Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1050, 23 June 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1871.

From an announcement in our advertising columns it will l>e seen that a temperance meeting will be held at the Wiiipukuiau Schoolroom, on Friday eveniig, the 3' ',ih insfc.

A ferocious encounter between two black snakes was witnessed by Mr T. Brimmer, on B n »\-is, near Everhley, (says the ttiverine Ileraldj. They "were seen to tight until they both fell over a rock.

By way of Mauritius, Natal news to the 31st January is to ban 1, from which •we gather that the finds of diamond* continued to he considerable, though at Natal there was little enthusiasm, as the fields were attracting too many from more regular occupations.

Burglaries are very namerous in and around Sydney. The other day the front door of the New York Tribune office had to be closed for some purpose. Mr Greeley on a piece of paper " Eutrance on Spiuce street, 1 ' and sent it down to the man who does the painting of the buPefins, to be copied. The man studied o\er Greeley's writing all the forenoon, and finally, in despair, wrote V Editors pn a spree," and posted it up.

Under the heading of " Betsy at the Bar.—A Story of 'Shouting' at Charleston," the Nel>on Colonist says : And the bar maid en whispered 'twere better by tar, to make flats pay for champagne who bet at the bar. So slily she levied in the face of the fool, who thus squandered his cash, a mere barmaiden's tool ; as she gave him her hand, did the sweet M'lNamara, saying *' shout the champagne now, you flat, at the bar." That is young Lochinvar with a difference; but - here is the bar story in pros* 1 , as it came out in Court at Charleston the other day :—" The plaintiff, one Behan, a publican, sued a miner, named McCarthy, for £ls, the price of champagne supplied to the defendant's order. It appealed that defendant with another miner came to plaintiff's hotel and made a bet of champagne as to' which of the two should first be honored with a shake of the hand from plaintiff's barmaid, one Betsy M'Namara. Joyce, the discarded one, in his evidence said :—'There was a talk between us about who the young woman would shake hands with, and it was agreed that whoever she favored should shout one or two bottles of champagne, lam not sure which. All hands in the room stood up, and she went and *hook hands with M'Carthy. He was well satisfied and called for the champagne. Then all hands stood up again, and she again shook hands with M'Carthy. She would'nt touch anyone else. At the third time, a kiss was proposed, but this was thought too much, so the shaking of hands was substituted. The young woman shook hands vith M'Carthy again, and then he r,m into the bar, and when he came in again he called for the champagne. There was a fourth round, and again M'Carthy got the preference. On my oath I would have paid for the cham pagne if she had shaken hands with uie.' The imputation of her having exercised her preference from sordid motives was repudiated by the young lady, 'Joyce bet wkb, M'Carthy two bottles of champagne as to which 1 would shake hands with. I 'hook hands with M'Carthy. Tie said lie would pay for the champagne ; if it was one hnndied bottles it did not matter. Joyce lost the bet, and M'Carthy gained it. I did not say I would leave M'Carthy out in the next round. I told M'Carthy I could not give my hand where 1 could not give my heart, but since that I have changed my mind. I meant that he had the best chance of me. He sat alongside of me, and said that if it a hundred bottles he would pay for it all. It was not arranged that F should shake hands with M' arthy. I wa? not prompted to do so by anyone; but I thought that he was the biggest flat and could afford it best !' " The case was not decided, as a question was raised under the Tippling Act, but which is not provided for under the (xoldfields Licensing Act. The prospects for next season of the farmers in the Oarnaru district are reported by the local paper to be favorable, good progress having been made in ploughing and. sowing.