If I could find it consistent with my duty to sentence you to something short ot imprisonment for life, I should have inflicted upon you the most severe punishment that can be inflicted, iiogging up to the full measure allowed by the law ; but inasmuch as I intend as far as in me lies to render it impossible for you to commit such an outrage in the future, I shall remit that punishment, not because you don't deserve it, but because the law seeks not revenge but the punishment

and the prevention of crime in the future. Ihe sentence of the Court is that you be imprisoned with hard labor for the period of your natural life in the Terrace Gaol at Welling-

ton." The prisoner, a rather miserable specimen of humanity, showed no emotion save by a nervous twitching of the lips, and by a continuous wrenching of the hands,

Speaking at Lawrence the other day the Premier referred' to the charge that had been brought against him of travelling through the country at the expense of the country, and said the answer to the charge was that it was the law of the land that Ministers' travelling expenses should be paid, and that law was passed by the Con servative Government, of which Sir Harry Atkinson was the head. There was a time when some Ministers went through the country with special coaches, and ladies in attendance, and they had nice picnics almost through the South Island. Now, if they compared the travelling expenses of Ministers when not limited by legislation with the expenses of the Liberal Administration, they would have an eye-opener. He knew the bills sent in for the travelling expenses of a previous Ministry included ac counts for watertights, gloves, whisky, and a corkscrew, not forgetting a bex or two of Hollo way's pills. (Laughter.)

A telegram from Wellington says :— The following is the return of ordinary and excursion passengers on the New Zealand railways during the Christ mas and New Year holidays of 1897 98 and 1898 99. 