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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 95, 21 April 1880, Page 2

i— __aa mi i *>• ■ „ i iv. i_ i_.ii mi,. ii,. hi I. »Ba_> The throne of the Czar is trembling in the balance 1 The Wellington Weeleyan Mutual Improvement Society- addressed themselves last evening to settle the question "Should the Czar of Russia abdicate the throne ?" It turned out; however, that the members were equally divided in opinion, so that the unhappy CZ&v is still left in suspense as to his fate.— -Poxt." Really we (Wellington Post) hardly like to mention , l he fact -ihat another lunat'c was brought down to day from Wanganui by steamer. Such, however, is the saddening truth, and we arc informed, that another ia almost ready to bo forwarded. Wanganui muSfc present a deplorably deserted appearance, a large so population having emigrated to Mount View. While we deeply Sympathise with the Wanganui people in their chronic affliction, we cannot help thinking that ifc will soou become necessary to levy a special tax on that district for the conveyance and maintenance of their, insane population We commend this suggestion to the Colonial Treasurer's attention.. The Post &ays :— ln the present hard times it is gratifying to find the yield ofthe Auckland and Otago goldflelds showing so marked an increase during the past quarter as compared with .tje March quarter of 1879. The respective values of the gold exported from Auckland waa £47,403 for the March quarter : of 1880, as agaiust £38,108 for that period of 1879. The Otago gold exports displayed still greater improvement, le'ng £131,400, as against £85,592. '. On the other hand there has been a large falling offi on the West Coast* and a smaller decrease on the Nelson and Marlborough goldflelds. The net increase for the whole colony waa £20,710. The total value of tlie gold exported 'from New Zealand- up to tho present date is £36,471,588. r . ihe Marlborough Times says :— Tbe success which has attended fish curing on a small scale afc Picton, has induced some enterprising persons to go into the business en a larg.r scale than has hitherto been, attempted in ths district. It is intended to lin herrings for the local markets and for export in large quantities, and Mr Turner, of this town, has received an order to make 100 gross of tins. The fish are found in great abundance and of fine quality in the Picton waters. The fact that ar ready market has been found for all the cured herrings produced from the locality,, leads to the natural inference that this is a local industry whLli may be greatly extended, and that a con- . siderable export may eventually take place, provided, of course, that these tinned fish ' can be produced at price which will pay the exporter. There is no doubt as to the intrinsic merits of the article ; tbe only question is the prjee at which it can be produced. Some curious figures were given by one of the speakers at St. John's parish meeting, Christchurcb, the other evening. As a proof that the congregation did not contribute very liberally, he gave the following analysis of an offertory for a congregation of 450 persons, namely, half-crowns, 2; 'florins, 2; shillings, 64; sixpences, 8! ; fourpenny pieces 12; threepenny do, 71; pennies, 8; half-pen-nies, 2, and to crown all, 1 button. Seene — Bank office in New Zealand. Enter ■ first Bank Agent, who yawns and hopes 'for customers. Soon after, Stranger, rather excited. Bank Agent becomes animated, and takes his hands out of his pockets. Stranger (loquitur) "Are you the banker here ? " flank Agent, "Yes, what can Ido for you?" "Stranger (anxiously) "Have you any money ih the Bank ? " Bank Agent (getting nervous), "Yes, a little." Stranger (much relieved, producing a dirty piece of paper), "That's all right, 'cause the chap who gave me this here cheque for £2 asked me not to bring ifc in for a day or two, aB there was no money in the Bank." Bank Agtnt (smiling, after referring to the state of the drawer's account), "Oh 1 I think I have enough to cash that." (Hands over notes and files cheque.) Mutual " good mornings " and exeunt omnes. — Manawatu . 2'imes. The Otago Daily Times states that after the Civil Service Commission bave completed their business in Timaru a day will be spent in Ashburton. Three or four days will, probably be spent in Christchurch. At Wellington, acting on information received during their Southern tour, the Commission will call up some of tho under-secretaries of departments for cross-examination. In a week or so the Commission will leave Wellington by steamer for Napier, and from Napier will probably proceed to Auckland and then to New Plj mouth. Wacganui will afterwards be visited, and after returning to Wellington again, it is expected that the Commission will sit at Nelson. From the working account of the New Zealand railways for the four weeks ended 6th March, ifc appears that some improvement has taken place in tbe revenue of tbat : department. The Greymouth coal line still * stands far and away at the head pf the. list for relative productiveness, with receipts at the rate of £1224 per mile per annum, and working expenses at the rate of only. 49 [ .percent.. It were devoutedly to be wished, that the remaining 1163 miles of' New Zea-. land railways showed as ; good results as these eight miles. Among the main trunk lines, the Christchurch, Dunedin, and Inver- ; cargill stands firat, with receipts at the rate of £725 per mile per annum, and working ' expenses of 79 per cent. The Wellington : and Featherston lino comes next, with re- I ceipts Of £674 per mile, and working ex- | penses of 79 percent. It is noteworthy as ;\ as an indication bf the times, that on the ! Wellington, Napier, Kaipara, and Greymouth , lines, although the _«_ond class passengers j show An increase in numbers compared with • th« returns for the corresponding period of * the previous year; the first-class passengers j have decreased. On the Cbristohurch, Dune-! din and Invercargill, the, Nelson, and the Westport lines there is a decrease in both classes, while. the. other lines exhibit an increase in both.r-Post. It is probable that the; whole of the warships Of fcl)8 Australian Squftdrop will rep-