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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 198, 12 August 1876, Page 4

A correspondent writes to the _v\ Z. Times to say that he was much disappointed at hearing last night that though the cable between North Australia and ' Babjowangie had been mended there was no likelihood of any telegram coming through until to-day or to morrow. He suggests that we should publish an outline of the expected news, however, and supplies the following items as likely : — *« London July 31st.— Sir George Grey has been invitßd by the Sultan of Turkey to frame a fresh constitution for that country. — It is probable thot Mr Rees will shortly leave New Zealand, in compliance with a request of the Khedive of Egypt that he should enter lhat potentate's service, with a view of taking over the management of the Egyptian finances. Mr Gladstone declined the offer made to himself in reference to this matter, but having read Mr Rees financial pamphlet, suggested to the Khedive the employment of that gentleman as beiDg infinitely superior to Mr Cave."

Aa the Belfast Circuit Court (says tho Hamilton Spectator), a case was beard in which Mrs Beel and her children sued the.Portlandshire Council to recover £1000 damages for the loss of the husband of the former and the father of the latter, who had been killed by an accident happening in consequence of a heap of metal being left upon the road, The jury returned a verdict assessing the damages at £250 for the widow, and £50 each for the five youngest children — total, £500. There seems to be a splendid field for Good Templar apostles in the Legislature of a neighboring colony. Id a speech of Mr Tayjor'c, at Farramatfa, that gentleman is reported to have said: — "It was a- lamentable thing when tbey saw Ministers of the Crown receiving £1500 a year, deliberating on laws for the well-being of ourselves and our children, doing so in a state of intoxication; and he had seen three of them in a beastly state of intoxication at one time; And tbe vote of drunken imbecility was taken down like any other vote. He had seen tumblers flying about from the hands of a drunken mad member of Parliament; and, had not a member seen, as he lay on the sofa, a tumbler coming towards him, and pnt up his>rm'and intercepted if, so that it fell, shivered in a thousand pieces on the floor, he would have been seriously injured. And another member had been brought away intoxicated from a certain house in the city, and taken to the Assembly, where, in a beastly form of humanity with his head down and sick at the stomach, he was to give his vote."

A Wellington correspondent of the Timaru Herald says:— "An unusual feature in the House of Representatives during the last few days is the presence of a pretty little, tortoise-shell cat, which walks about from member to member, and receives their caresses with purring content; apparently without the slightest fear ofthe Sergt.-at-Arms or the penalties of disqualification. It was at first supposed that this interesting little animal had found its way into the sacred precincts of the Legislsture of its own accord. It is, however, said to have since transpired that on the whips reporting au alarming prevalence of 'rats' in tbe House thiß Bession, the Ministry ordered puss to be introduced in order to keep them in check. Sir George Grey considers it an insidious attempt on the part of a corrupt administration to destroy the rights of humanity. 1 '