"So fine, indeed," they state, " is a large portion of the deposit, that the elements of nutrition in it are available for vegetation almost as soon as the first rains have-carried it into the soil, while the particles not so exceedingly line are already being attracted by that wonder ful disintegrator carbonic acid. The result of this downpour over so large an area need not dismay us, but rather give cause for re joicing that in the majority of instances a richer soil -has been added than formerly existed; and so lightly and finely has it fallen, that the winter rains will not have passed before it will have been washed into the soil to invigorate the new vegetation and improve the pastures, except in close proxi mity to the scene of the eruption." This is cheering news for the Te Puke, Opotiki, and Whakatane settlers. Mr Pond's experiments with seeds in various.specimens of deposit have so far proved satisfactory, but the Go vernment tests of sowing seeds on a fair scale will be much more conclusive in their character, and these are awaited with interest. Very great interest is taken here in the poll of the policyholders in the.Government Assurance Association, to be taken shortly, to determine the future control of this institution. There seems to be a general concensus of opinion here in favour of the management of the Association being handed back to the Government, on the principle that the policyholders " prefer the devil they know to the devil they dont know," and also that it is undesirable the association should be made the battledore and shuttlecock of party, and of scheming and ambitious men. If the press is any reflex of public opinion, then Auckland has sent to Wellington a solid vote in favour of Government having. alike the control and responsibility of managing the affairs of the association. There are various signs abroad that the depression affecting other parts of the colony is at least beginning to pinch in Auckland. At no period since the reaction after the Waikato campaign of lSf.3 hare so many shops and houses been to let. In one thoroughfare — Karangahape road — where land had changed hands at £100 a foot, and where a large amount of speculative build ing has been going on, there are from 30 to ■10 shops to let. 