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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 221, 8 September 1876, Page 4

At the elephant hunt in honor of the Prince of Wales in Ceylon, no reporters were permitted to be present; but one enterprising " Bpecial" is said to have ahaved his bead, painted his body black, put a string around his waist, and joined the beaters. Mr Cull, a police magistrate in Vic- I toria, has inaugurated a new style for dealing with caeeao.f drunkenness. : A man summoned his wife for uaiug threatening language in a public place towards him but in course of tbe evidence it appeared that both husband and wife were given to druukenness and quarrelling. Mr Call dismissed the case, but said that if both parties would solemnly promise to abstain from intoxicating liquors for twelve months, and keep that promise, he would at the end of that period, present each of them with a pair of gloves. Tbe following information is given in a private letter from California, addressed by a Mr Hogg to a friend in New Zealand:— Mr Hogg informs bis friend that 60 dollars per month and found ia tbe wages received by himself ' and wife on a ranche close to ban j Francisco. Mr Hogg states that he baa been advised not to go to New Mexico for the present, and further adds that he has seen Mr Pinkerton (formerly of Tapanui station) who is thinking of going to New Mexico in the fall. He has already seat 8,000 sheep to some property owned by him ibere, until October, as tbe ewes will lamb on the road. The current wages for shepherds in California are from 30 to 35 dollars per month. Good bullock j drivers get as much as 60 dollars. The price of board and lodging in 'Frisco is about the same as in Dunedin, 5 dollars, equivalent to £l. According to the writer, business is pushed very hard in "Ttiß Queeu of the Pacific Cities," and when vessels are entering tbe harbor, a large number of hoteikeepers and tradespeople board them, and press very hard iudeed for custom, and take passeogera and their luggage free of charge to their various establishments. A most extraordinary and thrilling scene was witnessed recently in Char-lotte-street, Blackfi iaa. A Mrs Western, living at No. 16 in that street, either through drink or otherwise, became temporarily deranged and whilst in that state got up the chimney and located herself on the housetop. Theie she sat /or some time in a semi-nude condition, until the boys in the neighbourhood spied her, wbea they at once commenced to stone the unfortunate creature, who, in retaliation loosened the slates and hurled them at her revilers, at the stma time pouriDg forth & torrent of insane expressions upon Ibeai. The woman's condition became every moment more critical, and the police were summoned to drive off the boys and reecue her from a horrible death, for one false step would have hurled her into the streets below. Eventually a fire escape was procured, and ten of ihe meinbera of the M division mouuted to the housetop, and after a moat desperate fight and struggle, lasiing half an hour maoaged to secure the wretched creature, who was gafely lowered to the ground, strapped upon a stretcher, and conveyed to the police station. Tbe Bceue may be better imagined than described.