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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 97, 23 April 1872, Page 2

Harmonic Society's Concert. —We are requested to correct an error which appeared in this morning's Colonist, wherein it is stated that the concert will take place on Friday next. It will be held, as usual, on Thursday evening. Besidbnt Magistrate's Court. — Thomas Fern was this morning charged with being found last night, without lawful excuse, in the dwelling house of Mrs. Front. It was stated that prisoner had broken a window (o effect an entrance, and that having succeeded in doing this, he had frightened Mrs. Frost out of the house when he coolly turned into her bed where he was found by the police. Prisoner, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labor, and left the Court in custody vowing that he would come back next time for something. A Reform in boat travelling is about to be introduced by the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company. Instead of charging sea sick travellers for raeais, the very sight of which they loathe, the company intend in the future to exact payment only for those actuallly consumed on board their vessels. —Auckland Herald. The Convict Cyrus Haley. —After passing sentence of penal servitude for life upon Cyrus Haley, for shooting with intent to kill, the Chief Justice went on to say : " I understand that you are a man, in some respects, independent, and the evidence of the police is that you lived in a position of comfort. I order (hat you pay the cost and expenses attending this prosecution. The claims of the prosecution should be satisfied at all events before your property is misused; and if poor Mrs. Haley be deemed by Government a fit subject for consideration, I have no a doubt her necessities will be duly considered. Some of the Picton fishermen had a good haul lately. The fish they caught turned out to be the veritable mackerel — not the fish known as horse or New Zealand mackerel, but the genuine mackerel, such as can be seen in Billingsgate any time during the season. The fish were very large, weighing as much as seven or eight pounds each, and the quautity was large also. Whether the fish is rare in New Zealand or not, such a haul of large and heavy mackerel has never before been made in Picton, and it adds another argument to those who contend that fishing as a trade, followed as it should be, would pay well in New Zealand. At sunset yesterday there was a peculiar and picturesque phenomenon seen at sea, within a few miles of the outflow of the Grey. What seemed to be the smoke of a steamer gradually grew in dimensions and in appearance until it assumed the semblance of what it was —a waterspout. It — the phenomenon —travelled southward at a rapid rate, and, seen by the light of the setting sun, it was one of the most picturesque sights that have been presented to local observers for some time, (hough they have recently had experience of floods, fires, and whirl-winds. It approached so close to the shore that there was some expectation of it proving another calamity to Greymoutb, but it was exhausted as ifc got into shallow water, and a heavy shower by which it was succeeded drove the majority of spectators indoors. A similar sight was noticed by a few on Sunday evening/ and we observe by papers

from other places that similar phenomena ' have not been uucommon — a " splendid waterspout" having been seen off Wan^anui a few days ago. — Grey River Argus, April 16. " In New Zealand there are 112 Wesleyan Sunduy schools, 876 teachers, 6536 scholars. Plain Needlework and Knitting are undertaken at the Auckland G-aol by the female prisoners as a means of making the institution self-supporting. Tall Leaping. — Speaking of (he late Taranaki races, the Herald thus dilates on the performances of Dick Turpin : — " The leaping of the horse was excellent, clearing the fences (3 feet 6 inches high) by more than ten feet." A Wanganui exchange says : — We have heard a good deal about " what may happen in Victoria," but really the way they manage affairs in Fiji rivals all previous experience. In a Levuka paper of recent date we find the following : — "The Parliament House is bristling with arms, in fact is quite an armoury, the principal department for the deposit of weapons being the reading room. Not only is this department filled with a large number of weapons, but when we visited it one of the most prominent features was the gin bottle. But a gin bottle in Fiji to grace a reading room is only in keeping with the Supreme Court on Thursday last, when a bottle containing brandy was placed upon the counsel's table, and the contents quaffed alike by counsel and prisoner." (< One thousand tons of goods and no freight to carry away." Such, indeed, is absolutely the case now. in Timaru, arising simply from the ordinary trade at this season of th 3 year, and not from any abnormal circumstances. The carrying power of the coasting steamers is quite incompetent to keep pace with the accumulating stores of wool, grain, and preserved meat which are being poured into town at the rate of one hundred and fifty to two hundred tons daily. The steamers can barely manage the trade of their own agencies, so it cannot be wondered at if outside trade has to wait their pleasure. And so hard are they pressed by the exigencies of the present traffic, that a paltry order from Dunedin for some sjx tons of flour has remained unfulfilled for the last week or two, simply from want of freight room. — Timaru Herald. The Tichjborne Case. — The Australasian thus alludes to the collapse of this great case : — After the facts had been brought together and illustrated in the Attorney-General's monster speech of 26 days, few persons entertained any doubt as to the result. It seems that after the examination of a few witnesses for the defence, the jury interfered, and Sergeant Ballaotyne found it prudent to accept a nonsuit. The plaintiff was immediately arrested by order of the Chief Justice, and committed for perjury. It appears by the latest telegram that bail was refused, and we may expect to hear by the next mail that the worthy Mr. Ortou has been obliged, in lieu of a baronetcy and £25,000 a year, to accept the less profitable, but much more suitable position, of a workman upon Her Majesty's roads. So ends the most audacious imposture of modern times. Postal Telegraph Cards. — Ou and after the sth inst., Stamped Telegraph Message Cards similar to the description given in our December issue, will be sold to the public at the rate of Is. for each card, or in packets containing 20 cards at £1 per packet. The card is intended for use by persons who either can Dot, or do not, desire to send messages to the nearest telegraph office proper (that is to an office which has the means of transmission by wire), and who are content to deposit it where it will be carried for them, free of expense, to an office from which it can be sent by wire. If it be deposited in a pillar-box, wall-box, or ordinary postoffice letter box, it will be carried to a telegraph-office, that is to the office to which the letters posted in the box are carried, on the next ensuing clearance of the box in which it is deposited. The person who wishes to deposit one of these cards in sncK a box may ascertain from the table of collections on or over the box, how long his ine&sago will remain in the box before it is carried with the letters to the proper, office, The Is. stamp on the card covers the cost of transmission of a message of not more than 20 words, within the United Kingdom, the Scilly Islands and the Orkney and Shetland Islaudg, and the Isle of MaD, and al3o covers the free delivery of the same, by special foot messenger, within the limit of one mile of the terminal telegraph office, or within the limit of the town postal delivery of that office, in cases even where that limit exceeds one mile. Should the message have to be delivered beyond these limits the person to whom it is addressed will be charged with porterage at the usual rates, and if the sender directs

the message to be delivered by other than the usual means, the cost thereof will bo charged to the person to whom the message is addressed. Should the message be found to contain more than 20 words, a charge will be collected from the addressee for every additional five words. — Monthly Circular. A Tiger at Bat. — Not the least unpleasant part of a policeman's duty is to capture a burglar at bay, but a still more disagreeable task, according to the Pioneer, recently fell to the lot of a police-officer at Benares on the 18th ult. It seems that I on the morning of that day, Mr. M'MulHn, the officiating assistant superintendent of police at Benares, on going into the city i on duty, was told that some wild beast I during 1 the Dighfc had seriously wounded several people in the city, near the Manikaranka G-haut, and, further, that the animal was then sitting in a dark recess on the top of some steps. Going to the spot, Mr. M'Mullin saw plainly two eyes glaring in the darkness. Taking a musket from one of the police, he fired, when, with a dreadful roar, a huge tiger bounded from the recess, and rushed like a flash of lightning down the steps. Fortunately, Mr. M'Mullin had hit him in the forearm, and the tiger, missing his aim, fell into a hole. A policeman then fired at him, but missed. The same constable then attempted to prod the tiger with his bayonet ; but this fell off and the tiger 3 recovering himself, sprang on to the policeman, mauling him severely. A large crowd was now gathered round, and a scene of the utmost confusion ensued. The tiger bounded furiously about, wounding people on all sides. Files of policemen at this moment appeared on the scene. As they marched up with loaded muskets the hours of the tiger seemed to be numbered. Unfortunately, however, the police had forgotten the caps for their muskets, and had accordingly to beat an ignominious retreat. Seeing the state of affairs, Mr. M'Mullin rode off to cantonments to obtain assistance. He returned after the interval of about au hour with some officers, who brought both guns and caps. In the meantime other gentlemen had corae up and the tiger was brought to bay in a place enclosed with walls near the Raj Mandil. Some hair-breadth escapes took place, Mr. Thompson, the assistant magistrate, falling through the roof of a house in escaping from the infuriated beast. A well-directed volley from a number of guns at length killed the tiger, who had altogether wouuded 12 people, including one old woman, who is not expected to recover. No one can tell where the animal came from." Crushed to Death in a Clock. — The bellringer in the Cathedral of Wurlzburg has perished under very singular circumstances. The church possesses a splendid clock, with ponderous and complicated works, while a pendulum of proportionate length vibrates to aDd fro with a dull and monotonous thud. Recently

the cloak needed cleaning, and the ringer was deputed to superintend the work, *hough he ruefully endeavored to be exc use d from the task. It aeemed that he j never willingly approached the belfry from certain unpleasant associations. About twenty years ago he killed his predecessor in office, accusing him of carrying on a criminal intrigue with his wife. When brought to trial he escaped the gallows owing to a deficiency of legal proof. The patronage of one of the canons then procured him the appointment vacant by the death of his victim. Hence, it is said, arose his superstitious dread in connection with the belfry, which was supposed by many to be haunted by the ghost. of the murdered ringer. On the morning: when the clock was to be cleaned it suddenly stopped, and the bell-ringer was nowhere to be found. A workman from the town was sent for, and ascended the tower, when he was horrified to find the pendulum and lower works dripping with blood. Upon searching further, the body of the bellringer was found entangled in the works frightfully mangled and cruphed. One supposition is that he committed suicide by climbing up the pendulum and then pitching himself into the machiuery of the clock. • But the wonder-loving gossips of the place, with a thoroughly German propensity for the horrible, declare that tne guilty man, upon reaching the gloomy chamber wherein the works revolved, was horror-stricken by the apparition of his predecessor sitting astride the great balance-wheel of the clock, and had been then drawn into the works by a species of horrible fascination, similar to that which the rattlesnake is said to exercise over its prey. There sat the spectre, rubbing his gory hands in hideous glee as the victim was slowly drawn in among the cog-wheels and ratches of the machinery. An agonising yell, a crush of bones, and all was still ! Such, according to the 'Italic,' is the nearest legend of the belfry of Wurtzburg.

From America, we learn that paper manufactured from oat huska is one of the latest hbvelties. The Manufacture of Cloth-lined Envelopes has-been commenced 1 in South Australia, and a colonial manufacturer in Adelaide has just completed a large order for the Government. The lining of the paper, cutting, folding, and cementing, seem all turned t)ut iv as business-like a manner as if executed in the old country. The Duke of Edinburgh and the Colonies. — Commenting on the presence of Prince Alfred at the Verdon banquet, the London Daily Telegraph says : — "With peculiar appropriateness and grace the Duke of Edinburgh 'assisted' in more senses than one at the farewell banquet to Mr. Verdon, late the agentgeneral in England for the colony of Victoria. The heir apparent has done good service in confirming the bonds of affection and trust that attach us to our great colonies, but his younger brother has certainly, as he said himself, enjoyed the ' lion's share ' of the visits, which, we would fain believe, have fostered a warmer * and firmer friendship between the mother country and her dependencies. On occasions like that of Saturday, we see the tangible outcome of such demonstrations of interest as the Duke's cruise among our colonies. At the time, the voyage of the Galatea might seem to wear somewhat the aspect of a mere pleasure trip, but it bears precious fruit in the fact that such a gathering as that which bade farewell to Mr. Verdon would not have been complete without the presence of the Queen's son, who has done so much, not without personal risk and suffering, to combine in a common interest and purpose the scattered members of the great AngloSaxon family. In fact, all the circumstances of Saturday's assemblage bore strong testimony of the indissoluble character of the ties that unite us with the energetic and strong-willed children sprung from our loins." Australian Meats in England. — The largest pauper school in Lonpon is that of the South Metropolitian district, its inmates numbering no fewer than 1,277 children. SpeakiDg of the fare which the children get, a London paper describes it as "goed and plentiful. The superintendent has recently introduced Australian tinned meat in the shape of Irish stew. The palate of the Sutton youth is not so epicurean as 'hat of the inmates of the Marylebone workhouse. The Australian Irish stew is a great success, and on a single dinner of it there is a saving of £3 as compared with ordinary ration meat." The singular remark is added : — " Nor has the Australian meat at all increased the mortality, which is very low — not quite three-fourths of a child in the thousand." Another encouraging item for colonial meat preservers is the following : — A correspondent of a Newcastle journal says, " that in most of the large towns in the north of England the grocers are selling Australian beef and mutton in half-pounds, so as to suit the humbler classes who cannot afford to purchase whole tins. The consumption is said to be increasing so rapidly that there is great difficulty in keeping up the supply." Importation of Grouse to Victoria. — One of the greatest feats ever accomplished in acclimatising (says the Australasian) has just been performed by a young Norwegian, who has succeeded in bringing two couple of live grouse to Melbourne. This gentleman, whose name is Mr. Graff, previous to leaving his native conntry to join his brother in New Zealand, procured some grouse eggs, and set them under a hen, and was fortunate enough to obtain six young grouse. Of these one was: killed fighting, and Mr. Graff started from Hamburgh in the Eugenic, bound forj Hobarfc Town, with five young birds.; Alter a voyage of 158 days, he arrived in! port with two couples of birds, one having dieii soon after the commencement of the voyage. The unwonted sight of two; couple of live grouse in Hobart Town excited the greatest curiosity, and thej Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company,! •with commendable liberality, passed Mr.! GrafFand his interesting charge on his way to Melbourne free of charge. The birds! arrived in Melbourne by the Southern Cross; on the sth inst., and Mr. Graff intends; proceeding to Otago, where his brotherresides, by the first opportunity. The' grouse are in excellent condition, and: quite as well grown as birds of their age; would be on their native heather. Mr.! ; Graff was induced to undertake the ex-j periment at the request of his brother who! represents the mountanious parts of New; Zealand, as been extremely well fitted for! grouse* If these young birds succeed vnj 1 the mountains as well, as the pheasaDtsj 'have done in the lowlands, it is mot to , much to expect to see black game; sold id the Melbourne; markets ere many' year^ have passed over. Mr. Graff will have the warmest sympathies of every sportsman in Australia in his interesting experiment*' " : ' '•''•"'-•••siC 1 - - '

An electro magnet ha? been constructed for the Stevens' Institute of Technology,' New York, which is truly American in its diraep.sions and capabilities ; it weighs no less t than 1,600 lbs., and will lift fifty tons. The largest iron casting ever attempted has been successfully achieved at the Elswick Ordnance Works, NewcastJe-on-Tyne, under the direction of Sir William Armstrong and Captain Noble. It was a huge anvil block, weighing 125 tons, to be used with a double-action forge hammer, for performing the necessary forging for the 35 ton Armstrong gun. Beetroot Cultivation in CaliORNiA. — The first beetroot sugar manufactured iv California has been offered at the San Francisco Market, and has realised good prices. One company alone has 500 acres under cultivation, and produced nearly 1,000,000 lbs. weight last year. Several fresh sugar factories are projected and the new industry is expected speedily to assume great importance. A Fine Old Man. — Tho following description of " a fine old man," by Mark Twain, is worth reading: — "John Wagner, the oldest mau in Buffalo — one hundred and four years old— -recently ; -walked a mile and a half in two weeks. He is as cheerful and bright as any of tbese other old men that charge around so in the newspapers, and in every way as remarkable. Last November, he walked [ five blocks in a rainstorm, without any shelter but an umbrella ; awd cast his vote for Grant, remarking that he had voted for 47 Presidents, — which was a lie. His ' second crop ' of rich brown hair arrived from New York yesterday, and he has a set of uew teeth coming from Philadelphia. He is to be married next week to a girl 102 years old, who still takes in washing. They have been engaged for 80 years, but their parents persistently refused their consent until three days ago. John Wagner is two years older than the Rhode Island veteran, and yet has never ! tasted a drop of liquor in his life, — unless you count whisky."