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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 23, 27 January 1879, Page 2

The daily production of mushrooms in Paris is stated to be about 25 tons. Sickness is very prevalent ou tlie Thames just now, especially among the infant popu lation, and iv several instances it has proved fatal — in some cases the victims being carried off very suddenly. A large number of adults bave also been prostrated by severe illness. The doctors describe the malady as being a species of English cholera. "The Hallelujah Lassies," or "Salvation Army," a body of lady preachers, under the command of a well-known clergyman, Rev. W. Booth, have been creating some excitement in the north of England.

The microphone as a thief catcher has proved very useful to an English resident in India, who found his store oi oil rapidly and mysteriously diminishing. He fixed a microphone to the oil cans, carried the wire up to his bedroom, and after the house had been closed for the night, sat up to await the result. Very shortly he heard the clinking of bottles, followed by the gurgling sound of liquor being poured out, and running clown stairs he caught his bearer iv the act of filliug small bottles with oil for easy conveyance from the premises. An ingenious Russian gaming house was recently pounced upon by the police near Moscow, several of the habitues who had lost so largely as to suspect foul piny having informed the authorities. On examining the rooms it was found that the ceilings were covered with papers representing a starry sky. Holes were pierced in the stars, through which a man lying on the floor of the upper room could see tbe cards of the players, and by means of wires runuiug down the walls he could communicate with the boot of his accomplices, and indicate their play by a code of taps. A Dunedin telegram of a recent date says : — On the day of Major Richardson's funeral, some boys broke into a branch powder magazine and took away a quantity of detonators. These infernal machines, which are used for miuing. were circulated among the children at the Christian Brothers' schools, and one of them incautiously pricking a detonator with a pin, hud threo of his fiugers blown away. The boys who stole the detonators were brought before the Bench to-day and severely reprimanded. Each week that passes, says tho Pa 7 Mall Budyet, does but bring into stronger relief the tact that we aro passing through a most severe commercial crisis. The depression which all are nov,' complaining of has beeu going ou for four years ; and so far from any favorable reaction having commenced, there is not a single trade in the country where the prospect does not seem darker now than it did in 1874. The mere increase in the amount of pauperism is no longer a test of the increasing poverty of the people. In Sheffield, Glasgow, and Barrow the distress has outrun the capacity of poor law relief to overtake it ; and as the winter goes on affairs are not likely to improve. Ootton, iron, wool —in all these great industries there is a glut of the manufactured article, and prices have reached a lower level than it can possibly pay to produce at, without provoking a brisker demand. An English paper says : — lt is reported from Wiltshire ihat all the tenants of a leading landlord there have given notice to leave their farms, wilh a view to obtaining a reduction of rent. Even those who are tied by leases have formally lodged a complaint. Many other tenant farmers in different parts of the couutry are giving up business, or agitating in a similar manner. Wages have fallen materially, ancl a still further reduction is spoken of. The Duke of Norfolk has, it is stated, intimated an intention of allowing a reduction of 25 per cent, on his farm rents for the past six months, in consequence of the depression in the agricultural interest. Viscount Gal way, M.P., has returned to his tenantry 10 per ceut. of their rents due at the last audit. It is, says the Hawke's Bay Herald, anything but easy to say whether Sir George Grey really attaches any importance to the Crowa conferring titles upon persons iv the colouy. Recalling to miud the high positions Sir George has held, the vast experience be has acquired, aud the matters of weighty concern he has to deal with as Premier of the colouy, it is almost impossible to conceive that lie is serious in the affair of the title " Houoruble " for life. Sometimes we are inclined to think that Sir George is a consummate actor, and that he purposely exaggerates some trival matters into importance in order to draw people away from questions which really affect their interests. It is either so, or else our Premier is subject to hallucinations which take so firm a hold of his mind that they become realities. A curious story is related by the Albury Banner, a Victorian paper: — At au early hour on the morniug of December 28, a man rushed into the house of a Mrs Everitt. on the Albury Flat, and announced that he was Kelly, the bushranger. At this time the only persons in the house were Mrs Everitt and her sister-in-law, who, naturally enough, were somewhat alarmed at the announcement. The intruder, after announcing his name, seized hold of one of the two women, and it appears attempted violence. Just then, however, the husband came in, and the bushranger ran off. In the meantime the other woman, feariug to be robbed by the man, had carefully secreted several £1 notes in the ashes on the hearth, and there, in the excitement of the moment, they were allowed to remain until they were destroyed. The su distant bushranger is described as having carried two Welliugton boots in his belt, one strapped on each side, so arranged to represent revolver holsters. A writer in the Christchurch Press says : — " Wanted, a Patient Listener. A local man preferred. Apply by letter, stating terms." Thus does a fellow advertise in the columns of a northern contemporary. The man he wants is a paper mau. A reporter is, probably from force of habit, the most patient listener on the face of the known world. We are told there is nothing from without a man that can defile him, but there is plenty that can sadden him very near to the extent of rending his clothes. Talk about " the oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely," aud the other fardels Mr Hamlet mentions in his famous speech on suicide, a paper man has to put up with them all every day. He hears more eloquential squelsh, more fiat notes, and sees more commonplace meanness than any other man. Thus it is that reporters are amongst those whom the gods love and die young. Thus do they sink into early graves.