Writing to a friend in Auckland from the House of* Commons, Sir Thomas H. 'Qt. Eemonde, M.P., "is^ys :•— " So far this has been tbe hardest suasion of Parliament we have yet had, 4 land it seems likely that there ia harder "work still before us. However, we are ready for it, and how ever hard the work may prove we have thia to encourage us in the coming fight, that we are fighting a winning battle. Home Bule for Ireland is now an absolute certainty. It is only a question of a year more or .less of struggle at Westminster, and in -the English constituencies. We shall carry the Home Eule Bill through all ite stages in the House of Commons this summer. It will then go up to the House of Lords. What course that august assem bly will take with reference to it- re mains to be ssen. In any case I look for ward to a general election next year. If the Gladstonians win in England, as I believe they will, 1895 should see an Irish Parliament in session in Dublin. Should the Tories succeed at the next general election, they will themselves have to reokon with the Irish National Party and with the English Home Bulers, and tbe force of circumstances will compel them to bring in a Home Bale Bill of their own. So that whatever happens I look upon tbe cause of Home Bule as perfectly safe. It is the strongest proof of the strength and durability and eventual triumph of our movement that it has lived through the stress and storm of the last two years, and still remains as the one great isßue in British politics. My kindest remem brances to Father Hackett, Mr J. A. Tole, and my other kind Auckland friends."

The Auckland Star relates the follow ing:—Maoris have odd notions regarding ■signs of ownership of land. ' Tbe recent expedition of Inspector Hickson and a number of the constabulary to Buatoki to settle a little Native difficulty, afforded opportunity for a peculiar display. As ÜBual in all Maori trouble, the origin was title to land. Ooe chief declared his in tention of driving a thousand sheep across a river on a particular day, to establish his right to a share in the land on the opposite side. 