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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 193, 13 September 1878, Page 2

The British Government has caueelled an ordet fol* 40jG00j000 cartridges,- aud Varlotis other indications point to a stoppage of war preparations. The growth df New York hrts absorbed nearly one hundred farms, which, in the beginning of the present century, were uuder cultivation ot* in pasture. The late Edward Wilson,, of the Argus, bought Charles Dickens's famous "vacant chair" for £200. It was soid by auction at Mr Wilson's death for £30. Sic Transit, &c. Probably the oldest married couple in America are Mr and Mrs Robinson of Mountain City, who have lived together eighty-two years. They are 103 and 102 years old re spectively. , It is Stated that aa immense majority of the Russian pebble Ml wfell ris the mercantile community, and the wealtiiy iis well as tbe lower classes, are heartily glad of a return of peace. The Dandola, one of the most powerful ironclads in the world, was successfully launched at Spezzia, Italy. She will be armed with 100 ton Armstrong guvs, carrying projectiles of 2,500 pounds weight. Dr. Jauies Ayer, the patent medicine man, died lately, in Massachusetts, worth a good many millions. Madame de Murska has been 35 years old just fifteen years. Ten thousaud nail-makers iv England have struck fcr au increase of 30 per cent iv their wages, and 10,000 more will join the strike. Grasshoppers are desolatiug many districts of Honduras. Crops disappear before them in a day, and the sparcely populated localities are entirely at their mercy. The Government calls upon the people to unite in some systematic way to drive oil: the destroyers. A party of seal hunters have just returned from Macquarie Island, after suffering great privations. Some terrific seas swept over the island, destroying huts and provisions, •and washing away 18 tons of oil, the labour of a CoUple df months. Fof two weeks the party subsisted on goat's "flesh and weak coffee. Captain Sinclair, formerly of the Geelong, who was in charge of the party, was seriously wounded by the accidental discharge of a gun.

From a medical report of the cause of the death of the young queen Mercedes it appears that the malady from which she was suffering was nervous gastric fever, with intestinal hemorrhage— in plain terms, that means typhoid fever with ulceration of the bowels. Here, then, is another and exceedingly painful illustration of the sanitary conditions of the palaces iv Europe. How many grave maladies, how many startling deaths are traceable to tbe same cause— the defective drainage of great houses! Not only are the great houses badly drained, but elaborate contrivance is made to carry into all the apartments the poisonous gases of cesspools and similar receptacles of rubbish. All is covered up with carving, gilding, frescoes, and fine upholstery, and thus the trap is made attractive. It has been shown over and over again that diseases caused by poisonous emanations, like diphtheria and typhoid fever, are in many cities commoner in the houses of the rich, supplied with "all the modern improvements," than in the houses of the poor, and in Madrid the same lesson is exhibited in its extreme application. Miss M. A. Fidler gave the introductory lecture of her course on " Cookery," at Christchurch, on the 27th ultimo. There was a large attendance of ladies, the gentlemen being decidedly in the minority. On the dais, at the end of the room, Miss Fidler had a gas stove, with the usual display of saucepans, stewpans, &c„ and the various condiments were placed upon the side tables. In front of the audience was a larger tabic, upon which the lecturer mixed her ingredients. Miss Fidler seems to be thoroughly au J ait at her work, the various processes being performed with great deftness and , celerity, whilst her explanations are exceedingly lucid, and given in the plainest possible terms, so as to be thoroughly understood by the students. Being merely of an introductory character, and ouly intended to show the general scope of the lessons, the first lecture merely dealt with a few illustrations. With one exception the articles produced were, strictly speaking, more of the ornamental kind of cookery than the useful. The examples comprised lessons in the art of making stock for soup, beef olives, apple charlotte, soda biscuits, and orange fritters. At the conclusion of the lesson the various articles cooked were closely examined by those present, and pronounced excellent. Miss Fidler has been very successful in obtaining a large number of scholars.

Referring to the conclusion of the business of the Peace Congress at Berlin, the New York Herald says .-—"Whatever English politicians may think of Earl Beaconsfield's policy, business men approve ot it as an assurance of peace. Business is reviving, new enterprises aro begun, and there is a general expectation of better times. This feeling will have a beneficial influence here also, because larger purchases will be made of our products for general consumption and for manufacturing purposes. England is one of our most important customers. If she had gone to war, she would, of course, for awhile have bought heavily of us, but if she remains at peace, and if there is no war in Europe, the ability of the people to consume will be far greater, and permanently greater, and this is to our advantage. While tho' world is at peace it is nowadays always getting richer; when it goes to war it is made very sensibly poorer. A European war would have created an immediate demand in England for all disposable capital; a European peace will lead British capital to seek investments in other markets, and among others here."

In the House the other day, Mr Sheehan. iS«M She- time was fast approaching when the House StitHM t entirely, abolish tbe Disqualification Act, aha lifVake'tlie Ministry responsible to the House. Af -present any Minister could provide for his relatives iu'a- way egaiie as cornipt as accepting an appointment) h*m>s'elf .* S-tigb artificial barriers as were providfed lby tile DiS^ffaftScation Act were quite ftstile*. The best plan was to-expect the Government to conduct business projeFly, or turn them out.

The retort courteous (says a v7**rter in the Witness) is not unusual iv the Assembly, but for point and effect a happy turn to an interruption ma speech recently bears off tbe* palm' fof the sessi- n. Mr Barton, of of Supreme Court fame, was discoursing vehemently, as is hia wont,- ©n the principle of democracy, ana behind M<tn sat the honourable member for Grey Valley, Mr Woolcock. f * There are great differences between members*," said Mr Barton, in the course of his ai'gnttieat. "What differences?" interjected Mr Wdohock.- '* in the length of their noses," retorted the member for Wellington City,* turning round abruptly ou the interrupt and the Hoose exploded. For an outsider to ap£*t*ee2ate the point -nofc of the nose but of the jofe-it is necessary to know that Mr Woolcock *?*■s* possessed of a nasal protuberance of extraordSto^ry longitude; in fact, so much so that ibs rest of bis features seem but appendages oi the distinguished and distinguishing organ.

A cable message (say 9 the Auckland Story reports that the King of Siam is about to Christianize his dominions. It may be interesting, therefore, to know something about him 1 . An exchange says he has 600 conimissionc'd wives,, aud 2,400 by brevet, all of them living ifl one vast palace at Bangkok. Most men would rather relinquish all power and royal authority than be quite so much married; but, we presume, the polygamous sovereign has got accustomed to his superabundant connubiality. He is said to be an amiable and enlightened Prince, and to be sufficiently advanced not to grieve over the recent death of lhe wbite elephant, a sacred beast among , the Buddhists; He probably thinks his 3000 wives elephant enough for him without concerning himself about the actual quadruped. He ndust be amiable, surely, to get on smoothly as he is said to do, with 3000 women, all of \vhom are rented*, to esteem and like him. We wonder how he manages. It would be very interesting to know how oue mau could lite comfortably with 3000 women, when so many men find it very hard to Jive comfortably with one woman.

A few days ago, says the Newcastle Chronicle, a practical joke of a most extraordinary and shocking character waa played at Haswell West Blue House. It appears that a party of miners were assembled in that public-house, when a miner named Thomas laverick told a miner named Brain that he did riot date to pick oft' with a pin a piece of white paper oh the end of a small metallic case he produced. Hmia did not * know the nature of the article banded to hitnj bufc he expressed his readiness to pick off the piece of white paper, and a pin haviug been procured he proceeded to perform his task. In doing so he did not observe that the other men in the room,iucluding.Laverick, had qaitteu the apartment. Presently the pin penetrated the end of the case, which proved to be a dynamite cartridge, and an explosion at once followed. Brain states that he was rendered uUcOnscious, and ou regaining his senses he found himself lying ou his back in the room, his arms stretched out ou each side, and his left hand shattered, tthilst the right hand was also injured. He scrambled to his feet, and the other men came in looking very much scared at the result of their joke. Brain was taken to Dr. Fothergill's, where it was found that his left baud had been blown to pieces. He was otherwise severely injured, and two months will probably elapse before lie can leave his home again.