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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 46, 22 February 1879, Page 2

An Otago paper advises lovers of pighutiting to pay a visit to the country lying behind Silver Peaks. The survey party now located there have killed over 200 within the last few weeks. A Napier paper has the following :— " The burning question of Denominational versus Secular education is now also to be fought out at Auckland, in the contest for the seat vacated by Mr Dignan. Auckland City West has hitherto returned candidates who supported the Denominational system, and the result of this eiectiou will be watched with as keen interest as the late contest at Nelson." We understand that the crop of grass seed in the Taranaki province this season is the largest and most successful ever known, and that the last two steamers of the Union Company — Wellington and Taiaroa— that called on their way South took away over 3000 sacks, Avhile the Wellington, yesterday, brought about 500 sacks for this market. Mr Smith, of the Telegraph Department, yesterday made an official inspection of the wires leading to the Fire Brigade Stations, to discover the cause cf the recent false alarms given by the electric bell. He was successful in his object, and fortunately was able to remove the cause at once. It was found that the Press Association's special wire was touching the Brigade wires, and this caused a current of electricity to pass through the latter and ring the bells — Post " Six months," said the Fifty-seventh Street Court Magistrate yesterday to a wretched drunkard who begged to be let off •' just this once." Then, from the centre of the Court-room, came a pale-faced, neatlydressed little girl, with tears in her large blue eyes, but firm resolve in her childish face. She made her way quickly to the prisoner's side, and, standing there with her small, white hand in his, and, addressing the magistrate, she said, "Forgive him, Judge, he is my father. He may seem low and a drunkard to you, but he has been good to me —very good. He has a home, a wife, and three little children besides me. Do let him off, sir, and God bless you." She could say no more, for tears interrupted further utterance. Suddenly the drunken prisoner had become a man again. His eyes were cleared, he stood erect, and pressed his little one to his heart. Then he bent over her, pushed the hair from her forehead, kissed her gently on the cheek, and whispered kindly words in her ear. " M'Carthy," said the Magistrate, " you are free. Your child has saved you " A Melbourne paper says :— Australian vintages have vow acquired a character that protects them from being sneered out of consumption. Otherwise I would hesitate to repeat the doubtless unintentional sarcasm of our black brother. Some sable sous of the soil paid a friendly visit to the station of a well-known sporting squatter. He was, unfortunately, out of grog, and his visitors were accustomed to entertainment of that kind, and would not be denied. So he gave them half-a-case of Champion's vinegar, upon which they commenced a carouse. After the first tumbler, the spokesman of the party, uot without a wry face, politely said, " This budgery — yery good, —of ten driuk this. Know it well— this colonial wine." The witnesses in support of the charge agaiust Lady Gooch aud her nurse, Anne Walker, of having conspired together to palm oif a spurious child upon her husband Sir Francis Gooch, with intent to cheat and deceive him. went before the grand jury at tbe Central Criminal Court on December, 10. After hearing all the evidence that was laid before them the Grand Jury came into court and made the following presentment :— "No true bill against Annie Louisa Gooch and Anne Walker for misdemeanour." No remark was made and the grand jury were shortly afterwords disaharged.

Tho curious freaks caused by drink have f requetly caused amusement, and an instance occurred during last week, which has certainly the merit of singularity, to a man who has frequently been before the Police Magistrate for drunkennesg, and who besides being very far gone iv intoxication at the time, has the disadvantage of being partially blind. After the Court had risen, Paddy strayed iv, and after groping about for some time, found his way into tbe dock and faced the empty bench, expecting, no doubt, to hear the sonorous voice of the Clerk of the Court say, " Yoil are charged with being drunk." That is not what the clerk said, however, his enquiry being, " What do you want ?" " Guilty, your Worship," said Paddy. As he seemed disinclined to leave the dock, a policeman was sent for, and he proved equal to the occasion, for, tapping Paddy on the shoulder, he said, " You've got a month this time." Paddy followed him with an air of resignation but in a lucid interval he thought there was some mistake, and he said " I don't know what I got that mouth for, any way." He, however, followed his leader in a hopeless, shiftless manner to the cell, and next dav he was charged with being drunk and mulcted in the usual penalty —iV Z. Herald. Our Chinese letter contains two noteworthy items. A remarkable instance is quoted of filial piety on the part of si boy whose mother had long been sick, and had a craving for animal food. Her children were unable from poverty to supply her with meat, and the boy in question cut off a piece of flesh from his arm, made it into soup, and effected a cure. The Chinese Emperor has rewarded and commended the boy. — There appears to be a likelihood of China assisting the British forces if Russia should take up arms iv aid of her Afghan allies ; because some of the Chinese provinces in Central Asia have been occupied by tbe Russian forces, and China would fain wrest them from her grasp. — N. Z. Times. A strauge occurrence is reported to have taken place in Spring-street, Melbourne, about 3 o'clock ou the afternoon of the Ist iust. A cab containing three women drove up to the new Treasury Hotel. One of the passengers called for a glass of water for one of the women, who appeared to be very ill, but before the person had time to bring the water the patient is reported €g have expired. The cabman then drove off in the direction of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The person who is reported to be dead appeared to have been removed from a bed hurriedly, as she wore ouly her nightdress and was wrapped in a shawl. It is also reported that the cab contained some luggage. It was subsequently ascertained that the person reported to be dead turned out to be a girl of tbe unfortunate class on her way to tbe hospital. She was in the last stage of consumption, and died by the way.