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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 85, 9 April 1879, Page 2

It is calculated that insects and worms cause 30,0u0,000d015. damages in the United States annually. In a recent sermon on the Anti-Chinese Bill, the Rev. Beecher said:— "lf I could control wbat I would like to control, I would send such a voice to Washington protestiug against that infamous Bill excluding Chinamen from our country, as would make the pen to tremble and fall from the hand of the President before he could sign it. (Applause ) We have enforced the opcuing of China by treaties, by invading it and hacking Chinamen to pieces with the sword. We conquered from them tiieir commercial tribute, and now that they begin to come to us, as do Germans, Norwegians, French, and all other nations, our Congress is busy with a law which says to them, • You cannot come. You are better workmen ; you live more economically ; you save more ; and we will defeud our laggards from your competition.' It is an outrage and infamy which ought not to stain our land, and you and every voter will be eternally blamed if you do not see to it that this deed is not consummated. God expects from you that you will use the political power which he has given you to ends which will augment the honor of humanity as well as ot His own gloiy." The 0/o*7o Daily limes, after severely criticising the anomalies connected with recent examination for school teachers for certificates, concludes thus, "We have pointed out at some length what uppear to us the serious faults in the method of examining teachers initiated by the Education Department ; it is to the inspector-General that we look to have these faults amended. So long as he stands aloof, and leaves the burden and responsibility of the work to a large number of disconnected examiners, no matter how skilful, little improvement can be looked for. The inherent defects of the plan followed can be avoided by entrusting the drawing up of examination papers, and the valuing of the candidates work, to a select Board of two or three competent persons, who shall be able to confer together with ease and freedom. JYo doubt the employment of the Inspector-General, as Secretary to the Itoyal Commission on Higher Education, has interfered with his exercising in this manner the careful and judicious superintendence the country is entitled to expect of him, but surely his duties as director of the machinery for examining and classifying the teachers of the colony should not have been subordinated to the interest of so important a Commission even as that of Higher Education. We sincerely hope that the holder of this high and responsible office will not degenerate into a general utility man. To the best of our belief there is ample scope in New Zealand for improving and harmonising the method and aims of school inspection, aud we think it high time that this important work wus earnestly aud energetically takec in baud, and that the officer to whom we must look for its performance should not be prevented, by other engrossing engagements, from making a beginning in this, and his other legitimate employments. We have not touched upon the extravagant cost which the business of the Education Department appears likely to involve, but we would suggest that some of the peoples' representatives should ask, by way of specimen, for a return of the charges in connection with the March examination of teachers," 1

The Prussian Superior Court baa just giren judgment in a case of compensation to the widows of soldiers who have died of wound 3 receirad in military service, in which it has been decided that even a woman married after the occasion on -which her husband was wouuded is entitled to compensation if he dies in consequence of his wounds. The rich educational endowments of the island of Chios have been increased by a sum of 2500 lire, bequeathed by the late Patriarch Joachim, for the instruction and dotation of girls in his native village of Kallimaaia. Many similar bsquests on the part of wealthy Greeks have borne witness to the high value which they set upon the education of women. The Chinese Government have ordered all Kussiau subjects to leave Kashgar, and hare prohibited the importation of any Russian merchandise whatever, as also the export of Kashgar goods to Russia. Though this is contrary to the treaties concluded between Russia and the late Yakoob Beir, no action has been taken as yet by the St Petersburg Government. A refcarkable legacy was that bequeathed by C;iptai:i Philip Tichncsse, iv his will found July 24, 1793: " I leave my right hand, to be cut off after death, to my son, Lord Audlcy, mid I desire it may be sent him, in hopes that such a sight may remind him of Ins duty to God, after having so long abandoned the duty he owed to a father who once affectionately loved him/ The Gentleman's Magazine contains an article on " Over-stimulation in Women/ by Dr Frederick H. Daly, on the following text * — " That in the present day women in every class of society over-stimulate." He attribuea the evil to the excitement and wear of modern life ; to the unwisdom of young husbands pressing their wives to join them in taking toddy at bedtime; to the exaggerated and ignorant notious afloat as to the use of malt liquors to nursing women; to the readiness of the female nature, if badly advised, to take on habits of intemperance; and lastly, and largely, to the grocer's license. " The grocer's license/ the author says, "is the means by which half the over-stimulation among women of the middle class is affected." The following is from the Auckland Stan — The remission of duties on tea and sugar has not produced those great benefits to consumers which were predicted by sanguine theories in political economy when the subject was discussed in Porliament during last session. The object sought by the reduction of 2d per lb on lea and one halfpenny oti sugar was to relieve in some degree the working classes, and those who have the burlen of supporting large families from ths pressure of taxation. The Colonial Treasurer" waxed eloquent in his Financial Statement in his splendid prospects of an almost " free breakfast table " which was to be one of the results of his great fiscal panacea". Afid those whose tastes did not incline to the cup which cheers would be blessed with a reduction in the price of beer, and thu3 be enabled to imbibe double their former allowance. There was a kind of happy compromise between the teetotallers and old-soakers In this sapient proposal which is peculiarly characteristic of Mf Ballance's financial bent, and from which the happiest results were anticipated. So far, however, the brilliant hopes excited by Mr Ballaiice's plausible budget have proved illusory. The " free breakfast table" is as far off as ever, and the beer drinker is still obliged to make the same pecuniary sacrifice as of old to enable him to indulge in his favorite beverage. The fact is the profits have gone into the pockets of the merchant, the wholesale grocer, and the brewer, and the consumer stands in that position which is described in military parlance as "as you were."