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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 10, 12 January 1871, Page 4

Dr. Featherston and Mb. Vogel. — It is an undoubted fact, says the Evening Post, that there was a Cabinet Council held on Sunday last, at which all the members of the Ministry, with the exception

0 of Mr. Bell, was prespnt, lasting the greater part of the day ; rumour, with her hundred tongues, said further, that "in that strange Council, words waxed warm and high." The subject under discussion (according to rumor), was Mr. Voxel's journey to England, Dr. Feathers ton stoutly opposing the proposed pleasure trip of the Colonial Treasurer, bui finding that too far gone a matter' to be altered, suggested some restraints and curbs to keep his lively colleague out of mischief. However, ho found himself alone in his opposition. Irritated at last by tin's opositiou Mr. Vogel began to bluster, and expressed an opinion I lint as the Doctor could no longer think or work in harmony with his colleagues, he had better resign his seat on the Cabinet. On thi3 (according still to rumor) the Doctor requested a few minutes conversation in private with Mr. Vogel, which beiug accorded, they retired together. After a short interval they returned, but meanwhile a change had come over the haughty Vogel, and what a change ! He no longer bullied the Doctor and asked him to resign, but quietly agreed to the restrictions on his bahaviour proposed. What was the influence brought to bear on the Treasurer ? It is to be hoped that Dr. Featherston will bequeath tho* secret to somo trusty friend before he^'takes his final departure. The Auuora Australis. — In an article on tlie late eruption of Tongariro, which appears in Nature for October 15th. Dr. Hector remarks a notable circumstance that on the sth April last, when electrical disturbances were so marked in Europe, and brilliant displays of Aurora Borealis were generally observed, the corresponding phenomona of Aurora Australis were extremely well marked in the southern hemisphere, and atteuded also by electrical disturbances of unusual character. It may interest our readers to learn that the brilliant auroral display on the evening of the 24th October, also coincident with one of the grandest auroras which has over been observed in England, and the following extract from Nature of October 27th relates, that it was also mistaken for a conflagration : — " Magnificent displays of Aurora Borealis have been witnessed in London on two nights of the present week — Monday, the 24th and Tuesday, the 25th October. It will be interesting to hear from distant subscribers, the extent of the area over which the phenomenon was visible. Apropos of oup of these displays, a correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette thus states the view taken of it by the inhabitants of a little village through whieh he passed. They were all standing outside their houses gazing at the heavens. ' There is France for you,' said one of them to me as I approached him. . I requested au explanation, and found that uot only he but all his neighbors attributed the blood red light in the sky to the burning of Paris. ' Gad, how it blazes,' I heard a man remark. They're a gettin' it bunder now,' said another, aud so ou through ail the village. At a garden gate of nearly the last, house I observed a respectable-looking man with a telescope with which he was rolling the sky. 'It is rum,' he said to me, 'and very sublime; but the asses, I can't make em' believe it is only the Southern Cross.' I rather think he was the schoolmaster of the parish." A Strange Requisition. — The following uoval requisition has been addressed to John Monro, Esq., M.H.R., by the electors of Marsden, Province of Auckland : — Sir, — We need not inform you that, after a careful and impartial review of your past political career, we can see no reason why we should place any confidence in your personal integrity (politically considered); and it would be a mere mockery of your established public character to speak ia favorable terms in reference to your intellectual qualifications. Though your actions are sometimes closely imitative of the dictates of disinterestedness, yet long experience has*, taught us to be always suspicious of your motives when you perform a ' good turn,' and as your habitual and harmless opposition to the comphrehensive, pacific, and progressive policy of the present Colonial Ministry, clearly indicates to everyone but yourself that you have now arrived at that wayward and vacant period of political dotage which cannot discern the attributes which distinguish the men of genius, it is surely not to be expected that we, or any others concerned, should have any confidence in your legislative talents. - Thereforff^we, the undersigned, electors County of MarsdeD, beg to request that you will not allow yourself 'to be put in nomination at the forthcoming election to represent us in the next Parliament of New Zealand,' and should you still persist in your intended attempt to force your way into Parliament as our representative, we hereby pledge ourselves to exert all iegitinjate means to secure your defeat. Here follow about 20 signatures.

A valuable discovery of hidden treasure was made recently iu a village not many miles from Be.'chworth (says tho Ovens and Murray Advertiser), Some short time since the wife of an hotel-kpepcr died rather suddenly j and while the servants were employed cleaning the house after the fuieral, tbey came upon a deposit receipt for £1,070 on one of the local banks, besides a considerable sum iu money, stowed away ou top of the curtains of one of the beds. Not to be Caught. — There was, many years ago, a Lazy Man's Society organised iu Manchester. One of the articles required that no man belonging to the society should ever bein a hurry. Should he violate this article, he must staud treat to the other members. Now, it happened on a time that the doclor was driving posthaste through the streets to visit a patient. The membeis of the society saw him, and chuckled over the idea ofa treat ; and on his return reminded him of his fast driving, and violation of the rules. "Not at all," said the doctor, "the truth is my horse was determined to go, and I felt too lazy to stop him." Tliey did not catch him that time.