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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 166, 16 July 1877, Page 4

Tbs Post is responsible for the following queer story:— -That a paralytic hospital-patient should, go out to buy a pair of new boots, that having purchased these boots he should nest proceed to get drink, that he should then tuiable down and break his leg, and finally should be picked up just outside the hospital gate in a state of helpless unconsciousness, produced by these combined causes, reads like a aeries of improbable incidents in a comic story. Yet all this actually happened in Wellingtou yesterday. A man named? Michael Madigan, an old soldier, who formerly lived at Wanganui, fell into drinking habits, and became so notorious in this respect that at leogth the publicans in ■ that town refused tb supply him liquor. On one of * these occasions lie tb drdwn himself unless his prayers were complied with. The virtuous publican, however continued inexorable, and Madigan accordingly, forthwith rushed to the bridge which spans the Wanganui river and incoQlineot.y jumped overboard. Whe--ther his courage failed him at the last, and he consequently picked a safe place td come down, or whether tbe fates ordaigeti that aU his mishaps, like this last, should Sake a comic turn, wecaunot say, but <at all events he did choose a part of the river too shallow to cover < cover him, and he was rescued un— drowned >nd kicking. Subsequently he became partially paralysed and was sent to the Wellington hospital, where he has. been] a constant patient for the last tive years. Yesterday morning, he asked peimissiou to go out to buy a pair of new boots, aud -this -being accorded, .he hobbled away on hia crutches as usual. Dinner-time came, But no Mauigau, and some un-j easiness was .fell at his non-appearance, his former career being recollected. At length, shortly beiore idark, .an, attendant happened to go outside, the gate, and there found the missing, patient lying on the road, his feet decorated with a pair of splendid new boots, tuo his leg broken,.she uulu.ky pati.ut in a state-oi-drunken coma, wi.ih a half-emptied bottle of brandy tightly clasped in his arms. He was duly auend.d to, aud is going on edl

right, bat stoutly refuses to divulge the name of the publican, who so improperly i.(he being -j_, . well-known character) supplied him with the liquor which caused his untimely downfall. ; " ' ' 'The Good, Old JDats-^f Maobido-1 —Moat 'of lis ih Ne?f Zealand nowaday], have very little idea of the New „Zet<--«fd^o£rhaifr9yeentifir^lßg£\ '^_j;'ofV;thb ; > al rahg-i akp'.riei-c.- _&>_he--ve%*- early v settlers, most of whom have closed their eyes, on this world's .doings, -for .ever. Ls(Sie scraps of. -fridehoa occasionally crop up, however, to mark some .singular feature in .he early iiistopy of the colony since .'Europeans first came here. We have been -shown a very singular document in connection wittj an equally aiagulir contract. entered inj to between a European sattler and a Maori chief over 45 years ago. It is ■jasfdUhHf's;:-^ :*'/Thisas/tq^VtT^'ti__it-I, TaSPo'tai • ddrg_Vd hpwd "renounce 'for ever all claim- to "Tahe my slave, to Mr Cha. Baker, incqnsidaratipn of pay-! ment in kind as undermea-! tipped, being 2 blankets j ; in ; testimony! whereof I bave here unto afiised my mark. — Dflcemher 7, 1831." Here! follows the mark of TeJPotai,Aiadjigaa-; ture of tbe witnesses-*^; Ohap-j .-caan -add John ' Hobbs. It appears! ih\i Potai was a poweriul chief! fin ; those days, when -it we.B '-aj common custom td ; (kill.LJroaV^ > aad ; eat natives of low : . degree /ior small! offences. Tahe was a slave, and having I ! been sentenced- to.death by &h&slmighty \ ; Pofai; whQqa^slav? 'he's. wsjs> jv^d.u_d Vvery I ! aoon.have been despatched to. happy! 4-mting grounds but for the' inter- i S position of MrCtfa'rlea Baker, father of! , Mr E. Baker,. now Clerk of tlie Resi-: i dent Magistrate's Court. Mr Baker; j purchased Tahe for two blankets, and! I set him at liberty.— Wellington Times. \ ■r Tjie iron workers *of Duna-jinrhaye j&splved iorward-\-t_^rLfbliow.i.g jj petitition to Parliament: -^ , Vff l o" l -the i Honorable tbe Speaker atfd members ' of the Houae of JEtdpresentativ.es in Parliament assembled ■: ... The petition ot the undersigned artisans and others humbly sho weth—That we, your "petitioners, feel aggrieved .at Jbe_injuatice being -done ta Us by the importation o_ manufactured .tnateri_.(s Irom foreign p^rtSt since so; manyrof.oiJLP. dla'gaJ fiakve come out here Mnder.ti-e Public Worka and Imigration Scheme. That we were led- to uuderst-iad that we .should find constant ecap.oy_aaa_6 at outseveral trades, but' we have found nothing but disapbintment, and a : great number of ua are necessity gotog idle. Your petitioners thereby humbly pray that ail railway plant, iron flhip- ; building, engineering, and. all4roh-4ud brass' inouUimg required for public service may be mauafactured in the colony, and that tenders be invited i for. all euoh materials requisite ior. lhe public service. Aud your petitioners, .aa in duty bound, will ever pray." f The farmer should pride himself , upoahis well-kept and productive, gar-" den. Do uot cling to the idea that you 'must retain the same old spot used by your fattier aud graudfathe., but strike out for aoia. new location, away from the httildiugs, aud whero the, -vegetables can be sowed in long rows, ana theu a horse aud cultivator can by urted:io keep -down tue weeda — thus enabling you to _aye a deal ot . labor while you pan- raise muou better crops. — _Y. __?.•' Farmer. No man should be allowed to own an 7 animal who does not show towards it care and kindness. How oitenjdo wel see men and even women, beat and abuse milch cows for the most trivial-j-biug. As long as a cow is : made to btand in dread of her owner, .trembling . ivhile being. milked, in fear of a sudd. u severe lush, juet ap . long will that co» (ail to give Btttiaittction -at the pail. How muoh better also to have your Animals gentle, so that you can approach And; handle td'eui;. eveu . in She fields, ; (jhau that they leinaiu wild, and eve. i|.ady .to • ruu atyouricomViig.- i -i-_re»- ~\ tyi'e'ky Live stock Eecord. ■ - {! Si