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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 159, 3 July 1878, Page 4

Since the war, says an exchange, France has not been devoting all her energies to strengthening . the riiilitary power of the country. The developments of agriculture set afoot with liberality by the late Emperor have been followed up closely by the country. In no part of Europe is agricultural education more earnestly taught than in France ; in no country is a taste for agricultural pursuits more systematically developed in the young. The instructions issued to village as well as town schoolmasters are :— First, aim at fitting your piipila for citizens; next, imbue them with a taste for rural pursuits ; above all, obliterate that growing evil, the tendency of farmers' sons to leave the country for the town. Decided success has followed these precepts in the village schools. The practice there ia for the teacher to read, expound, and experiment in a familiar manner with the rudiments of agricultural operations ; there are special schools where the science can be followed up. Successful teachers receive bonuses from the General Government, and in many cases from local societies. The testing of seeds is becoming a special avocation of the school teachers, and specimens of improved fowls! pigeons, and rabbits flow in upon them The girls in the country schools are taught their departments of the life of the farmhouse — the dairy, cooking, account keeping, rules of health, &c. It is from such sources that the extraordinary vitality of France ia makingiitself felt, and the country is becoming wealthy in men and material to an (extraordinary degree. Judging by ihe Agricultural Departmentr repbrtiT that reach us, the France of to-day is actually proud of her agricultural advancement. May it long continue so !

A Wellington trader has imported a machine for trimming wall paper before it is used. It is a new invention patented by Pirie and Groom, of Dundee: is small and handy, being fixed' on the shop counter, and worked by a small handle like a hand sewing Machine. It unrolls the paper, cuts bjoth edges, and re -rolls the paper at the same time— any child could work it. The New Zealander says the machine is 1 indeed a model of simplicity, and the wonder is that the scissors should h ! ave held sway for so long a time.

Some slight excitement waß produced m Paris lately by the putting up for sale, at the great auction rooms in the Rue Drouot, of a Stradivarius violin of 1709 which eventually fetched the sum of £884. While the sale was going on, and the bids had brought up the price of the instrument to £740, a table was upset, and several persons were thrown down, creating a great confusion and uneasiness in the room, whereupon the auctioneer exclaimed with the utmost earnestness, " Ladies and gentlemen —pray do not be uneasy! It is not the violin that has been thrown down!"

Fur has been flying in the Mataura district, says the Sun. On Mr Bell's estate there have been killed this year in one large paddock 11,600 rabbits.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed." Keep a bottle of Ghollah's Aperient Mixture in the house. You can never tell how soon or how suddenly you may be seized with sickness. A doae or two of this safe and invaluable medicine would put right very quickly. Ask at the Chemists for Giiollah's Gheai Indian Cures."—Melbourne, 23rd August, 1870. Sir,-I have much pleasures in bearing, testimony to ; the value of your Indian Aperient. I had been suffering for time from a very painful ulcer on txxy leg, and my general

health was much deranged. From the favourable reports made to me of the efficiency nf Ghollah'a Great Indian Cures, I was induced to try the Aperient Mixture, and I have no hesitation in stating that I found it to produce a most beneficial effect. I found my health and general system much improved; and I am happy to be able to add that the very severe ulcer from which I was suffering the most intense agony, ia quite healed, (Signed) C. F. Dbnkikg.