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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 106, 4 May 1878, Page 2

" A Country Solicitor" writes The Times : — " We hear much complaint, and with truth, against the evil effects of drink; but I know one instance of its use. An old woman has just died at Ashcott,. Somerset, aged 104 years and 8 months, who has for the last forty year* been found in gin by a client of mine, at an aggregate expense of more than j£2oo. It was given to her to add to her comforts, and under the supervision of the squire of the parish, who testifies to its beneficial effects." The Wairarapa Standard very properly calls the attention of the Minister of Public . Works to the folly and utter absurdity of n»ing imported timber in the construction of railway stations in the Wairarapa, in order that such a stupid and impolitic proceeding may be at once put a stop to. In the specifications for the Featherston station, the contractor is required to use Bali ie deal not only in the construction of the sashes, for which there might be, perhaps, a shadow of an excuse, but also for sash frames, and for sash sills. On this our contemporary sensibly remarks that, if New Zealand is not capable of furnishing material for such work, the sooner railway works are suspended the better. The thing is so monstrous as to be scarcely credible ; but this comes of importing engineers, with their English notions, instead of utilising the services of those resident engineers who know something of New Zealand and New Zealand timber. Given imported en- | gineera, and the importation of other articles which are the indigenous produce of this country follows as a matter of course. — New Zealander, With "reference to His Honour Judge Westen's recent personal inspection at Nelson Creek for the purpose of making himself thoroughly acquainted with the merits of the case, Graham and party v. Sherman and party, a private correspondent of the Grey lliver Argus sendi the following: — I have been twenty year» on the gold-fields, during that time I have never, seen or heard of a judge going on the ground to settle a dispute until Friday last. No doubt the question at issue ia one of great importance, not only to the miners of Nelaon Creek, but to all tha gold-fields in New Zealand where the system of hydraulic working is carried on, and the Judge acted wisely in visiting the ground before deciding this important question upon which the welfare of this district may depend. But is there another Judge in New Zealand or in these colonies who would tuck up his trowsers above his knees, take a sfck in his hand, walk into the water knee deep on a cold day, cross and recross the creek at a dozen of places, and when he came to a deep crossing would jump on to a digger's back as if he was playieg leap-frog, and to crown all, in order to get out of the creek, he had to wedge himself through a long narrow tail-race, about 20ft deep," the water rushing down against hia bare legs at the rate of twelve knots an hour. Before entering this dangerous place one of the diggers remarked it would not be safe to go that way. The Judge said " Go on, I will follow." About forty diggers were waiting- on the bank; when the Judge came out he was greeted with three hearty cheers for big pluck and bravery. By this act of self-sacri-fice Judge Weston has made eternai friends of the miners — they say he is the right man in the right place. Too much praise cannot be given for his brave and manly conduct on this occasion. It may here be remarked that the lawyers who came from Greymouih with the Judge took great care that they would not got their feet wet." :

The Hokitika County Council have tesolved to construct the track from Hokttika to Otago, at a coat of £ I >&00. The Government will Subsidise the work by a vdt'e 6f £3000) and the Vincent County will eive jEioooalao. s The American Chemist says that a Western farmer discovered many yfeari? ago that wood could be made to last lodger taadirbn in the. liAvte up effebfc Bd it. The posts can be nr*. pated for less than two centa a pi ccc ft.";, is the recipes-Take boiled linseed oil and stir it m pulverised charcoal to the consH uency of paint. P ut a coat of this over thl The W«* _ ', »iroa Fra} i J fft M lays down the following as the Walroa attitude towards all and sundry Gaveiflmettts i~" This, we believers efertaidj that the Government which accomplishes one o.f three things,, will earn the gratitude of this county — namely, construct a dray road to" Gisborne 1 or flfapier (perferably the latter); dr vote a slim of money for the improveiiient of the river mouth." Wairoa is not singular in its political principles, but its journal is more candid than most organs of public opinion. ■The strike amongst the masons in Glasgow baused large numbers of them to enlist in tho. army. 400 joined this army in January,and as many its 600 in the two first weeks ia February . ; The Japanese are getting along swimmingly with their post-office department, and hope soon to get it upon a paying basis. For the year ending June 30, 1877, over 38,000,000 articles were carried at a cost of 794,352d015, while the receipts were 697,845 dols. There are now 3,774 postoffices, and the mail routes extend oyer 44,000 miles — a great increase over the figures of 1876. Tiie Japs have all the convenience of postal cards and money orders and are ahead of Us in the postal savings banks, in whith 60,000 dollars are deposited. The great economical point of the Japanese institution is the low salaries of the postmasters which are less than 26d01s each. The Democrat of Dayton, 0., tells the following droll story j— An insurance agent called into an establishment on Main street, tha other day, with a large account book under hit arm, and walking up in a business sort of way he inquired, "How's business — how'a stock ?" " Oh, business is very, very dull," returned the tradesman, "Ton my word, sir, I haven't got £900 in the house ! Terribly dull 1" And he paused and looked inquiringly at his visitor. " Only £900 ?" 3aid the insurance man in surprise "Ton my soul, sir," repeated the dealer, "I don't believe there's a dollar more— look for yourself," and the man looked and sighed. " Then sir said the insurance man, with a good deal of warmth, "how does it come that your stock is insured in our company for £4500? ' Eh?" " O ah ; beg your pardon I" exclaimed the dealer, in great confusion. " I thought you was a tax gatherer, or 'pon my soul, I wouldn't a said that, when in fact my stock is worth fully £8,000." A Dutchman in Canada wa3 relating his marvellous escape from drowning, when 13 of his companions were lost by the upsetting of a boat, and he alone was saved. " And how did you escape from their fate?" asked one of his hearers. " I tid not co in te same pote, " was the Dutchman's placid answer.

In a letter to tlie Auckland morning paper Mr Hugh Carleton makes the following suggestion, and the Herald believes that " every one except the offenders will concur in the doctrine." Mr Carleton says :- " Let there be a graduated scale of suspension from electoral rights, corresponding to the amount of punishment inflicted by legal sentence. Let felony debar from the franchise for life; minor offences for lesser terms, down to the drunkard , whose trifling fine or twenty-four hours' •imprisonment, should not operate beyond the next election." New discovery of gold, a discovery which premises to eclipse and outdo all previous discoveries, is that which has Intely been made in the groat restorer of sick people to sound lienlth. "Ghollah's Great Indian Curbs" is beyond all questioning the most marvellous discovery ; for health is more than gold (> and by the use of these meritorious medicines not only can health be maintained, but persons kid aside by sickness of many years duration are restored to health, and snatched from the jaws of death. Testimonial.— Dunedin, 26th July, 1876. Sir, I have pleasure in stating, for tbe benefit of others, that I have derived the most unexpected eood results from the use of Ghollah's Rheumatism Mixture. I had been suffering from very severe rheumatic attacks for about fifteen years, accompanied by most agonizing pains in my limbs and loins, through which my rest wns much disturbed at night, my appetite very imperfect, and my general health altogether impaired. I am happy to state that lam now free from the pains I had experienced for so many years ; I can sleep well at night, my appetite and general health are much improved, and I can attend to my business and house duties. This happy change has been brought about by the use o£ your Rheumatism Mixture for abont two months. I am, Sir, yours gratefully, (Signed) S. Hickett.