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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 172, 21 July 1880, Page 2

As a sign of the times, the Canterbury Press nbteß that for tho position of water tender to the shipping at Lyttelton, an office in the gift of Jthe Borough Council, and for which the moderate salary of £2 2s per week is paid, there were no less than eighty-four applications. The Age says:—-"Tho excitemlnt in connection with the sale of the illustrated newspapers containing engravings of the Kelly business still continues unabated. The Illustrated Australian Neios, which is evidently the favorite, notwithstanding its being double the ordinary price, has had more than three times ito usual sals, and it is with difficulty that the demand has been met. As indicating the height to which the Kelly fever rose, we may state that no less than eighteen tons weight of paper was printed on in this office during the week." Thomson's Confederate Diorama is- now doing a good business at Dunedin. The plan of distributing valuable gifts, such as gold watches, oil paintings, &c, is still adhered to, but the proprietor, Mr Richard George, has hit upon a novel idea of drawing houses, as each evening one of the audience receives an order on the principal tailor in the city for a suit of clothes. Several horny-handed sons of toil have been the recipients of these useful presentations, which there is no denying is a good method of " fetching " an audience. The Volunteer Service Gazette thinks thai in the proposed reduction of expenditure in connection with the service, the Volunteers are being treated with scant courtesy, and such procedure is likely to lead to the disbandment of the various corps in the colony. The proposal to make an all-round reduction in the capitation allowance at present paid is, we are thoroughly convinced (says the Gazette), a most unwise one. There is a far better method of reducing expenses than this. Let Government reduce the Dumber of corps—lopping off a number of the small, inefficient, and utterly useless country companies—and give even better encouragement than at present to the efficient corps in tbe principal tpwns of tbe colony; and they will have a sufficiently numerous and well-drilled body of men, who in case of need would be of more real service than three times"their number badly clothed, badly drilled, and without the esprit de corps which cau only be brought into life by a liberal recognition of their services. A stickiug'tip case has occurred at Glen Morison, Victoria. Two Chinamen, hawkers, were stuck np by one armed and three unarmed men, about 8 p.m , on the 29th June. About £5 cash was taken, cheques being first taken and then returned, the diver and notes only being retained. Wearing apparel and goods were also taken by the men, who are at present not recognised. About 12,000 children and teachers and 12,000 spectators were present at the Raikes Sunday-school Centenary Demonstration in Sydney. Out of compliment to Mr Gladstone the people of England propose to change the National Anthem to •• Oh 1 Willie, we have missed you."

The Reporting Debates Committee have determined that for the remainder of the session the Maori members' speeches shall be printed in Maori in form of a separate Hansard, and that 500 copies of these shall be supplied to the Maori members of both Houses. The Otago Times says : — " Au a result of the Civil Service Commissioners' recommendations, considerable reductions, it is understood, are contemplated in tbe number of officers in the Police Department ; and the Otago district, it is whispered, will be one of those to suffer most it) this respect. It ii stated that a couple of thousand a year may be saved in this way in Otago alone." The Melbourne correspondent of the .Sydney Evening JX'ews relates the following : — " While lam talkiug about Service I must tell you a little anecdote which I can safely say is quite new, as well as being quite true. No one enjoys a grim joke more than he, only it must be grim. Well, be walked into the Melbourne Telegraph Office the other night, and it seems that of late, after 7 o'clock at night, the operators have been allowed the privilege of smoking in the office. It is, no doubt, soothing to the lovers of the narcotic weed, but in truth, tho office has a somewhat unufficial look when these gentlemen are in the full enjoyment of their evening smoke. It so happened lhat as Mr Service entered, the ' operator iv charge' was en joying a short bluck pipe in the manager's room, and not knowing the mighty Premier by sight, he puffed conteutedly away. 'Is the manager in?' demanded the strauger. 4 No,' carelessly replied the official from behind a dense cioud of smoke ; 'is there anything I can do for you?' ' Yes, 1 tfant to speak to Mr McGowao, the superintendent — there is a wire to his liouse.' A littlo amazed at the st t anger's knowledge, the official led the way, aud taking hold of the • key,' prepared to spud the message to Mr McGowan, as desired It was ihis — 'Just stepped into the office Found operators all smoking. Tbe one who. is transmitting this has a dirty clay pipe iv his mouth. Issue instructions forthwith for bidding same.' • What name, sir ? ' said the trembling smoker. c Oh, I forgot, James Service j' and then he walked out."