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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 186, 6 August 1881, Page 3

A correspondent writes to the Post wishing to be informed whether, uuder the new and very stringent laws framed for the prevention of gambling, it will be criminal to use the expression " you bet." We should say unquestionably. The '• Times " bas the following despatch from New York, showing that the Chinese can strike when they find it suits them, and be riotous also -.— '• Intelligence from Yale, British Columbia, published here May 16th, states that 2000 Chinese laborers on the Pacific Railroad hare struck work for an increase of wages, on account of the heavy tolls on rice, and have mobbed and destroyed the company's warehouse." Good servants (writes the "Loafer in the street") are at present very hard to procure, and when you do get one that suits you she, like the oft quoted dear gazelle, " is sure to marry a market gardener." Bnt ajgood cook is almost impossible to obtain, and when you do get one, you must accede to everything she requires at the first onset, and more afterwards. A very good story comes to me in this connection recently. Here it is. A lady, in Christchurch had heard of a firstclass cook who was just ont of a place, and interviewed her by appointment at her own house. The master of the house was present, but took no part in the conference, but read the paper while the terms were being settled between his wife ani the artiste of the stew pans The latter first asked about terms, which were entirely satisfactory. She then came on, naturally enough, to her perquisites, which were also most suitable? Then her nights out, which were most liberal Everything was going on swimmingly till at last she inquired what family there was v Well," said the lady, " we have eight in all " "Eight," exclaimed the cook, " why, I never could manage to do for ttat number; it would wear the very life out of me." Here, with the greatest presence of mind, the hus' band struck in for the first time, saving, in bis most dulcet tones. "Do you think, Mrs Dripping Pan, you could manage with four children ? " •« Oh, yes, sir," replied the cook «I could manage four." "Well, consider yourself engaged," said the husband, " we'll drown the four youngest." Tableau.

■ A correspondent says :— We all regard the Americans as a go-a-head people; and indeed, not without good reason. I have before me a copy of the Chicago Tikes of May 22ncl, 1881, and if I Lad never heard anything of America age in, I think I should be able from this paper alone to get a tolerably good idea of America and Ameiican character. The copy of the Times before me consists of 176 long columns of closely printed matter, on almost every subject under the sun Special telegrams are there by the score, and amongst them is one which is nothing less than a marvel. It consists of the entire' New .Testament (the revised version of' course) word for word, froni the be&ia* ning of Matthew to the end of the Revelation. This immense telegram occupies nearly eighty-nine columns, and is a feat in lhe V* °^ tele g ra phy that has never been •equalled. The time occupied in it 3 transmission from New York to Chicago was from 5 to 11.30 o'clock p.m., nineteen wires being used up to nine o'clock, and twenty-one after that hour. The number of words was 83,715; nearly 84,000. After this I shall be surprised at nothing I hear respecting America. When a paper of 176 long columns of closely packed matter, including amongst many other things of great interest a special telegram of 83,715 words, can be had in America for 2|d, it really does seem as if nothing was beyond the enterprise of the cute Yankee. If what a San Francisco paper says is trne a really great discovery haa been made which may convert the far western deserts, where nought but the cactus now grows, into the chief wine-growing districts of the American continent. A man inserted cuttings from some vines into the trunk of tbe cactus plants, and the result was that the vines grew forth as luxuriantly as on the moet fruitful laud, and this without cultivation or watering. Not only did he succeed iv raising fine grapes, but he also found that melons, tomatoes, and cuenmbers could be grown on the cactus. That hitherto muchabused plant may now prove one of the greatest blessings of man, and the arid and Bandy desert may yet become more productive than the rich, well-watered prairie. Referinr to the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, the Post says :— The climax of absurdity was reached last night when Mr. Dick announced his intention of recommitting the bill to amend the "fan-tan" clause, and moved a new paragraph declaring betting in any shape or form unlawful and severely punishable. This elicated an outcry of disapprobation. Members pointed out that if this bill passed they could not bet a " new hat," or play whist at their cubs for penny points, without being liable to fine and imprisonment. It is not strange tbat several members should doubt the Government having any real idea of carrying the bill at a'l, and notwithstanding Mr. Dick's indignant disclaimer, we cannot think him serious in his last proposals. The utter inconsistency of these with the sanction given to betting by means of the totalisator and the particular raffles called "art unions" is particularly glaring. Ih fact the whole thing is wholly, overdone. Some check on the " sweeps " and raffles, which have grown into such a public nuisance^ was undoubtedly called for, but not such a Draconian measure as this, which assuredly will defeat itself by its own exaggerated severity, if ever it pass at ail. But we cannot believe it will ever become law, or that either the Governmeufc or the House have the slightest idea that it will ever pass. Both the bill itself and the debates of which it has been the subject look to us very much like a piece of Parliamentary buffoonery.