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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 36, 10 February 1877, Page 4

An Auckland telegram to tbe Post sSys; — Capt. Savory of the schooner Favorite gives the following description of Wallis' Island visited by him during his cruise :— Tbe island is about fifteen miles long by eight miles across, and is surrounded by reefs which are quite impassable except at one point where there is a passage. A year ago a Fre.-ch man-of-war, the St. Hermit, was wrecked right at tbe entrance/ She still lies high and dry. Wallis Island is one of the moat fertile in the Pacific. It has a rich volcanic soil, and abounds with cocoanut groves and timber. The cocoanuis yield large quantities of copra, wbich is exported extensively. There is a numerous native population, who owe their allegiance to a queen who resides in the interior, but in reality are under the control of a French bishop, who bas been resident on the island for the last 42 years. This patriarch is 74 years old, and is regarded by tbe whole body of the population as their father. He is a venerable old gentleman. In speaking to Capt. Savory he stretched oot his hand and said, casting hia eyes over the island,

" When I came here these people were all cannibals; now tbey are my children." Tbe bishop has working with him three' priests, (likewise French) and also two nuns. There is one French trader and one English trader on the island, the latter being agent for the übiquitous firm of Goddefroi and Son. In different parts of the island are no less than three handsome cathedrals, all built of a kind of scoria stone and with much pretension to architectural beauty. They are principally Gothic in style, with rich porticos handsomely decorated with shells. These priests maintain almost absolute control over tbe people, though they have no force beyond that of moral suasion. They levy light taxes in the way of copra, and delinquents are rigorously punished. Christianity is recognised all over the island, and arts and sciences are not unknown. Eight or nine months ago a British subject who was on a visit to the island was accused by one of the priests of having taken liberties with one of the girls of the island. The oharge was denied, whereupon the priest gave the Englishman the lie direot. John Bull could not Btand tbat, and in spite of the sanctity of his inaulter, gave him an open-handed smack on the face. The priest reported tbe occurrence, and in an hour the unfortunate Englishman was catpured and closely confined io a whare. where he was kept io a state of semi-starvation for 70 days. He was at length released, and immediately went to Samoa, and laid the matter before the the British Consul, who represented it to the captain of the next English man-of-war that arrived. An investigation was held, and the man-of-war called at the island and laid a fine of 4000 dollars upon the inhabitants, whicn is being paid by instalments. The Melbourne correspondent of the Hamilton Spectator is responsible for the following story : — " Among the passengers by tbe last Sues mail steamer were an old resident of Queensland, returning from a visit to England, and a tall, lanky, raw-looking youth from one of the inland counties. As the young fellow gave out that be was visiting the colonies for the purpose of buy. ing a station, the old squatter became communicative, and spoke of his possessions in Queensland, his lands, his herds, his flocks, his horses, and copper-mining interests. Some hitch occurred in the young fellow's affairs financial. He was disappointed at the non-receipt of money, but was able to show letters which appeared to be from respectable solicitors in London. His first move was to borrow £1,500 from his colonial friend. Within a few days he had succeeded in obtaining £5,000 from the old gentleman, who became suspicious, obtained proof tbat the letters were not genuine, and put the matter in the hands of the detective police. A hunt for the young Englishman is going on by the smartest officers in tbe force, but though it is known that he is somewhere about town, he has contrived so far to keep out of the way of arrest." Something like Suttee (says the Mirror), has happened, at Madras showing tbe attachment of a Hindoo wife to her husband, and throwing some light, perhaps, on the secret of the Suttee in the olden days. A Guzerati having been affilicted a long time with a severe cough, called in the services of a Vythean (doctor), who, on seeing bis patient, at once told him that his illness was incurable, and that he would not live long. His wife, on hearing this, after the departure of the doctor, went and threw herself into the well of the house, and on this being made known to the husband, the shock was so great that he immediately expired. Husband and wife were buried at the same time. An Ingenious Defence : A soldier of a cavalry regiment during the Crimean war was brought up for stealing his comrade's ration-liquor. He was an Irishman, and his defence was unique. "I'd* be sorry indade, sur, to be called a tbief ,• I pnt the liquor in the same bottle, and mine was at thebottora, and share I was obliged to drink his to get at my own, Och, sur, I'd scorn to be a thief!" It was not said whether tbis very ingenious defence got him off or not.