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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 21, 25 January 1881, Page 2

An Auckland telegfnra of Thursday says : — The Governor's dreeß levee, held to-day, was fairly attended. A number of Maori chiefs were Borely disappointed at the strict regulations. They were desirous of being presented to the new Governor, and had some clothes in which they appeared before his Excellency. Sir Hercules Robinson, but said they would not go la be laughed at, as they had no dress coats. Dill Hall, of Gympie, who for many years has worked hard at his reef, situated between the Sunburst and Alliance claims, bas at last got hia reward. The other day he banked 500c Bs in specimens, and afterwards got .£SOOO oiit of a crushing. The New Plymouth police effected the capture of an illicit Btilt in the bush near Inglewood the other Cay. ,It was so well concealed that in the dark they were unable to come upon it. They eolild hear voices, as if underneath the earth, and even the men blowing the fire. The police used every precaution, so as not to be heard, but in moving amongst the bush one of them accidentally broke the branch of a tree. This appeared to have been heard, for the speaking stopped almost immediately afterwards. The police remained quiet fora few minutes, when suddenly they e»i# a hole in the earth open and the head of a man appettf, The man evidently saw sufficient to know that they were detected, for he cried out, " It is the police I— run." He then disappeared iuto the eafthj Bnd was immediately followed by Constable Day and Mr' Sullen,' but they escaped by means of an outlet, through which a stream of water flowed. The police secured a still capable of turning out fifty gallons, together with worm, vats, and mash tubs. The still was full of wort— and a quantity of sugar, potatoes, &c, was also found in the hut, as well as twenty gallons of pure spirit^ and a smaller quantity of impure. „ , . . , The " VoluMee* Servicfe' Gazette" calls iinon Volunteers in- the . different electoral districts to interview their Parliamentary representatives, and come to some understanding with them as to what they will do in reference to the force when Parliament meets. " Volunteering" (says our contemporary) "is at present in such an unsatisfactory state that we strongly recommend the Government to select a certain number of officers from each blanch, of tile service, viz.— Cavalry, artillery, engineers, rifles, and naval— to report on the requirements of their different arms and their present state ; such inquiry to be held before Parliament meets, and the report to be presented to it. As it is, there is nothing but discontent and a growing feeling amongst officers and men that Government are acting in an unnecessarily harsh and unwise manner in their action towaids the volunteers." In the quiet little township of Waratah (says the Newcastle Ifcrald) there met to spend Christmas Day four members of a respectable family— three sisters and one brother— whose ages in the aggregate amounted to 271 years. A Chinaman bas been removed to the Mel. bourne Hospital in consequence of having been severely assaulted by larrikins in that city, who nearly killed him with bullets out of catapults. The Wanganui Chronicle states that during the course of last week the Maoris brought down the river £338 worth of wool, which they sold in town. They took back with them some prize rams, thus showing a commendable desire to improve the breed of their flocks. Two desperadoes took possession of Eagle Rock, Idaho, U.S., shooting fowls, dogs, horses, and aiming at everyone who showed himself, and for heveral days kept up a reign of terror ; but, the inhabitants getting tired of it, took the law into their own hands and shot them. The news from Newcastle is that the Cooperative and Newcastle Collieries, which have employed between 600 and 700 men and boys, are likely to be closed because the proprietors cannot afford to sell coal at eight shillings per ton — the current price. The following hint to inventors is taken from the Miner, the new journal at the Te Aroba goldfield: — Come and have a bath in the springs, said a friend one morning, and I went. The bath was most enjoyable, but the myriads of mosquitos, which had apparently caught the spirit of the times, carried on vigorous prospecting operations on my back, made a geological survey of the nape of my neck, and were exceedingly obnoxious. So what with the mosquitos and sandflies, I much resemble a plum pudding. What a vast amount of undeveloped motive power there is ia the mosquito? I feel sure if Edison was to turn his attention to it something of value to the scientific world would be discovered. Why, sir, I feel convinced that there is sufficient motive power in the mosquitos within a radius of a couple of hundred yards of O'Halloran's to diive all the machinery required on the field for some time to come. A wave of sentiment now passing over America favours decapitation instead of hanging for capital offences. Prisoners about to be executed even favoured the change. The fact, however, is that the death penalty is very rarely carried out in America. Last September saw more trials for murder in the United States than cny previous period, and convictions were difficult to obtain. — Otago Witness. The peach-preserving industry has rapidly increased at the Thames. So successful has been the enterprise that between 30 and 40 tons will be required this season to meet the growing demand.