At the gathering of veterans in Welling ton on Saturday our genial weather prophet (says the "Post") appeared as a Commander (if the Royal Navy, with fhre* Crimean med:<ls; a well-known %ure in the colonial , museum was a captain in the 14th Regi- ] bient; Dr. Grace was recognised by an old man who had fought against the iiaoris as the medical man who had taken out "that ' huilet the beggars gave him ; Sir George Wait more was reminded by oue greybeard ' that he. had scouted fur him in the Umvera country, by another that he was his bugler. !>y another that he had carried despatches for him. and by yet another with the ex clamatioa: "Ob, by George, sir, but you '

used to drive oe along in them days!" Then it came as a surprise to learn that some of the mast, peaceful of acquaintances about town were men with military pasts. Inspec tor Pender, fur instance, carried despatches thtnv.gh the Valley of Death the day after the "m.ble Six Hundred" mode tbeir famous charge, and was one of the few Britishers who were present at the Battle of Tchernaya (Crimea), fought by Sardinians and French against the Russians. There was also John O'Donnell. of New Plymouth, who wore the plain cross which he won in England as far back as 1854 for having been for two years the best shot io the 55th Etgiment. He went through the Crimea, and was also twelve years in T ncfTa. CYCLE BOARDS BILL. According to an Auckland telegram, in timation has been received there that the Cycle Boards Bill has been made a Govern ment measure. THE MARKET FOR GREENSTONE. An unusually large lot of greenstone from ths south was landed on the Greymouth ■wharf on the 6th inst., ready for shipment (says the "Grey River Argus"). One mag nificent lump weighs 9ewt, ood seemed of first-class quality. The smaller pieces are all carefully bagged. Of late -ears the de mand for greenstone was net so active as it was at one time: but a more favourable condition of the trade seems to have again get in. INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE DEPARTMENT. 