The following " dark " paragraph about the lI.M, Emerald's cruise in the inlands, appears in the Sydaey '"Bulletin " : —" All the newspapers have had the wrong story. The Emerald pioved heisclf a terrible avenger. 'Ihcy've captured " Ono Small Ni'.'tier," it's true, but have made at lea^t ISOOJdarkics bite ihc dust. Shrapnel did the fatal work. The crows saw what thry did fee. One thing was regretted. At dusk one evening, a c.inoe was cli&'cd. Not a soul lived under that withering musketry tire. Tho canoo had been " manned " by women—that was the re gret. Every island lost several hundred men. 'i he truth leaks out sometimes, this time through ' that one little nigger."

The Sir Henry I/avelock Lodge No. 1 ot the New Zealuml Order of Good Templars i?, we believe, the only lodge in Auckland which pays any regard to the intellectual needs of its members. There boiiig uo capi tation tax imposed upon the members, Mr Ooldie and the ollicer.s of the lodge, having already acquired a pianoforte, thought a lodge iibrary might easily be collected by the power of the pence. The idea was put in motion, and a number of ser viceable volumes obtained, The Have lock Lodge library is now in exis tence with a goodly number of moral and entertaining books, including volumes of history, poetry, and fiction, by popular writer?. Home montbt, ago it was proposed and carried, "That a complete edition of the novels of James Grant, of Edinburgh, should be added to the library," Tlie'C works, about4o volumra, are to bund, including " liouiauce of War," " High landers in Belgium," " Memorials of Edin burgh Castle," and •, "Mary, Queen of Scots."

The anniversary soiree of the Primitive Methodists, of Newmarket, was held lust evening in their little chapel, and was fully attended, Tho tables were {lonteously spread in a pleasant aud homely manner by tho ladies in attendance. Mr J. 11. Smith, an old friend of the cause, occupied the chair, and spoke the opening address. The subr.equcut speakers were Kcvs. W. Dunn, J. Long, J. Nixon and Mr Uramo. A. number of hymns were effectively sung by the children. We learn that there arc 114 children on the Sunday-school roll, average attendance 70. 