Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 160, 4 July 1878, Page 2

In acknowledging the receipt of a large number of communications in reference to its article on Judge Bathgate, the Times says: — " We have purposely and scrupulously refrained from publishing them, considering that we have done our duty in giving expression in tha gentlest terms to the feelings in the public mind that have beeu struggling for utterance. We take credit for very considerable forbearance in this, for not only have our motives ia attending to the matter been misrepresented, but our right to touch on it at all has been impudently called in question. We claim the right to handle any matter affecting the public interest, and have only to say tbat if similar forbearance to that which we have shown is not exhibited in dealing with our exceedingly temperate and considerate treatment of the subjet, we shall grasp it more firmly." A Sydney telegram to the Post dated June 29, says: — A man named O'Keefe, a painter by trade, residing at Williamstown, has, claimed to be the rightful heir to the estate, ' valued at £5,000,000, left by the O'Keefe j who died jneitate in India. '

Saya tho Hokitika Star of the 10th in siant :— Some of tbe most splendid ore ever yet got from the Rangitoto silver mine waa brought up yesterday, and was on view at Messrs Pollock and Reven's once to-day. It is simply loaded with silve", and were similar samples to be obtainable throughout the mine, the glorias of the Bonanza would pale before it. This is hardly probable, but it is satisfactory to know that the reef is widening, and that all indications are highly favorable. We congratulate the shareholders on their prospects.

The Wellington Times Of Monday has the following paragraph:— Captain Bollard, of the schooner Uno, gave information to the police last night that a man had sold him a first-class overcoat for the small sum of 10s. Suspecting that the man bad not come by it honestly, Captain Bullard thought it proper to inform the police of the matter, so that in the event of its being stolen ifc might be restored to the owner. The man who sold tbe coat to the captain is a well-known character to the police, and is now in custody. A Napier paper states i— "lt is understood the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse will arrive in New Zealand from England in time to take his seat in the. Legislative Council, next session of Parliament. In conuectioaiwjth'this, it is stated that the Grey Cabinet, is. not a "happy family,", and it that changes in the Cabinet, so far as the Legislative Council is concerned, will take place as soon as Parliament meets next month." An inventor named Bailey, of Indiauopolis, United States, has sent to England, and proposes placing at the disposal ofthe War Office, a wonderful specimem of a Gatling gun. This formidable engine of destruction is guaranteed to fire from 1000 to 1500 shots per minute, ao directed as to sweep a whole line. It is also entirely self-loading. "'- Mr J. Smith, of Blenheim (say the Express), is about to start another industry in Picton, by commencing v the curing of herrings in a different mariner to any Before' tried here. The promoter is having the necessary appliances constructed for preserving fish in a similar manner to sardines, and he believes that a ready sale can be effected in the Colonial market for goods of prime description. The herrings, so far as we can learn, .vill be put up in one or two pound tins, and will oe prepared In a variety of ways If the speculation answers as it is anticipated, employment will be afforded to some 12 or 14 persons. A shop for the sale of horse, donkey, and mule flesh, on the model of those already existing in France, Belgium, aud Italy, has been opened in Castle-aireet, Leicester Square, saya the European Mail of May 16. The event created an unusual amount of excitement in the neighborhood, and demonstrations of aversion continued throught the day ou the part of a rough mob. So much was this the case that half-a-dozen police constables were engaged in keeping the roadway clear for the ordinary traffic, and in preventing an anticipated disturbance. In appearance and cleanliness the place is a vast improvement on the ordinary butchers' shops | of the neighborhood, and uo pains appear to have been spared to render the meat as attractive as possible. Sides of horse, doukey, and mule, decorated with tinsel and holly, and certified by a veterinary surgeon's certificate to be those of healthy animals, were hung round the shop, forming a background to a large number of joints of all sizes, besides a quautity of sausages and sausage meat. The price of the joints ranged from Yd to 6d per lb. Those who became purchasers consisted for the most part, if not exclusively, of foreigners, to whom this meat was evidently on old acquaintance. A writer in the Sydney Homing Herald, describing a visit to the Hot Lakes district, says:— " History affords no parallel to the atrocities committed by these blood-thirsty savages, the Maoris, whose invariable proceeding after a massacre, immaterial how great the number, waa to devour and to gorge themselves to repletion. Human flesh and fern root formed the banquet ou which theyand their dogs feasted and fattened; occasionally, even to fastidiousness, would they construct the ovens wherein to cook their victims, and after their disgusting symposium would indulge in carving and cutting flitches from the larger bones to serve as mementoes of their sickening achievements. Incident upon incident is recorded of these ruthless and remorseless savages; of one demon of authority, who invariably banqueted on the flesh of children; of another chief, who was victorious, having slain with bis own hand 250 of the captives, in order that tbey might be prepared for the ovens. It is said that as he sat on the ground the unfortunate wretches were, one by one, dragged to the spot and their heads placed within his reach, and that be despatched them successively by a single blow on the skull with a celebrated ' mere pounamu,' now in the possession of his 3on, the present Maori King."