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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 144, 18 June 1872, Page 4

It was reported a few days ago that coals were so scarce in Adelaide that, if cargoes did not soon arrive, it would be impossible to light the city with gas. The Overland Telegraph. — News via G-alle has been received at Adelaide from Mr. Todd, at Port Darwin, dated May 20. The submarine cable was working well. Id five weeks he expected to have the gap in the overland line reduced to 150 miles, and the distance could then he covered by horse express in two days. A strong force was concentrated on the work, and all was going well. A San Francisco paper refers as follows to the arrangements for the approaching Boston "Jubilee": — "A caunon weighing 72,0001 b. is to be the tenor accompaniment at Gilmore's Boston Jubilee. The jubilee is to last 18 days. The season tickets are limited to 5000, and are 50dol. each. The ticket is transferable, and entitles the holder to the same seat throughout the whole disturbance. A Farmer who shipped a cargo of oats this season to Melbourne supplies the Bruce Herald with the account sales, which show that he realised 2s. l|d. per bushel despite the enormous charges incurred. Two. thousand bags were shipped: and the expenses amounted to £513. The items include freight, £159; duty, £192; wharfage dues, £44. Colonel Burns. — The Scotsman announces the death, at Cheltenham, of Colonel William Nicol Burns, the last, surviving son of Robert Burns. Colonel Burns was in his eighty-second year, and, like his younger brother James, who died in November, 1865, was an officer in the East India Company's service, from which he retired nearly thirty years ago. Colonel Burns was buried on Wednesday in the Mausoleum at Dumfries, beside his father, his mother (Jean Armour), and his two brothers. The Daily limes says : — We understand that the Preservation Inlet Coal Company are determined to at once develope the rich coal deposits known to exist at the Inlet. A sum of money has been subscribed for that purpose ; and we see by advertisement that a vessel is called for to proceed thither with men and tools. We hear that the coal is in all respects equal to that obtained at Newcastle, so that we trust that before long the importation of this valuable and necessary commodity will not be required. I Observed lately some notice of the death of Wyndbam Smith, son of the witty canon of St. Paul's. There is a story of him which I have never seen published. He was a monomaniac about racehorses, and could talk of nothing else. Seated at his father's dinner-table beside the Bishop of London, he ransacked his brains for a length of time for some Biblical topic upon which he might con verse With his Episcopal neighbor. After prolonged silence he at length startled everybody with, /'My lord — have you ever formed any opinion as to the kind of training Nebuchadnezzar went into after he came up from grass ? " — JEgles. The following preliminary prospectus of the new steamship company, to run vessels between England and Australia, via the Cape, has been printed and circulated privately. A copy of it has been furnished to the Sydney Morning Herald as follows : — " The London and Australian Steam Navigation Company (limited). — Incorporated under The Companies Act, 1862 and 1867.— Capital, £1,000,000, in 20,000 shares of £50 each (with power to increase), of which £200,000 is reserved for the colonieß. £5 per share to be paid ou application, and £5 on allotment. Future calls, as required, will be made at intervals of not less than three months, and not to exceed £10 per share. Interest at the rate of £5 per cent, per annum will be allowed on prepayment of calls." A Crowing Dog. — A natural curiosity exists at Decatur, Illinois, in the shape of a dog that never barked in his life, but, instead of indulging in the vocal exercise common to the canine family, each morning imitates the crowing of a rooster. His owner accounts for this strange peculiarity by stating that the dog was born and bred in the country, and from his earliest puppyhood was separated, from all other curs, enjoying only the companionship of barnyard fowls. Hearing no other sounds so frequently as the crowing of the cocks, and doubtless never knowing that his species enjoyed the sole ownership of another and different sort of music, he began to imitate the matutinal exercises of his feathered companions, in which he has at last acquired a proficiency which surprises and charms every one who has had the felicity of listening to his performances. — Wilked Spirit of the Times. It is very seldom that an officer of the Imperial army deserts, but a case of this kind has recently occurred, as will be seen from the following extract from the Police Gazette. It is extraordinary; that a man > who rose by merit, we presume, from th

position of a carpenter and private to that of a captain and paymaster, in the Royal Engineers, should wind up his career in such a way : — " Deserted on the 9r.h Feb., from the 16th company. Royal Engineers, at Southampton, embezz'iug a considerable sum of public money, CaptJiin and P*)master George Pringle. Description : — Aged fifty years, sfc. Bin. high, florid complexion, brown to grey hair, prominent blue eyes, stout build, aud soldierly appearance. Born at Lothian, near Edinburgh ; and enlisted in the Royal Engineers, at Glasgow, llth June, 1839, as a carpenter. £100 reward will be paid by her Majesty's Government to any person or persons who shall give such information as shall lead to his arrest." Politics in Victoria. — A correspondent of the Australasian writes : — I do not think that there was ever less real depth of public interest in politics than just now. Most people are weary of the personalities and quarrels of Parliament. If they care for Duffy less, I cannot observe that they love Francis more. There is no enthusiasm for the Ministers expectant, whilst for the late tenacious holders of office much of the warmth displayed is feigned. Nine out of ten men in Collins-street say, "It really doesu'i much matter which side is in, one section of the House is just as gooJ (or as bad) as the other, there isn't a p>n to choose " A few say, let us have the devil we know rather 1 than the devil we don't know, whilst, on the other side, it is urged, any change must be for the better, for tluadministration of public fiffuirs couMu'i be worse than of late. " Why," said some of the public, "should -there not be a general election ? " For a general election means the exaltation of local politics and the distribution of free drinks. It elevates the village politician to the chairmanship of an election committee, and there is money knocking about. With good luck, the prominent local wirepuller (if on the winning side) has a fair show for the magistrate's hench and patronage galore. In the regular way, there are returning officers, deputies, poll clerks, scrutineers, canvassers, bill-stickers, publicans, aud others, to whom the exercive of the franchise means the obtaining of a little loose cash. So up go the caps and the shouts for a dissolution ! |