THE FIRE BRIGADES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 167, 6 July 1876, Page 2

THE FIRE BRIGADES.

To the Editor ok the « Evening Mail.' Sir— Like the immortal Mr Micnwber I have been waiting for something to turn up, aDd behold, unlike Mr Micawber's experience, eoraetliing has turrit d up, in ihe shape of an epistle from the immaculate •• W. Cooksey." Ali hough rather discursive, it is couched in milder tirnis than is usual with that blatant gent eman. He altogether repudiates tha idea that for some lime pant there has been a spirit of jealousy between the two Brigades, ami considers the feeling shown by the Town Brigade to be strictly honest. RoJolent with tlns ari^oerutic bumptiousness characteristic o£ the man, as the mouthpiece of the Town Brigade, he is eas ly inveiglod into a tr*nsc ndental r gion of clouds, an 1 his perspicacious understanding beguiled into the belief that the shot and shell aupplied to him by the members of that body are nothing but truths. By false logic set off by an imposiog pomp of paradox and unsophisticated sophistry he is disseminating far and wide the seeds of prejudice and error. But revenona d not tnoutont. .Ever since the Auxiliary Fire Brigade bought out of the members own private pockets the Hall at the Port the Tuwn Brigade have viewed with a jaundiced eye tlie dcairt ou tbfl

The depth of Auckland harbor has decreased (says the Cross) at least two feet within the last twelve months. This rate of shoaling is a serious matter. Nine hundred and ninety-eight persons have died in Victoria "the last few months from scarlet fever, which is still prevalent in some parts of that colony. The Auckland Star says: — During Mr Heale's lecture on the solar system in the new Institute a great noise was heard, like a person groaning in a fit. All heads were immediately turned in that direction, when a fair young man was discovered fast asleep, and snoring as though he was in the country. He was allowed to sleep on until the closing hour. It ia said the young man was from Nelson. The Wellington correspondent of a southern contemporary writes : — The legal element is very strong ia the House this session, and with Mr Stout, Mr Bees, Mr Button, Mr Whitaker, and others, the House will probably often resemble a Court of law. Already in the Piako Swamp affair we have had a lot of law, and of course its professors differ. There are (says the "Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times) a great many people who predict that the end of the session will see Mr Stafford in power, after a repetition of the events of 1875. I should not be at all surprised to find it so. Already, there are evident attempts being made to form a third party, of which Mr Stafford should be leader, and who would practically carry out the same policy as the preseut Ministry. Those who are known to be the most favorable to the project were the most earnest in imploring the Ministry not to resign, as that scheme not being ripe, a premature resignation of the Ministry would have proved fatal. I do not think Mr Stafford, himself, is any party to the scheme. Canterbury (says a Wellington contemporary) is this session the best represented province in the colony. It has changed six of its representatives during the recess, and has gained two new ones. Of these eight new members, two are old politicians whose return to active political life is generally welcomed, and ia sure to be productive of beneficial results to the colony. We allude to Mr Moorhouse and M> E. C. J. Stevens. Amongst the members whose plates know them no more, there is only one whose absence causes any feeling of regret, and that is Mr Reeves, who is a man who cannot well be spared. The six new members who sit in this Parliament for the first time are decidedly creditable additions to the Legislature. Rarely have new members of promise, equal to that of Messrs Wason, Fitzroy, and Wakefield, been added to our Legislature. Messrs Murray-Aynsley, lfsher, and Teschmaker are eminently respectable additions also, and on the whole Canterbury may well be congratulated on the class of men it has chosen as its representatives, as well as on the individual specimens of that class which the constituencies have severally returned. We (Argus), have already heard a good deal about the responsibilities resting upon the present Parliament, but there is one responsibility which we do not think the members fully recognise. It is the responsibility attaching to the example they set. We do not know whether boys are in the habit of attending the sittings of the House, but we do know that just oow "playing at Parliament" ia a popular pastime with the lads of the city. Passing along a street in Tborndon the other night, we came on a duly constituted juvenile legislature. About a score of boya were present. One was perched on a feoca as Mr Speaker. Some interesting subject seemed before the House, but as ofteu happens ia

another place, the speeches seemed to have liiile relevancy to it, and the listener waa quite at a loss to gather' the preciie character of the qaestioo. However, the member who was addressing the House soon made a statement which was politely cha lecgad, one of the members exclaiming, ■ *> Mr Speaker, the hon. membsr is entirely mistaken." The other withdrew rhe statement and proceeded, when again he was interrupted by a hoc member ca!lio'» out " That's not true." Mr Speaker interpret, but the excited interruptionist cm Bhort the dispute by calling out "But hb'a telling a lie." Thereupon the Housa broke up in confuaion. Mr Speaker was utterly unable to restore order, and v,e walked away, leaving aereral honorable membeis punching each others' heads. There ia a moral in the occurrence, if full-grown members will but seek /or it. Boys, no doubt, imitate their elders, but the elders may sometimes learn fiom the boys. The boys seem readily to have caught the tendency of their elders to use strong language. We hope the practice amongst the elders may not result in the manner it very naturally did, ap, we have stated, amongst the youngsters. Sullivan, it appear?, has come out in a new character. In the Spectator, a Mebouroe journal, appears a letter from the Rev Mr Edgar, of Inglewood, with reference to the attendance of the murderer at the Wesleyan Church at that place. The letter is as follows:— " Sir, — A few weeks ago a report appeared in most of the leading journals of the Colony, copied from the Inglewood Advertiser, by which it appears that the notorious Sullivan is ia (he habit of attending the Wesleyan Church, ia Weuderburn; and not only so, but was permitted, on one occasion at lent, to publicly offer up a prayer himself. I thick a statement by way of explanation is due. The report is quite We in the main Sullivan attends the services regularly, and indeed is one of the most atteutive hearers iv the church; but as to permission being granted him to offer prayer publicly, that is not the case. He certainly did so, but not by permission. I waa the preacher that morning, but waa not aware that Sullivan was in the congregavion, nor did I know that he wss one of the number who stayed to the prayer-meeting until he began to pray; and then I was made aware by the evident dissatisfaction and dismay aminj the p.ople. Several persons left the ohurch, and those who remained saemed so thoroughly surprised as to ba unable to determine how to act. I closed the meeting, and afterwards the members of the church signified their unqualified condemnation of the act. I was also requested to inform certain persons who had, or were supposed to have, offered a measure of encouragement that, while we could not and would not, do anything to prevent Sullivan attending public worship, we were bound in the interests of the church, and also from respect to public opinion, to prohibit him from taking any part in our church meetings." What is the difference between a market-gardener on I a billiard-marker? One minds his peas, and the other minds his cues.

HoVowai/s Ointment and Pills effect won derlul cures of bud legs and old woun<is If thsee medicines be used according to the directions which are wrapped round each pot and box, there is no wound, bad leg, or uloerou* sore, however obstinate, that will not yie'd to their curative properties Thousands ot persona who hid bten pitientg in happ-'tils, under the care of eninent surgeons, without deriving the least benefit, h ive been cured by Hollo way's Ointment and Pills, when o her remedies and treatment had signally fiile I For glnni'u'ar swellings, tumors, scurvy, and any diseases of the skin, there is no medicine that can be used with so good an effect Though potent lor good, it is powerless for liarm ; and though the cure etiected is rapid it is also compute and permaneut. 2034 '

(.For continuation of Mewt sse fourth page.%

The London correspondent of the Western Morning Newt says there is a good time coming for women— -nay, it baa already come, when we find tbst a lady is receiving £1,000 a year as salary. That is the amount; of the salary paid to Miss Buss, of the North London Collegiate School for Girls. The headmistresship of St. Paul's School is equally well endowed ; and the Englisfiiooman's Review states that a lady formerly connected with the Queen's Institute has been appointed headmistress of one of the English public day schools for girls at £250 a year, and capitation on each girl above the first hundred. The Melbourne Echo of the 9th inst. says;— The first of Mr Roberts' billiard exhibitions came off last night at the Athenaeum Hall, and showed conclusively that we have among us a player whose unequalled skill fully deserves all the eulogy he has earned in the old country. His play is singularly smooth, swift, and sure, and the certainty with which each success prepares the way for the next is as wonderful to the observer as it is disheartening to his opponent. The latter gentleman, indeed (Mr Albers) was rather nervous last night, as well be might be, and the match was in the champion's bands all through. Mr Roberts scored his 1000 points in 118 minutes, his leading; breaks being— B2 points, including 13 spot strokes; 59 points, including 16 spot strokes; 113 points, including 38 spot strokes; 120 points, including 13 nursing canons; 169 points, including 54 spot strokes. Signor Eerara, who was well known with his trained monkeys, haa " fretted his last hour on the stage." He died at Tenterfield, New South Wales, of general debility. He was then a membemb'er of Ashton's Circus Company. A rather painful occurrence happened at the funeral. The horses backed into a creek, and the hearse upset, but in a few moments ie was extricated without anything unseemly happening to the corpse, which was then conveyed to its last resting place. — Wanganui Herald. The quaint and literal mauner in which the Maoris sometimes quote Scripture is well known. A good instance came under our notice the other day. A native, who was part owner of a block of land, wished to sell his interest, and, on the reason for his desire being officially asked, said that he read in the Bible an instruction to sell his worldly goods and lay up his treasure in Heaveu, He wished to sell his land in order that he might have his treasure ready to lay up in Heaven, as soon as he aould find where Heaven was. . " Lucian Gay," as Mr. Disraeli named Theodore Hook in "Coningsby," was dining one day at a friend's house, when .. the talk fell upon Jack Reeve. " Yes," said Theodore, as they were speaking of the actor's funeral, "I was out that day. I met him in bis private box, going to the pit." Barham tells us that be was dining on one occasion with Hook, at Fulham, when the conversation fell upon the wit's two eldest daughters, Mary was the senior, and just turned 21, aad the name ot the second was Louise. Their father accordingly designated them " Vingt-un" and 4 * Loo" respectively.— Argus. ; A correspondent sendß us {Post) a programme of a new fashionable entertainment at Home, which has no doubt arisen from the uuccess which has attended the " Spelling Bee" in all parts of England. It is called a "Grand Musical Bee," and on the principle of the " SpelliLg Bee" was a series of trials testing the general knowledge, by the competitors, of different classes of musical composition, and their skill in vocal and instrumental performance. The one of which we have the account wa9 held in the Assembly rooms at Bath, and was conducted in the following manner : — The prizes consisted of handsomely bouod books of high class music ; and for the vocal contest, collections of glees and songs. For the first competition, a number of subjects were played on the piano, the competitors having to write down on paper, as each was played, the source from which each was taken, together with any particulars concerning the author and any composition of his within their knowledge. Prizes were then offered for the best amateur quartet J siugers ; for the reader of piauoforte music at sight ; for quartett singers at sight ; for the best singer at sight, ot amateur gentlemen, and concluding with performances by ladies, ftmaleurs, under 21 years of age, of pieces of their own selection — the Utter being decided by the audience— The whole performance is stated to have been a great success. . The following story is told as a remarkable instance of the appreciation of humour : — A German soldier wbb ordered fifty lashes for some alleged act of insubordination. Fritz, disciplined to silence, was fixed to the triafagles in tho presence of his company. When the first lash fell upon his naked shoulders the worthy fellow, instead of displaying evidence of distress, burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. The executioner, regarding this manifestation as by no means complimentary to his skill, laid on with reboubled ardour. But the more he laid on the more Fritz laughed. When cut down he still found great difficulty in restraining his mirth, and indulged in loud intermittent guffaws. The officer in command of the company, with a curiosity naturally excited, approached the bleeding wretch, and inquired the cause of his mirth. " Why," said Fritz, breaking into a fresh fit of laughter, v I'm the wrong mau !"

The Globe says :— It is no new I thing for foreigners of wealth and distinction to send their sona to England ■for a year or two's study. But to judge |by the results of such a system of education as exhibited recently in ; Tunis, it is not likely that many of the inhabitants will repeat the experiment. Mr, or Monsieur, Ben Taieb — for the story comes to ua through Paris — was a native of El Amri, in the south of Tunis, one of the richest landowners of the district, aod celebrated for numberless pilgrimages and other acts of piety which had gained for him almost the reputation of a saint. He bad sent his third son, Amar, to England to study, and the youth only a abort time ago returned to his father-land and to the ancestral mansion, imbued, as it was hoped, with (he enlightened civilisation of the West. The result seems to prove that the youn? man's studies had been directed chiefly to a persual of the police reports, so that instead of Wellington or Marlborough, his favorite heroes were of the Fish and Wainwright type. At any rate, one of his first acts on being restored to his family circle was to cut tho throats of his father and his two brothers. The deed was quietly accomplished one evening last week, and the following morning the bodies, after being hacked to pieces by the assassin, were hastily buried in the sandy soil near the public watering-places. Here, after two days, they were naturally enough discovered. The horse of an official who was visiting the place, while accidently pawing the ground, brought to light an arm of one of the victims, and on a search being made the rest of the remains ware quickly unearthed. The murderer was, of course, seized, but ou being interrogated gave another proof of his English education in refusing to criminate himself by making any answer. This rather discouraging product of our educational efforts is 17 years old. His motive was simple — it was nothing more than a desire to possess the whole iostead of only a part, of the patri« monial estate. This is the second atrocious murder reported during the last few days from Tunis, where the rage for killing seems to come into fashion, as it does in this country, by fite and starts, producing almost simultaneously a wholesale crop of crimes, The annual "Dead Letter Sale " at the Post-office, at Washington, took place on March 17, when 8,524 unclaimed packages were sold by auction. The articles specified in the catalogue, which contained no fewer than sixty* six pages, included a library of 1000 books, a quantity of sham and real jewellery, a black lace shawl, endless gold pins, white kid gloves, knives, necklets, spectacles, handkerchiefs, " 144 clock hands," soap, a wolf-skin, a equirrel's tail, and the wings of a bat, two skirts, a pair of " calf-skin uppers," microscopes, revolvers, a blanket, a piece of rubber hose, a fire-kindler, two plugs ot tobacco, a piecrust cutter, a scouring brick, a soap-gauge, a box of chewing gum, a gas burner, a harmonicon, a pack of cards, a fifty " poker chips," a flute, a boy's jacket, a box of pumpkin meal, a towel, a shirt, a pair of slippers, a briarwood pipe, a can of fresh pine ! apple, a pocketcoojpass, a baby-yoke, a collection of foreign stamps, three odd gloves, a gold-taeseled necktie, five imitation birds, a tape measure, a fish-line, some email saws, eleven buttons, and ten fish-hooks. The statistics relative to the progress nf the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows duricg the past year have been prepared, and were to have been submitted at the A.M.C., at Ryde, Isle of Wight. There are now 508,013 members, showing an increase of 11,448 during last year, after deducting deaths and all other losses. Of these 467,389 m°mbers belong to lodges in the United Kingdom, and 39,626 to colonial lodges. The members initiated last year numbered 35,260, of whom 2610 belong to colonial lodges ; and of this number 24,646 or 75 per cent., were under 25 years of age, and 29,709, or 91 per cent, under 30. The deaths during the year numbered 6916 and the losses from other causes were 1834, besides 15,026 from non-payment of subscriptions. The deatbs have been 506 more than in 1875. The funeral benefits paid, on the deaths of 6916 members, were £70,108 75., and £24,742 7s. on the deaths of wives or widows, making the total sura paid for funeral benefits, £95,350 14s. The statistics of sick payments during the year have not yet been completed.

Advice to Mothers ! — Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a chemist and get a botleofMrg. Winslow's Soothing Syrup It will relieve ths poor sufferer immediately. It Is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes " a* bright as a übtton." It soothes the child, it softens the ugms, allays all p un, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Said everywhere at is. ijd. per bottle. Manufactory, 493 Oxford-street, London. 1093 Floriunb!— For the Teeth and Breath.— A few drops of the liquid " Floriline" sprinkled on a wet tooth-brush produce a pleasant lather, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tart*r, stops decay, gives to teeth a peculiar pearly-whiteness, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco smoke. " The Flagrant Plorilme," being composed in part of honey and sweet herbs, is delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age. Sold everywhere at 2s. 6d. Prepared by Henry C. Gallop, 493 Oxford-street Leadoa. iQ9i

VaLUABLB DIBOOVBKT FOR THK HAIR.— If your hair is turning grey or white, or falling off, use " Tha Mexican H*ir Renewer," for it will positively restore in every case Grey or White hair to its oirginal cilor, without leaving the disagreeable smell of moat * Restorers ' It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as well as promoting the growth of the hair on t>ald spots, where the glanda are no* decayed. Certificate lrom Dr. Versm&nn on every bottle, with full particulars. Ask your nearest Chemist for "The Mexican Hair Renewer," prep wed by Henry C. Gallop, 493, Oxford street, London, aad sold everywhere at 3s. 6d per bottle. 1090

and