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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 121, 22 May 1878, Page 2

The mineral resources of the Collingwood district (says the New Ze-tlander) appear to be enormous. Judge Ward, who recently visited it, was not looking after either the golden ores of the Phconix Mine, the coal of the Para Para, or the silver mines of Richmond Hill. His mission had reference to iron, for with others ho is interested in the conversion, by a patent process, of the Hematite ore, which abounds at Para Para, into paint. For this Hematite paint there is a great demand, and the manufacture is to be carried out on a large scale.

A claim at Wetherstones, Otago, which a short time ago was bought for fourteen shillings, has just turned out in a patch, one hundred and eighty-five ouuees of gold.

The total value of the dogs at the recent show at Christclnuch was, we learn from the Sun, fifty thousand pounds. One gentleman found on exhibition a dog which had been Btolen from him.

In Wellington last Wednesday night, the force of wind was terrific, greater even than in the severe gale of the 30th ult., the anemometer showing a mean velocity of about 50 miles per hour, which was fully double iv squalls. The lightning and rain too were tremendous. Yet only a small amount of damage was done to the shipping, although some of the houses in town suffered as to their windows, roofs and chimneys. It is intended (says the Christchurch Press) to import a string binder in time for next season in connection with the McCormick reaper and binder, iv order to show that the biudiug with string cannot be carried out practically. It has been tried in America, but failed, the cord breaking from the swelling after the sheaves are stooked. Farmers who wish to avail themselves of the reapers aud hinders must, therefore, use wire until something is devised to prevent the string breaking as described.

The following conversation is reported to have taken place between a gamekeeper and a patient looking through the iron gate of a Canadian lunatic asylum :— Patient : That's a fine horse ; what is it worth ? Keeper : Five hundred dollars. Patient: And what did that gun cost ? Keeper : One hundred dollars. Patient : And those clogs ? Keeper: Eighty dollars, [ believe. Patient : What have you got in the game bag ? Keeper : A woodcock. Patient : Well, now, you had better hurry on, for if our governor catches a man who has spent 680 dollars to get a woodcock worth thirty cents, he'll have him under lock and key in no time I tell you. — Canada Globe.

Alfales Young and Earnest Young, polvgainous children of the late Brigham Young, have filed a complaint in the Third District Court, Utah, in which they allege that John Taylor, a' trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, claim, in behalf of the Church, 990,000 dollars from the estate of the deceased. They deny the validity of the claim, and ask that the administrators of the estate be restrained from disposing of any property towards liquidating the same. Illegitimate children under the laws of the Territory, inherit equally with the legitimate.

An English paper says.- — "Eight times has Turkey been in danger from Russia; twictj, in 1711 and 1739, she saved herself by the force of her own arms ; twice, in 1774 and 1829, she has been saved by the plague; once in 1807 she has been saved by accidental circumstances; and three times — 1791, 1812, and 1853 — has she been saved by the intervention of other powers.

A writer in the Lender tells the following anecdote of the great match between Fifteen and Eleven of Australia :— An amusing incident occurred during this match, which I do not think has seen the light previously. In the early part of the second innings, whilst the brothers Eaunerman were together, the younger called a run, which C. Bannerman responded to, but was then ordered back. Haviug gone too far to retreat, and finding his brother standing unmoved in his crease, the elder brother exercised his birthright, and catching hold of the younger by the collar dragged him out of his ground which he himself then immediately occupied with the remark, "You're better out than I am." The result was that A. Bannerman lost his wicket, but his side won the match. Such an instance of presence of mind on an emergency deserves to be recorded.

'■ The Vagabond" writes in the Sydney Echo •. " There's nothing like jerking a lot of law at the public. I remember weli how my friend and deliverer, Sergeant Sleigh, overcame the Bench at Brunswick, that time I was charged with giving tobacco to the prisoners at Pentridge, I was of course guility of this horrid crime, and would have paid a small fine or taken a few days imprisonment like a man. But I heard that I was to be prosecuted for my article on Pentridge prison, and that the authorities were jubilant. And there were other reasons which impelled me to fight the case. So Sergeant Sleigh was instructed. Escorted by a fow chosen friends, we drove to Brunswick, after a grand breakfast at the birdcage. It might have been my last for three months, so i made t!,e most of it. My trust in the learned sergeant was not misplaced. The case was never opened. He took the summons and turned it inside out, he proved that the Crown Solicitor knew no law — that there was no such offence as that with which I was charged— that I was a wronged, and an injured man. It was beautiful to listen to him. He brought in printed authorities by the score, and commenced (o quote them. The seven magistrates on the Bench had no idea there was so much law in the world. One turned sick and went home. Two more slipped out and had several drinks. The rest waited. Towards the third hour Sergeant Sleigh said, " Gentlemen, before reading you extracts from these/ pointing to another cartload of books just brought in, ' I may say that if you hear this case, I shall apply for a mandamus against you.' 'Good heiivens ! What's that ?" said ono J.P. to another. The Bench threw up the sponge, and I left triumphantly. ' I don't understand this at all.' said the vigilant officer who had charge of the case ; ' sure he's no more than I am. He's only a sarjint like myself, and yet they wouldn't let me open my mouth.' "

An old lady, more noted for piety than learning, left her native Highlands for a short visit to Edinburgh. While there, she was taken to see the various public places of interest, and among them Holyrood Palace and the Chapel Royal. After having shown her and her friends some of the resting places of the Scottish kings, the guide at length stopped short at a particular tomb, " And this is the tomb of King David ," on hearing which announcement, the old woman become greatly excited, and clasped her hands, and casting her eyes heavenwards, gasped out, in wondering accents, " Eh, sir d'ye tell me so ? Eh, did I ever think my auld ee'u would see sick a glorious sight ? Au, is it here where the great Psalmist rests? An' whar is Saul's tomb, an' oh, whar does Solomon, the glory of Judah an' Israel, rest? Hae ye got their banes here tae?"

The cry of the day is the crisis ; that of the night is the baby. Never give an infant a knife in case it should cut its teeth. If n. child is troublesome send it to a nursery garden ; if the nurserymaid cannot manage it, the nurseryman may. It is the father's duty to feed his children , remember that he is their pap-pa. It is vulgar to nod ;if your wife ' bobs ' her head you needn't. Jars and broils should always be confined to jams and beefsteaks. If your wife asks for a shawl, give her one, especially if she says that she shawl have it. When the baby walks give it a perambulator. If your wife dresses your dinner nicely, let her dress herself as well, tt is only a brute that beats his wife : therefore never countenance a husband having recourse to a club. The beat check for the milliner's bill is a cheque for the amount. Domestic felicity consists iv unbounded faith in cold meat and pickles. The poor house at Kew York was recently burned down, and fifteen lives were lost. An insane pauper set. fire to the building, which was of brick. The inmate 9 were unable to escape. The details of the terrible accident are blood-curdling. Over forty were rescued, and several escaped by their own efforts. Thescene at the ruins wes sickening. Nearly all the windows were grated, and there was but one mode of egress from each storey. All the partitions were of pitch pine and burned like tinder. The upper storey was occupied by twenty-five women and children, and the lower story by eighteen men, the majority idiotic or criples and very aged. In five minutes from the time of the alarm the paupers ceased coming out, and half-an-hour afterwards the roof fell in.

The American correspondent of the Melbourne Aye writes : — " The Communistic agitation, which less than a year ago was at ferer heat, has nearly died out, its decease being accelerated by the worse than useless labour riots of last July. Labour aud capital ■will more along side by side in the near future in this country, whanerer the ring system shall be destroyed, or even discredited, by an enlightened public opinion. Working men can see very clearly that the idea of improving their condition "by the bullet is an absurdity, when the ballot is in their hands; and they propose to cut loose from Republicans and Democrats alike."

It is said that the female clerks employed by the London aud North Western Eailway Company do their work better than the male clerks, aud still they receive smaller salaries.

From the report for the year 1877 of the ironworks of Herr Krupp, at Es3en, recently issued, we take the following :— Krupp employs 8,500 nieu in his cast-steel works which contain 298 boilers and steams engines, with 11,000 horse-power; 77 steata hammers, from 2to 1,000 cwt. each. In 24 hours the works can produce what would be required for 1 2 Euglish miles of railways, in wheels, rails, axles, springs, and 1,500 shells besides. In one month 300 can be made in these works. Since 1847, 15,000 cannons hare been cast in Krupp's works. 36,000 cwt. of coke and coal are used every day. 21,000 gas jets are lit every day. The conveyauce within the works is carried on by a railway net, extending over 60 kilometres, with 24 engines and 700 cars, Forty-four telegraph stations are within the works,besides a well-regulatea body of firemen and 8 steam fire-engines. Near Meppen, Krupp is having a shooting place prepared for him, which extends over 18 kilometres. In Krupp 's mines for iron and coal, 5,300 men besides are at work. He has mines in the North of Spain which produce 4,000,000 cwt. yearly; they are transported iv five steamers belonging to Krupp. The workpeople, with their wires, number 10,200 persons, who live in 3,277 apartments belonging to the firm.

Some of our Provinc'uil Surveyors (says the Post) have no little experience of <! moving "accidents by flood and field." In a private letter received on Saturday froro ihe West Coast, one of thtin who had been m an expedition up the Turakina River, thus describes how he and his party were discomfited aud put to flit-:hf by n wilti hull. He writes:— "The other day I p.nd (Sve Maoris were coniin» down the Turnkina River in a canoe. We were passing p linle clump of trees growing close to iha siVe of the river, when out there rushed a magnificent specimen of a wild bull, who straightway jumpaJ into the the ehr,!low wafer and " went for " (hs canoe nnd ils occupauis. We werr- only fifteen fret from the shore, on the bull's side, ami co hf ws down upon us almost instantly. It wna a supteme moment. that dull «*b:<rir''d. It was sauve gui peut, urn? " \\\c devil lake the hindmo^i." The M.oris "stood not upon the order of their going," but jumped over board at ouce, and swum for their lives. There wosn't much time to thick, so jus? hs ibe bull ws.s almost upou me, I also took a header and made for a big boulder in the stream, upon which I climbed. Meantime one Maori bad reached the snore, and fha others, wheu they followed, climbed up a small tree, and just as the last one got up if, fc-11 down, fearing up by tbe roots. As loug aa I live I shall never forget the faces of thosp naeu as they picked themselves up from out of tbe boughs of that tree, and looked for th^ buU, who, having ewatuped the canoe, and turned everything in it out into *the water, was swimming over to a-fnik thpm. They made off for (he bush, where they managed to dolgrf th if pursuer, and return one by one so help to fidh our things out of iho wafer an ! help to put. th«:n into the canoe agi.in, after which we went peitceab'y on our way. I was pretty well Beared ht tbe time, but when it was over I laughed (ill my sides ached again."

The Somersetshire Gazette publishes au account of s^ra • of the espisoJes in the Kffir war from a prirafe leUer of a fmtner resign? at Ttunton. The writer who ia broiher-in-la*? of . Mr B iwermau ot Napier, 13 a member of the Cape Mounted Coustabulaiy. The following extract is not devoid of interest: — "Our detachment, consisticg of 55 men, 3 noncoromissisned officers, 3 officers and four seven-pounder euns, marched from head quartets (Komagha), on ihe 18 h August, to a place called Butterworth, where we encamped on the banks of the Dora river. Two dayß afser we arrived a messenger came from Ibeka, stating that the enoray were mustering in great nuoibers at that place. This announcement, together with the order to ' boot and saddle,' caused no little exchemeot among the troops, it being our first ' look 'at the enemy. In less than ten minutes we were oil advancing at a good swinging ean'er, and io halfanhour we were in front of several thousand Kaffirs, who were all armed with assegais and guns of every shape and form. The order being passed that the hrlillary were to clißperte the rahble with » few ' grape Bhoi,' the word of command wis civep, 'Action frou',' whereupon we s'vun» two of tho sevr-u - pouudere into position and loaded. at once, but upon looking for the niggers afspr Jhe pun waa loaded a ludicrous tijjht met our nstonished g&zs>. The whole of the black brutfs hai tursied tuil and fled to a man. Of course we all thought we should ha^e ha-.J thp. Baiiefa-lion of sending after them a f-jw tokens of our affection from .the * little yuna,' but the

order having been given to 'cease firing' before a single shot had been fired, we, of course, bad to remain mufe. This little stratagem. I learned afterwards, wbs meant to frighten (he Knffirs, Ra wnr ct fhst time had not been declnred ; and I mußt certainly pay lhat if produced the desired effect, for never shall I forget the laughable sight of geing between 4000 and 5000 niggers running for deer life, their blankets 6trenmiu» in the wind, and (heir ebony going fifteen to the dczen."

A mon was brought before the Court at Napier lnafc week, having bean arrested by the police for having a deserted wife and family atDunedin. He conclusively proved to the satisfaction of the police and Ibe Court that he was not the rk'ht mun— was a Benedict all his life, and that his arrest had been b blunder. He left the Court happy in the belief that he bed no wife or family to provide for.

Footit went on a walking tour lately towards tbe head waters of the Yorra (writes "iE^les"in the Australasian.) Faint from iack of refreshment, he one evening rejoined to see a bark hut n short riisiauc.e ahead. Oo getting nearer, he observed a gentleman in a blue shirt outside bis moleskin?, nnd with unlaced water-tights endeavouring with both bands to keep the corner of the hut steady. F. I ailed him cheerfully with, "My friend, do they supply good refreshments here ?" Blue shirt etiaiphtened up, smiled » sickly smile, and said " Think so— just look at meand all for a shillirg !" But the attraction was not good enough, and F. strode on.

Mr. J. F. E. Wriehf, theminaein* partner of the West Wangunui Coal Prospering Company (says tbe N. Z. Times) who has just returned from a visit to the miue, reports that the schooner Shepherdess had loaded up with a cargo of coal, and sailed for this port. The Eliz.betli Curie has been chartered, ami will leave with a cargo for here, and may be expected soon after the Shepherdess. Two cargoes havo been sold in Nelson, .delivery to be^ taken at the pit's mouth, the price beift« 18 7. n ton. There is a ready demand for a l:rge quantity, ag the coal is in high fovor in that town, nnd several cargoes would find a market at once. The! shaft is down 53ft with a chamber 10 feet square and the main level hea been entered 53ft. A first-rate seam of coal is being worked, nnd blocks weighing 4cwt. have been taken out. One of tbeae will be placed in the museum on the arrival of the Shepherdess. Those of the shareholders who have been at the mine are highly pleased with its prospects, and speak confidently that it will prove io be of high value. On tbe arrival of the first cargo, it is probable (hat portions oi it will be distributed to persona who will thoroughly test its merits for gas, steam, and domestic purposes. The opening up of so good a mine us this promises to be of great importance, and will prove especially advantageous to Wellington, as almost; the whole of the interest is held here.