Latest written advices from India show an improvement in the figures of plague statistics on the fortnight ended April 21st, the deaths reported numbering 996, 1 being an average of 71 per diem against • 100 for the previous fortnight. The famine figures on the other hand show an in crease, the number of persons now in 1 receipt of relief being 4,975,648. When the Rakaia was in Capetown the hwbor was literally " chock full" of ship ping, there being something like 240 steamers in port. Every available square inch of anchoring room was occupied by thisj)jige fleet, the sight being a stirring one. There was no chance of using the docks, which were crammed with shipping. During the southerly gale last week the s.s. Tomoana's accommodation ladder, which had been lashed over the side in readiness for lowering when the vessel reached port, was carried away bya sea in Cook Strait, the iron staunchions being bent like wire and the wood Bmashed to matchwood. An eye-witness of General Jouberl's last obsequies at Rusfootein states that the touching incidents were old Mrs Jouber,t actiug as one of the bearers of the coffin to the grave, and the solemn last honors paid by several hundreds of veteran greybeards, all life-long companions-iu-arms of the late Commander-General. Preaching at Waitara the other even ing, Rev. F. G. Burnett is reported to have said that sixty years ago the native population of New Zealand was estimated to be 150,000 ; to-day it was 40,000, and steadily decreasing. It was discreditable to us as a nation that no systematic effort waß being made to save the native race. A slight collision occurred during last Tue3day uight at the anchorage, Bluff, between Huddart, Parker and Co.'s steamer Zealandia and the ship Margaret Galbraith, which has a, full cargo of pro duce aboard for London. Both vessels were riding at anchor and drifted together, ; with the result that the Margaret Gal braith's bowspruit was broken and a mast shaken. At Cross's Creek, at the foot of the Rimutaka, there is a haunted cottage which no one cares to occupy. Some time since the Railway Department, a correspondent states, had it renovated and re-painted for the benefit of a newly married couple, but the operative and his spouse indignantly refused to spend their honeymoon in such an uncanny place. 