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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 227, 8 September 1875, Page 2

A Wellington bootmaker advertises as a novelty, the Abolition boot. It is reported that the measles complaint has been severe among the juveniles afc the Karamea settlement, and that illness has prevailed among the elder people there. They complain much that medicines and medical com forts have not been obtainable, ; there being not even an apology for a medi-; cine chest in the settlement. — fVestportTimes. The "spelling bee," which has caused no inconsiderable stir and a vast fund of amusement in America, has been adopted in Auckland in connection with a lodge of Good Templars. It was substituted for the ordinary singing, reciting, and speech-making which goes under the head of "the good of the Order." The innovation proved an entire success. We have recently noticed the fact that we are in the habit of importing a number of articles which might easily be produced in the country. We have now to add another article to the list. We learn that New Zealand tanners have hitherto failed to discover an indigenous bark which possesses in the same degree the tannin of the wattle or acacia barks of Australia. Our worthy tanner informs us that he is now pnrchasing Australian wattle bark to the extent of £60 worth per month. If so considerable a sum is expended in this article in so small a town as ours, how much must be expended in it in the whole of the country. Now the wattle grows as freely here as it does in Australia ; it is a very pretty shrub, iti, blossoms in autumn and very earl 7 m the spring, and makes an excellent shelter. How many a rough hill side or narrow gully is there which is at present not deemed worthy of cultivation, which might be profitably planted with these trees. The only difficulty about their cultivation that we are acquainted with is the fact of their bearing seed in this country but very sparingly. Seed, however, can be procured cheaply and in sufficient abundance from Australia and Tasmania. We have recently inspected some samples of leather tanned with this bark, and found them very clean and thoroughly tanned.— Taranaki News. The Boston Post has the following:— The ladies have all got the neuralgia in their shoulders from wearing spring clothes, and many new dresses are supplemented across the back by porus plasters, and next to a vest front, a mustard poultice is generally most worn; Young ladies alternate between a neckace for a street car wear, and a flannel rag for the house. Diamonds are worn in the ears with much effect abroad' but a lock of cotton and a little roast onion is the usual adornment at home. Pearl powder is applied to the shoulders for full dress, bufc camphorated oil and hartshorn liniment are considered very pretty also by the sufferers. Silk stockings, with colored clockings, are the things for low-slashed shoes, but pails

of hot mustard water and warm bricks are much worn for the feet. (ffor cpqtinuatioti of Betas see JourtkpageT