"Strawberries are strawberries," as the dealers say ab the prices now ruling. Two quart boxos sold retail to day at Is Od per box, and it is expected that, if the present dry weather continues thoy will make another jump to 2a per box during tho presonfc week. Growers of strawberries who carr.e over from Birkenhead and Northcote to day decided bo charge Is 3d per box wholesale for thoir fruit in consequence of itn scarcity, and dealers had to comply with their de mands. The ri?k involved in the e.alo of such perishable fruit apparently gives a larc'o margin of profit, and the retail price conseauently advanced to Is 9d per box or 10£ d per quart.
In the Temperance Hall, Albert-street, on Saturday evening, Professor L. Lan caster delivered a lecture on physiognomy, phrenology, mesmerism, spiritualism, and kindred topic?. There was a good atten dance, and the audience appeared ap preciative of Mr Lancaster's explana tions of the different faculties of the human head, and their use in early life. The lecturer illustrated his remarks by diagrams, and explained the science of physiognomy ab considerable length. He made some "brief remarks on mesmerism and spiritualism, and endeavoured to de monstrate that tho art of mesmerism could be learned in a-few minutes. A number of vocal selections by local amateurs were ren dered during the evening, Mr Grigg ac companying. A number of tho audience had their " bumps '' examined at the close of tho lecture.
