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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 32, 8 February 1867, Page 2

On the 4th inst., his Excellency the Governor visited the theatre at Christchurch and was most enthusiastically received ; ou his entrance the whole house rose and cheered him loudly. On the sth his Excellency left town for Timaru, where he was to remain until Thursday, when he was expected to return to Christchurch. By the s.s. Tararua we have Melbourne dates to the 26th ultimo. The Victorian Ministry appears to be iu a critical position. In the Upper House an amendment on the subject of the uncollected duties at the time of the late deadlock was moved on the reply to the Governor's address, but after a debate had taken place, it was withdrawn, On the 24th. in the same House. Mr. M'Canii moved— " That the agreement made by the delegates at the late Border Duties Conference was unsatisfactory." A Melbourne telegram, dated the 28th ultimo, published in a Sydney paper says: — It is expected that the Ministry will be defeated to-morrow, on the Border duties question. Detectives have lately been employed as clerks iu the Post Office, to detect letter stealers. The Wellington Advertiser has the following remarks : — We cannot say anything with regard to the increase of revenue likely to arise from the additional charge on letters, but we can make a pretty good guess that the revenue from newspapers will be very small indeed. Newspapers in this colony circulate very little outside of the provinces in which they arc published and in order to save postage we find that every journal throughout the colony has established ageuts in all parts of the province in which it circulates, to whom it is sent by hand, and from whom it is received by subscribers. Indeed, in some instances, agents have been appointed in other provinces where the circulation is large, so that the absolute gain to the Government is that the officials in the Post-office have much less to' do iu the way of sorting newspapers. In fact, as was pretty sure to be the case, the press has checkmated the Government, although at some loss and great inconvenience to itself. But as loss and inconvenience to the press will not add to the revenue of the country, this tax upon knowledge is very likely to meet the fate it deserve when Parliament next assembles. It is the more likely to do so because the Stamp Duties tax is already returning far more than was anticipated from it. The Government printing-office has been engaged nearly night and day for some time past in striking off stamps, and can hardly keep pace with the demand. It is calculated that in the first month, during which licensed vendors and merchants are laying in their stocks, something like £25,000 worth of stamps will be sold, and that in after months there will be at least half that amount used per month.

We (Daily Southern Cross) learn that William Thompson's second son has beeii selected to succeed as chief of JNTgntihaua, and to so much of the general influence of his father as he can manage to keep. The eldest son, Shortland, is deservedly unpopular, and was the cause of much vexation to his father by always attempting to stir up mischief. A curious story is told by the natives with reference to the election to the chieftainship. When Thompson was lying ill at Maungatautari, with his two sons beside him, he said to the eldest, " Shortland, take down that gun, and shoot that European standing outside the hut." The youth, nothing loth, was about to do as he was bid, when his younger brother interfered, saying, " Why should that be done ? What evil has the man done us ?" Thompson, addressing his younger son, said, "Yes, that is right ; you have what is wanted — sense and discretion." You will take my place when lam gone." And so the thing was settled. According to the Daily Southern Cross the tangi for William Thompson has now become peripatetic. After the first great crying at Mataniata, Thompson's widow, Victoria, went away to Mauogatautari and Hangatiki to give such of the King party as cliose to come an .opportunity of relieving their feelings by a good cry. Several hundred pounds were expended by Thompson's tribe in flour and other provisions, but this would not have been sufficient of those who wanted to cry, so that the travelling of the widow is advisable, or absolutely necessary, on economical considerations. It is also quite correct, according to Maori usage, that the widow, or near relative, if deceased has not a widow, should be cried over iu stead of the corpse. It is expected that by-and-by Victoria will come down to Hauraki, and hold a tangi there. Since the payment of the Manawatu purchase, says the Wanganui Chronicle, a number of our Maori friends have come out strong in the way of swelldom. One chief, who has invested in a fine trap, was seen the other day with a silver mounted whip getting into the vehicle and driving ab'ttle bit, then getting out and walking — not sure which was the most correct card, but as one or both were equally material or immaterial, he appeared evidently determined to do both. He was arrayed in a suit of clothes which would have done no discredit to Beau Brummel, with a pair of slippers tipped with fur, and (there is always some incongruity about a Maori's dress ; try it as he may) a cap braided with tarnished gold lace. A large amount of money has been spent in rings, chains, &c, much of them, we fear, the merest Brummagem. The Hobartown Mercury has the following: — In connection with the Pyrolignite Company's works, and in order to test the lN T ew Zealand market as to the value of charcoal, the owners of the barque Chrishiia have taken on board ten bags, which will be sent freight free, and will be disposed of free of commission on arrival by Captain Thompson. Tins attempt to try the market in New Zealand, hj Messrs. Belbiu and Dowdell and Captain Thompson, is deserving of the thanks of all interested in the success of this new colonial undertaking. The Hon. Charles LangdaJe, whilst visiting the Roman Catholic mission, Baldwin's Gardens, got into the new Anglican church of St. Alban, and did not discover his mistake until he asked for Archbishop Manning. The citizens of Sydney, says the Mail, are alarmed again this year as to the prospects of its water-supply. There has been very little rain lately, and tlie swamp water is diminishing rapidly. Nothing has been done to increase the supply. The Corporation has muddied away precious months in negotiations with incompetent contractors. The construction of extra dams has begun at last, but, of course, too late to be of any use this year. But if the work is properly proceeded with, there will be a better supply next year. All the winter time the best of water for city purposes runs to waste in Botany Bay, and then during the summer the citizens are put upon short allowance. It is obvious that this waste must be stopped, and the winter supply stored for summer use. The citizens may have to go elsewhere than Botany for their water, but at present they need do nothing more than take care of all the water there is at their disposal. Here is horse on the table. The hippophagists carry their fondness for horseflesh to an extreme. Accordingly per-

ihaps they will soon have their horse served up with horse-beans, not to mention horse- . radish, which of course it must require even more thnn beef. The dessert which follows the favorite repast of the horse-eaters will not be complete without horse-chesnuts. The following relating to the relics of the Franklin expedition is extracted from ■the Newfoundland Commercial Journal of the 30th December : — The officers of the Antelope (an American whaler), lost near Repulse Bay, bring interesting information of discoveries made by Mr. C. F. Hall respecting the Franklin expedition. Mr. Hall has in his possesion a gold watch, some silver spoons, aud other relics, supposed to have belonged to the Franklin party. He also learnt that the remains of some of Franklin's men were lying under a boat in Committee Bay, where they had been placed by the natives after .death. The natives would not permit Mr. Hall to go on to examine them, but as several vessels will winter in Repulse Bay, it is believed Mr. "Hall will secure assistance, and push bis way to where the remains are situated. A new American stove has been invented for the comfort of travellers. It is to be put under the feet with a mustard plaster on the head, which draws the heas through the whole system. The death of Dean Pellew and of Bishop Cotton, almost simultaneously, places two valuable pieces of preferment in the hands of the present Government. The first aud less important vacancy will be filled up by Lord Derby himself, the second by Lord Cranbouroe, as Secretary of State for India. Both Bishop Cotton and Dean Pellew were men of moderate views. It is remarkable, by the way, that out of the six Bishops of Calcutta who have been appointed since the constitution of that see in 1814, two should have been drowned. Bishop Heber was found dead in a bath at Trichinopoly. A recent return of the number of visitors to the Crystal Palace, makes up a grand total of upwards of 20,000,000 during the eleven years and a half the Palace has been open to the public. These numbers are considerably in excess of those attending the three great International Exhibitions — London in 1851 and 1862, aud Paris of 1855. Taking the daily average, it will be found to exceed five thousand per day for the entire period the palace has been open. The excavations have been resumed at Herculaneum. The workmen find greater difficulty in digging up the ruins of Herculaneum than those of Pompeii, as che former are covered with a thick coating of lava. It is stated by the Epoque that a new engine of war is being tried by the officers of artillery fit Meudon. It consists of a sort of cannon which can destroy an entire battalion at one fell swoop. It is asserted that it covers a space of a hundred square metres with bullets in a few secouds. This terrible engine has been named a faucheuso (mowing machine). A French notary had to fiud out a young man a private in a Cuirassier regiment, who was a happy next of kiu. "You are from Touraiue, you are this, • that, and the other," said the notary, and Was replied to with distinct and clear answer and proof. "Well then," said the notary concluding, "you are the heir to eight hundred thousand francs, and I shall "be very happy to advance you any sum you may require." "Well, monsieur, if it Is quite convenient," replied the heir, "I should feel very much obliged for the loan of 2 francs." Advice to modest heirs ! A gentleman lately complimented a lady on her improved appearance. " You are guilty of flattery," said the lady. "Not so," replied he," for I vow you are as plump as a partridge." "At first," said the lady, " I thought you guilty of flattery only; but now you are actually making game of me." The American papers record the death of •Mr Charles Alexander, at Philadelphia, the oldest journalist in the United States. He purchased and used, when a young man, the old printing-office and type and presses belonging to the celebrated Benjamin Franklin. There is a dreadful old woman at Pim"lico, who is just now driving the medical and parish authorities to their wits' end in attempting to put her down, or get her into the workhouse, or abolish her four cats. She has lived for seven years in extreme poverty, and the odours are so inoffensive to the neighbours that they have called in the police, the inspector of. nuisances, and the medical officer of health,

but the old wom.au would not stir. She will not go to the workhouse, and she will not give up her cats. And as there is no law against keeping cats, or to compel people to keep themselves clean, the old woman is mistress of the position. Mr. Arnold, the police magistrate, says it is a most remarkable aud difficult case, and the only thing he can suggest is to circumvent the old woman, as he cannot order her to be washed against her will. So he has given au order that her room shall be washed and disinfected under the Nuisances Removal Act, evidently expecting that the old woman will offer some such i resistance as shall bring her within the reach of the law. It seems likely, too, that during the disinfecting and cleansing of walls and flooring the cats may come to grief. Anyhow, it is is a striking phenomenon that the nation which won Waterloo and put down the Indian mutiny is content with laws which allow an old woman in Pimlico to defy authority, with pestilence spreading all around her.