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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 194, 14 September 1878, Page 4

A correspondent writes to the Thames Star thus : As there seems to be some little difficulty in finding an approriate name for this " important Borough," let me suggest "Crediton" emblematic of the awful amount of credit given here. If this is not sufficiently euphonious, how would you like " Testimonial ville," or, as more characteristic, try " Scandalburgh " or " Blowthorpe." Punch says that there is between European progress and the European Congress all the diiference between pro and con. The American cotton crop of tbe present year will be tbe largest since the war.

The Dunedin Star says the Licensing Bench exceeded its functions in indicating that it would take into consideration the fact of tbe advertiser of a "sweep" being a lodger in a public-house, when considering that house's application for renewal of license. The Star says:—" Such an arbitraryexercise of power would ensure the re-con-stitution of tbe Court upon some more definite basis as the limits of their prerogative. The Court and police alike at present were really powerless, and could only bring contempt upon justice by making these spasmodically futile efforts to scotch what they are unable to kill."

The renowned orchestra of La Scala, at Milan, has gone to Paris to give concerts at the Tiocadero during the Exhibition. A hundred Dutch musicians have arrived there from Holland, with a similar intention. A writer says:—" The astonishing Hungarian band of Tsiganes grow more and more popular every day. Their music is wild, strange, sweet, furious, tender, melancholy, gay, frantic, or stately, by turns according to the mood of these half Jgipsy players. It is said that {they usually improvise their astonishing pieces, an assertion somewhat difficult of credence in the case of ; twelye musicians, playing together. At all events, to hear their music is a rich treat for all musical ears, although it would be no easy matter to define its construction, or to class it when heard."

Referring to the proposed repeal of the duty on grain and flour, the Dunedin Herald says :— " We would still impress upon the Government the desirability of even now relenting, aud allowing the import duty on grain lo remain undisturbed. Should the Government persist, and the duty be taken off, a grievous wrong will be inflicted upon the South Island, without any corresponding benefit to New Zealand as a whole. The persons chiefly benefitted by such action will be Americau and Australian grain exporters; and such action on the part of the Ministry is scarcely patriotic. To show what the inevitable result will be, we may mention that one extensive Auckland firm, previous to the imposition of the grain duty, bought all their grain in San Francisco. Immediately the duty was levied, they obtained their supplies from Otago; and it is now not disguistedthat, should the duty be repealed, the firm in question will at once revert to its old love. A.s a matter of fact, freight for grain is no higher from San Francisco to Auckland than it is from Otago to Auckland. The mail steamers calling at the Northern port are compelled to bring a large amount of deadweight as ballast, owing to the great consumption of coal on the voyage, and freight for gram as low as 15s per ton is taken,