The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 51, 28 February 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1874.

Good Templabism — -Mr Macktine will deliver his second lecture on ibis subject at the Temperance Hall tonight. Early Closing. — A meeting of drapers' assistants was held lußt night for the purpose of initiating an early closing movement in Nelson. It was proposed to make Wednesday afternoon a holiday, and to close at 9 p.m. on Saturdays. There should be little difficulty in obtaining the latter concession. Entertainment. — A miscellaneous entertainment is to be given at the Stoke Public Hall on Wednesday evening next. It was originally advertised for Tuesday, but as one of those who are to take part in it would be unable to attend on that evening, an alteration has been made in the date. These entertainments are invariably well and carefully got up, and it is hoped that this one will be as largely patronised as its predecessors have been. A good story is told, on undoubted authority, as showing the intense anxiety of the Agent-General to encourage the establishment of new iodustries in this Colony, and to provide a supply of skilled labor. Amongst the pereons who apptied to him some time ago as being desirous of emigrating were three men who described themselves ne tooth-brush manufacturers. They inquired whether there was likely to be any opening for, a toothbrush manufactory here, and were informed that a most brilliant prospect lay before them. The atmosphere of New Zealand was staled to be highly detrimental to the due preservation of dental apprndages, and it was only by the most vigorous use of toothbrushes that people could possibly avoid availing themselves of a dentist's services constantly until .they had not a stump left to operate on. The consumption." of toothbrushes was therefore stated to be enormous, and by no means confined to the white inhabitants, as it was asserted that the Maoris were very proud of the whiteness of their, teeth, and had to use tooth brushes incessantly in order to obviate the ill-effects of civilised diet. A manufactory of tooth brushes was therefore likely to prove an immense success, especially ns the imported article was subject to a heavy protective duty. Fascinated by the brilliant prospects thus opened to them, the men came out, and are now doing pick and shovel work on the Hutt Railway, while we still have to depend on English manufacturers for a supply of tooth brushes.— -Post. A Mr TreiJgrouse has left at the office of the 'Sydney Herald* a pictorial lithograph of what he denominates his pioneer narrow railway, the gunge being only 1 foot 6 inches; and even a narrower guage may be adopted. The rails are laid upon a. timber platform, the underneath props of which can be made long or short to suit the undulations :of- the ground.. )By thus lifting the permanent way above the surface, it is claimed that the cost of fencing, of levelling, and. culverts is avoided. To .; check the oscillation of the carriages, there are safety wheels on either side, which press underneath the platform whenever there is a tendency to lift. Mr Trengrouse estimates that a line of this description will be sufficient for the traffic of branch and secondary lines, and he is about to submit to the Minister of Works some definite proposal.