division, A. Purdon.

Arithmetic-Sixth class : Edwin A. Jack. Fifth class, E Cripps. Fourth class, W. Williams. Third class, A. Forsyth. Second class, first division, R. Hill; second division, M. Stenhouse. First class, first division, F. Lee.

Grammar.-Sixth class : Annie Wilson. Fifth class : G. Totham Fourth claas : M. Haines Third class : C. Jack.

Geoiiraphy.-Sixth class : T. Edwin Rule. Fifth class, W. Speakman. Fourth class: F. Lloyd. Third class: P. Hood.

History.-Sixth class : A. Chesterman. Fifth class : 0. Bullock. Fourth class : W. Rule.

Good Conduct.-Edwin Chesterman.

PUBLIC SCHOOL, NEW TOWN.

The distribution of prizes to the children of this school took place on Friday, the 20th inst. The examination was held during the previous part of the week. Mr. Roberts, of the Queen's Asylum, kindly examined and reported on the mathematical papers prepared by the upper classes. Sir Robert Officer paid his annual visit to the school in the forenoon, and examined the children in

rrarlînir. awardini? nrizes to the two best. Sir

Robert's yearly visit has now become institutional, and is expected by the children with as much eagerness as that with which they look forward to the treat with which they are yearly provided. The following is the

FKIZB LIST.

Lower Second. - Bout : First prise, John Hughes; second prise, William Stern. Girls : First prise, Alice 3tewart ; second prize, Emily Johnson.

Upper Second.-Boys : First prise. George McOermott : second prise, William Andrews. Girls : First prise, Maude Kearney : second prise, Estber Ford.

Third -Boys : First prize, Richard Long ; second prize, John C. Cooley. Girls : First prise, Fanny Ford ; second prize, Annie Thomson.

Lower Fourth.-Bo|/í : First prise, Albert Cato ; second prise, William Stephens. Girls: First prize, Julia Miles; second prize, May Kearney.

Upper Fourth.-Boys : First prlzo, Georgo Boyes ; second prize, Alfred Payne. Girls : First prize, Sarah Brown ; second prlro, Minnie Ford.

Firm.-Bit)/« : First prize, Rechab Andrews ; second prlzo. Arthur Brent. Giris : First prize, Isabella Thomson ; no

second.

Sixth.-Boys : First prize. William Lovett ; second prize, I Thomas Rigby. No girls in this class. ,

The Lower Second Is tho lowest class on the list.

Special.-For neatness In style, composition, and excellence I in some subjects :-Thomas Lovett, William Williams, William Wlthrlngton, Elizabeth Cooper, Maria Hughes, and Crofton McKay.

Writino.-Wellington Brown, Alice Kearney.

Moral Conduct (voted by the pupils of the school)-Lower

or Younger Section : John William«, Maude Kearney. Upper I Section : Wellington Brown, Alice Kearney. |

Needle Work.-First Division: First prize, Elizabeth Cooper ; second prize, Minnie Ford ; third prize, Emma Miles. Second Division, First prize, Fanny Ford ; second prize, Sarah Brown ; third prize, EUza Stewart.

BRIGHTON COTTAGE SCHOOL, NEAR v

BRIGHTON.

Tho annual distribution of prizes at this estab-lishment took place on Friday, 20th instant, in the presence of a number of visitors. The school-room was tastefully decorated with flowers and shrubs. Master A. Blacklow received the first prize in the first class for Arithmetic, he showing great pro-ficiency in that subject ; Master W. Chamberlain the first prize for the same subject in the second class. Master C. Blacklow received the prize for the best answers in Scripture History ; ana Master R. Elliston for general improvement in his studies throughout the year.

COMMERCIAL ACADEMY.

The work of the above school was brought to a close on Friday, the 20th ins t., when the Christmas

vacation commenced.

Mr, Oldfield informed his pupils that, owing to the indisposition under which he had for some weeks been labouring, he had had to forego his intention of having the prizes distributed in public, and con-gratulated William Lindsay upon his having had tho good conduct prize awarded to him by a majority of the votes of his schoolfellows, and hoped he would continue to merit so honourable a distinction, as the highest attainments are of little benefit unless accompanied by good conduct.

PK1ZB LIST.

Marks for General Wore.-First class, Arthur Smith, Henry Levy, James Burgess. Second class : First division, Arthur Luttrell, Honry Lazarus, Augustus Smith, Thomas Witherington ; second division, Mackintosh Brown, Henry Parker. Third class : Charles Drake, Alfred Macbeth, Herbert Lilley. Fourth class : Bernan Oldfield, Rheuben Lazarus.

Examination.-First class : Arithmetic and Algebra, James Burgess ; French, Henry Levy ; Grammar and Dicta-tion, Alfred Bock, Arthur Strutt; History, Alfred Bock; Geography,'- Arthur Smith. Second class: Arithmetic, William Lindsay : Grammar and Dictation, Augustus Smith ; History, George Albury ; Geography, Henry Lazarus.

Goon Conduct Prize.-By vote of the pupils, William Lindsay.

MR. OAIRNDUFF'S SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes took place at the school-room, Collins-street, on Monday afternoon, the 23rd inst., in the presence of the parents and friends of the pupils. The following young gentle-men obtained prizes in the clashes under their res-pective names :

A. Blore-First prize, Latin class -, first prize, first class. History ; first prize, first class, English Language ; first prize, first class, Geography ; first prize, first class, Arithmetic. John Livingstone-First prize, Latin class ; second prize, first class, History ; second prize, first class, Geography ; secoud prize, third class, Arithmetic S. Whitworth Second prize, Latin class ; Second prize, first class, Geo-graphy ; first prize, first class, English Language ; first prlzo, first class, Arithmetic. A. Whitworth-First prize, second class, English Grammar ; first prize, third class, Geo-graphy ; first prize, fourth class, Arithmetic. Robert Wallace -Second prize, second class English Grammar : second prize, third clasiGeogrsphy. David Henderson-Second prize, second class, Arithmetic James Fowling-First prize, second class, Arithmetic. Jas.Gallagher-First prise,second class Arithmetic. Thomas Davlos-First prize,fourtlicuus.AritlimeUc. Benjamin Gray-First prize, third class, English. J. Cox-Second prize, third class, English. The following deserve honourable men-tion:-A. Stump, E. Stump. W. Lyons, Chandler, W. Gallagher, Carmichael, \i. J. and Joseph Wallace, N. McKendrick, and W. Gallahar.

THE QUEEN'S ASYLUM. "

Tho annual distribution of prizes to the children in the Queen's Orphan Asylum took place on Friday, tho 27th instant, in the infant school-room of the in-stitution, in the presence of His Excolloncy the Governor and the Hon. Mrs. Du Cane. The room had been very prettily decorated by Mr. Hill, the gardener, with Hags, green boughs, and flowers. Amongst those present were Bishop Bromby, Bishop Murphy, the Hon. J. R. Scott, the Hon. F. M. Innes, Sir Valentine Fleming, Acting Chief Justice, the Rev. Father Beeohinor, Rev. Canon Hudspeth, Kev. Father Hennebry, Rev. Canon Davenport, Rev. Mr. Storio, Hon. J. Whyte, and Dr. E. S. Hall.

Tile proceedings were onened by reading the report of Mr. Rule, the examiner, in which he stated tiiore were present for examination 202 children, viz., 125 in tlie boys' division, 84 in the girls', and 83 in the infants'. Mr. Rule saya :-I regret that the monitorial system is still in force in the two upper scehools ; th only ohange it hay) under-gone has been for the worse, and the want of intelligence in the classes under instruction of monitors is proportionately greater. A plan for tho better arrangement of the desks, sug-gested by the head master several years ago, could bo oarried out with very little expense ; and what are now most inconvenient school-rooms could thus bo modo equal to the best in the colony ; and with a liberal extension of the programme of ins true

tion, and the adoption ot tue pupil teaoner system, the schools might provide an education superior to that given in the public schools.

prize list.

Boys' Prize List.

Reading,-Claas 6th: F. Williams. Cías» 4th: J. Innes. Class 3rd : Third division, J. Martin ; Second division, W. Woodruff ; First division, 0. Gumin. Class 2nd : Seoond division, A. Cunningham : First division, T. Hines. Class 1st: Third division, M. Galvin ; Second division, J. Jennings ;

First division, P. Connolly.

Arithmetic.-Class fith : H. Donovan. Class 4th : F. Jennett. Class 3rd : Third division, P. Jones, Seoond division, W. Neaves : First division, D. Henderson. Class 2nd: Second division, A. Cunningham; First division, T.

HInos.

DiiHATioN.-Claju 6th : F. William». Class 4th: P. Hen-derson. Class 3rd : Third division, H. Rodgers ; Second division, G. A. Lluywell ; First division, B. Jones. Class 2nd : Socond division, T. Innes ; First division, B. Donaldson.

Writing.-Class 6th : P. Cunck. Cuts» 4th : E. Cootes. Class 3rd : Third division, T. Clark; Second.division, J. Bryceland ; First division, M. Molloy.

Girls' Prize List.

Rkadino.-Class 4th ; Agnes Conway. Class Sid : 8econd division, Theresa Conway ; first division, Mary Ann Parker. Class 2nd : Second division. Jane Rigney ; first division, Louisa Frazer. Clas» 1st: Lydia Smith. .

Arithmetic-Class 4th: Franoe» Fordell. Clou Sid: Second division, Rlchmouth Lawaon; first division, Ann Wainwright. Class ïnd-: Second division, Elisabeth Blake.

Dictation.-Class 4th : France» FardelL Clas» 3rd ; Seoond division, Sarah Allen ; first division, Mary Ann Barker. Class 2nd : Second division, Karls lee,

I Writinq.-Class 4th : Agnes Conway. Class 3rd : Second

division, Adelaide Williams ; first division, Mary Ann Town-send Class 2nd: Second division, Elizabeth Blake; first division, Mary Anil Franklin.

Fox'sl'itiZE-Agnus <Jonway,Emm»Booth,Rcbccca Sawyer, Sarah Gregory, Alice Hastie, Jano Rigney. , ,_

The prizes awarded to the infants were then given away by His Excellency and Mrs. Du Cane. The following are the names of the prize-takers :

Thomas Brown, William Birch, William Innes, Walter Crump, Catherine Carr, Margaret Faulkner, Cecilia Regan, Susan Conway, Mary Ann Carrack, Thomas Glyde. William Berry, Augnet Gerhakio, Thomas Allen, William Heron, Martha Brown, Louisa Hawthorn, William Sullivan, Albert Rigney, Francis Simmonds, James Simms, William Faulk-

ner.

The Rev. Canon Davenport then read a satis-factory report as to the religious knowledge of the Protestant children, concluding by stating that the Rev. Conon Hudapoth had undertaken to name for rewards the boya and girls in the several classes who were most proficient In religious knowledge. The following is the prize list :

Boys-P. Williams, W. Bradbury, J. Robinson, W. Keen, G. Maddox, R. Mitchell. K. J. Curie, B. Grille, W. Farmer,

S. Blore.

Girls.-G. Booth, 8. Farde», P. Shaw, A. Hastie. M. Cohen, S. Hudson, M. Faulkner, J. Rigney, & Clark, M. A.

Coleman.

Infants.-Boys : T. Brown, S. Glyde. Girls : M. Faulkner,

S. Harris.

The prizes were then distributed by Bishop Bromby and Mrs. Bromby.

The Rev. Father Berchinob then read a very satis-factory report with respect to the religious know-ledge of the Catholic children in the institution, and concluded by naming the following children for prizes :

First Class : Henry Donovan, Alfred Holbrook, Augustus Slattery (monitors). Second Oats : James Holbrook, William Gardiner, Francis Smith, William Allen, and Edward O'Donnell. Third Class : E. Harford and William Neaves. Fourth Class ; Charles Gumin. Charles Harford, and John Hawthorn. Fifth Class : Thomas Harper and Denis

McDonald.

The girls named In the following order were also deemed worthy of prizes. Fourth and highest olass : Agnes Conway. Theresa Conway, Sarah A. Allen, and Emma Jones Third Class and second highest: Mary Hayes, Mary Allen Alcock, and Matilda Bevell. Second Class : Mary A. Parker, Catherina Hawthorn, Louisa Rowe, and Susan Baker. First Class: Mary Lee, Mary Anne Franklin, and Mary Baker.

The prizes wore handed to the boys and girls by Bishop Murphy.

The money prizes for good'conduct were dis-tributed by His Excellency the Governor and the

Hon. Mrs. Du Cane.

The following is the list :

Bovs -Monitors : 1, Alfred Holbrook : 2, Frederick Williams Boys between 10 years and 12 yean old: 1, Edward Cootes ; 2, James Holbrook. Boys between 8 years and 10 years old : 1, Earnest John Curie ; 2, Dents McDonald. Band : Frederick Williams. Industrial Work :? Martin Wade.

Girls -Monltresses : 1, Agnes Conway ; 2, Emma Boom. Girls between 8 years and 10 years old : 1, Alice Hastie ; 2, Jane Rigney. Girls between 14 years and 12 years old: 1, Rebecca Sawyer ; 2, Sarah Gregory. Industrial Work : 1, Richmouth Lawson; 2, Amelia Harris. Infant division Sewing: 1, Jane White: 2, M. A. Bates; General Work: 1, Jessie Nelson : 2, Mary Hayes.

Dr. Coverdale, the Principal of the Asylum, then gave a brief account of the operations of the institution during the eight years that he has had charge of it. He said : From January, 1865, until December, 1872, both inolusive, there have beon admitted into this Asylum COO children, whilst during the same period there have been 600 apprenticed from it, 320 discharged to parents, or friends, 6 to other institutions on account of mental or bodily infirmity, and 8 have died. At the pre-sent time there are engaged as apprentices through-out the colony no less than 250 children, and although there must necessarily be amongst that number, the good, bad, or indifferent, still, so far as the means at command for ascertaining generally the conduct of those apprentices have enabled a judgment to be formed, the result may be taken as satisfactory, despite the drawbacks of interfering fathers and mothers, the occasional instances of want of sympathy, and inconsiderate treatment of

employers.

His Excellency, at the conclusion of the pro-ceedings, delivered an address, from whioh we make the following extract :-I know there are some, and people too, who, I am sure, are animated by none but the most benevolent and philanthropic motives, who would liko to see this institution swept away altogether, and what is known now-a-days as the boarding-out system adopted in its place. Kow, against the theory of the boarding-out system 1 have not a word to say. I admit that the theory of I that system, founded as it is on the principle that I family life is God's own method of training up the

youug, is quite unimpeachable. I admit further the full force of many of the arguments that can be urged against the crowding together undor one roof I of any large number of children, but many things, ' as we all know, which are beautiful in theory are

by no jmeans easy to carry into practice, and there is no doubt that the boarding-out system is one of these. Where you can And, as in Scotland, in almost every country village not merely any number of respectable heads of families ready to take charge of such children, ' but any number of benevolent ladies and gentlemen ready to take upon them seU'es voluntarily, and without payment, the charge of exercising over those families a constant and unremitting supervision, there, no doubt, the boarding-out system isa pretty sure to be a plant of vigorous and''successful growth. But

if is not every country that is like Scotland in this respect. Even it England it is a question whether the system, with all the earnest-headed advocacy it undoubtedly receives, will ever come into universal adoption. It is now two years since the order of the Poor Law Board was issued, permitting the ex-periment to be tried, and the result as yet can hardly be said to be encouraging. At the date of the last report, a few months back, the whole number of pauper children throughout England and Wales on the guardians' book, was 400,000, of whom 55,000 were in the workhouses. Out of this vast number only 122 children were reported as enjoying the benefits of the newly introduced scheme. On the other hand, it is fair to state that the reports as to the general condition of these children, who were all, by the way, under the most careful supervision of local committees, were generally of a favourable

character.

SPORTS AND AMÜSEMENTS.

This month has been prolific in amusements of all kinds, notwithstanding that the weather has not been of the most favourable character. The cricket season has fairly set it, and the city clubs have been engaged in their annual contests. During the Christ-mas holidays, which are just over, the citizens, like loyal Englishmen, spent their time in various ways, the chief object being to have a right merry Christ-mas. There was a Large influx of visitors before Christmas from the neighbouring colonies, and the city looked more lively thad'it has been for some months. Business was brisk, and the Christmas show eclipsed those of former years, especially in meat, as the season has been a Remarkably favourable one for our pasture land. For to-morrow (New Year's Day) excursions and amusements of all kinds are planned, and we sholl begin the year 1873 right

merrily.

The cricket match between the Break O'Day and Wellington Clubs was terminated on the 11th inst., the former winning by three, wickets. The total scores were : Wellington, first innings, 98 ; second innings, 71 ; Break O'Day, first innings, 91 ; second

innings, 79.

A muff match at cricket between elevens, visitors from Victoria and residents of Hobart Town, was played on the > Association ground on the 9th inst. The affair was arranged on very short notice, but it was very amusing The Victorian

team, which consisted of Messrs. Stamp, Whiting, ' Love, Hogarth, Hobday, Brien, lang, Bagot, I Hovenden, Manley, and Harcourt, made 93 in their

two innings. The local team, whioh consisted of PerkiuB, Winch, Johimon, Coverdale, Hall, Bennison, Focy, Whitesidea, Burgess, and Barker, made 94 in their two innings, and when the Btumps were drawn hod four wickets to spare. At the conclusion of the match the whole party adjourned to the Eavilion, and partook of the refreshment provided

y the Victorian visitors.

A foot race took placo on the lower cricket ground on the 10th inst., between Joseph Cantrill and George Davis, the former winning easily. On the following day Cantrill beat > another opponent, Thomas Ward, after a struggle, by two yards.

Tho City School swimming matches came off on the 12th inst. The chief event, the Hedberg swim-ming race, was won by P. Chadwick, against four other competitors. The swift race was won by Owen, and that for boya under 15 by Lindley. The matches were continued on the following Saturday. The swimming underwater race was wonby Sherwin, who broke water at 70 feet from the start ; the race for juniors by Stanfield ; the diving for eggs by Sherwin ; swimming on the bock race by Owon, who also proved the victor in the one armed race. Bennison took the prize for turning somersaults.

The return match between the Swansea and Glen Gala teams was played on the 30th November at Glen Gala, and resulted in a most deoided victory for the latter team, with nine wickets to fall.

Bachelder's entertainment, consisting of a pan toscope of a tour through America to Australia,

trained canaries, &c, which was being exhibited at I the Town Hall at the date of our last Summary, drew orowded houses nightly uutil the 7th inst. On the 4th inst, an afternoon performance was given ex-pressly for the ohildren of the' Queen's Asylum, the Girls' Industrial School and the^Boys' Home. The children arrived at the hall at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. From the Qaeen's Asylum there were 125 boys, 85 girls, and 05 infants, and these were marched down the New Town Road headed by the Asylum baud. The only children who did not attend were a few who were unable to walk. For some reason or other unexplained the youngsters from the Boys' Home were not present. The little ones seemed delighted with the whole performance. The entertainment was given at Campbell Town and Launceston, after which the company departed for

Melbourne.

At the Theatre Royal on the 16th instant, Mr. Frederick Jacobs, whose designation in the hand-

bills was "The Wizard of the World," gave an entertainment whioh, although not numerously attended, passed off very satisfactorily. He did various magical trioks and sang comic songs. The Theatre was opened tho next evening, but in conaequenoe of the limited attendance the wizard, with a wave of his magioal wand, sum-moned his attendant satellites, and commanded them forthwith to transform the grsat arana of light into utter darkness and desolation, whioh they immediately accomplished by turning off the gai. The performance was postponed line die.

^== i t i-ti

The Bellerive bazaar was finally closed on the 12th [ instant. The sale of gifts was carried on during the I afternoon. In the evening there was a concert, at I which a number of lady and gentlemen amateurs i assisted, and after this there was a solo by auction of the remaining gifts.

There was a modorate attendance at tho Odd Fellows' Hall on the 16th instant, when an amateur i theatrical performance was given for the benefit of

the orphan family of the late Mr. Thomas Dagnia. The pieces produced were The Captain of the Watch and Bombastes Furioso, both of which were well played.

The first of Mr. Russell's promenade concerts at the Town Hall took place on tho 16th inst., but its success was somewhat marred by the weather and

some counter attractions.

The Railway Minstrels appeared at the Trades Hall, on the 17th inst., to a crowded audience. The singing was very good, and there was clever tumbling by a lad named Read, assisted by two of his pupils. These minstrels appeared again at the Theatre Royal, in conjunction with the Railway troupe of acrobats, on the evening of Boxing Day. The theatre was well filled in every part.

An amateur entertainment was given by the

Swansea Reading Club on Friday, the 6th instant. Able assistance was rendered by many ladies and gentlemen kindly disposed towards the club, and also the club to which the funds raised were appro-priated (the Cricket Club).

The first of a series of concerts to raise the neces-

sary funds for defraying the expense of repairing the school-house took place at Forcett on the 13th inst. There was a large gathering of the residents in the district, and the concert passed off with great

success.

The Lewis family have gone on a country tour. They appeared at New Norfolk on the 23rd inst., and were well received, as they were subsequently

at Hamilton and Bothwell.

Wednesday and Thursday-Christmas Day and Boxing Day-were, as usual, both observed here as holidays. On Christmas Day the usual religious servioes were held in the Church of England, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, and various other churches, and notwithstanding a heavy shower about 11 a. m. large congregations attended the morning services. On both days various private picnic, fishing, and excursion parties were formed, and the citizens generally gave themselves up heartily to holiday making. On Christmas Day, about a quarter to three o'clock, the steamer Monarch started on a trip to D'Entrecasteaux Channel with about one hundred persons on board, and the journey was one of the pleasantest imaginable. The party returned at about six o'clock. The steam ferry boat Kangaroo took a number of persons on a fishing excursion, and afterwards steamed down the river for five or six miles, returning at about half-post six o'clock. On Boxing Day there were plenty of excursions, the New Norfolk Regatta, sports at Rosny, etc. A thoroughly enjoyable day was spent.

The teachers and children attending the St. Mary's and Joseph's Catholic Sunday School had a picnic. iu the Domain on Boxing Day under the manage-ment of the St. Joseph's Christian Doctrine Society. The children of the two schools, number-ing from 500 to 600, nurched down Liverpool, Elizabeth, aud Macquarie-streets to the Domain. There were a number of banners of different kinds in the procession. A halt was made in the Domain near Government House, and the children aud their teachers sat down to a feast at about ono o'clock. All sorts of games were played there until four o'clock, when there were some more refreshments, after whioh the youngsters fell into order and were marched home. The Rev. Father Woods, Rev. Father Beechinor, Rev. Father Hennebry, and Dr. E. S. Hall all walked to the Domain with the children, and Bishop Murphy also viaited the spot during the

afternoon.

The children of the St. Andrew's school as usual,

after joining in the procession on Boxing Day, broke off at the end of Liverpool-street, and walked up

to their own grounds. There in the Behool paddock and the manse garden they had lunch, and then sport and games, rounders, the swing, cricket, skipping rope, and various games till 5 o'clock, when they Bat down, nearly 100 in number, to a sumptuous tea. After tea the mission money of the year, over £10, was voted away by resolutions and speeches. The annual gift of. books was then

distributed in one of the front lawns of the manse by the Rev. J. Storie, and after a final service of

strawberries and sweetmeats the scholars were

dismissed after a day of hearty enjoyment. The teachers and a few' friends, numbering about 40, took tea together, and spent the remainder of the evoning in pleasant social intercourse.

The annual gathering of the Campbell-street Church of England Sunday-school took placo on the 26th inst., Boxing Day, iu the Domain. The children, numbering about 100, assembled at 9 a.m. in the school-room, which hod been tastefully decorated the previous evening by tho lady teachers with flowers and evergreens ; and after singing the Christmas Hymns; aud listening to an address de-livered by the Rev. Canon Davenport, they pro-ceeded to their usual place of rendezvous in that part of the Domain behind the High School. Here the rank broke up, and the children wore soon engaged in those pursuits that 'seemed most agreeable to them. The customary amusements were provided for the childron, together with an abundance of "good tilings," and everything Íiassed off most harmoniously. At 7 p.m. they eli into procession again, and marchel home, it having been a day of joy and happiness as well to the teachers as they taught.

A cricket match was played between the City and Collegiate Schools on the 4th inst., resulting in an easy victory for the former with ten wickets to spare. The highest scorers for the City School were Westbrook 16, Pike 15, Bennison 13 ; and for the Collegiate, Burt 9, and Risby 8.

The Nelson Minstrels appeared at the Theatre Royal on the 23rd inst. to a small audience. The entertainment might have been improved.

At the intercolonial musioal festival at Melbourne, in connection with the jubilee, the following Tas-manian artistes were chosen to take part :-Mr. F. A. Packer, Mr. W. ,T. Reynolds, Madame Carandiui, Miss Rosina Carandiui, Miss Fanny Carandini, Miss Lizzie Carandiui, Miss Beaumont, Miss Sherwin, and Miss Amy Sherwin.

The intercolonial cricket match, a Victorian cloven v. a combined eleven from the colonies of New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia, was commenced on Boxing Day in Melbourne. The match is in connection with the jubilee which ¡b being held there. In their first innings the Vic-torian eleven made 136, and tho combined team 113. By telegram we learn that the com-bined team wou the match by five wickets. The representatives from Tasmania who played were Barnes from Hobart Town, Arthur and Hogg from Launceston, Davies from Hobart Town having been incapacitated by a sovere accident while practising.

AQUATIC3.

At this season of tho year thy) lovers of aquatic sports are all busily employed in making arrange-ments, and framing for the grand annual regatta whioh ia to take place on the 5th February next. On the 18th instant a public meetiug was hold at the Town Hall, convened by his Worship tho Mayor, George Crisp, Esq., who presided on the occasion. The proceedings were opened by the Town Clerk reading the requisition asking his Worship to con-vene the meeting and the reply thereto. The Mayor then said that he had much pleasure in calling the meeting, and remarked that if anything were wanted to insure the success of the next regatta they hod only to look at tho names of the requisitionists. He felt pleased that so many should unite for the purpose of making the regatta a' grand holiday, and would be most happy to contribute £ 10 towards any S rizo to which the committee might think proper to

evote it. (Cheers.) He new called upon tho gentlemen present to propose their resolutions. Various resolutions wore accordingly proposed, fixing the regatta for the day already stated, and providing that His Excellency tho Governor he requested to become the patron of the regatta, a request to which His Excellency's consent has nineo been intimated. Office-bearers and a committee

were also formed to carry out the necessary arrange-

ments and collect funds.

The Bridgewater and Huon Regattas aro both fixed for the 1st proximo (to-morrow), and will both attract largo numbera of visitors. The Monarch, s,s., makes a pleasure trip to the former, and the T.S.N. Co.'s steamer City of Hobart to the

latter.

The Longford Regatta took place on Thursday last, BoxingDay, and was moderately »veil patroniaod, and the races on the whole well contested, though the committee failed to raise sufficient fundB, and as a consequenco one of the events in the regatta programme had to be omitted, and the foot races and other subsidiary sports entirely dispensed »vith. The following is the result of the racing :

Maiden Stakes, 6 sovb. To be pulled for in

outriggers. Open to all non-winners in single

handed races.

Mr. W. Hely's Fire Flash, pulled by W.

Wilkinson. 1 A. J. Peters' Vision, pulled by E. Tovlor.2

This raoe was won easily by W. Wikinson,

Ladies' Purse, 7 sovs. To bo pulled for in skiffs.

Two pullors aud coxswain, under 20 years of agc.

W. and J. Taylor ; H. Taylor, coxswain. 1 A. C. Harvey and G. W. Boyes ; Jabez Bellron,

coxswain . 2

This race was well contested, and won by tho brothers Taylor by two lengths.

Esk Purse, 8 sovs. In skiffs. Two pullors and

coxswain, upen to au. winners ot race on pre-vious occasions to bo taxed at the start.

E, and J. Taylor; H. Taylor, coxswain. 1 J. L. Maddox and F. Haymes ; Jabez Bellion,

coxswain. 2 This was s very well contested race, and but for an aooident by the breaking of the stretcher in the winning boat would have given the viotorsa greater advantage over their opponents. As it was they won by about a length

Lake Purse, 0 sovs. Tobo pulled for in outriggers.

Open to all. '

J. Peart.!. 1

- Hely. 2 Won easily by Peart.

'The Mercantile Assistants Outrigger Race waa won by F. Hayrnes, and was the' best contested | race of the day. It was won- by barely» half a ! length, and although Hoymes hurt his arm badly

during the race, he rowed home determinedly to the finish, but came in much exhausted.

Tho Now Norfolk Regatta also took place on Boxing Day, aud attracted a more numerous attend-ance and greator competition than usual, though this regatta has always been well patronised by the citizens of Hobart Town, and the residents of New Norfolk and the surrounding districts. The Monarch steamer left for the regatta crowded with passen-gers shortly after 9 o'clock in the morning, and reached Now Norfolk about half-past 12. Mr. Cooley's 'bus, and several privato conveyances pro-ceeded to New Norfolk by the main road. His Excellency the Governor and the hon. Mrs. Du Cone also drove up from Government House, and stopped at Sir Robert Officer's. At one o'clock they arrived on the ground, accompanied by Sir Robert Officer and other gentlemen, including the Executive Committee, who hod gone to meet His Excellency. The prizes were presented at the close of each race respectively by His Excellency the

Governor, the Hôn. Mrs. Dii Cane, Miss Sharland, Miss Jeffrey, Miss Dickson, Miss Moore, and Miss Huston. The judges were W. A. B. Jamieson, Esq. (Warden), and R. Terry, Esq., J.P. Dr.

Huston was referee and starter. The Executive Committee : Messrs. F. H. Wise, R. Terry, Dr. Moore, J.'T. Terry.R. Jeffrey, sind the secretary, W. S. Salier, were on the ground.

THE HACINO.

New Norfolk Rack.-Contended for by two youths

and a steerer, all under 16 years of age, and bona fide residents in the distriot of New Norfolk, pulling in dingics not exceeding l8 feet in length. Distanoo about throe mile j. First prize £fi ; second prizo £2.

Gazelle ; varnish, blue streak ; flag, red and

blue.(A. Timbs) 1 Sparkling Wave; blue, white streak; flag,.

white, blue fringe.(R. Timbs) 0 Black Eaole ; black ; flag, red,* white cross

.(F. G. Terry) 0 There was nothing exciting about this oontest. The Gazelle was third, but the other boats fouled, when she took the lead and kept it to the finish.

Albxandua Pni7E - Contended for by amateurs

employed in public or private offioes, or mercantile assistants, pulling single-handed in skiffs not ex-ceeding l8 feet in length. First prize, £6 ; second prize, £2.

Ella ; varnish ; flag, white, St. George's Cross

.(W. B. Joiibb) 1 Bude Light ; varnish ; flag, blue, white fringe,

white crescent...'.(J. J.Terry) 2 Little Eíhel ; varnish ; flag, blue, white border

.(H. Stump) 0 Fireflasii ; varnish ; flag,' blue and white

. (F. Norman) 0 At starting Jones took the lead, followed oloBoly by the others. After pulling about 200 yards Norman capsized, and was obliiied to swim on shore, thus losing his chance of the race. Jones from the first set down to a regular stroke of very good length, and he whs nover caught, coming iu the winner by about six lengths.,

Faumehs' Pi'iise.-Pulled for by residents with-

in 15 miles of tho township of New Norfolk, ia whalabouls not oxoeedipg 26 feet in lenirth. Distança about five miles. First prize, £12 ; second prize, £i ; third prize, £2.

Earl op Kent ; black, yellow streak ; flag,

wiiite, red border, red centre. Crew-Thos. Crump, George Corney, W. Belcher, J.,

Freeman, andE, Bloomfield, coxswain . 1 Bhidoewater Belle; bright varnish; flag, blue,

red diamond centre, white fringe. Crew M. Price, L. Price, J. Mulnew, G. Shad

wick, and W. Bryce, coxswain . 2 Goodwill ; yellow, blue streak ; flag, blue,

silver fringe, star in centre. Crow-A. Timbs, T. Luttrell, M. Jeffroy, R. Jeffrey,

and R. Timbs, coxswain . 3 Derwent Belle-; bright varnish ; flag, pink,

white centre, black fringe (A. H. Cookerill) 0 F Ant v Queen ; black, blue streak ; flag, red,

blue border.:.(A. Timbs) 0 i Derwent Belle ; varnish ; flag, white, blue

fringe, star in contle.(Thos. Syunott) 0 I A capital start wus made, and the boats went off at a pace »vhioh wits too good to lust, but it was kept up for soma time. Bridgewater

Bello took the leading position, Goodwill second, j

and Euri of Kent third ; but at tho bottom buoy boat there »»'us a foul betwoon the Bridogewater Belle and the Goodwill, whioh enabled the Earl of Kent to take the lead, and to retain it to the finish, Bridgewater Belle coming in second and Goodwill third. A protest which was entored with respect to tho foul »vus docided by the judges Kiving the prizes according to the order the boats carne in. The other crows contested well, but they never had a ohance in

the race.

Dinoy Race,-In dingios not exceeding l8 foet in

length, pulled by two vouths and a steerer, all under l8 years of age. Distance about three miles.

First prize, £5 ; second pri/.e, £2. ' Ripple ; varnish ; flag, red, whito, and blue

. (H. J. Wise) 1 Madonna ; black ; flag, white, blue fringe, star

in centre. (F. G. Torry) 2 Who'd have thought it ; varnish ; flag, green,

gold harp.(C. Evans) 0 Flying Dutchman ; blue, white streak ; flag,

i rod, whito cross. (C. Tyler) 0

This was a well contested race, but the positions of the boats wets scarcely altered from the first. Tho first and second boute, and "Who'd have thought it," were well together nearly the whole raoo. The Ripple caine in by about throo longths ahead.

Ladies' Puhbe -Pulled far by t amateurs, quali-

fied to competo for the Hobart Town Ladies' Purse, or iona fide residents in the distriot, ia four onred whnluboats not exceeding 26 feet in length. First prize, £12 ; second prizo, £3.

Goodwill ; yellow, blue streak ; flag, blue,

star in centre, silver fringe. Crew : Luttrell, bow; It. Jeffery, 2; M. Jeffery,.1} ;

R. Timbs, stroke ; R. Timbs, jun., coxswain 1 Defiance; varnish; flag, white, St. George's

Cross. Crow :-W. B. Jones, bow ; H. E. Best, 2 ; G. S. Chapman, 3 ; H. Ratcliff,

stroke ; H. Humphries, coxswain. 2 Medora ; varnish ; flag, blue and whito.

Croiv :-F. Norman, bow j H. Wright, 2 j G. B. Ponny, 3 ; H. Wright, stroko ; H.

Crisp, coxswain . 3 Bashful ; varnish ; flag, white, blue cross. '

Crow :-J. King, bow ; C. Gaylor, 2 ; R. Archer, 3 ; J. W. Perry, stroko ; H. King,

coxswain.-.. 0 Maritana ; varnish, blue streak ; flag, white,

name in centro. Crew :-W. St. Clair, bow ; T. Shirley, 2 ; J. O'sullivan, 3 ; E.

Mulcahy, stroke ; J. Hubbard, coxswain. 0 This was the race of the day, and upon it the ohie interest dwelt. After ono false start, the boats got away pretty woll together. Tbe Defiance at once look the lead, followed oloiely by the Maritana, the Bashful, and the Modora in tho order named. This order was maintained for soma distanoe, when the Bashful and the Medora fouled, and the Defianco and the Maritana took

advantage of this toiinprovo their positions, and the Goodwill took the third placo, tho DoBanoe then being about three longths ahead of the Maritana. They rounded the bottom buoy boat in those positions, but in coming up the river, they had to pull against tide, and the strength of the orew of tho Goodwill enabled them to pass the Maritana and eome close on to tim Dofianoo. Opposite Terry's mill the Goodwill, in trying to tako the first boat's water, struck tho stoor our of the Defiance, whiob was driven into tho middle of the stream, and one of the crew also caught what w11« termed a pro-Adamite crab. Sovorul lengths woro thus loBt, and in the inountimo the Goodwill took advuntugo of it, und took a long load, with the Dofianoo seoond. Coming in sight, as seen from the stand, the Goodwill was a good first, Defiance second. The Now Town orew in the Modora then

pu8sod the Maritana, the Bashful being a long dis-tança ustcrn. Those positions were unaltered until coming up the straight, when one of the crew of the Maritana broke his soull, and the orew gave in. Round the upper buoy bout, the Goodwill still had

tho lead, The coxswain of the Dotlaneo took hor on tho wrong side of the buoy boat and they were I obliged to return and round the buoy on the proper

side. The Modora improved her position, but did not suceood in getting beyond third piuco. Tho Goodwill won by about three longths, the Defiance being about four lengths before tho Medora; the Bashful no-where. The protest wub heard by the judges, and the Goodwill awarded first prize.

SouLLRUs' Raos -Open to all oomers, pulling single

handed in skiffs not exoaeding l8 feet in length. First prize, £6 ; seoond prize, £2 ; third prize, £1. Sorell Belle'; varnish ; flag, white (S. Thorn) 1 Eclipse ; varnish ; Hag, blue, yellow border,

yellow friuge.(T. Bayes) 2 Little Etiikl ¡ varnish ; Hag, bluo, white border

. (H. ¡Stump) 3 Una ; cedar, varnish ; flag, bluo, red contre,

white fringe.(W. Ward) 0 Ella ; varnish ; flag, white, St. George's Cross

.(W. B. JoueB) 0 May Qvken ; varnish ; flag, white, blue cross,

namo in contre.(T. Bell) 0 Vision ; varnish ; Hag, blue, white fringe

. (R. Timbs) 0 In this raoo, Jones, in going down the stream, ran into tho willows on the shore, and soeing be had no ohanco, was pulling back, when his boat oame in contact with the atoainor, and he was obliged to swim till picked up.

The return journoy ef the excursionists by the Monarch was aommenoodabouta quarter to six o'clock, and the party thoroughly enjoyed tbemselves,reaohing Hobart Town u little altor eight o'clock.

INCIDENTS OF THE MONTH.

The weather during the month has been variable,

not at nil uko what we usually havo during the' month of December. A fine day is not expected now, for we have had so much rain during the last few months, that people havo become somewhat accustomed to having . few showers per day. We

have, nt the same time, been favoured with soma warm weather ; but on the whole there has been more rain than has been known to have taken place Í in the corresponding month for many years post.

The crops throughout tho colony aro looking healthy,

and a plentiful harvest is expected.

On tho 2nd inst. Brother P.G. Alfred Levy was elected to the oflico of Grand Secretary of the A.I.O.O.F., in place of Brother T. Y. McChristie, resigned, who has filled the position for the last six years, and was awarded a vote of thanks.

The plasterers of Hobart To»vn held a meeting on the 3rd inst., at tho Forosters' Hall, when reso-lutions were passed to the effect that they should adopt the eight hours' system on and after the 1st

January, 1873.

Our much rospectod Ushor of the Black Rod, Mr. William Gore Elliston, died very suddenly on the evening of the 4th inst., at his residence, Battery Point. Ho was a son of the late Robert William Elliston, the well-known actor, and arrived here in 1824. After conducting the Longford Hall Grammar School for some years, ho purchased the Hobart Town Courier newspaper, the possession of which he retained till 1848. He then Was auctioneering, and subsequently farming at Bridgewater, after which he went to England and stayed there three years, and on his return was appointed Usher of the Black Rod on the 19th July, 1809, which appoint-ment he held up to the time of his death. He was a member of the Legislative Council in 1835, was ' the first mayor of Hobart Town, and had occupied the positions of secretary to the Turkish Bath Company, and manager of the Building Society in this city for some time.

At the annual meeting of the Tasmanian Star District of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, M.U., held on the 4th inst., Mr. W. Russell was elected Pro. G.M.,Mr. H. Chesterman Pro. D.G.M., Mr. J. W. Johnson, who held the office of Pro. C.S. for the last seven years, resigned, and Mr. Ö. Strutt (for mauy years Pro. C.S. of the Hobart Town District) has. been elected in his stead. There are six lodges, and au increase of 80 members during the last half-year.

The Longford Poultry and Dog show was held on the 4th'hist, the poultry being exhibited at the Assembly Rooms, Longford, and the dogs in au open yard adjoining. His Excellency the Governor visited the show during the day, and was received by the officers of the Society. The show of poultry was very good, and in the dog class some very fine animals wcro exhibited. Amongst the exhibitors in the latter class were the Hon. Mrs. Du Cane and Mr. C. M. S. Chichester.

A fatal boat accident happened at about nine o'clock' on the night of the 6th inst., by which a man, 28 years of age, named William Douglas, lost his life. The barque Bolla Mary, from Newcastle, came to anchor at about half-past seven in the river, and the wind carried her rather too close to Mul-grave Battery. About nine o'clock it was deter-mined to work her further out with a kedge, and the anchor aud line wcro placed in one of the ship's boats for the purpose. The boat was manned by Henry Hayes, second mate, Joseph James Russell, and William Douglas, seamen. The weight of the Hue and anchor in the stern of the boat brought her gunwale within an inch or so of the water, and as none of the crew could swim, they were somewhat anxious when starting as to her safety. Whon a little distance from the vessel, Russell spoke to the second mate about the con« dition of the boat, and the words were scarcely out of his mouth when she sank stem first under them. All three of the mon went under, and Douglas waa not seen again. The second mate got hold of an oar, and Russell, seeing thiB, caught hold of the second mate's leg. They were struggling in the water when a boat, belonging to Weir, the water-man, which was near the vessel, went to their as-sistance. Hayes and Russell were speedily got out of the water aud taken on board the vessel, but Douglas never roso again, and though every en-deavour was made to lind the body the search was

fruitless.

At a meoting of members and Monds of the United Young Men's Association held on the 7th inst. in St. David's school-room, the Rev. C. H. Cope delivered, to a deeply interested audience, a lecture, entitled "A Fortnight in Russia." The locture was illustrated by a collection of beautiful photographs, which wero minutely examined at its clono by the audience.

Mr. John Talbot Coram, J.P., was entertained at a banquet at Sorell on the 12th instant. " The health of the Warden of Sorell" was enthusiastically received, accompanied as it was by a presentation watch (one of Barclay's), bearing the following inscription, beautifully engraved:-"Presentedto John'.Talbot Coram, J. P., Warden of Sorell, by the inhabitants of the Municipality, December 12th,

1872."

A meeting of the inhabitants of Queenborough, which is one of tho suburbs of Hobart Town, was held on the 16th instant, to receive from tho com-mittee appointed at the meeting held on the 14th November last, a report on the advisability of forming a cemetery in Queenborough. The report statod that since the meeting had been advertised the Government hod submitted a bill to the Legisla-tive Council, which, if carriod, would frustrate the object contemplated. A petition was drawn up and Bigned by the chairman and those present against tho Hame, aud a request was mode that Dr. Crowther would present and support the petition in his place in the Legislative Council. In the course of the pro-ceedings the Rev. G. B. Smith, the Hon. W. L. Crowther, Mr. It. J. Lucas, Mr. Gregory, and Mr. Hull severally addressod the meeting, pointing out

tho inconvenience to which the inhabitants of Queenborough would be subjected in the interment of their dead, and the hardship of compelling then to use the Cornelian B.iy cemetery. The bill re-ferred to has passed through Parliament, hut aa altered as to allow the people of Queenborough to have a cemetery if thoy choose.

There is at present on exhibition at the Tasmanian Public Librury a very beautifully executed model

of the s.S. Southern Cross, tho work of a person . named Ross-a resident in Melbourne-who, for upwards of eight years, has boon a sufforor from an alfootion of tho spine, and unable to leave his bed. It ia a singular fact that Ross has never seen the steamer which ho has modelled, but merely a photograph of her, and yet the minutest details

are worked out in a most artistic manner. The model has been courteously placed in the institution for the inspection of visitors by Mr. Miller, chemist, of Murray-streot.

At a meeting of tradesmen held at the Foresten' Hall, on the 23rd inst., it was resolved " that the carpenters and joiners iforin themselves ¡uta an union 'tor tho purpose of obtaining the eight hours per day." A number of representatives of this trade signed their names and subscribed a small amount, in order to form the nucleus of an Eight Hours Association. It is expected that the different trades will take separate preliminary action.

We have to chronicle the death of another very old Tasmanian colonist. Mr. William Consett Robertson died at his son's residence, Riohuvmd, Victoria, on tho 19th of the present month, at the advancod age of soveuty-two years. The deceased was a resident of Hobart Town for thirty-two years.

There wero two fires in the city on the evening of

tho 2(ith inst., Boxing Day. The first took place m some promises in Elizabeth-street owned by Mr. W. Watorhouso, and occupiod by Messrs. C. and J. Witt as a hardware store. The back part of the premises was destroyed. The loss ia estimated at between £200 and £300. The second fire took place about 20 minutes to 12, in a two Btory honso Bituste in Mollo-stroot, whioh was burnt to the ground. The promises had boon unoccupied for some time.

A correspondent, writing from Shiptvrights' Point on Tuesday, tho 24th instant, says :-" A fatal acci-dent, resulting in the drowning of one mon, and narrow oscapo of four othora, occurred here to-day. The party of five mon had been drinking st Mr. Brittuin's public-house, and thoy all loft together, and put off in a boat. Beforo they had gone far this boat was upsot, and nil would have been drowned had it not boon that tho crow of another boat whioh, »vos passing at the time hastenod to their assistsnos, and pickod up four of tho mon, ono of whom, named Lincoln, is still in a vory precarious atate, Ina dro»vned man was commonly known hero by the» namo of Yorkie Holmes. He has no family nor relatives in tho colony. He resided at Hospital Bay, and was about sixty years of ago."

On Christmas Evo as the bargo Petrel was return« ing to tho Old Beach, she was caught in a squall, and while tho oroiv were altering hor course the nunn boom jibed, aud struck a youth named Edward Learnan on the side of the head, and knocked turn overboard. E»'ery effort was mado, to save him, but he sank immediately, having probably been stuunod by tho violence of tho blo»v, and though a considerable dolay was made the crow werai unable to recover his body.

Mr. Henry Best has boen appointed pro km. Valiot of the Black Rod, vacant by the death of Mr.

Elliston.

Visitors to the Vienna Exhibition of 1873 will bj able to Bee an impression of the Corporation seal of. Hobart Town, if they know where to look for it. A gentleman living in Dunedin is making a collec« tion of the soals of Australian corporate bodies, at» this with a oollootion of Australian curiosities wal bo sont to the Vienna Exhibition. The gontoman who is making the collection has written to the Uty Counoil; and asked for an impression of the C0^P¡»rJ¡, stion seal, and the Town Clork has boen iiistruotsil to comply with the requcBt.

At a mooting of tho mombora of the " Church of Christ," CoUins-stroot, held on the 25th "»t., sa address was presented to Mrs. 0. A. Carr, the Wit» of the pastor, who is about to visit the churches ot America to collect tho neoossary funds to bullo . Ladies' Colloge. Mrs. Carr left for Melbourne ei»

route ou Saturday last. ,

[Tho remainder of summary of the news of ths» .month is ' continued on the third psge of this day ?

Aferettry.] i /

Printed and published by the proprietors, Johw GSM«

Davies and Charles Ellis Daviss, strk *"*2 General Steam Printing KaUbliihment, 30 MssqsWlIt street, Hobart Town, Tasmania,