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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 56, 8 March 1870, Page 3

The foundation stone of a new hall for the St. Augustine Lodge of Masons, Christchurch, is shortly to be laid. The hall is estimated to cost £750. The Wonga Wonga, under the command of Captain Beal, late of the Panama steamer Ruahine, is to be the first of the San Francisco .line of steamers, and will leave Sydney on the 26th inst. A Singular Office. — The Wairarapa Jktercnry says : — one of the curious items in the Civil list is that Mr. T. E. Young, iD the Native Secretary's Office, Wellington, receives £12 annually for occupying the post of "Gleaner of Native Intelligence from Newspapers." What is the process ? What are the fruits ? What are the papers selected ? What.becomes of the gleaning ? How much is chaff, and how much corn ? The Hobart town Mercury notices the arrival of the brig Sarah, from Greymouth. She brought, with her as ballast 50 tons of the Grey Kiver coal, the first imported from New Zealand to Hobart Town. At Campbell's Creek, Victoria, tbe4lb. loaf is being sold for fourpence. "On Feiday last" (says the local journal), .*"' a Chinaman went down an old shaft on Donkey Hill, Campbell's ■ Creek, Victoria, and, on exploring one of the drives, discovered_the remains of another Chinaman, completely dried up and in a perfect state of preservation. John was so frigtenedby his discovery that he lay in bed till Sunday, when he gave information at Mr. Waterworth's store. The police were tben sent for, and on 'their arrival they brought the body to the surface. An inquest was held when a verdict of died of starvation was returned, but a rider was added. ' That the body being such a curiosity the coroner be, requested to ask the authorities if they would have it forwarded to Professor M 'Coy for the advancement of . science.' A was. of extermination has been waged -^against the rabbits at Geelong. The returns from one station in the district show that the total number killed during the quarter ending 31st December, 1869;, was 102,816^ the attendant expenses being £501, " . '. ;. A Commercial Traveller once left a shirt at an inn, and wrote to the chambermaid to forward it, itO; him by coach, which •■- • produced the following : — I hope, dear: sir, you'll not feel hurt ; : " - '" Pil frankly tell you all about it ; Tvemadea shift with your old shirt, And you must make a shift without it.

:" What was. the value of the boots stolen by the prisoner ?" " Twelve and sixpence, your worship." " Six months' imprisonment, with hard labor." And so the unfortunate, hungry wretch was carried off to durance vile. "What is the total amount of the insolvent's liabilities?" asks the placid commissioner, "Only £1,500," responds the official assignee. " Any creditors oppose the certificate?" " No, your honor," again replies the official, with a satisfied smile. "The assets merely covered the Court charges, and the creditors reside at Elysium Flat , the distance is too great for them to appear in . opposition." " Certificate granted," remarks the commissioner. " Thank your honor," drawls the newly whitewashed, and saunters to the nearest hotel, where, over half-a-dozen of sparkling No. 2, he imparts to one or two of his boon companions his projects for restarting business on a more extensive scale than hitherto. " And thus," observes the Ararat Advertiser, from which we hare quoted the foregoing, " tbe world goes on. Petty larceny committed, let us charitably supposej to save a family from starvation, is met with the Btern frown, of offended justice, and a bitter expiation must be made j while gigantic robberies, made in the broad light of day, are taken under the law's protecting wing." An opened letter at the dead letter office read as follows-—" Seven years is raether lor.g to kort a gal ; but iie hav you yet. Kate." The last Aurora Borealis story is related by a correspendent of a New Haven paper, who looked at the telegraph wires, and saw "sparks of electricity hop along them like infinitesimally small illuminated toads." A Young lady explained to her inamorato the distinction between printing and publishing, and at the conclusion of her remarks, by way of illustration, she said, " You may print a kiss upon my cheek, but you must not publish it."