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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 232, 26 September 1873, Page 2

The Legislative Council has, by a majority of 15 to 8, decided that a man h not to marry his deceased wife's sister, notwithstanding the evidence in favor of such an arrangement given by the Hon. Wi Tako, who in the course of the debate rose and informed his fellow honorables that he could from experienco speak of the advantages derivable from marriage with a deceased wife's sister, as he had himself contracted such a marriage, and with the happiest resulta, especially in regard to the children of the first marriage. At a recent election of members ot the Lyttelton Borough Council, some lively speeches were made, the following for instance: — Mr W. Webb next spoke. He said if be spoke the mind of his family, he could only say he was glad he was defeated. (Loud laughter.) Ha had been connected with politics for many years, and they nil knew how he came to this degraded colony — (Roars of laughter) — Some present might not know of the year 1830. . He could only say he felt proud that twenty-four good men and true had been found to vote for him, and .fight the battle of their country (loud laughs), but he must say he thought the town was degenerating, as at the last election be polled 71; but he intended going in for every election of councillors. (Laughter.) Hewould now leave off. (Cries of "no, no.") Yes, he would, and put all sycophants under bis feet, (Loud cheering.) Their laughter and grinning would not; alter his Republican principles— (immense cheering; during which the speaker resumed his seat.) An. instance of liberality oa the part of one of the banking institutions has been brought under the notice of the Gipps Land, Times : — " A week or two ago a young lady residing near Sale had two £snotes, part of the proceeds of the sale of some property, forwarded to her in envelope, which upon receiving she placed in her purse. Afterwards, while in conversation with another lady, she withdrew the envelope to take out the notes, and cast, as she thought, the former into the fire, while actually it was the money that had been committed to the flames. Some of her friends to whom she related her loss at once placed themselves in communication with the held manager of the bank in Melbourne, who replied that he thought, even though the numbers were not known, that if the lady made a declaration that the notes were on the bank, and lost in the manner described, the directors would be inclined to favorably entertain the application for the payment of others instead. 'I he necessary declarations were accordingly made, with the gratifying result that the loss was made good, £10 having been sent to the young lady a few days since." A fancy goods dealer from another colony lately made some purchases from a wholesale house in Melbourne. He was of Scottish origin, and had occasionally been unable to meet his engagements in the city from whence he hailed. But being of confidence-inspiring exterior, his newly made Melbourne friends did not ask for any references. Having selected a large parcel of goods, and as he was about leaving by steamer, it was suggested that he might as well at once accept the bills which were to represent payment, and this little formality was concluded. " Surely," said he, " you are going to give me some thing for my wife." " Oh, with pleasure," said the salesman. " Present her with this elegant jet brooch, and (observing a look of disappointment on the new customer's countenance) let me add a pair of earrings en suite. 1 ' " Well," said the customer, " that isn't very much." " And perhaps," added the other, " she would accept this ruby ring?" " That's not so bad., But indeed, Mr , after the large order I gave you I really thonght " ." Come, come," interrupted the now irritated trader, " if your are dissatisfied, suppose we cancel the entire transaction, and that I return you your bill?" ."Na, na, mon; I'll take the ring and the bits of things, but keep the bill — keep the bill." A premature collapse of so promising a commencement of business was the very last thing he wanted. — Australasian. South Australia is making great efforts to direct a stream of immigration to its shores. A sum of £250,000 has been placed on its Estimates for assisted immigration, aud the Government is also going to ask the Assembly to vote £10,000 towards free passages to immigrants. The latter proposal, however, is likely to encounter great opposition, as a previous experiment in that colony of defraying the whole cost of the .passages of immigrants did not turn out satisfactorily. Iv connection with ibis scheme the Government have decided to appoint two lecturers, whose duty it will be to travel through Great Britain^ and make known the capabilities of the colony. South Australia,

A late Dublin paper says an electrical apparatus, to be placed in the holds of ships for the purpose of giving warniug in the case of leakage, has been dvvised by M. Sortais. On the entrance of water a current is established, and a communication is thus set in operation, which gives notice to the officers on deck. The complaints made by immigrants regarding their treatment on board ship are notoriously great. The American Government has hit on an ingenious method of finding out whether these complaints are well founded or not. With this object a number of Treasury clerks have been sent to Europe with instructions to come back in the steerages of the various linps, to make a personal examination of the food, accommodation, and treatment of the passengers, and report upon them, so as to give the authorities a basis for action. The plan is a very good one, provided the 'amateurs ' are not found out, and are thus exceptionally well treated, bo as to influence their reports. Perhaps our Government might take the hint. — Post. The " Loafer in the Street " who occasionally gossips in the Canterbury Press Bays : — I was talking over Press Telegrams with some friends the other day and, between ourselves, they did'nt seem to think much of them. It^may interest his private friends to know that the Melbourne Town Clerk has married a young iady with a fortune of £10,000, but it don't interest the public. Similarly with men breaking their arms in flux machines; infanticide being on the increase; the color of rosettes worn by Orangemen at a picnic; the Governor and La*!y being at a concert. One does not get the amount of thrillment out of such items — as one could wish. If the telegrapuic agents are supposed to make up a daily pile of bricks in some shape or form, why of course its all right, but if they "wired in" more for quality, and " wired " a little less in quantity, it would pethaps take better with an appreciative public. The Times of July 9 } gives the following account of the baptism of a ship : — " A few days since a singular medieeval ceremony was revived by the christening of a newly-launched vessel in the neighborhood of Greenwich. The vessel, which has been lately built in England to the order of the Government of ( hili, is named the Tolden. The ceremony was performed by the Rev Mr O'Halloran, one of the priests attached to the Church of St. Mary, at Greenwich, and a Mr Ayes, and a young lady of Chilian parentage stood as sponsors for the ship. A party of about forty ladies and gentlemen, mostly Roman Catholics, were present on the occasion. Instead of breaking a bottle of wine against the bows of the vessel, as is the usual custom with us, Mr O'Halloran went round the upper and main decks, preceded by a body of acolytes and choristers, who sang the Benedictus, while the priests sprinkled the timbers cf the good ship with holy water, in the name of the holy and undivided Trinity, and the "baptism" was complete. A luncheon on board followed as a matter of course. It is supposed that this is the first instance of the public baptism of a vessel among us since the Reformation, or at all events, since the Revolution of 1688, though the baptism of church bells has been occasionally revived of late years." The Rangoon Times states that authentic intelligence has been received of the entire overthrow of the Panthays at Talifoo, about four and a-half months ago. The Chinese, it is stated, acted with reckless cruelty and severity, and put the whole population, estimated at 30,000 souls, to death, sparing only those who consented, under the influence of fear, to renounce the Mahomedan faith King Soliman, we believe, avoided the ignominious death in store for him by taking poison. Chinese officers have arrived at Mandalay with letters from the new Governor of Talifoo, announcing that the trade routes are now open, and, no doubt, the long pent-up trade between Bhamo and China will now find an outlet. The Panthays have been fighting with desperate bravery and determination against overwhelming odds. There has long ceased to be any prospect of their being able to make any real head against the Chinese, and there is no doubt that until either one side or the other was completely vanquished it was hopeless to look for the pacification of the country or the renewal of trade. The world in general will therefore benefit by the re-establishment of the Chinese authority, bat we must all feel deep sympathy for the brave men who have thuß died fighting for their faith and their homes, and especially for the son of King Soliman, who is still resident amongst ue, and who is the only survivor, it ia believed of his family; he has lost everything and everyone belonging to him at Talifoo. Momein appears still to be in the hands of Tah-sa-kon, but its fall is a mere matter of days.