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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1071, 18 July 1871, Page 2

A London paper contains the following description of the New Zealand medal:— * " The riband selected has a blue fringe and a crimson stripe down the centre. The handle of the medal, which is of silver, is composed of New Zealand fern leaves. On the obverse is the head of the Queen in eastern style, with a diadem and veil. The reverse is a wreath of laurel leaves, and bears the legend, Virtutis honor. It is tasteful in design and execution, and does credit to the Mint authorities.'*' The following, from an English journal, on the cause of the late wars in which Prussia has been engaged, is interesting, plausible, and to a great extent true:- — " Everyone knows the historical story of the spilling of a glass of water on Mrs Masham's gown, which caused a long and sanguinary war. Lord Royston, who made a capital speech on Mr Auberon Herbert's motion, attributes the dreadful war between Prussia and France to an almost equally insignificant cause. His Lordship, who from the position he lately held at Court must know many things which are hid from ordinary ken, stated that when the Prussians threatened Denmark, Earl Russell proposed to the Emperor of the French to join in measures of prevention. The Emperor suggested a conference, and Earl Russell for some time left the suggestion unnoticed. When he did vouchsafe an answer —in the negative —he allowed it to appear in the London newspapers two days before it was forwarded to the Emperor. His Imperial Majesty, not unnaturally, took umbrage at this flagrant slight, and flatly refused to stir a peg. Prussia had it, then, all her own way. Denmark was speedily crushed, and immediately afterwards Austria, and at last came the turn of France herself. The future will have its own tale to tell, and we shall not venture to prophecy ; but not impossibly Earl Russell's bad habit of leaving important letters unanswered may not yet have done bearing fruit. It must not be forgotten that his Lordship's neglect of King Theodore's letter was the cause of the Abyssinian war, which cost this country ten millions sterling." The New Zealand Herald, of date July 8, writes the following account of a melancholy death by drowning :—lt is with great regret that we have to record another death by drowning, which sad occurrence took place in our harbor between two and three o'clock yesterday afternoon, under very distressing circumstances. The unfortunate deceased was a lad aged seventeen, named John Crosbie. His mother is a widow living in Drakestreet, Freeman's Bay, and keeps a small grocer's shop. Strange to say, the father of the deceased was drowned at very nearly the same spot where the unfortunate occurrence took place yesterday about ten years ago, and the accident of yesterday only shows the necessity of young people not trusting themselves upon the water in charge of a boat without being thoroughly able to manage it, especially when the weather is at all boisterous. So far as we have been able to learn, the following are the circumstances attending the accident: —It seems that two lads, named John Crosbie and A. Pelley, left the Wynyard Pier about ten o'clock yesterday morning on a fishing excursion. They made towards Rangitoto, where they fished with varying success for two or three hours. It then came on to blow, and they up anchoi and set the sail, with the intention of going nearer in shore. When about half-a-mile from the beach a sudden squall struck the boat, which was at the time under sail, and she at once capsized. Both the lads were able to swim, and they succeeded in getting upon the bottom of the boat, where they remained ior over an hour without being rescued, there being during that hour no passing vessel within hail. At the end of that time, they were both pretty well cramped, and, as the boat was drifting out to sea, one of them proposed that they should make an effort to swim to Rangitoto Island, then about half-a mile distant. They immediately stripped, and commenced their perilous journey towards the laud, which, however, Crosbie was never destined to reuchj for before he had

gone very far he got thoroughly exhausted, threw up his arms, and disappeared beneath the surging waves. Pelley, of course, could do nothing whatever to save his companion, being himself thoroughly worn out. He, however, continued bis own efforts, and by almost superhuman exertions succeeded in reaching the beach, upon which ha was thrown thoroughly exhausted. Upon somewhat recovering bis strength, ha made the best of his way to Drunken Bay, which he reached after considerable difficulty, and long after dark. Here he. found a firewood cutter, and by her he came on to Auckland, and was landed at the Wynyard Pier about ten o'clock. In his journey to Drunken Bay from the place where he was cast ashore* he cut his feet terribly, having no protection whatever from the rough, sharp scoria.. On landing in Auckland* he at once went to the police office and narrated the facta attending the unfortunate and the police immediately proceeded to Crosbie's mother, and informed her of what had taken place. To describe the. grief of the unfortunate widow were, needless, the deceased lad being herfavorite son, and looked upon as the stay of the family. No doubt in the course o£ to-day the water police will make an. effort to find the body, but it will probably not be recovered for several days* We ought to mention that the deceased had not gone out to fish as a matter o£ business, but on a pleasure excursion.. In the Supreme Court, Wellington, on the 21st ult., before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston, a bankrupt named DennisWright applied for his final discharge,. The Evening Post reports: —The petitioner, examined by his Honor, said h& was an officer of the army on half-pay, at 7s a day. He sometimes received money from his aunt, but not in any regular amount. His income varied from £2Q(X to £250 per year. —His Honor : What does this amount of .£32 in the accounts, for sundries mean ? —Bankrupt : I don't know, your Honor ; I never kept ac-counts.-—His Honor; Do you smoke ? —.. Bankrupt: Yes, your Honor.—His Honor : Are you a teetotaler ?-—Bankrupt; No. —His Honor: Then sundries means drink and smoke. What is this amount to Lessington'? —Bankrupt: Billiards*, your Honor. I had a running account, —His Honor ; There is an amount to Shaw. —Bankrupt: That's for jewelry. —His Honor: What jewelry, Sir?— Bankrupt: A locket, your Honor. —Hia Honor said the accounts were presented in a most singular condition. They were not even added up. It was asserted that there was a deficiency of £IOB, but the accounts, when added up, shewed a surplus of Us lid. —After some further remarks, his Honor said that thecase was a very bad one- A man with a certain income not derivable from trade had no right to appeal to the Court.—* Ordered to stand over, that fresh accounts should be filed.

The Newcastle Chronicle reports that Lady Byron's maid (Mrs Minns) recently died at the residence of her son-in-law, at Jarrow, at the ripe age of 87. The Chronicle adds: —Her name will long be remembered in connection with the wanton and odious attack made somewhat more than a year and a half ago, by Mrs Beecher Stowe on Lord Byrou. The important testimony given by Mrs Minns on this subject was by far the most valu* able contribution to the active discussion provoked b / the controversy. Mrs Minna was probably the only living witness who could speak from personal knowledge of the early married life of Lord and Lady Byron. She had been ten years in the service of her ladyship, when Miss Millbank, as lady's maid, and was her attached confidante. She emphatically contradicted the calumnious statements of Mrs Stowe, especially as to the alleged dejected aspect of Lady Byron when she alighted from the carriage at Halnaby Hall.

A traveller gives the following description of Dunedin : —" Like all other British towns, Punedin has many grogshops, and, as a natural consequence, much drunkenness; for if there were few places for the sale of the fiery fluid, there would be few drinkers, Xn every colonial town that I have visited, I think I am safe in saying there are double the number of places for sale of strong drink than would be found in American towns of the same size. So, too, with breweries i it must indeed be an insignificant place.

that cannot support a brewery. Dunedin, with a population of 13,000, has four; and also imports large quantities of English beer. The imports of wine, spirits, and beer prove that New Zealanders are Jiard drinkers. Dunedin, however, is a very orderly town, thanks to the police, and comparatively little drunkenness is seen in the streets. Sunday is as quiet as a country village. Hotels and all places of business must be closed on that day, or rather the law says they must be closed ; but I suppose, as in every other place, every grogshop has a private door through which thirsty mortals slip in quietly and get their drinks. Churches are well attended and liberally supported, while the education of the young is looked after by a high school and several grammar and private schools." In the early stage of his ministry the celebrated Dr Strong, of Hartford, Connecticut, . preached some time in a neighboring village. One day a committee called upon him to settle with him for his services, and, after stammering a while, signified to him that his further services were not desired. " What does this mean, gentleman ?" asked the Doctor. " Why," replied the spokesmen, with some hesitation, " the people have got the impression that you are inclining to universal salvation." " Gentleman," answered the Doctor, " I never have preached that doctrine ; but if I ever do, I promise to make the people of this town an exception." In the United States, when people see their way to an improvement they act upon it, instead of losing a portion of the advantage by dilatoriness. Last year it was resolved to change the guage of the Missouri and Pacific Railway (in the State of Missouri), and this was how it was done, according the " Annual of Scientific Discovery " for 1870;—" Upon this road, about 200 miles long, the line was changed from the broad to the narrow guage. Nearly 1,400 men were engaged in the work, and they labored with such celerity that the task was accomplished in twelve hours, without interrupting the business of the road."