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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 183, 3 August 1880, Page 2

Taranaki is nofc nearly so far behind the age as is usually supposed. A local solicitor recently had to attend nine meetings of creditors io one day. Letters received by the San Erancisco mail state that the Agent-Geueral is suffering from a severe attack of gout. The Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington for the month of July amounted to £12,453 2s lOd. .For tbe corresponding month last year it reached £15,963 7s 3d. The Duke of WestmiUßter gave Robert Peck a cheque for £1000 and F. Archer one for £500, the former for the care he had displayed during the training of Bend Or, and the latter as a reward for his brilliant horsemanship. The Taranaki Herald states that Te Whetu lately asked permission from Te Whiti to shoot some of the road party working beyond Werekino, but Te Whiti replied, "If you shoot the Pakeha, you do it at your own risk; I will not protect you." This answer (says the Herald) is characteristic of Te Whiti, for, although he may be considered a fanatic, he is certainly not a blood-thirsty one. When Te Whetu was recognised among the natives the order was immediately issued by Captain Newall to " arrest that man," pointing to the ill-visaged and repulsive savage. As soon as Te Whetu understood the nature of the command he shouted " Nol no!" and tried to get away, but one of the A.C.'s named Harrison, nimbly tackled him, and with the assistance of one or two others rolled the savage on the ground, and unceremoniously handcuffed him. The remainder of the parly were arrested without difficulty. A feat, probably without parallel in the .history of cricket, was performed by Spofforth, the Australian bowler, in a match against eighteen of Burnley, including five local professionals' The Australians had made 148 in their innings; the Burnley eighteen were disposed of in their first innings for 43 runs. Spofforth, in this innings, bowled 14 overs, of which 11 were maidens. In three overs— -that is, tbe 18 balls— lo runs were made off his bowling, but at the cost of 12 wickets. The " Demon " has never dono anything like this hitherto, and there is no similar record in English chronicles of this kind of sport. — Home News. A few days ago (says the Post) a man walked into the New Zealander Hotel and requested to be supplied with a bottlo of Wolfe's Schiedam Schnapps. A bottle of the world-renowned stimulant was quickly produced from the bar shelf, but before taking possession of it the intending purchaser desired to know the price. On receiving the required information he hesitated, and complained that the cost was rather high, " Not at all," retorted boniface with a merry wink of the eye, " particularly when it is home in mind that three £1 orders are enclosed in every day's packing, and for all I know there might be such an order with the present bottle." The bait took, and the man held out his hand for the bottle. Fearing that the landlord inteuded to remove the wrapper from the bottle , the man eagerly snatched it ; and on examining it was agreeably surprised to find that the wrapper contained one of the coveted prizes. A prompt and attentive waiter is a rara avis in this colony, and at an evening party given by an eminent Bank Manager in a township somewhere in the Manawatu, the peculiarity of the colonial article was made painfully evident, says a contemporary. The "■ waiter " had been made presentable in a second-band dress suit belonging to the host, and carefully tutored as to his behaviour to the ■*■ compauy." All went well till late in the evening, when a maiden lady of uncertain age, but decided primness, languidly asked the waiter if he had any more lemonade. With commendable briskness, hut unpardonable familiarity, be replied, "Any mortal quantity* my dear." The lady shrieked, and the host rose iv his might and bade the waiter depart to the regions below, j In the Ashburton Resident Magistrate's j Court, the Magistrate has decided that the \ game known as " Yankee Grab," when played for drinks only, constituted gambling within the meaniug of the Licensing Act, inasmuch as it was played for " moneys worth." Mr Purnell, in arguing for his client (says the Mail), tersely and lucidly explained the difference between this inno cent amusement and that abominable form of hazard commonly kuown as "a bob in and the winner shouts." Nevertheless a conviction was recorded, and Mr Tisch waß trade the unhappy scapegoat for the offences of every pubJioan in the cplony.

V It is a Somewhat singular fact that Judge, jury, counsel, and witnesses in the case of Climie v. the Mayor, Corporation, and citizens of Wellington, are all defendants to the action (with the exception, of course, of Mr Climie). All are ratepayers of the city, and will have to pay a share of the damages should the plaintiff get a verdict. This is a somewhat unprecedented case, tho usual rule being, of course, that no ooe can try an action, either as iudge or juror, in which he is personally interested. — Fost.