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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 57, 5 May 1877, Page 3

Law Costs. — The " Post " never misses an opportunity of having a dig tit Wanganui for its legal charges, which it says are proverbial throughout the Colony, The following is the latest reference ! — " A man m Auckland tried to recover a debt of £22 lGs 6d. He seized and sold some land of debtor's realising £To 19s. Then he had a lawyer's bill sent to him of £38 15s 6d. This is nearly as good as the Wangvinli charge*." — '' Chronicle:"

In view of the possible hostilities m Europe we may state that the strength of the British army is as follows : — Two regiments of the Lite Guards, one regiment of the Horse Guards, seven regiments of Dragoons, three regiments of i'ra goons, five regiments of Lancers, 13 of Euzzare, 200 batteries of Artillery, -li companies of Engineers, 7 battallions of Infantry, besides two W<>>( India regiments, and Malta Fensihle Artillery, and also the old Military Train, which did good service m the Maori war. Of the Cavalry, four regiments are Irish, one Scotch, and the remainder English. Of the Foot Guards, one regiment is Scotch — viz,, the Scotch Fusiliers. Of the infantry, seven regiments are Irish, sixteen Scotch, three Welsh, one Canadian, 9 Indian, and the remainder English. The British Militianumbers 120,000 men : Yeomanry Cavalry, 120,000 ; the Army Reserve, 30,000 ; and the Volunteers, 265,000. Inclusive of the Militia, Volunteers, &c, the British forces may number 165,000 bayonets. Lord Elcho estimates the number of men (British, Foreign, and Colonial, Regular and Auxiliary) serving under the British flag, at 800,000.— Exchange. , An incident, which is not a little significant ofthe efficiency of the British navy at this moment, is mentioned m a letter fiu.-i j Besika Bay. With a view to ascertain the j time that would be occupied m bringing "nc ' of our ironcluds into action, the ad;:.::' i : directed a "turn out" m the middle of t::;' ! night without any previous warning, iho ! command was promptly obeyed, the who.r , ship being cleared for action and the ii >•:■'. ; gun fired within seven minutes from tho I time the alarm was sounded. j A gentleman who lias lately returned from Rotorua informs us (" N. Z. Herald ") tbat a notification has been printed by the natives, prohibiting any person from taking photographs of the scenery, unless they pay five pounds (£5.) The English version of the notification is as follows : — " To tbe Europeans who visit Rotomahana, who photograph at that place. They are to give Hoani Kahutaka five pounds (£5). Should they not consent to pay this money, t hey must cease .photographing at Rotomahana. The reason that this arrangement, is determined on is that they will receive a great deal of money for their photographs when exhibited for sale. Also, let writing names on the terraces cease." Colonial Experience. — The Auckland " Star " states that Lord Henry Phipps, the third son of the Marquis of Normanby, has returned to the colony, after an absence of some months m England. We believe he went Home with tbe object of making arrangements for the purchase of extensive station property m Queensland or New Zealand. Lord Henry Phipps is a fine specimen of the English gentleman, manly, frank, and endowed with a large share of enterprise and shrewdness. During his stay m Queensland he was not above being throughly colonised. He became learned m the mysteries of bullock driving, acquired a knowledge of systematic farming, cattle and sheep raising, and generally " roughed it " m the bush. On one occasion he voluntarily worked for several days on a public road, which was much needed m order to open up a way for cattle. Sir Julius Yogel has taken up his quarters at the New Zealand Agency m Victoria Chambers, Westminster. He came down one morning m a enb and took possession very quitely. There was no crowd around the doors to welcome him, as there would have been m New Zealand, and the only " official " he encountered on the stairs was the housekeeper's head maid dusting the bannisters. Alter mating a tour of inspection of the Offices, and impressing tbe clerks with the ease and dignity of his bearing, he retired to tbe Agent General's " own room," where be is reported to have partaken of a substantial tiffin. This over he summoned one of the officials, and making certain pertinent inquiries as to the conduct of business, said very blandly that would do, a hint the aforesaid official regarded as equivalent to an assurance that business was over for the day. Thus the office was entered upon without the least demonstration or excitement, and as its tenure is said to be temporary — possibly for a year — there seems no good or valid reason why the business should not go on smoothly, or, at least, be conducted m a spirit of fairness and impartiality m regard to vested interests. As an instance of an honorable desire to make reparation for a fault committed, the following facts will be read with interest : — The " Otago Daily Times " says : — About. twelve years ago a teller m the employment of the Bank of New Zealand at Invercargill was the cause of the bank losing a "sum of £240. The bank made a claim for that amount upon the Colonial Assurance Company, m which the officer was guaranteed. and the claim was promptly met. The teller left the service of the bank. Having succeeded m business, he recently sent the bank the sum of £240 io make good the loss he occasioned them so many years before. The bank have since written to the Australasian Alliance Assurance Company of Melbourne, the legal representative of the Colonial Assurance Com puny, enclosing a cheque for the full amount paid by the latter company under the guarantee policy referred to.