The latest explorations of the Black Sea and tho Mediterranean go far to complete our knowledge of the marine geography of these basins. So far as the former is concerned the greatest profundity has been reached in the 'Pola Deep,' about 55 miles southwest of Cape Matapon, where the sounding lead reaches bottom in 2,236 fathoms. The greatest warmth is naturally on the surface, the temperature, as a rule, gradually decreasing as tho bottom ia neared, but this is by no means uniform, the lowest temperature of the Adriatic—namely, 52^deg.—being observed at the entrance at 415 fathoms ; though, curiously enough, in 2,406 fathoms the water is 3\deg. higher. In the Black Sea all life "ends at 100 fathoms, owing to the water below that depth being charged with sulphureited hydrogen, which kills every plant and animal. Below a depth of 200 fathoms the temperature is invariably 48deg., this high temperature being due to the deep current of warmer and Salter water which flows in through the Bosphorus from the Mediterranean. Finally, the Russian surveyors have come to the conclusion thaft before the Bosphorus was opened the Black Sea was a fresh-water basin.
Mr W. F. Wallett, the Queen's Jester, was buried on March 16th at the General Cemetery, Nottingham. The funeral cortegt was a very long one, and included many persona of influence. Little Danny—" Father, what is the pop pilation ov tho world?" Mr Grogan— "Pfwhat'a that's to youse? They're mostly foreigners, ahnyvvay ?" Ev a law wa3 past givin' every onnesil pohtishun a marbel monument 200 foot) high, it wouldent matte much of a boom i» tho ciuarry bwiuess-

THE AUCKLAND STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL SO, 1892.
