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LORD TENNYSON.
There can now be no doubt about it :
the Poet-Laureate has been made a Peer.
A week ago we were informed that Mr.
Alfred Tennyson woulff be' raised to the
Peerage. Since then it has been officially
announced that on his elevation he will
assume the title of Baron Tennyson.
We confess that we hesitated to give
credence to the first intimations
in reference to the elevation of the
greatest living poet of England to the
House of Lords until the arrival of themes
sage which necessarily involves the accept
ance of the dignity fey Mr. Tennyson. After
that It is no longer possible to doubt the
correctness of the news. In the future
Alfred Tennyson will be entitled to the
designation of Lord Tennyson. The
change is slight ; and although many of
his most ardent admirers of the present
and of future ages may experience some
difficulty in reconciling themselves to the
title, and regard it as one of tho3e
'parasitic forms' which, as he himself
says, seem to lift men up, but drag them
down, everybody will recognise under it
the author of 'Li Memoriam.' Mr.
Tennyson, we may be assured, will not
be entirely lost in the obscurity of the
Peerage. He has not, like Robert Burns,
been content to 'hold his patent of
nobility direct from Almighty God,'
or, at least, he has supplemented
that patent by one derived from another
source. His real merit as a poet and a
man, however, is not affected by his
elevation, although it is to be feared
tLat his reputation will suffer through his
assumption of. the ._ title— -That- meriiv
which is undeniable, is, indeed, the best
justification that could be offered of the
honour that has been conferred upon him,
and will be accepted as a complete defence
against any attack that may be made on
Mr. Gladstone for having advised Her
Majesty to raise him to the Peerage.
Mr. Tennyson is the only English poet
who has been created a Peer, and no
previous Poet-Laureate has been honoured
with a title. Only one of the holders of
this office from the time of Chaucer had a
title, and he was Sir William Davenant,
who must be numbered with the
many Poet - Laureates who have
long since sunk into oblivion.
Yet, in addition to Chaucer, the list
of English Poet-Laureates is adorned with
the distinguished names of Spenser, Ban
Jonson, John Dryden, and William
Wordsworth, and accordingly, with
Tennyson, embraces six of the most
prominent of English poeta. Shakspeare,
Milton, Shelley, Keats, Byron, Gray,
Scott, Coleridge— to mention a few of the
greatest masters of English verse — un-
doubtedly excell their rivals who suc
ceeded in obtaining the post of
'Versificator Regis;' and at vari
ous periods its abolition has been
strongly advocated in literary circles.
Neither the emoluments, which are very
small, nor thehonour, whichis still smaller,
thatattaches to the office of Poet-Laureate,
however, are calculated to excite envy j
and if the appointments in the future
are made with any discretion what
ever it is likely to be continued for a long
time to come. No one can suppose that
the fact of Mr. Tennyson's holding the
office of Poet-Laureate has had anything
whatever to do with hia elevation to
the Peerage. The popularity he enjoys
is not confined to any cks3 in the
community, although, doubtless, the ma
jority of his readers are educated and
even cultured people, and he owe3 it all
to the intrinsic merit of his works. He has
at no time had resort to any adventi
tious means or methods .of any kind in
order to bring himself into notice ; but,
on the contrary, he has been remarkable
for the strictness with which he has
throughout his whole life maintained bis
privacy. Until he landed the other wee c
from the Pembroke Castle with Mr.
Gladstone at Kirkwall, the principal
town in the Orkney Islands, and re
ceived the freedom of the city, the public
at large have had remarkably few opportu
nities of learning how ho spent his
leisure, and as yet they know
nothing about his working hours,. . On
that occasion, it will be remembered, the
Prime Minister returned thanks for the
hor our that wa3 done to Mr. Tennyson,
as well as for that done to himself,
remarking that in future age3 visitors who ,
insrected their name3 on the book of
burgesses might ask, 'Who was Mr.
Gladstone ?' but Would not require to
seek information regarding -Mr. Tenny
son. For himself the poet said nothing.
We refer to this recent . trip with
Mr, Gladstone, because it seems
to us to have been the distinct fore
runner of Mr. Tennyson's elevation to the
Peerage. Our readers will not have for
gotten how the two commoners entertained
the Czar and . Czarina, the King and
Queen of Denmark, the Princess of Wales,
and other royal personages in their yacht
outside of Copenhagen ; but there, again,
nothing was known in reference to Mr.
Tennyson except that he was present.
It ia clear that none of the works
Mr. Tennyson has produced during
recent years can have been the cause
of the honour that has been conferred on
him. Thirty-three years have elapssd
since 'In Memoriam' was published, and
over twenty years since any of hia greatest
works were first issued. His dramatic
efforts and occasional verses that have
been brought before the public within
recent years have displayed touches of
the genius that has marked all, or nearly
all, his productions, but they
have also plainly enough indicated
that his strength was failing. And
no wonder, for he is now seventy-four
years of age, and poets, in particular, are
not at their best when they overpass
threescore and ten, nor for a considerable
time before that period. The time chosen
to raise Mr. Tennyson to the Peerage has
therefore evidently not been determined
by any of Ids immediate or recent pro
ductions ; and the only event in his later
life which could have had any connection
with the conferring of that honour upon
him would appear to have been his voyage
with Mr. Gladstone in the Pembroke
Castle.
The House of Lords will be honoured
by- the . accession of such a man . to
their ranks, but it is very unlikely
that Mr. TennyBon will frequently grace it
with his presence, and, far less, that he will
make bis voice heard in it. No one would
expect that at his age, and with his
antecedents, be will do much
To mould a mighty State's decrees, ?
Or shape the whisper of a throne.
As an -honour the Peerage has in this
case been bestowed on a man who
thoroughly deserves -to be highly
ho'nbufed7an3. .itTIs difficulfc..to see what
other form in existence this honour
could have taken that would have been
appropriate for such services a3 Mr.
Tennyson has rendered to the English
Bpeaking race and humanity at large. He
might have dispensed with it, it is true,
and relied on the esteem and admiration
so widely bestowed on him by those who
appreciate his chaste, and tender, and
strong measures. But nobody will com
plain that he has accepted the title
of Lord, or doubt that he will
add to its dignity. At the same
time, as he said in certain ver3e3 which
originally appeared in Punch, called
forth by the silly sarcasm of a passage on
'Miss Arthur' in Lord Lytton's 'New
Timon,' but which have not yet been in
corporated in any English edition of Mr.
Tennyson's works —
An artist, sir, should rest in art,
And waive a little of his claim :
To bave the frreat poetic heart
Is more than all poetic fame.
Tiie Willusga Railway Routes.— -The
Parliamentary party devoted the whole of
Thursday, with the exception of the earlier
part of the morning, when they visited the
Wallunga slate quarries, to an inspection of
the proposed route between Willunga and
Blackwood via Clarendon and Kangarilla.
The country is of a very heavy nature between
Blackwood and Clarendon, but beyond the
latter township the engineering difficalties
will not be very great. At Kangarilla
memorials were presented to the Treasurer,
asking for a proper survey of the route
advocafcedby the inhabitants there, but no
definite answer was given in the matter.
The party catipht the half-past 5 train at
Blackwood, and reached Adelaide a little
after 6, thoroughly pleased with their out
ing.
The University of Adelaide.— In con
nection with the University the commemora
tion, when degrees will be conferred on
candidate Bachelors and on graduates of
other Universities, will be held on Monday
afternoon, December 17, in the Library of
the University. The Chancellor (His Honor
the Chief Justice) will preside. After the
degrees have been conferred the winner^ of
the various scholarships and the Stow prize
men will be presented to the Chancellor ;
and those candidates who either in the
Matriculation or Junior Examinations just
held gained a first class will have their certi
ficates presented them by the Chancellor.
His Excellency the Governor has consented
to be present, and will, it is understood,
deliver an address. The Vice-Chancellor
(the Rev. W. Roby Fletcher, M.A.) willialso
deliver an address on the occasion. The
public.^we'are informed, will be admitted
without tickets.
ISats Road from Kadlva to Edith
btjkgh.— The Road Board has recently chained
the road from Kadina to Edithburgh, with
the view of erectirg mileposts. The following
particulars, including intermediate distances,
have been handed to us by the Surveyor,
Mr. Jones :— Kadina to Moonta, 10 miles
40 chains ; Moonta to Maitland, 22 miles
6 chains 40 links ; Maitland to Mount Eat,
18 miles 43 chains 60 links ; Mount Rat to
Minlaton, 9 miles 76 chains 65 links ; Min
laton to Yorketown, 18 miles 24 chains
15 linkB ; Yorketown to Edithburgh, 9 miles
53 chains 41 links ; total distance from
Kadina to Edithburgh, 89 miles 4 chains
21 links.
A Steam-Cutter Blown-up.— On Thurs
day morning, December 13, at Largs Bay,
a steam - cutter was wrecked by an ex
plosion, and one man was injured.
In consequence of the arrival of the
Iberia, the passenger traffic to and from
Largs Pier required a second steam-cutter,
and orders were given to light up the Little
Orient for the service. This was done by the
Largs contingent, and the Semaphore crew
was on foot walking down the beach to join
the launch when the explosion occurred,
casting fragments of wood and material to a
height of several hundred feet. It was at
once seen that the Little Orient was annihi
lated, and amongst the floating wreckage a
man was observed struggling for life. A
boat from the pier put off and rescued
the poor fellow, whose name is George
Syme, and who was found to have
sustained severe injuries about the jaw,
but was unable to give any account of the
accident. As far as could be gleaned the
launch had a point of making steam very
rapidly, and after the fires had been lit Cox
swain Kindland, when on his way off in
the Blue Bell, asked the driver if he had left
the vessel's fire-doors open, and on learning
tiat they were closed he had some ap
prehension of danger and returned to
the pier. The man who was in
jured had gone on board to attend to the
fires, but can give no tangible version of how
the accident occurred. The power of the
explosion must have been enormous to judge
by the havoc made on the boat's hull and.
timbers, and it is quite a marvel that Syme
escaped death. The craft was not insured,
and it is annoying to tho owners to note
that she was offered to tne Marine Board
for the Pirie service but a few days before.
The Little Orient was a steam-cutter, built
inj Sydney especially for service on- the
Orient line, and had only recently 'been pur
chased by the TJnitcd Larg3 Bay Boating
Company. It ia doubtful whether any por
tion of her will be recovered.
Lajtd Sales tor Novembee.— The sales
of land during last month show a substantial
falling-of as compared with those for ths
previous month. For November the figures
were 22,831 acres 2 roods 31 perches, for
which £29,025 33. 7d. was bid, as against a.
total area sold during October of 30,444
acres, for which £35,452 was bid. The total
amount paid into tho Treasury daring
November was £12,358 7s. Sa., for the previous
month £22,SG7, and for November of last
year £32,738 J)s. 3d. During last month
407 acres 2 roods 31 perches were sold for
cash, realizing £726 103. Gd., while 22,424
acres sold on credit realized £2S,29iS 7s. Id,.
The sums paid into the Treasury were
deposits and. balances from previous sales,
£47 12s. ; cash sales, £726 10s. Gd. ; amount
of deposit, £213 Is. 3d. ; first instalment of
interest, £112 Ss. 6d. ; 10 per cent, deposit on
account of purchase-money, £2,427 8s. 4d
Besides these the following sums have also
been received :— Completion of purchase of
G.SCSi acres, £7,739 Is. 4d. ; second instalment
of interest, £751 Cs. 2d. ; extension of credit
for three-fourths of purchase-money, £192 0s..
Cd. ; extension of credit for whole of pur
chase-money, £412 2s. lOd. ; extension of
credit for half purchase-money, £219. 18s..
lid. ; interest on overdue amounts, £41 10s.
4d.
Entertaining the Nelson Officers. —
Notwithstanding the rather stormy weather
and the anything but holiday aspect of the
stretch of angry sea between the jetty and the
Nelson, a large nurnbe? of visitors went off
to the warship on Thursday, and were
courteously shown over the vessel by officers
and sailors. There was more sea than wind,
betokening heavy weather outside, bnt the
huge vessel, although she lies out a long way,.
vas as steady as a rock. A north-west wind
blew in the morning, and the fishing fleet
were seen scudding gaily out, bound
for their finny hunting grounds,J but
the breeze suddenly veered to the south
west, and most of them were soon
bowling back as the weather prospect
was by no means promising. In the after
noon and evening tilings again wore a wintry
aspect. The Asteroid got rather knocked
about alongside the Nelson, for the swell was
high. The Mermaid brought ashore the
officers to the Mayor of Glenelg's Jball,
and His Excellency the Governor, Cwith
the Commodore, went down by special
conveyance at 8 p.m. The ; Marquis
of Normanby was not present at » ]the-
ball. A large crowd was assembled
within and without the Institute, and a
guard of honour, consisting of E Gompany
(Glenelg), under Captain Hawker, 'j was
drawn up on the esplanade, saluting 61
the viceregal party reached the entrance*
Cawthorne's Band was also in attendance
There is to be a rifle match to-day between
the Glenelg Company team and a team of
Marines from the Nelson. A proposal has
been made for a match between a detach
ment of the Nelson's with skty-four*
pounders and some of .onx artillerists; bat
the Colonel-Commandant, considering :thafc
the advantage, if any, to'bo gained by sn~ch A
competition would not compensate for the
waste and cost of ammunition, did not se&
Mb way clear to pet mifc the trial of akilltO
take place. Some of the officers and blue
jackets played a match at cricket with a
Gawler team on Thursday, and the Modern
Athenians, needless to add, entertainei their
visitors most hospitably. :
Fatal Accident at Port Adelaide Rail
way Station.— A fatal accident occurred at
the Port Adelaide Railway Station on
Thursday afternoon, December 13. James
Johns, foreman signalman at the Nairne
Junction, Adelaide Station, and formerly
a resident of Moonta, had been on a visit to
his stepson at the Port, and was returning to
town by the 2.33 p.m. train. He remained
in conversation on the platform till the train
had begun to move away, and then made a
sudden attempt to enter the carriage, which
was the last but one in the train. Miss
ing his footing he fell between this
carriage and the last, and was first
of all caught in the back by the footboard
of the advancing carriage. The blow frac
tured his spine, He was carried for some
distance between the kerbing of the platform
and the footboard, and received further in
juries of a terrible nature. A large wound
in the forehead caused concussion of the
brain, and the whole body of the unfortu
nate man was fearfully bruised though the
wheels of the carriage did not pass over
him. Death was instantaneous. Drs,
Mitchell and Curtis were called to the scene
of the accident, but of course they could not
do anything for him. His body was taken
to the Morgue at the Police Station, where
it awaits an inquest, which wili be held this
morning at the Port Admiral Hotel. The de«
ceased was a fine, muscular, well-made man,
and was fifty-nine years of age. He had been
for a considerable period in the railway ser
vice, and bore a high reputation,
The Marine Board. — There wa3 again ar
good variety of subjects dealt with by this
Board at its deliberations on Thursday,.
December 13. A visit is to be paid to Cape
Bank? Lighthouse to effect, if possible, a
reliable mail service there. The contractors ?
for the Edithburgh Jetty extension com
plained of having to pay jetty tolls on the
materials for their work, but the Board
^could only adhere to its former decision mak
ing payment compulsory. Advices were re
ceived from Sir A. Blvth of the dispatch of
£750 worth of oil from Now York to Port
Adelaide, and of the acceptance of a
tender from Sheffield for the supply oE
appurtenances to dredgers at a cost of £590. -
Applications for pilot's licences at Ports Pirie
and Augusta were received, and the pilotage
rates were fixed for the ports. The Engineer
Surveyor is to report upon tenderB received1
for the sale or charter of a steam-launch for
service at Port Pirie in the deepening- opera
tions. A trial is to be made !of the encinea
of the Governor Muspxave, now nearly com
pleted, before the last payment to the con
tractors is authorized.
Entebtainment at Lefevbe's Peninsula.
—There was a large attendance at the Eecha
bite Hall, Semaphore-road, on Thursday
evening, December 13, when an entertain
ment was given in connection with the
Lefevre's Peninsula Model School. The pro
ceeds will be applied to the purchase of
sundry school requisites. In the absence of
Mr. D. Bower, M.P., Chairman of the Port
Adelaide Board of Advice, Mr. W. Christie
presided. The programme opened with a
pianoforte duet by Misses Armstrong. Mr.
W. G. Millard recited 'The Battle of
Badajos.' Mrs. Crocker Smith Bang ' Tit
for Tat' excellently, and received an
encore, and Mr. S. Boyce Creak
played a violin solo. Mies Pyne then gave
' The old log cabin in the lane,' the children
joining in at the chorus, and to the number
of about 100 singing several other choruses
very well during the evening. Mr. A. 'Hall
Bang a comic song, and was encored. The
Misses Elliot played a pianoforte duet, and
Mrs. Crocker Smith was again encored for her
' At the ferry.' ' The Slave in the Dismal
, Swamp' was recited by Master A. Gray,-and
Mr. A. Hall concluded the programme by
another comic Eonjr, for which he had to
respond to an encore. Miss Christie, Head
MiBtress of the school, took charge of the
Einging, while the whole entertainment was
managed by Mr. J. Millard, Head Hasten
It was a success.
Effects of the Storm at Gawler. -'?The
weather at Gawler has been of a similarly
extraordinary character with that at other
places. Big trees were stripped of their
limbs along the course of the Para, andiomg

of the local wheat crops are very much laid
by the wind. In some parts the stripper will
be useless to gather them. At Templers
part of the roof of Mr.-SLmpson's-house was
blown off, and a wagon with three tors of
hay upon it was moved some little distance
by the wind, whilst at Kangaroo Flat a hay
stack 'was blown over, and a wagon was
driven fifteen yards away from a stack by
which it was standing.
Killed bt Ltghtxetg.— On Thursday,
December 13, Mounted-constable Bannigan
telegraphed from Government Guma to
the Commissioner of Police, stating that
Mr. R. W. Raj«lessT of Callabunna Station,
?which is about 180 milea east of
the Gums, had reported by letter that'
a man named H. Wallia (or 'Wallace) was
struck by lightning on the 7th inst. HeBtates
that Wallis was cutting timber near a man
named McMahon, and on the latter returning
to the camp in the evening, and not finding
Wallis about, he went in search of him. He
found him lying on his face under some trees,
quite dead. His face, neck, and shoulders
were terribly scorched. There waa a severe
thunderstorm the same evening. The body
has been buried, the constable adds, and an
other constable has left the Gums Station to
make enquiries.
? Poet Adelaide Police Station.— The
great inconvenience existing at this station is
a subject of frequent comment. Some little
time since attention was drawn to the great
want of space in the Casualty Hospital, and
the consequent crowding of the wards. This
has not yet been remedied, though the
question is asked why the new room 3 cannot
be occupied, as they have undergone a drying
process so loDg. The want of a change in
the arrangements was emphasized on Thurs
day afternoon, when almost directly after
the body of the unfortunate man
killed at the railway station had been
placed within the deadhouse in the
station some pipes connected with the
main sewer runnin? immediately underneath
burst, it is thought, from the accumulation
of gas, and the sewage matter forced its way
up the well, taking away the grating at the
surface, and overflowing the 'deadhouse,
causing a terrible stench. The dead body
lad to be taken into one of the cells, where
it now lies. Owing to the poisonous atmos
phere the hospital doors had to be closed,
and the patients of course suffered in
consequence. The attention of the Coroner
has been drawn to this matter, and it is hoped,
for the sake of those livingat the station and
others having duty there, that prompt action
?Kill be taken.
-The Zoological Gabdess.— On Thursday
afternoon there was a large attendance of
visitors at the Zoological Gardens, which Lady
Robinson honoured with her presence. The
Marquis of Nbrmanby was to have attended,
but he was detained -at the polo match. The
special feature of. the occasion was the per
formance of choice selections of music
by the band of H.M.S. Nelson. The
'' Zoo,' as it is now familiarly styled, is be
coming highly popular, especially since the
elephant has been introduced, and that
'ponderous pet divides. the honours with the
Malayan Sunbear. This sagacious ursine
humorist is getting more at ^oire n his pit,
', and creates immense! amuse ent by his
comical antics. A spectator's hat ble^r into
the pit on Thursday, and Master Sunbear
entertained a large crowd by his funny per
.formances, turning somersaults and actually
?putting the hat on his head as 'a crowning
.feat' :
- Probates asd Lettess of ADsroasTBA
TIO3;— JJuring the week ending December 12
.'the.. Registrar of Probates granted pro
?bate to the wills of the following deceased
Tersons:— Charles Onie Othama, £800; B.
iHeynej Exemplification of probate; M.
?Newsham, £943; D. Walton, £100; Jame3
'Confein, £900; Patrick' Reynolds,! £300 ; Amy
'.Richards, £150; Michael Tobin, £5,803; J'.
C. Donherdt, £1,500. Letters of administra-
tion were also granted in the estates of the
following:— Robert Norman, £14,000; and
[Caroline Schmidt, £800. ;
? Destitute Poor.— Erom the return of the
Chairman of the Destitute Board we learn
that. during the month, of November the fol
lowing number of persons have been sup
Jwrted by the Government: — Adult male3,
.455 j adult females, 600.; male children, 952 ;
female children, 801 ; total, 2,808. This is
exclusive of Kooringa, Wallaroo, Moonta,
Kadina, Port Aagusta, Mount Gambier,
Narracoorte, Penola, Millicent, and Border
Town. ; ?
? Closing of the Public Offices.— It is
' announced in this week's ' Gazette that the
Public Offices will be closed on Saturday, De
cember 29, and Monday, December 3L This
is in' addition to December 25 and 28 and'
January 1.
. The Election for Stanley.— At a moot
ing of the Clare Vigilance Committee held
on Wednesday afternoon the Secretary was
instructed to communicate with the Hon. A.
Catt to ascertain if he will at the next general
elections consent to again stand for the
Electoral District of Stanley, providing he is
preser- '.'?. ? f fji u satisfactory requisition. A
simil; : ? - ? .. u was carried unanimously
infavuui of Mr. J. J. Duncan, at one time
. a representative of Wallaroo.
Road at Wiebababa.— On Thursday, De
?cember 13, Mr. Coglin, M.P., presented a
memorial from the residents of Wirnbara,
Booleroo, Appila, and neighbouring districts
to the Acting Commissioner of Public Works,
requesting that the road from Wirrabara
through the Hundred of Appila to the Forest
? Reserve may be placed in a state of repair
? The memorial will be duly considered.
Glen Osmond Quarry Cosipaxy.— Aspesial
general meeting of the shareholders in tliis
? Company was held at Marlborough Chambers
on Thursday, December 13, for the purpose
. of authorizing the Directors to borrow and
take up from time to time any sum or sums
of money upon such security and on such
.conditions as they . . might think fit.
or to authorize the increase of the
Company's capital by the issue of new shares.
Mr. A. Hardy occupied the chair, and 4,324
shares were represented by proxy and other
wise! Mr. Hardy read. the resolution of the
previous meeting — ' That a dividend of 15 per
cent be declared, but that the payment of
such dividend be postponed by the Directors
in their discretion, and! the funds in hand be
employed for the purchase of an engine,' and
said the Directors had had the offer of a 30
horse-power engine, but it had been found
?to be unsuitable, and the object of passing
resolutions at this meeting was to raise suffi
cient funds for purchasing a suitable engine
when' the opportunity occurred. Although a
resolution might be passed that day, no money
?would be taken up till it was absolutely
; required for the purchase named. If the re
solution proposed was carried the Directors
-would then consider -the payment of the
dividend, as some ! shareholders had
applied for it. The effect of the re
solutions would become no personal
liability to the shareholders. Tee fol
lowing resolution was then carried : —
' That the Directors be authorized at their
discretion to increase the capital of the Com
pany by the issue of not exceeding 5,000
shares of £1 each, bearing a preferential
dividend at the rate of 10 per cent.
?per annum, or to borrow or to take
up any sum or sums of money not ex
ceeding £5,000 on the security of the de
bentures of the Company, such debentures
to be issued for such sums as the Directors
think fit, and to bear interest at not esceed
10 per. cent per annum, or to borrow and
take up the said sum of £5,000, or any part
thereof, upon such security, in such form,
and at such rate of interest and on such
other conditions as they may think fit.'
There being no other business, the meeting
adjourned.
' Akothek Harbour Scheme.— A new and
somewhat novel harbour scheme was brought
?under the notice of the Marine Board on
Thursday, December 13. Mr. Samuel C.
Dean, of Kensington, London, forwarded for
the consideration of the Board comprehen
sive sketches and estimates of plans for im
provement of the harbour at Port Adelaide
by providing ships' locks on the inner bar at
Schnapper Point to Torren3 Island, and by
deepening the present channel north of Le
fevre'a Peninsula, thus creating a land
locked, safe, and sheltered harbour, and
forming valuable frontages for wharfs to
lipson and Hindmarsh Reaches, &c,
over twelve miles in length. The ships'
locks, it is proposed, shall be three

n number, one of sufficient size to admit
Orient Bteamers and vessels of the largest
class. The estimated cost is £300,000. Mr,
Bean -does not propose to deepen the present
mid-channel within the locks, as it would be
then rendered of sufficient depth to pass
average-sized vessels to the present shipping
place. In the event of the Government not
carrying out the project as part of its public
works, Mr. Dean asked whether they would
grant himself and others the concession of
making wharf dues. If so, the money would
be forthcoming in England for the construc
tion of the works, which would be executed
at Schnapper Point without any stoppage of
the present traffic. The scheme was referred
to the Board's Engineer for a report.
An Old Weece.— Mr. Peterson, manager
to Messrs. Bowman Brothers, of Campbell
House, was recently told by an old black
fellow of the existence of a portion of the
remains of some of the people who were
wrecked in the Maria on the Coorong Beach
about forty years ago. At his request the
native took him to a wombat hole where he
found two thigh-bones and two arm-bones.
These the blackfeUow assured him were the
remains of a young girl whom he had himself
killed with a waddy. Mr. Peterson also
found some rib bones in the same neighbour
hood. . '
Poet Adelaide Regatta.— The Port
Regatta Committee met at the Council
Chamber, Port Adelaide, on Thursday night,
becember 13. Councillor Kestel presided,
and there was a good attendance. The prizes
were affixed to the amended preliminary
programme, th« amount heing about £170.
A West Australian Club.— Following up
the success attending the establishment of
the Northern Territory Association, a number
of gentlemen in this city formerly connected
with Western Australia met at the Cum
berland Arms Hotel on Thursday evening
for the purpose of considering the desira
bility of forming a West Australian
Club. There was a fair attendance, and
Mr. T. Allmond was voted to the chair.
Mr. W. J. Hayes, the convener, explained
the objects to be to assist any West Austra
lians coming to Adelaide in the way of aiding
them to seek employment, and to make them
feel that they had not arrived in a strange
country. It was also stated that it was pro
posed to have a room where any person
wishing to obtain information regarding the
western colony might be able to do so, and
also where macs and newspapers might be
made available.. After some references to
the excellence of the object, Mr. L. Lillis pro
posed and Mr. Hayes seconded— ' That a
West Australian Club be formed.' It was
then resolved that those present should form
a committee to draw up rules and bring
forward suggestions at another meeting, to be
held on Wednesday next.
Telegraphic Chess Matches.— To-night
the match by wire between the City and Port
Aucusta Chess Clubs, six players a side, will
be played. The Adelaide representatives are
to assemble at the General Post-Office at
7.45. The Sydney Chess Club wired a: reply
on Thursday, accepting the challenge of the
Adelaide Chess Club to play a match by
telegraph on New Year's Day, but they
declined to play more than seven games.
Port Adelaide. — The Mayor's annual re
port, read at the last Town Council meeting,
has provoked numerous complimentary re
ferences. From the document it appears that
the Council held twenty-six ordinary and
ten special meetings during the year.
The current assessment exceeded that
of the preceding year by £1,717, which
sum represented the increase in the
annual value of Port property. The
bonded debt was £10,400, but a further
loan of £4,000 had been authorized for enlarge
ments to the Town Hall. The income for the
past municipal year was £14,028 19s. 2d. ; ex
penditure, £14,916, or £877 in excess of the
receipts, of which amount £811 was due by
ratepayers for their moiety of the cost of tar
paving. The Bank overdraft was £2,981 7s. i
2d., and £119 had been paid the Bank for
interest. The quantity of tar-pavement had
been increased by 18,700 square yards ; and
74 new paved crossings had been. made. His
Worship also reported some improvements
in drainage matters, and dealt with several
local topics, especially the Formby-parade
boundary dispute. He reviewed with satis
faction the subject of public morality in the
town, and pointed out that statistics showed
that the past year had been distinguished by
a decrease in the amount of drunkenness,
debt, and destitution.
Condemning a Health Board.— The
Central Board of Health at its meeting on
Wednesday, December 12, passed a resolu
tion which was the reverse of complimentary
to the Local Board of Health for the Hind
marsh District. The Secretary of that Board
WTote complahing of some reflections cast
upon the body he represented in a report by
the Secretary of the Central Board, whom
he reminded that they had before especially
complimented the Hindmarsh authorities
upon the thorough and prompt manner in
which they had carried out their duties. Re
lative to this the Central Board on Wednesday
carried this suggestive motion :— ' That the
resolution approving the action of the Local
Board was passed on August 22 after a report
from the Hindmarsh Board that the munici
pality had been thoroughly inspected. The
Board regret to find that this inspection was
of so superficial a character as to leave the
inhabitants exposed to the many long
standing nuisances found to exist on an in
spection by the officer of the Central Board.'
The Comet.— Respecting the comet now
on view in the Northern Hemisphere Mr.
Charles Todd has kindly supplied us with
information from which we gather that it is
identical with the comet discovered by
Pons on July 20, 1812, being the six
teenth comet discovered by that industrious
observer within the space of ten years.
It is now approaching the earth, and
will continue to do so until January 9,
and will be in perihelion on the morning of
January 26 at a distance from the san of
somewhat over 7i millions of miles. It is
now moving rapidly south, and is nearly
within our reach here, and as the moonlight
diminishes will probably be visible to the
naked eye in the north-western sky after
sunset towards the end of the month, its
position on January 1 being— right ascension
21h. 40m., and 19 degrees north declination.
It passed the meridian to-day shortly after 2
p.m. about 12 degrees above the north horizon.
Towards the end of January it will be nearly
equi-distant from the earth and sun, being on
January^ seventy-two and a half millions
of miles from the former and about seventy
one and a half millions of miles from the
latter.
Adelaide City Mission.— The monthly
meeting of the General Committee was held
on Wednesday. Mr. James Smith, J.P.,
presided, and there were present the Revs.
J. Lyall, R. K. Finlayson, and H. Hussey,
and Messrs. Fleming, Adamson, Stuckey,
Stace, Dowie, J. Steele, Green, and Scott
Mr. Lyall, the Secretary, reported that the
resolution of the Committee at its last
sitting respecting a mission among the
Chinese in the city and suburbs had been
carried out by the engagement of the
missionary, who was now employed in Bur
veying the field of operations, attending to
the classes, and other work, and that a
public meeting to inaugurate the mission and
introduce the missionary had been held with
a large attendance, and most encouraging
assurances of sympathy from representatives
of all the Christian churches, and unmistake
able proofs of the interest and gratitude with
which the effort was regarded by the Chinese
themselves. Several festive gatherings were
reported as having been held in the hall
during the month, among which was an
entertainment to the workers given by
Mr. Green, and a service of song, by
which the funds of the Sunday
school were benefitted. The Secretaries
reported that according to usage they
had met the missionaries for conference and
prayer, and found that all departments of
the mission work were being carried on with
vigour, and that the attendance at the
sen-ices and mothers' meeting, Dorcas Society,
and Sunday-school was considerably in
creased. The Treasnrer reported that the
balance due to the Bank waa £92, which it
s hoped the contributions of subscribers will
speedily overtake.

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