The Premier voiced the opinion of the colony when he said that New Zealand had a friendly feeling towards the Com monwealth, and would look with pleasure on the birth of the new nation. His words, and the presence of himself and several of his colleagues at the inaugural celebrations in Sydney, will no doubt have some weight in disabusing the Aus tralian mind of the deep-rooted conviction that our expansion policy, which has been urged upon the Imperial authorities for over twenty years, has been hastily de signed to counteract the influence that the Commonwealth will exert. — Lytteiton Times. The desire to make mouey without lab oring for it, to grow rich by an adven titious turn of Fortune's wheel — it is the growth of this sentiment, this low ideal, that explains the increasing absorption of the public in racing matters. The racehorse is becoming the mere dice of the gambler, and the green course the green board on which they are thrown. Canno6 we have a reformed turf? Is it not possible to free horse-racing from the stigma, that is darkening it more and more? If it is not possible, then we have no hesitation in joining our voice to those who cry aloud for the abolition of the racecourse altogether. — Auckland Star

Two Kentucky colonels, notorious duel lists, met in a train near Lebanon, in that Stute, one day last montu, and as there was a feud between them, began firing. The long passenger coach was crowded, many women being on board. Each man had two revolvers, and fired every cartridge. The train was running fifty miles an hour, and the excitement was intense, as the duellists fought along the aisles of three vestibule coaches. Tlie conductor and six passengers were wounded, and the others escaped by hiding behind seats. The British Medical Journal sounds a note of warning as to the plague. That cases of plague will occur iirmost Euro pean cities, especially seaports, during the next few years is highly probable. Glasgow has simply succeeded Oporto as the centre. One of the reasons given for this is curious. "At no period since the Crusades," says the journal, "have soldiers of so many nations flocked east wards; never before have so many ships sailed for Asiatic ports, nor has commu nication between Europe and Asia been so intimate. 