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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 108, 7 May 1881, Page 2

We take the following from a Horns paper: — Earls seem to be having rather a hard time of it just at present. It was but a week or two ago that tbe bailiffs were at Packingfcon Hall, and the goods and chattels of the Earl of .Aylesford transferred to a Birmingham auctioneer. A few days ago the Earl of Hardwicke was assuring the Court that, although a bankrupt, he hopes by-and-bye to pay twenty shillings in the poucd; and now we read in last night's Gazette tbe name of the Earl of Perth and Melfort as among those who have found it necessary to take "the benefit of the Act." , An American -tourist was inspecting St. Paul's, London, under the guidance of an Irish verger. Suddenly tbe latter said, with bated breath, " 'Sh, surr, 'sh, for we're approaching the tomb of the great Juke — tbe Juke of Willington, surr. Sure, Burr, he loies there ; and undernaitb him there's at laßte tin tons of granite. And thin comes an iron sarcophagus — and he's in that. And atop o' that, surr, there's at laste fifteen tons more of Oirish granite, that's at the same toima a protiction and a mimorial." The American replied — " Well, I guess you've got him sure. But if tbe old fellow shows any signs of breaking out, just you cable, at my expense, to Peoria, Illinois." The quarterly returns of money order and savings bank transactions, up to March 31, in the several postal districts of New Zea land, have been published. Tbe returns for tho corresponding period of 1880 are aho given. During the past quarter there were in the whole colony 179 money order and savings bank offices open, as against 169 last year — showiog an increase of twelve. The number of money orders issued this year was 32,705, for an amount of £110,277 13s ; whilst last year 33,614 (representing £116,581 19b Id) were issued. A singular fact is shown— viz., that whilst the above number were issued, only 26,174 (representing £86,502) this year, aud 27,715 (representing £87,447 9s IOd) were paid, so that, in round numbers, £24,000 were not claimed in the quarter of one year, aad £29,000 was floating unclaimed in the other period. In savings banks during the last quarter 5635 accounts were opened, and 3)17 closed | against 412? opened fled 2.90

closed in tbat of 1880. The amount of deposits ibis year anio jnted to £281,840 6s 4d., which is about .£93,000, or about one-third more tban tho like term in 1880, when £197,911 2a Bd. only was deposited. A moro convincing proof of returning prosperity could not be given. The amount of withdrawals this y.ar was .£210,947 19a 3*l, and in 1881,. £196,735 fis Bd. Another marked feature, further corroborating the improved condition of tho colony, is that, at the end of last quarter, the excess of deposits over withdrawals was £70,892 7s Id. ; whilst afc the end of the same quarter in 1880 the excess was only £1175.