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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 176, 24 August 1878, Page 2

In consequence of Mr W. G. Grace coming on to the Oval as Midwinter was going in to bat against Middlesex, and insisting on his (Midwinter's) playing for the county of Gloucestershire, the Australians decline to take part in any other match in which Mr W. G. Grace plays. A Melbourne exchange says:— The latest flaw in the Education Act has just been discovered. A man who had been fined by the Hamilton Bench for not sending his child to school appealed to the Supreme Court to prohibit the Justice enforcing the order, on the ground that there was no evidence that he was the parent. The Court held that the omission was fatal, and the order as prayed for was granted. According to Launcelot, " Ifc is a wise father that kuows his own child;" but here the. Supreme Court demands that local benches and truanfc officers shall show wisdom that is hardly expected from an ordinary father. The case will be a warning to justices not to take things on trust. The Post has the following regarding the new beer tax: — The brewers and publicans' new liquid measure may be thus stated: — Three drinks, one pint; two pints, one cpiajt;

four quarts, pr twenty-four drinks, one gallon. Even &t 3d per glass each gallon yie'ds 6s, and the ptice wholesale is 2s, which, with the l^d added for duty, makes" 2s lid, for what Gs is received over the bar counter, to say nothing of thfe sixpenny glasses in the j bar parlor and elsewhere. Considering these ! facts, what is all this publicans' froth about? Mr Cutteu was very funuy at the expense of the fair sex in tlie House last night. Arguing that if women received the franchise they could not be shut out from theJHouse, he drew a humorous picture of one bon. female member carrying a bill through, the House while another bon. lady woilld be cafrying' her little Bill through the bedrdom. While the ladies were sitting on committees their unfortunate husbands would have to remain at home to make the beds and mind the babies. Then again, with a female franchise another Bribery Act of a novel and most stringent nature would tiave to be passed. If public-houses were closed on the pollingday to prevent men being bribed by drinks, the drapers' shops would also ha*, to be compulsorily shut up, to prevent tbe female voter being — well, "complimented bv a present." Kissing would also have to be decleared illegal, or else what chance would old fogies have against handsome young dogs who could cozen and flatter and say sweet thiugs with all the airs and graces of a Lothario? Bald-headed gentleman wouldn't have a chance except under the Hare system, which perhaps accounted {for the introduction of Mr Whitaker _ bill. In short, Mr Cutten kept the House in a roar for ten minutes, and the ladies in the gallery appeared to enjoy his fun uot one whit less thau the sterner sex.— Post. An ounce of proof (says the Post) is worth a pound of vague assertion. So thought the House yester.lay, when Major Atkinson, in zealously defending Colonel Gorton, the veteran brander, declared that the gallant Colonel never injured anything with his branding-irojs. " Try and use this," was the practical commentary of Mr Shrimski, as he handed to Major Atkinson an ebony ruler, utterly spoiled by the broad arrow being stamped in the middle.