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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 258, 31 October 1877, Page 2

Under the heading "A curious coincideuce " the Wellington correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Telegraph recently wrote as follows: —There are in New Zealand only two men who have been struck off the roil of Justices of the Peace. In all probability Mr Mackay will make a third, now that he has been imprisoned for tbe assault on Mr Hislop. Curiously enough, both the two who have previously been struck off are concerned in this case. The first is Mr Pharazyn, J.L\ In 1854 he was removed from the roll. His name, however, was again placed on the roll a few years ago, and he sat on the bench during the heariug 'of a portion of Mr Mackay's case. Tbe second is Mr Macandrew, who will in his official capacity as a Minister have to decide whether the name of Mr Mackay shall still be followed by the letters " J.l\" Many years ago, when Superintendent of Otago, Mr Macaudrew was found guilty of several grave charges, and condemned to imprisonment His name was struck off the roll, but before that was done he managed a sharp piece of business, unique in its way. As superintendent he had the right of declaring any place a gaol. He accordingly declared his own house it prison, and then, exercising his right as a visiting justice to' order the removal of any prisoner, ordered his own removal to his own house. It will be remembered that when he was elected to the House there was (Oimderable opposition to his taking his seat, and the whole story was theu revived. We (7'imant Herald) have never seen blight birds more numerous in this neighborhood than they are at present. From every hedge and field they start in myriads, and may be seen ruuuing about the road in every direction. Seeing that is only some twelve or fourteeu years since they first made their appearance in the colony, their iucrease is a I matter of wonder. Another strange fact in j connection with them is that they are of a [ much brighter plumage than when they were first seen in New Zealand The Sydney correspondent of the Olago Djily Time* says:—" Your lady readers may be interested iu learning that ladies indulge in boat pulling round the lovely harbor of Sydney. Sir Hercules ltobinson's daughters. Mrs St. John and Miss Naida, take sculling exercise almost daily, and promise to become proficients. Both ladies pull the double oar quite artistically. Under the tuition of a Government waterman, the measured mile was lately done by Mrs St. John with a light steerer, in 9 mins 30secs, and by her sister, with a heavy steerer, in llmius 30secs. This 13 considerably more healthy in the way of exercise than ' doing the block.' " The Indian Government are notifyiug that they are prepared to purchase about 600 horses suitable for army purposes during the year 1877-78, and about the same number in the following year. Horses and mares of all breeds will be received within the prescribed age of 4to 7 years. The average price for a remount has been fixed at 550 rupees, or £55 in our money ' The new Japanese ironclad built in Eng- i land has nine inches of armor and a ram is j 220 feet in length, and will, it is estimated, lave a speed of 30 knota au hour.

Truth wants to know what distinction there is between placing a battery at a couple of miles distance from an invading army and propelling by means of gunpowder! pieces of iron to wound and destroy soldiers that form it, and introducing poison into wells where they quench their thirst, after slaying their opponents. A singular circumstance has been related to a southern exchange by a gentleman named Thompson. A yonng horse belonging to him, which has been running in a paddock had tha misfortune to get part of its mane, which was a large knotted entangled mass, into its mouth and by some unaccountable means the hair got twisted round the animal's teeth, securing it as firmly as if it had been tied with a rope. For two or three days the animal must hare remained in this uucomfortable position, unable either to eat or drink. Fortunately a neighbor caught sight of the poor brute, and at once informed Mr Thompson of the occurrence.- Immediate steps were then taken so liberate it, and in the courae of an hour the animal was able to roatn about in search, of pasture.