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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 95, 24 April 1877, Page 2

The Auckland Herald, in an article on Hospital management, says: —A correspondent; in a letter printed to-day refers to the practice of homoeopathy, and suggests that patients who prefer horno.opa.hic treatment should have the opportunity of having their wish gratified. When doctors differ, who shall decide? We certainly shall not undertake the post of arbiter. But the matter is worthy of consideration. The homoeopathic system is unquestionably largely accepted, and appears to be growing in repute, while the " legitimate" mode has long since discarded much of the drenching, blood-letting, and extreme of " heroic " treatment which in past times were in vogue. Could it be possible to have a homoeopathic ward? or is it advisable at the present time to reawaken the old controversy? What do the doctors say themselves? The length of railway in New Zealand in working order reaches 707 miles, of which 209 stretch in an unbroken line from Amberley to Moeraki. The North Island possesses 124 milos, ancl the South 583. The Canter bury lines cover 273 miles, and the Otago 263. A lunatic confined in the Gladesville Asylum, N.S.W., jumped the fence tbe other day, seized a horse and galloped off, clearing the fences in his way, until he was thrown from the horse. He then swam across the Parrauiatta River, but was eventually recaptured. Verjuice says that when a man jumps off Princes-bridge, there are tremendous efforts to recover all that is left of him. Boats are employed, drags are used, officials are engaged regardless of cost to fish up that which, to get rid of afterwards, entails still further expense. He doesn't say that this is wrong. But ho does say that if that despairing wretch before his fatal leap sought for half-a-crown for food, or drink, or medicine, he would not find, living, that ready aid which.jdead, is conceded him with a liberal hand. Now why should this thing be?—"vEgles." ' A fatal termination to a convivial meeting occurred the other night at Mount Greenock (Victoria.) A supper ia honor of Mr Trcnchard, manager of the Bank of Australasia, Talbot, was given at Duuach's Hotel by the miners of the Hoffnung claim, on the occasion of his departure from the district. After the conclusion of the proceedings a dispute arose between a shareholder in the Hoffnung mine, named Timman, and a man named John Jones, residing in the locality. A scuffle took place, ending in Jones and Tinman falling out of the door. The latter was picked up speechless, and died in a few minutes. Jones gave himself up to the police next morning. No blame is attached to Jones, and Timinan's wife, who saw the occurrence from her own door, exonerates Jones. An inquest was held, when a verdict of accidental death was returned.

The Bishop of Lincoln has written to Sir Autonio Brady, objecting to the use of bags for the offertory as at variance (I) with the spirit and letter of the law of the Church, which describes "a decent basin;" (2) with the usuage of the ancient Church of God; (3) as leading to great evils, being the receptacles of sccurrilous scraps from newspapers, and other things which had better not be mentioned, and (4) as against a true interpretation of St. Matthew iv. 5 aud 6, which is not directed against public almsgiving; and (5) because, by meaus of the secrecy of bags some rich men, who ought to cast much into the treasury of God, do in fact put into it the widow's two mites, without the widow's faith and love. His Lordship adds that the use of bags has been discontinued in several large churches in the diocese with good effect — Pail Mail Gazette.

Recently the Salinas Court-house, Monterey County, California, was burned down. The fire began in the office of a deputy taxcollector, W. 11. Rumsey. During the fire the assessor's roll was fortunately saved, though every other document was destroyed. By the means of this document it has been ascertained that from £4000 to £5000 of taxes collected have been embezzled either by Rumsey or his chief, M. A. Castro. The two officers have been arrested and. an examination of the circumstances by the detectives of San Francisco has convinced the public that the fire which destroyed the Court-house had been wilfully kindled either by their principals or their agents, for the purpose of destroying the records of the tax-collectors, thereby to conceal the thievery of the guilty officials.

The statement of the fires and fire losses iv the United States for 1876 shows that there were 9,301 fires, aud the value of property destroyed was £14,755,000, of which £7,652,000 was covered by insurance. Iv the preceding year the losses amounted to £19,265,600, and the insurance £8,722,200. The losses for 1876 were about one-half 'of 1 per cent on the assessed value of all the taxable property in the country; those for 1875 were nearly two-thirds 0 f l per cent.! and those of 1 87 1 , the year of the Chicago fire, were about 1i- per cent. If we estimate the annual increment of national wealth at 5 per cent., 10 per cent of this increment was destroyed by fire last year, aud 30 per cent of it in 1871. It is not encouraging to reflect that we are burning up our annual net earnings at this rate.

A writer of " Notes " in the West Coast Times writes thus:— "l am pleased to learn that a new industry has been commenced in Hokitika, showing that the march of progress iv the Empire city of Westland is not only a march, but has improved into a jog | trot. An enterprising firm, which shall be nameless, has been for some time past making Old Jabob Towushend's sarsapa-illa out of liquorice, and also exporting the concoction to Kumara, where it rejoices and refreshes the bodies of the hardy miner the " bone and sinew," So., &_. it is pleasant to know that the Australian agent of Old Jacob bas signified his app.oraf of the proceedings, and there is not tho slightest doubt that the enterprising Hokitika firm will receive a fitting recognition aud reward iv due course. Another Hokitika trader deserves mention for an exhibition of talent in making weight, which is unparalleled in my expert ence. I bought half a sack of potatoes of the "merchant" in quest'on, and oa receipt of them discovered at the bottom of the sack three flat irons, each minus tho handle. A contributor to tho Grey River Argus is cruel enough to give currency to the following:—"lt surely cannot be true, but it is stated that in order that he might be al owed to make a score at the recent cricket match ' one of he West Coast team, who has more money than muscle, actually bargained beforehand that for so much money ho should make so many, and that the 'sugar' was 'melted' by the Engenders at Bradley's A similar story is told of a Wellington player so the Eleven upon terms of this kind can help to pay their expenses with little trouble."

Holloway'. Ointment. and Pills.— A frequent cause of gout and rheumatism is the inflammatory state of .the blood, attended wit'ibsd digestion and general debility. A few doses of Pills, taken in time, are an effectual preventive against gout and rheumatism. Anyone who has an attack of either shoald use Holloway's ointment also, the powerful action of which, combined with the Pills, must infallibly effect a cure. These Pills act directly on the blood, which they purify and improve. Having once subdued the severity of these diseases, perseverance with the Ointment, after fomenting' the affected joints with warm b -me, will speedily" relax all stiffness, and preventany permanent contraction. 1295