BISMARK contains 4,500 inhabitants. It stands on the Upper Missouri, about 200 miles west of Fargo. This town being in the centre has been made the capital of Dakota, a territory knocking for admission as the 39th State of the Union. The university buildings and those of the future capitol are in progress of construction.

JAMESTOWN is one of the youngest places in the New North West. It is on the James River, 94 miles from Fargo; and with a population of 3,000, has two banks, several hotels, and a public park, in which the band plays on fine evenings. Three years ago only three little huts marked this place where the railway crosses the river James, a tributary of the Missouri.

[PRICE SIXPENCE.

THE DUBLIN COLLECTOR GENERAL OF RATES.The dismissal of Mr. Byrne, an energetic man, from the office of Collector General by a warrant of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, has left a valuable vacancy to be filled up by the Chief Secretary, the salary being £1,000 per annum. While sympathising with a painstaking Government official it is our duty to point a moral. Let all public officials speak of members of parliament of every hue with some degree of respect.

LOCH LEVEN.-The catch of trout during the past season, which ended on 31st August, was 14,062, an increase of 50 per cent. on the previous year's take. The heaviest trout of the season was 4 lbs.; and the quality of all the fish will compare favourably with the quality of any caught in recent years.

FARGO.-Only ten years ago the Red Indians. held sway over this place, now a town of 9,000 inhabitants. It is in Dakota, in the valley of the Red River, 274 miles from St. Paul; has fine banks, many mills, with numerous schools and churches. It doubles its population every year, being the capital of a fast-developing wheat growing district.

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY.-Mr. Andrew Carnegie of New York has contributed £1,000 to the

Building Fund for the completion of Edinburgh University.

CHINA. The Chinese coin known as a tael is worth 5s. 8d. of our money. The exports of this country are, silk, tea, sugar, cotton, mats, skins, and wools. The imports are opium, piece goods, raw cotton, &c.

BUFFALO is a busy place, 450 miles from New York, with a population fast approaching 200,000. Its fine harbour on Lake Erie, from which the commerce of the Lakes Region has to be transferred to the railways and Erie Canal, contributes much to its prosperity. The city is a great grain and coal depot; its streets are wide and spacious; its public buildings fine and elegant; its suburbs reached by splendid promenades are studded with citizens' fashionable villas and gardens.