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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 165, 12 July 1879, Page 2

Sydney D. Taiwhanga, a Northern native who can boast the possession of a European wife, does not seem happy in his selection. We notice the following in the Auckland Evening Star's advertising columns : "Notice: I hereby give notice that I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by my wife, Sarah Taiwhanga, she having left her home, and isnow living entirely apart from me.— S. D. Taiwhanga — Dated this 21st June, 1879." The cabinet manufactured by Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach's Woodware Company for the Sydney Exhibition has (says the Otago Times) attracted many Bight-seers. The different New Zealand woods in it are red pine, goai, totara, fig-tree, peppermint, silver pine, honeysuckle, ribbonwood, broadleaf, manuka, mottled kauri, and pakaka. The height of the article is 1 1 feet, with a width of 6 feet 9 inches. The design on top of the cabinet is a very appropriate one, including a Maori and his whare on one side, with an Englishman and a railway-train, ship, &c, on the other. The fretwork io which the inscription is placed is remarkably delicate and beautiful. The hangings are very elegant and rich, being of blue and crini3on velvet, with gold fringe ; and taken altogether, the cabinet is a thoroughly creditable specimen of New Zealand industry upon New Zealand material. A correspondent of an Auckland paper thus writes:— "Two years ago Sir George Grey emerged from the Kawau on the pretence of saving the country from mal-ad-niinistration. He was then received with acclamation and delight — a new race of people having taken the place of those who knew his wicked history. Sir George, on the faith of his promises, has been put into powerbut mark the result After two years, or rather less, his name is mentioned with every seutiment of opprobrium and disappointment. In every street and every corner the name of Grey is held up to derision and scorn. What are all his promises worth now? Has he fulfilled one? Is he not a traitor to the North? Look at the Tariff Bill! See the everyday farces of turning sods and twaddle, while in the South hundreds of miles of railway are being made. For every shilling of public money spent in the North, the South baa received as many pounds."

A Sydney telegram of a recent date says : — Kenna, an influential, wealthy resident at Bathurst, was refused interment in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, in consequence of having refused to withdraw his aon from the Sydney Grammar School, objected to as a Protestants' Institution. Before his death he arranged for his burial in a vault built for himself, no clergyman officiating. A nephew of his read some Anglican prayers. Thousands of persons attended. In commenting on recent political events the Dunedin Star says j— One thing seems now to be quite clear, that Sir George Grey does not intend to throw dp the sponge, but will meet the House and fight to the death. He does well to consult and act upon the advice of Sir William Fitzherbert, a practical philosopher and thorough man of the world, who knowa everybody, and we may go so far a9 to say everybody's price. If anything can save the Ministry, it will be his wise counsels. To Sir William may be attributed, for instance, the master move of nominating Mr Bunny for the vacant Chairmanship of Committees, thus securing his vote and his undeniable and direct influence over at least half a dozen members who stand at present almost pledged to the Opposition. We have nothing wh.tever to say as to the propriety of appointing Mr Bunny, who will, indeed, make an excellent chairman, having frequently shown his capabilities in the occasional absence of Mr O'Rorke. As member for Wairarapa, Mr Bunny has expressed himself as decidedly hostile to Ministers, but is now likely to be exceedingly useful to them. The idea is an excellent one, to draw bis teeth and claws by placing him in the chair of Committees. We are much mistaken, however, if repentance and amendment at the eleventh hour, and the most suitable tactics designed by paltry persons, can save the Ministry. The writing gleams upon the wall — the Medes and Persians are at the gates." The public of Auckland (says the Free Lance) have been shewing their appreciation of high class performances of popular operas by staying away, and yet one constantly hears complaints that there is never anything worth going to see at the theatre. Creswick, the leading legitimate actor of the day, read to empty benches ! Signor Riccardi has piayed to houses not empty, certainly, but by no means so well filled as they might have been. The first performance in Auckland of the most charming of French Opera Bouffe attracted four and twenty people to the circle.