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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 236, 26 November 1880, Page 2

A Dunedin telegram of Wednesday says:— As tha Oamaru train, due in town at 12 45 to-day, was neariag the Port Chalmers quarry, a heavy blast was fired, which dislodged a large piece of stone, estimated at somewhere about ten tonß. This mass came rolling down on the line, tearing up some of the rails and sleepers. A quarryman had jußt time to give warning to the engine-driver of the approaching train of tha damage ahead. After a detention of one hour and a half tho line was cleared, and tha train proceeded to Dunedin, tbe passengers having walked to the lower statioa. As showing the changes of fortune (says the N.Z. Times) it may be mentioned that a couple who recently started life in considerable style with four servants, wera applicants at Tuesday's meeting of the Benevolent Institutian. It was stated they still kept one servant (on no pay, though) and bad a few days siace disbursed a little windfall upon delicacies such as wine, preserved oysters, 6.C Tha Committee determined to give bare rations, but not for tha remaining servant. An amusing accident incurred at Madrid a few days bafore tbe birth of the Royal Princess, wbich took place on September 12: —At six o'clock in tbe morning the lond report of artillary suddenly startled the sleeping city. Hundreds of people hurriad from their bads and into the streets, and a steady stream set in towards the ralace. More than one exalted functionary, it is said, anxiously awaited, already clad in gala costume, the [official summons to tha palace. . The guns were eagerly counted— tan, twelve, fifteen. "A Princess I " cried everyone, for strangely enough, after the fifteenth report there was a temporary cessation of the firing ; then number sixteen boomed. " No— a Prince J " shouted the eager crowd, But after twentyfive reports bad sounded and the firing still continued, people began to look at each other and to wonder. The ominous word "Gemelos" began to be whispered. Gradually the truth dawned upon the enthusiastic expectants as the report spread tbat a battery of artillery had early that morning gone out to the Campamento to practise blank firing. Special attention is called to the pricelist of the Rodanow Manufacturing Co., of Bestaa, U.S.A., publisbed in these columns. All thoss wishing ta secare an excellent and carrect timekeeper ara recaaimended ta addrsss themselves ta this old aad reliable firm. Na further evideace af tha invariable good quality of their maaufatures will bs required bey oad the fallawiag facts t The im was established ia 1849, aad siace tkea has gained priza aaadals at tha Exit ibitiaas of Loadaa, Paris, Vieana, ate, for excallence •£ auaafaotare. They are appointed, by, warraat, watchmakers to tha Queea af England, Prince af Wales, the Emperor of Russia and the Bey of Tuaifl,

The Christchurch Telegraph Btateß that the unfortunate widow, Mrs Matthew Henderson, and family have sailed for South Australia, where they have some relatives in good circumstances, and with whom they will permanently reside. Rev. T. De Witt Talmage is making an inspection of the slums of Leadville for the purpose of gathering material on which to found illustrative sermons in future. After visiting a faro bank, where a gambler had just been .shot dead, and being initiated into the fascination which surrounds draw-poker, keno, and roulette, he visited the dance houses, in one of which he was requested to lead a set.' It may illustrate the fearful pass to which English agriculturists are brought (says the correspondent of the Daily Tmies) to mention that among the suggestions for their relief is one that they should give attention to the breeding of rabbits in regularly constructed rabbit warrens. About 30,000,000 of these are said to be consumed in these islands every year, amounting to 35,000 tons of food. After the introduction of the Hares and Rabbits Bill it is expected tbat bunny will rapidly diminish, and that unless rabbit farming comes to the rescue poor people may have to do without rabbit pie for Sunday's dinner. So that there is ono ray of hope more for the unfortunate British farmer. Vanity Fair says : — Let Mr Parnell henceforth be known by his associates. These are the men of the National Land League : — A baker and a manager of a milling establishment ; a clerk in a milling establishment ; a semi-bankrupt poor law guardian, formerly a ploughman, and now engaged in marketgardening operations ; a dismal national schoolmaster ; a gentleman in the whisky trade, formerly a letter-carrier in the General Post Office ; a pawnbroker connected with dairy farming ; a former provincial correspondent to the Dublin Press ; an agent for the sale of the Irish World, the most seditious paper printed in America, and the organ of the Land League (this gentleman was the treasurer of the fund raised for defending McHugh and Weldon, lately accused of murdering Mr. Young, ot Castlerea); an exsoldier in the American army, the paid stump orator and organising secretary, and an American journalist ; Mr. Dillon M.P. ; aud another M.P., son of a sub-constable and formerly a telegraph clerk, make up the principal figures in this precious institution. The amount of land owned by members of the Irish National Land League is infinitesi mally small. We believe the pawnbroker has a grazing interest in some grass land ; the rest are as landless as the most indigent laborer in the island. With thia distinguished company at the head of affairs in Ireland, it is not surprising that there is commencing to he considerable murmurings amongst " the down trodden," who have not a hand either in the government or in the chequebook. The Land League has hitherto confined its operations to organising land meetings, forming branches of the League, and paying their stumpers to talk sedition and socialism within the "four earners of the Con stita tion," a task they have performed to perfection. Quite lately these distinguished Nationalists have recommended the Irish farmers on no account to give evidence tc the new Land Commission, and have thus put themselves in direct antagonism to the interests of the agriculturists. But the influence of the Land League is distinctly on the wane. A letter from Capetown, written at the end of August, and published in a home paper, says the colony is quite able to crush the Basutop, and will do it, if a war takes place, unless stopped by England;— "We have enough money and men to ruin a fine nation, even if the Imperial Government does not send a rifle. So do not let people place too great stress on the idea of ths colony only wanting war if it can be done at the expense of the home Government. The revenue is overflowing, and the majority of Parliament will vote the money in order to crush the Basutos, if only England will allow it. If there is a -war to-day, two years bence farms in Basutoland will be sold or given to meri torious colonists. Bemember that thiß country is unlike Zulmland. It is just what the farmers want — sweet grass fit for cattle, sheep, and grain, and plenty of water. So the Basutos are in a dangerous position.-''' ■ George Milner Stephen is now on the war path in Melbourne. However, the Southerners don't believe in him, though there did the other day appear in the Melbourne evening paper an account of how the miracleman, by means of an application of double threestar magnetised water, caused a new nose to grow on the face of a man who had lost his olfactory organ in the Balaclava charged A leading English economist .ays the money value to a country of every emigrant is £1.0. The European stream flowing to Amtrica is estimated at £30,000,000 annually. A nan, named John F. Walsh, who arrived in Sydn.y from New Zealand on tht 25th ultimo, shot himself through the heart at hii lodgings in Kent-street, Sydney. The day before he had boon victimised by some shsrptrs, who swindled him out of bis money at a gambling table. Says tbe London correspondent of tbe Adelaide Obtemer, when writing of the pablic meeting against the Prince Imperial statae : "It was impossible to listen to the speeches and to watch tbe demeanor of the audienco without perceiving tbat tha consolidation of the French Republic has already begsa to exeraise considerable influence ia England, aad tbat tbe success of democracy in France is destined ta react very powerfully on British public opinion. The San Domingo Government has presented to tbe town of Pavia a handful of the remains of Colambus, consisting af small fragments of bone and dast enclosed in a glass ball and sealed by the Archbishop, whose secretary was tbe bearer of the relic. It has been deposited in the University library. Recent enquiries ia England have shown that many scholars wbo had been punished for stupidity suffered from near sight. They could not ses the writing or tbe figures on the black-board, and had been punished unjustly. The Bridgton (Me.) Newt says :— " The : typos last Week made vs say that ' the showers were not sufficient to meet tbe wants of the Milkmen,' &c., instead of ' millmen.' "