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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 104, 1 May 1875, Page 2

Tbere has been a great scandal in the high world (says the Australasian) arising out of a case of cheating at Nice. The guilty party is the Hon. Major Harbord, a brother of Lord SufJSeld, wbo is (Lord 8.) an intimate friend of the Prince of Wales. Major Harbord, having been detected in an imitation of the "Heathen Chinee" in a game of Baccarat, was kicked out of the room. Having been invited to resign, he was fool enough to refuse, unless "tbey gave him back his money," meaning the price of his commission, so he bas been summarily removed frem the army, the Queen '' having no further occasion for his services," Under these circumstances he will of course bave no claim to the value of his commission, but he threatens to bring an action against the Crown for the amount. Following upon the case of Mr George Russell, the secretary of the Board of Works, a scion of a ducal house, a member of the Marlborough Club, &c, this exposure haa set people talking about the prevalent fashion of high play, apropos of wbicb the London Times had a leading article the other day. Absurdly enough, however, the Times chose for the Bubject of its homily the alleged undue passion for whist, as being the cause of the scandal. Now, although it is certain that a great many people play at whist who have no business to do so, and for higher points than they can afford to lose, it is monstrous to 6uppoße that whist would be deliberately chosen as the vehicle of gambling by those who are inclined to that vice. It is not a game which lends itself readily tofgambling, and it is a libel upon tbe noblest of pastimes of that kind to connect ils name with the prevalent corruption of morals. According to the foolish person wbo writeß in tbe Times it would almost appear that legislative inteiference should be invoked to protect the state against the evils of whigt. A very large frost fish is reported to have been caught last week at Okorito. So extraordinary is the size of the fißh that we give the particulars asforwarded by Mr Van Brattle to Mr Cousinß of Hokitika. He writes that a great frost fi6h, measuring 16ft long, and weighing 1191 b was taken this week in the following manner: — " We, havm**** seen a big fish playing on the flat trying to get into deep water, immediately backed our boat over to it and followed it into shallow water. Taking in our oars we slipped our arms under tbe fish ond gave one strong lift, placing hia silvery highness safely in the boat. This is the largest fish of the kind ever seen in tbese waters."— -G. Ji. Argus