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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 115, 6 May 1876, Page 4

One of the oddest sigh's to be seen occasionally in Melbourne is a woman whose eccentricity takes the form of parading tbe streets with her face c&rked in the most approved Ethiopian style. The Echo tells us that her first appearance was on the Ballarat racecourse, at the last meeting, when the coarse jokes and rude curiosity to which she was subjected would be enough to deter any respectable woman from a repetition of the freak. It does not seem to have affected ber to any great extent, however, as she subsequently occupied a front seat in the dress circle of the Opera House in Melbourne,

where the brazen effrontery of the woman was the subject of general remark, and the sooner her identity is established the better. At present she ia a mystery, and no cause has been assigned for her unladylike behavior. She dresses in the height of fashion. We have now in port, says a Californian contemporary, a Japanese frigate, with 300 men in American sailor rig, and with the peculiar swing of our jack tars well imitated. Their drill is the same. They are much inferior to us in size. They look like boys. They try to cultivate the beard, but it is very scattering. Every one has coarse, straight, and black hair. The officers are very courteous. Evidently tbe Japanese aim at, naval supremacy in Asiatic waters. Their country is rich in minerals — coal, iron, copper, silver, and gold; and for manufacturing their position is not unlike England. Their mechanical genius resembles American. They are clever artists.. Already Japanese, silks (half ramie)- are plentiful, of patterns to. suit our styles. Our Chinamen are not a fair representation, because they are all of tbe commonest class. But, considering this, they are about equal to their class in other countries in most respects, — in education particularly. Every one reads and writes, and quotes Confucius. But these Japanese Bailors are of a higher class. They take to our customs. Everything points to a bright commerce between Japan and California. New Mexico (observes the San Francisco Bulletin), is a cheerful place of residence. The papers of the Territory from December 25 to January 21, a period of twenty days, show the following list of entertainments, classified by counties :— Rio Arriba county — one mob, two men killed j Moro county — one mob, one shooting and one hanging, two lives lost;. San Miguel county— one mob, two men killed, and one storo gutted; Santa Fe county — one mob, which tailed in its purpose; one Legislative row, which was only stopped by a timely'adjournmenf, after everybody had got their pistols out; Dora Anna couuty — one riot, six persons kiled and wounded, one coach robbed ; Socorro county — one riot, many shotß fired, but no one killed; Colfax county — one shooting affray, in which one man was killed, and the other delivered himself up to the authorities. Total, thirteen persons killed aud wounded, a highway robbery, four mobs, two riots, and v store gutted. The cricketing correspondent of the Melbourne Leader, in writing of a match to be played "up in the wilds," by the aid of the great new device of cocoanut matting, says : — This match will be the first of any consequence played on one of the cocoanut matting wicketß, and as the *' wicket " for the occasion has just been made in Melbourne, under the supervision of Mr Budd, hon. secretary of the East Mel* bourne Club, I' will, for the benefit of my country readers, give . a few particulars of it. In the first place it is 9ft in width. As no matting imported is so wide as that, a 6ft width had to be procured, and on each side a strip of 18in in width has had to be sewn. These seams will not be injurious in the slightest degree, as no ball that pitches so far out can be dangerous. Its length is 58ft, which is from popping crease to popping creßse. The batsman and bowler thus both stand on terra firma. Eylet holes have been made in various places throughout its length on both sides and at each end, in wbich to drive pegs so as to fasten it firmly. It is a great idea, and not only does it give the possibility of ; playing " cricket " on many country • grounds where at the present time that ; iB impossible, but if each town club procures one of these wicket! 9 , the question of playing or at any rate practising in winter is solved, for the • players can now be independent of the state of the ground. Any bare patch can be utilised, and I shall be surprised if tbe idea is not eagerly seized upon and carried into effect. The London Daily Telegraph learns that a meeting of the Sheffield branch ;of the Nottingham Oddfellows had been held to receive Counsel's opinion on the action of the Grand Lodge, who had suspended the Sheffield Lodges for advocating certain reforms. The opinion of the counsel was against the Grand Lodge. About 3,000 members had been expelled. An aggregate meeting iB to be held this week to consider what course shall now be pursued. One Lodge has already seceded from the Order, and a letter was read exwyj"'-*-*-'-*--***-*'-^^

' ————— pressing the opinion that the majority of the Lodgeß were in favor of that course. The Marquis and Marchioness of Townshend have joine 1 the Order of Good Templars in England. Tbe Marquis has closed all the publicbouses on his estate and opened a Good Templar Lodge, in which he and the Marchioness are office-bearers. Their son, Viscount Raytiham, has also become a Good Templar, A vessel having become waterlogged by a terrific gale, the crew were compelled to tike to the boats. After drifting for a day and night, as the dawn was breaking, the watch peroeived a vessel at no great distance : " a sail! a sail?'' he cried with the full force of his lungs, effectually arousing all his mates, except an old Jew, who stilt leapt his eyes cloßed, and muttered disconsolately, " Why, blesh my soul, Isaao, and we haven't got a catalogue?"