The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 273, 18 November 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1871.

Services at Christ -Church. — We understand that his Lordship thejßishop of Nelson intends delivering a course of three sermons, at Christ Church on the three next Sunday evenings, on the Christology of St. Paul. Subject for to-morrow: — "St. Paul's testimony to Jesus of Nazarelh. The Wizard Oil Pkince has, on his first appearance iv Nelson, established a reputation for being able to keep a large audience amused for over two hours while talking about himself and his wares for the whole time. - His next appearance will be on Monday, on which day we shall give a more extended notice of his powers of " Speaking a piece." A Public Meeting of the Catholics op Takaka was held at the church of the district, on Tuesday last, for the purpose of electing a committee of management The Rev. F. Bunsfield who was unjrnimously voted to the chair, briefly explained the object of the meeting, and congratulated the congregation upon the very handsome little church they had erected, and suggested the. use of the ballot for the election- of the new committee, which was unanimously agreed to, the result proving: in favor of Messrs. Wiudle, ■ P. Byrne, J. Reilly, Sparrow, and Walker. The balance-sheet having been produced by the Secretary, Mr. J. Reilly., showed an expenditure of £216, and receipts to the same amount, making the church to be out of debt. A vote of thanks to the rev. chairman terminated the meeting. A Manufactory for Sugar Barrels Irs been started at Auckland and 720 bar-* rel3 were shipped for Honolulu by the last San Francisco mail boat. The annual demand for sugar barrels in Honolulu is 100,000. Hitherto this want has been supplied from Boston. Canterbury Agricultural Show. — The amount of money taken at the gates on Thursday (£337), was £3Q in excess of last year, which in its turn was £50 in excess of the amount laken at the 1869 show. The exhibits were 583, aa compared with 505 last year*and ; 397in 1869. These facts are very gratifying proofs of the steady progress made by the Association, both in exhibits and public patronage. A Freak of Naturtc. — Amongst- the various " unco's " to which our attention Has been, directed, one of of the most singular was brought to our office on Monday, in the form of a duckling having four legs, the head, wings, and body being formed as usual. What renders the • circumstance more remarkable is that the eggs were placed under a hen which; last year hatched a chicken with four legs. When the feathered tribe become quadrupeds, who shall say that pigs will never fly ? — Marlborough Express. A Fatal Accident occurred at the Inangahua on Wednesday last, resulting in the death of a miner named James Hedge. The deceased, it appears, was bending down, and engaged in tying his bootlace, while another miner was felling a sapling. The latter in its fall struck the deceased on the back of his head, which came in violent contact with a stump immediately in front of, him. * The concussion dashed the unfortunate man's brains out. , , , ; . From a Wellington- , Contemporary ; we learn that Messrs.. ipreville and Co. have just developed a new use of electricity, so far, «t least, as that town iff . concerned. It is, of course, important (says our contemporary) for- them,- that .tHfey .should receive their messages \fith as little delay as possible, yet it often happens that a message remains in the Telegraph Office 'half-an-hour or mpre after receipt, • owing to there being no messenger available to deliver it. To obviate this delay, Meßsrs. Greville and Co. have had: a* whY carried into.;'; their * office, and .'ah electric. Jbell ;attache3 to : itj so that the 'receiving clerk 7 in.; the Telegraph pffi'ce isj a^le to give immediate -intimation ofohe;!Sn||^hqf,?any ■meetfage for ! Grevilla and<'Cd:,rwho^'thea

to the bell is an ingenious apparatus which registers the fact of the bell having been sourided, so that if no one hears the bell, a glance at the index shows that a message is waiting. The whole apparatus has been fitted up by Mr. Smith, the mechanician of the Telegraph Department, and is at once simple, economical, and effective. .Yankee- Grab.— ln a r recent case (Furguson v. M'Cormick) iv' the Supreme Court in Auckland, before Sir G. A. Arney, a definition of the term "Yankee Grab " was given, which caused some amusement. The following is an extract from ihe report ':■ — The plaintiff, in cross-examination, said that himself, defendant, .and another man .were original holders of the ground called the " Clyde," for which each one got thirty-three shares in the Alburnia Gold Mining Company. In answer to what was to be done with the 100 th share, the plaintiff said that i they were to have "Yankee Grab '" for it. His Honor : "Yankee' Grab !" (laughter). What is that? Mr. Hesketh : I do not I know, your Honor, I believe it is shaking something in the hat. (Loud laughter.) Practically he knew nothing whatever of " Yankee Grab,'' but he had- been informed upou : reliable authority that it was a speculative pastime, invented to arrive at a result — as, for instance, where two persons were in doubt as to which of them should pay for a botile of wine,or the like-,; or, as in the matter before the court, to determine who should become the owner of the odd share.. Some persons had opined that, that method of deciding things had not a moral tendency ; but he (Mr. Hesketh) could uot say of his own knowledge. Mr. Eees stated, in respect of his belief, but not of his experience, that the ganie referred to would be known in years as "rattling the bones." It was an appeal to decide certain issues by ascertaining the aggregate number of spots upon dice thrown in triplicate in an , agreed-upon succession of throws or casts; His Honor •bowed his acknowledgement for the information, and resumed taking notes. A Full Report , of the proceedings at the Scott ibauquet at ; .Edinburgh, on August 9, was published in , the first evening editions .of the .American newspapers, the difference in tlie time between Edinburgh and New York being five hours. The American reporter sent seven messages, describing, besides the banquet, the loan exhibition, the procession, and sights arid' scenesin the Edinburgh streets, all of which, by the American newspaper system, were published in New York, New Orleans, Havaua, Montreal, San Francisco, and , all over, the western world, in 230 papers. Presentation to tjie Pjrincess Lou-ise.—-On the occasion, of the presentation to the Princess Louise on behalf of the ,clan Campbell- of a 1 pearl and diamond necklace 'of ihe value; of £14,000 Her Eoyal Highness replied as-follows: — ''The beautiful jewel you have-given me in behalf of so many who bear my husband's family name is a very precious remembrance to rue of the interest you take in our happiness.. There are, numbers who have taken part in this great, act of kindness whom I regret to. be unable personally to thank. It is indeed 'pleasant to find how you, and the few who first thought of making the present, have been supported in your inteDtion by others, many of whom lived far away; from the old home of their family.. I ask all equally to accept my heartfelt gratitude. It is no new thing for one of my house to hear words, of loyalty from members of the Campbell clan, and in , aeceptiug this i new proof of their esteem, I, thank them sincerely for it, and will "treasure it as a token of their regard." .