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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 214, 10 September 1870, Page 2

The reports of the mining surveyors and registrars of Victoria for the quarter ended June 30, 1870, have been issned from the Government printing office. The total quantities of gold obtained respectively from alluvial and quartz reefs for the quarter was 308,8720zs 15dwts, and the quantity exported 309,4150zs lldwts, fully one million sterling in value for the quarter. The number of miners at work is set down at 60,267. It may seem a little remarkable that, in these days, the greatest part of the whitewashing is done with ink.

For remainder of News see Fourth page,

The Value of Time.— Wellington did not hesitate to put his maxims with regard to the value of time into practice under the most trying circumstances. It may be easy enough to cut short a tedious narrator belonging to a rank beneath one's self; with persons of rank and consequences, however, it is somewhat different. An anecdote is related in connection with this subject, illustrative of the Duke's inflexibility upon the point. When Master-General of the Ordnance, wishing to select an officer of the Eoyal Corps bf Engineers to fill a post where considerable scientific acquirements were necessary, he applied to Dr. Hutton, requesting him, if ■ he had a pupil eligible to the situation, to send him with testimonials of his abilities. The Doctor felt that he could do no lessthan call upon his grace, and accordingly appointed an interview with him. Afc the entrance of the Duke, the latter, addressing the Doctor, said concisely, "I am obliged to you, Doctor, for the trouble you have taken. Is fit for ?" The Doctor cisared his throat and commenced a carefully prepared speech with, "No man more so, my lord. I can " " That is quite sufficient, Doctor," taking np his hat; "I know how valuable your time is ; mine just now is equally so. I will, therefore, not detain you longer. Good morning." The Duke's reply to Chantroy, the eminent sculptor, while modelling for him the Royal Exchange statue, is afc once characteristic nnd droll. Chan trey had detained his grace for nearly two hours in his atelier, and the latter began to grow a little impatient. Still the sculptor showed very few signs of being done with his subject, and went on discoursing about the relative merits of the rampant, the passant, ancl the re slant attitudes of horses iv statuary. He had resolved to place the Duke upon a steed in a quiescent posUion, and endeavoured to draw the hero into an admission that the position v,*as preferable to all others. After enduring this for some time, Wellington said dryly, "Well, Mr. Chautrey, the quiescent position may do very well for horses, especially stone ones ; but, to speak my mind, I don't find the attitude agreeable. I like to be moving? His horror of losing time was shown by his pithy, concise style of correspondence. Perhaps no writer ever comprehended so much matter in so few words as his grace. He was very much pestered by the uninvited correspondence of busy persons, and but too frequently became the dupe of imposters. Many persons presumed upon his known punctuality and business habits, to annoy him with the presentation of petitions. To one of these clients he rpplied as follows : — " The Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. . The Duke returns thanks for Mr 's good wishes. The Duke begs leave to decline to present to the House of Lords petitions from individuals whom, or from communities of which, he has no knowledge. The Duke begs leave to return the petition." The Duke used to say, apropos of early rising, "Wheu a man catches himself turning in bed, ifc is time to turn out." He used to bo up frequently before his~ servants, would light a small fire in his chamber, shave and dress himself; so that ifc can scarcely be held true of him that he was no hero in tho eye 3of his valet, At all events, the Duke was a well-dressed geutleman by the time, his personal attendant was admitted to his chamber. Ho always read aud wrote before breakfast. The first meal of tbe day was always simple, and soon dispatched. His time"" after breakfast was disposed of variously at different seasons, iv the towD, and in the country at Sirnthfieldsaye, and nt Walmer ; it w r ns likewise, on the average, distributed with nice adjustment to the respective claims of health, recreation, friendship, and public duly ; yet, in general, on any one day, ifc was laid out ia a marvellous number of*successive ways, and largely spent in hard work. He. was as much a working man as any one in the kingdom, and did all his work without noise and bustle. What is the best key *for a Christmas box ? A tur-key.. Wouldn't you know this youth" to be my son ? " " Oh, yes, the maker's name is stamped on the blade."