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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 143, 14 June 1878, Page 2

Duriug his tour in India, Mr. Roberts, the champiou billiard player, was presented by the Maharajah of Joypoor with a beautiful gold cup and saucer, of Oriental workmanship, weighing 18029. The Indiau princes and aristocracy generally, are, it seems, passionately fond of billiards, and Mr Roberts says they have the finest billiard-tables in the world. The champiou was, of course lionised during his Indian tour, and it was in recognition of his skill with his cue that the Maharajah made him this handsome present. Mr Roberts frequently played at the palatial residence of the Maharajah. The cup and saucer are highly ornameutsd in the Urieutal fashion, and are set off with nearly 7o Indian diamonds. A few days ago we published a Press Ageucy telegram relative to certain changes that it was alleged were to be made in the Resident Magistrate's Courts. With reference to this the Post of Wednesday sayg: We have the authority of the Government for asserting that the statements in the telegram are entirely without foundation. The real state of the case is this; — The Government do not contemplate disusing any of the Resident Magistrates who are not lawyers. Jn one or two instances Resident Magistrates who are over age will retire on their pensions, and their places will he filled by younger men, who, if possible, will be qualified legal practitioners. Tha Government recognise the advisability, of conferring such appointments on trained lawyers, aud in filling up vacancies this will bo kept in view. The Government also desire to extend the District Court system wherever advisable, and in the case of the people of any district desiring the sittings of such a Court to be held, the request will have due consideration. But in so extending jtho District Court system, it is not .contemplated to dispense with the Resident Magistrates' Courts which now exist in various parts of the provincial districts. Nor is it ', intended, at present, to strike off the roll those J.P.'g who do not attend to their magisterial duties. It is quite possible, however,; that .'«. step in this direction may ultimately be taken, iv the case of the drones who now cumber the roll of the Commission of the , Peace. - ' Letters written a few days bbfofe the death of the late Bishop of Lichfleld, have beeu received from England, from which it appears that this good and great man was faithful to his work to the last. He had been suffering for a few mouths from an internal complaint, which caused some pain and much irritation. He, however, fought against it, but a telegram arriving conveying the news of the death of Mrs Selwyu, wife of the Bishop of Melanesia, at Norfolk Island, to whom he wag much attached, he appeared much shaken. -..: Nevertheless, he insisted upon going down into Shropshire to work, as if nothing was the matter with him. While so engaged ha at last utterly broke down, and gave iv, having dove himself much injury by attempting to carry on his work when suffering from disease. When at last obliged to retire from work, from absolute exhaustion, his usual playi'jl and cheerful humour, which he never lost under any circumstances of difficulty or danger, did not now abandon him, and he remarked to his friends : "I trust the Diocese will not consider me guilty of malingering." On liia return to Lichfleld, he was compelled to lake to his bed, from which he never rose again.— New Zeahndcr. A very good story (writes the " Loafer in the street ") comes from a place not five thousand miles from Christchurch, It was decided to give a bachelors' ball A secretary was appointed. He issued' inyitationa with the usual R.S.V.P. at the foot ' of the card. Two neighbors in the squatting interest, who had both received invite*, met and consulted solemnly over the four niystic letters. Long and intent was their.conference, but not agreeing over the diseiM*ion the mult was that one accepted the invita^tion, signing his name Peter Pelts, JR.S;V.P., while the other addressed the letter, signifying his happiness in attending — Blank, Esq., R.S.V.P. On their return they compared notes, aud oue thoughtfully observed, " Pelta, we was mistaken about that there R.S.V.P. It means 'Really satisfactory ventilation provided."' Aud both hoped the Secretary would not split on them. "Anglo. Australian," 'writing about the' visit of the Australian cricketers to England, says:— "A3 usual, there has been the old confusion in uniuformed, though by no means uninfiuential, circles, as to whether the men are black or white, aud many hare been the queries which have been addressed to Australians upon this subject, but all fear of a cannibal outbreak has been dispelled Jby the assurance that they are men of like complexion and degree with ourselves." ..' How's .That for High ?— -Probably most girls hava fult so, says an American content porary, but few of them have ever had the grace to express it iv this way: — "She frankly declared that the first time a coat-sleeve encircled her waist, she seemed to be in a pavilion built of rainbows the window-Rills of which were composed of JEolian harps," i

■; There is a sort of gushing enthusiasm in tho. following telegram from ;the Rev. JDr Somervilleto the Revi Mr Hinton/of ! the Thames, on the occasion of his final departure from New Zealand, which is quite refreshing: " Bluff, May 30.— Rev. Mr Hinton, Secretary U.E. Committee, Grahamstown.— Embarking for Tasmania. Thanks for Thames lovo. ' Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.' Zealand : a, farewell I— Somerville. When Mr Gladstone was in Ireland last, year he travelled on one occasion mug. to the County of Wicklow in a third-class carriage, to see what the peasant : classes were like. He got into chat with a frieze-coated fellow passenger, and the conversation turned on Irish landlords. The ex-Preinier'a companion denounced in unmeasured' language nearly all the landlords in the country. Lord Leitrim'B name was mentioned. '• Be Jabers, your houour," said Mr Gladstone's informant, " he's the worst landlord in all Oireland." " Then how is it," Baid tho author of the Irish Land Act?" that )he basXiibt been shot ?" «« Begad I dun jkno||, yofurlworship," sad Paddy, " except, maybel, sor, 'it's bekase what's every man's business is nobody's busineaa."~Age. Many explanations have been given of the word "teetotal," but the following is the correct one. Among the early converts was Richard Turner, a hawker ' of fish; whose speech was fluent, if tiipt^refinSd. ;! Richard would coin words to express hie meaning when others bailed. About twelve months after the total abstinence pledge was first signed by Joseph Livesey and six other men of Preston, and while the controversy with those who only abstained from spirits was still warm, Richard delivered a fervid speech, in which he spoke against any half measures, and declared that " nothing but the te-te--total would do." Mr Livesey, who was present, at once cried out, " That shall be the name!" The meeting chf>eretl,^BHd from that time the word '' teetotal" : yika everywhere applied to ent/rd a*' cofltraSJied witli partial abstinence. — Liverpool Coiirttr. There is a French lady up in Auckland who pretends to tell the fortunes of foolish young women, and relieves them of their money as her fee for doing sd. This lady wa3 recently prosecuted under the Vagrant Act for doing ■■ this, and duly mado her appearance in the Auckland Police Court. Mr Pardy said the defendant had been in the habit of telling fortunes to empty-headed young women, and frequently to foolish men, who wanted to dive into mysteries of the future. Defendant had pretended to. tell;, the r< ;f6j:tunes of some of her dupes', who crtisied her hand with a piece of silver. He didnot wish to press the charge, but it was necessary for her to know that such practices must be stoped. The Magistrate cautioned and discharged the defendant. It is astonishing how many ; foolish and superstitious people? exiit in this age of enlightenment. The Maoris, too, it appear* go in for " the Book of Fale^ " a catch-penny publication that -used to be sold in the streets at Home. The Auckland Star says :— During last session the Maori members might frequently be seen in out of the way parts of the Parliament BuHdings at Wellington engaged in the study of a myßteriouß M.S.S On examination this would prove to be 'Napoleon's Book of Fate,', which had been translated in Maori by an interpreter, to the order of the Hon. Hoaui Nahe. Wo learn that the catch-penny book,' the authorship of which was attributed to Napoleon by some speculative mountebank, has taken a strong hold on the minds of the natives, who now propose to have it printed in the Maori language for general circulation. The plan of the book is so ingenious as to easily deceive n ly ignorant and credulous people like the Maoris."— Post Yesterday a ragged, shivering, middle-aged man called at a house in Sibley-street aud i*o: food, but the lady of the house called out, " Why don't you work for your food ?'* "I would if I knew, where I could find work," he promply replied. "There's a place down town where you can saw wood and earn your dinner," she continued. That seemed to stick him for half a minute, but he finally said, with great solemnity, " Madam, let me state a parallel case. ' There is a place in heaven for you, but you don't want to die till you are driven right to it." She pondered over his philosophy for a few seconds, and then called to the cook to pass out a half a loaf of bread i nd some meat.— Detroit Press. Mr Douald Reid., late M.H.R. has applied for an auctioneer's license. The Daily Times says:— "We have no doubt that many of our readers will be interested in observing by our advertising columns t) at Mr D. Reid, late member for Taieri, is buckling on his armour as • Knight of th« Hammer.' Many there, are who fnay have felt inclined, like ourselves, to warmly comment sometimes, on various portions of his political actions; but we do not hesitate to say, there is not one in Otago ;who will not heartily wish him success inhis new carfeer. We would further venture to -say Miafc he will feel more peace and happiness in the new career, than he has found -in th« thorny paths of politicial life. The life of our auctioneers seems a very jolly one, if we may judge from the contented/genial, rubicund faces which they bear; and we sincerely hope, that through attendance at sales,. Mr Reid may become one of the heartiest of the whole jolly crew." - , ..