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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1881, Page 2

The Mormono are creating a sensation in j Christchurch. folder Batt had issued a challenge to Mr Binstead to dispute on some doctorinal points, in Cathedral Square, on Sunday, January 30. At the time appointed an immense crowd colkcted, and the rival preachers set up their temporary pulpits in close proximity to each other. The proceeding had hardly commenced, however, before the crowd evinced most ucmistakeably their disapprobation of the Salt Lake delegates, and would, no doubt, bave proceeded to more unpleasant demonstrations had not Sergeants Morris and Hughes promptly put in an appearance, and; acting with great tnct, succeeded in inducing the belligerent preachers to desist. Mr' Biusfoid promptly retired on being requested to do so, and was allowed to depart unmolested. The. Mormon detach ment Avere, however, not so fortunate, as the crowd followed them, hooting, and making such an inimical display that Sergeant Morris deernfed it expedient for their personal safety to give them tern poriiry, shelter in the police library, where they utilised the time during which their assailants' waited for them by endeavoring, though unsuccessfully, to convert some of the members of tho force to their peculair way of thinking. After a short time tho crowd dispersed; and the Mormons were ablo to return home without molestation;, We have ifc on authority (says the Bang - ora Standard) that the Wellington Fire Brigade arc uoble fellows when they are reasonable drunk. They ivere. the hospitable entertainers at the recent Fire Brigade's Annual Conference, and at the banquet which was given to the deligates, some extraordinary scenes were witnessed. Tho representatives, we learn, however, adjourned before the fun commenced. The members of tho Brigade visited several of the hotels and a portion of the proceedings consisted of "shouting," and the man who did not take, his liquor internally had it administered externally. The Auckland Star, alluding to rumors of foul play afc the late race meeting, says :— " Bookmakers and their horses are obtaining the supremacy in the New Zealand racing world. Their rule is becoming quite absolute. The national pastime— once followed for the sake of sport— is fast degenerating into a low scramble for public monny. Bookmaking assumes an undesirable phnse when the ' talent ' own or have control of the best horses. How much more is the disgust felt at the disquieting reports which hove floated so often on the public ear — that certain bookmakers, horse owners, j and handicappers have identical interests, the end and aim of which hf s been to fleece the general public. If a rule were laiu down that horses should start or no bet, there would be a little chance for confiding investors. The racing atmosphere is very tainted, and a moral thunderstorm irequired to clear the air. At how many meeting has money been taken on horses that were either crippled or were kuown to bo non-starters by those who took the money ? And, if bo, is not this downright robbery ? In order to discourage jobbery and corruption most stringent rules should be laid down for the protection of the outj side public." The Waikato Mail is about to pass from the hands of Mr. IvGss, the founder. In Saturday's issue the proprietor takes leave of the public of Waikato in a most uncomplimentary an icle. He says: — "When the paper was published it was intended to make ifc a thoroughly independent organ of public opinion in this part of the colony, but experience has proved that there are so many wheels within wheels in the Waikato, so many dodges and combinations, so many rings of all kinds, that unless a paper is prepared to become tho slave of one and all, its chances of success arc slight indeed. In taking- leave of the public of the Cambridge district, ho does so with great pleasure, for the treatment he has received at the hands of those who chiefly control public affairs here has been of the most scurvy kind," Mr Elliot Squire, a solicitor, met with n fatal accident in Plymouth last week. While conversing with Mr Rendle, eurgeon, a runaway horse and cab dashed on to the pavement, and before the unfortunate gentleman could escape, the shaft of the vehicle struck him in the eye and transfixed him to the wall. Some of tho glass of his spectacles was forced into his head, and the wreck o! the cab fell upon him, crushing his ribs. He only survived a few hours. The ex-Empress Eugenic has caused n very stringent clause to be inserted in the deed of sale of her villa at Biaritz, which will compel tho new owners to have masses held in the chapel en the anniversaries of tho deaths of her husband and son. Mark Twain's "A Tramp Abroad" has been a remarkable pecuniary success. Though by no means cheap, ifc has reached its eightieth thousand in the United States, and hventieth thousand in Canada. At Newburyport the other day, says the Herald, an Englishman and a Yankee engaged iv a game of brag. " Well," said John Bull, "we can beat you on guns. We have a gun at the Woolwich Arsenal that when it is fired the repoit is heard in Australia." " Guns," said the Yankee, becoming excited aud jumping to his feet, " guns ! why we bave a gun hero in America that was fired off in 1776, aud you Englishmen haint heard the last of it yet." Oxford has lately been startled by the announcement that two roulette tables have been started in tho town, with two aristocratic graduates as croupiers, and that the company patronising the rooms frequently consists of graduates and undergraduates. The Army and Navy Gazette says :— •' The way in which our soldiers are coddled in India is absurd. Colaba, the European contonment of Bombay, is two miles from the city, and yet the guards are not allowed lo march to their posts, but arc conveyed to and fro in an omnibus ! In old days the soldiers would have scorned such molly-coddling ; but then they were men, not weakly boys. Our soldiers do not even clean their own boots, and are not allowed to go near a cook-house. They are, however, well acquainted with the road to the canteen and the 'samniy' shops in the native bazaars. The example set by the 11th Hussars during its Indian tour might, we think, be followed with advantage by commanding officers of other regiments. When Colonel Selters, years ago, told Mrs Hawkins that pork would be co precious after he had made a corner in it that she would soon be wearing hogs as jewellery, he scarcely thought of the little golden pig ornament now actually worn by fashicnable ladies of Cincinnati, the pork Paris of America. — New Orleans Picayune. Says the Auckland Observer :—>< Poor Miss Williamson died from typhoid fever, brought on by over study, and over excitement of the brain concerning the approaching examination. Miss Hungerford has succumbed, and lies dangerously ill at home of the same disease and from the same cause. When will examiners begin to discover that they arc working a serious aud fatal injury to the health of the young women teaching in our public schools, by the severity and length of the examinations to which they are now subjected ? Will they teach any better for the ordeal through which they have to pass ? I doubt it. And certainly a distinction should be made between men and women, and an easier set of papers be allotted to the latter, or we shall soon have our best and most refined young women removed from the schools by luuacy or death. Hard worked throughout tho year between teaching and studying, they are slaving now during the holidays, to wind up with a severe examination in the last week in January, and then back to school, and teaching without any respite. Are the authorities asleep ?" Old, but Good.— Epigram found written on the back of a bank-note — " A wee short while ye bao been mine, Nae langer can I keep ye ; I hope you'll soon be back again, An bring anither like ye I"