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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 171, 1 August 1874, Page 2

An association called the Canterbury Sunday Observation League has been formed ia Chrislchurch, having for its object the promotion and maintenance of Sunday as a day of rest. A large and influential provisional committee has been appointed, and it is contemplated to establish branch societies in the various districts throughout th 3 province. It is an instruction to Dr Featheraton that the " Handbook of New Zealand " is not to be given away, Mr Yogel being of opinion that publications which do not coefc anything are rarely valued by recepiente. Ail public institutes and the Press are, however, to be supplied with copies ; six copies are to be placed on board each emigrant ship for the use of immigrants. The price to be charged is to be left to Dr Featherston, and it is suggested to him that travellers should be engaged io cell them throughout the Uoited Kingdon. A public soiree has been held in the Trades' Hall, Glasgow, for the purpose of presenting the Rev. John Guthrie, M.A., with a silver salver and £1000, in "recognition of his faithful services for thirty-three years as a minister of the Gospel,'* and a3 an author and temperance reformer. A late Argus says that Horatio has been backed for the Metropolitan at 1000 to 120. Kingsboroogh would have been backed for the A.J.C. Derby at 400 Jo 100, but the best offer was 300 to 100 The Melbourne Cup has been greatly neglected of late; the only ri»ht-out betting done being 500 to 40 against Goldsborough. Lapidisi was backed at 1000 to 40, and Driver was taken at the same price. Fughman was backed at 500 to 25. Posts, rails, or any other timber, especially jf cut or split from young treep, will last much longer if before soaked in water for a ftw days until water logged, and then thoroughly dried. The reason is this — the water penetrates the posts, and soaks out the albutnea and vegetable acid, which would otherwise start the decay, but when driven out of thß timber forms a scum on the top of the pond or pool in which the wood is soaking. Those ladies whose tales of "blighted affections " are poured into the sympathising ears of an English jury are far better off than their suffering sisters across the Atlantic, for the judges of the United States tribunals are apt to take a harsh and ungallant view of actions for breach of promise of marriage, which is anything but acceptable to those who believe in the io fallibility of women. The New York journals contain the acconnt of an action brought by Miss Amelia Diomerachlag against Mr Augustus Becker, for the sum of 200 dollars as compensation for his refusal to execute a formal promise to marry. The defendant, while admitting that he bad proposed to, and been accepted by, the lady, stated that after spending eight months on a visit to her mother, be had arrived at the conclusion that bis future mother-in-law's temper would be an insuperable barrier to their wedded happiness The following dialogue then passed between the judge and the defendant: — The judge — "Had your intended mother-in-law announced her resolute intention of residing with you after the marriage, of keeping house for you, and taking care of your money?" The defendant — "Yes, Mr Judge." The judge (sympathetically) " Proceed, young man." The defendant — "I was fond of Miss Amelia, but I broke off the engagement because of her mother." The judge — "Well, my young friend, would you rather pay 200 dollars to the plaintiff, or marry her and live with your mother-in-law?" The defendant (emphatically)—" Pay the two hundred dollars." The judge then proceeded to give judgment in the following terms:—" Permit me to give you a cordial shake of the hand. I was once placed in the same predicament as you, Mr Becker, and had I possessed your decision of character I should have been spared five and twenty years of infinite worry and vexation. I had the choice of paying 150 dollars or of marrying; being poor I accepted the latter alternative, and have bewailed it ever since. lam pleased to see a man cast in your mould. My decision is that you are acquitted, and tbat plaintiff must pay a fine of ten dollars, with costs, for attempting to place an honest man beneath the yoke of a mother-in-law. You may go!" — Pall Mall Gazette.