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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 244, 13 October 1881, Page 2

A French psper thus traces the sensation of a reader of advertisements :— The first advertisement— he dosen't see it ; the second insertion— he sees it but don't read it ; the third insertion— he reads ; the fourth insertion—he looks at the price ; the fifth insertion— he speaks to his wife ; the sixth insertion— he is -willing to buy ; the seventh insertion — he purchases. The following telegram from New York, dated July 6, has appeared in the Liverpool Mercury t— "A whole boatload of persons out for a picnic yesterday partook of lemonade at Warrenburg (Missouri), and were poisoned witb the acid. Eight of them are c-*ead, and 100 others are in a critical condition. The vendor of the 'emonade has been arrested." The Newberg Journal mentions the fact that H. A. Tower of that place recently went to Massachusetts to attend the golden wedding of his parents, who have ten children. The journal gives their height and weight as follows ; Father Tower, six f-et high, weight 185 pounds } Mother Tower, six feet eight inches high, weight 2*25 pounds. The five sons are from Bix feet to six feet three inches high, and weiga from 175 to 251 pounds. The five daughters are from five feet four inches to five feet eleven inches high and weigh from 138 to 235 pounds. It is curious that iv popular parlance the rain penetrates deeper the nearer one goes to the equinoctial line. Thus, for example, whde the Briton says he is « wet to the skin,' the Frenchman affirms that he is ' wet to th« hones,' and the Spaniard, exaggerating still more, asserts he is *-• wet to the marrow.' When the Duke of Argyll was iv America he had the me good fortune to sea an eagle take a salmon from the swift curren. of the Cascapediac. The incident is so graphic and interesting that I will give it here in the Duke's words •— " About a thousand yards below our encampment, the river disappeared around a sudden bend, with a very sharp current. The eagle appeared coming up the stream around this bend, and flying slowly about 30ft above the ?evel of the water. Over the sharpest parts of the ourrent he hovered for a. moment, and then dashed into the stream. With a good glass I saw him buried deeply into the water holding his neck well above it. It was evident he had some difliculty in getting out of it again. A few heavy and laborious flaps of his immense and powerful wings lifted him at last, but with empty talons. Very tired, apparently, he flew to an adjacent bank of gravel, and sat there for some minutes to rest. But his countenance and attitude were that of restlessness, eagerness, and disappointment. He then rose and returned to exactly the same point in the air, and thence made a second plunge. It was beautiful to see his bearing in the stream, with the water breaking against his gruat brown chest, and his arched neck keeping his snowy head clear of its turbulence. This time the difficulty in emerging was much greater, for his talons were fast in a fine salmon. With a strong effort, however, his pinions again lifted him and his prey, which it seemed as much as he could do to carry, to the same bank of gravel, where the straggles of the fish were soon put an end to by the eagle's terrific clutches and his powerful beak."— Scribner's Monthly for April, '

Commenting upon an " invitation to prayer" recently issued hy a band of ecclesiastics in London, the Daily Telegraph says : — " The implication that ' lawlessness ' is on the increase hardly seems warranted if we consider the population of Great Britain, kept in order as it iB, even in large centres, by a few policemen. Greater London now contains nearly five millions of in habitants, many of them very poor and living in the presence of great wealth. Yet a comparatively small force is sufficient to uphold the supremacy of the law. ' Godiessness ' is. the next item of general indictment. •*' Here there is more justification. But is the evil on the increase ? It would be very strange if it were so. In proportion to the population we hate many more churches than we had fifty years ago. ifor one devoted minister of the Gospel, Established or Nonconformist, of the last century there are now ten. In spite of all this is "godiessness* on the increase, as the ioviters to prayer so directly imply ? No doubt tbere is one new characteristic of oar time which may be quoted to justify ths word Sceptic3m. The Ashburton Guardim says that the electors have now an o -portunity of doing something practical if they are so minded. They can " keep clear of the blatant stump orator aud the political Liberal, one of the greatest frauds on God's earth. Repudiate that sham at any rate ; kick him, jump on him — figuratively of course. It is possible to getjapproximately honest, decently-informed, practical-minded representatives, and when we have secured a Parliament composed in the main of these we may safely proceed gradually to unearth all the choicest spirits of New Zealand and bring them to the front." Mr Eawcett, tho Postmaster-General of England, employs deaf and dumb persons to sort papers in the post-office. What is needed in this country is a corps of blind asssistants to sort postal cards. Employes With perfect visual organs find the work too exhausting.

j£ Sydney paper thus reports the fire, which, as announced in onr cable news Tecently, destroyed so large an amount of property :— About 10 o'clock on Sunday night a fire was discovered in the grocery Btores of Messrs Tillock and Co., 786, George-street, near the Prince of Wales Hotel. The premises were left safe at a late hour on Saturday night, and no one ■was in the store ou Sunday, the proprietors residing at Petersham. The fire which originated on the first floor, must bave got a firm hold before being discovered, as, notwithstanding the combined efforts of about fifteen fire brigades, aided by a plentiful supply ot water, it was not subdned until tbe whole contents of the building were consumed. The stock of the shop was of a very varied and extensive character, and valued at from £10,000 to £12,000. The fire progressed nntil the roof fell in, when tbe flames shot up to a great height, illuminatiog tbe whele neighbourhood, and for a time the scent was very grand. The square in which tbe "building is situated was surrounded by thousands of people, kept back hy a large body of police. Every corner and elevation was taken advantage of by the sight-seers, and the scaffolding which covers the whole front of the seven-storey new building of Messrs Hordern was crowded by the more adventurous part of the public. About 1 1 o'clock the fire was got under control, and the efforts of the firemen to prevent the spread of the flames to the adjoining premises were successful, the principal damage being done by water and the hasty removal of the goods. Messrs Tillock are insured in the following companies .—Northern, £3,000; Livepoof, London, and Globe, £1,500; Commercial Union, £1,000 ; Queen's, £1,000; Sun, £1,000; Australian Mutual, £1,000; New Zealand, £1,000 ; and National, £I,ooo— total, £10,500. The building is the property of the' executors of the late Joseph Bayliss, and is also covered hy insurance.

At the athletic sports held at Coleratne on August 31, Neaves, of Nareen, made the longest hop step and jump recorded in Victoria, heating his competitor, Watts, of Hamilton, by 3| inches. Eis first jump was 43 feet lOi i nc h es ; Watts, 45 feet 2 inches. The second jump of Neaves was 45 feet 9 inches; Watts, 45 feet 5£ inches. Watts missed in his third attempt. A member speaking in a debate on the Licensing Bill in the New South Wales Hoose of Assembly said he knew teetotal magistrates who would oppose Queen Victoria if Bhe sought a license for a family hotel, and others who wou'd vote for one for his satanic majesty if he app' ied for one for tbe lowest den in Woolloomooloo.

A peculiar episode is thus related by the Sydney correspondent of the N. Z. Times:— A man and hia wife had in their house as lodgers another married couple. Dnring the absence of the male proprietor the female lodger took ill, and waß hurried ofi to quarantine; the honse was immediately quarantined, the male lodger was not suffered to come out nor tbe proprietor to go in; the result being that the male lodger is imprisoned in the houae -with the wife of the proprietor! But enough of small pox for the present. An American correspondent of the Otago Times says:-—I perceive from the Daily Times that you have the plague of leprosy in Tuapeka. Leprosy follows the Chinese everywhere. It is congenital. Experience demonstrates that it is infectious, but it is so alow in developing that the ill effects of contact with one of the diseased is not apparent^ for several years. When it does develop its progress is rapid. The Sandwhich Islands bid fair to be populated of the native inhabitants by thia fearful Chinese plague, and Europeans are fast becoming victims to its ravages. Especially is this the case wifch children of tender years owing to their being handled by Kanaka norse girls and quite a demand has arisen for Europea n female servants in consequence. Leprosy i 3 in eTery city, town, hamlet, and mining camp in this -State, and nothing will get rid of it but strict insulation and fire. You cannot he too careful or watchful against its ravages. The popular medical idea is thafc it is not contagious, but, as I have said, facts incontestibly prove the reverse.

Aa an example of the extravagant nature of some.of the claims for compensation placed before the Trarsvaal Pioyal Commission, the Times' correspondent mentions that Mr Forsman, who was a member of the Legislative Council of the Transvaal, and also Portugese consul at Potchefstroom, is a claimant for £320,000. Of thi3 £50,000 is claimed as compensation for insults offered to the Portugese flag during hostilities.

A correspondent who has just returned from Sonth Africa says : — *•*• I spent a very pleasant couple of hours with King Cetewajo when in Capetown. I called on him with the aon of President Brand. We fonnd him very agreeable. He took a great interest in young Brand and talked much about tbe Basuto war. I think he ought to be allowed to return to his country. We ought never to have gone to war with so fine and intelligent a raca of people as the Zulus. They are very like the New Zealand Maoris."

Theßritigh army haa undergone a complete transformation amoog3b its officers, not only aa regards the nomenclature of the regiments, but on account of the enforced retirements and promotions. Oce hundred and fifty-five general officers have been retired, among which are fifty-five Generals, Bixty-aix Lieutenant Generals, and tbirtyfcnr Major-Generals, and the promotions! and changes in tbe lower rank 3 are even more than proportionately iarge. These changes were made in conformity to an Act of 24th Juno last.

A large shark was recently discovered on tbe outer bar on Coney Island, New York Upon a wager Mr J, J. Murphy armed himself with a carving knife and proceeded to captnre the monster. After a brief but decisive encounter, he returned to dry land, having with him bis prize. The shark measured six feet nine inches in length, and has been placed oa exhibition. The capture was witnessed by a large number of interested spectators.

A writer in tbe Australasian remarks :— The skill of the Victorian people with rifle and revolver has been demonstrated in more than one bloodless fray. At haystacks ihey are good average shots if nofc more tban 20 yards ofi. They have weapons which they are not allowed to use, and powder which they must not burn. But the marksmen of New Booth Wales are not much ahead of us after all. Two of them armed with rifles were escorting a prisoner. In ranning in the coach horses the groom Btarted a kangaroo, whicb got into the corner of tbe hotel paddock, aboot 80 yards from the peace officers. They opened fire on the marsupial, and after five volleys the bystanders saw the kangaroo cleverly top the fence, and show as clean a pair of heels to the banters as the Ferret did to the Highland Railway Copopany.

Mr Spofforth, the demon bowler, narrowly escaped death the other day at Cassilis. He was mounting a fresh horse, and, having a gun in one hand and his rope in the other, was unable to control him, when he suddenly dashed off. Spofforth was half mounted, and was by degrees getting into his seat, when the horse collided violently wifchanother, throwing the demon very heavily, severely injuring the side of his face, breaking a bone in his wrist, and dislocating his jaw. A Mexican at Los Vegas, New Mexico, tied hia wife firmly to a board, leaned her thua helpless against a fence, took a position 50ft away, and used her as a target for rifle practice. He did nofc bit her, his object being to frighten her by imbedding the bullets in the board close to her head and body. She fainted under the frightful ordeal.

Scotchlandlordshave recently made important rent reductions, and now it is learned that reductions have taken place on three of the best-known estates in England. Mr Gladstone has taken offi 10 per cent, at Hawarden, which is the tbird time he has made a reduction there, the two former ones heen 15 per cent. each. At Hughenden, the residence of the late Lord Beaconsfield, tne agents have returned 20 per cent., and this is said to be in accordance with the late owner's expressed intentions. On the Duke of Westminister's Eaton Hall estate, near Chester, notice has been given that at the forthcoming audit 25 per cent, will be returned. On the pasture lands at Eaton Hall, as some compensation for tbe recent flooding, the Duke has reduced the rent 10 shillings an acre.

Grecian dancea are being introduced] into Paris. TheJßaroness Gustave de Rothschild ■waa the first '{to introduce them. They are made tip of a series of simple graoeful movementflj reßembliDg tbe minuet,

The Auckland Star says :— The petition to the Institute praying that the Museum may be opened on Sundays, is being largely signed. Amongst the signatures we notice those of Bishop Cowie and the Rev. Tebbs, Bree, and Edger, 8.A., and a great many leading citizens. The petitioners set forth their belief "that the opening on Sunday afternoons, during stated hours, of the Auckland Museum will be a boon to the working classes, and many others who are unable to devote any other time during the week to the inspection of the various objects of interest therein." They also believe "that the time has arrived when the people, as they are in other towns, should be entrusted with and viewed as the custodians of public property, having a large interest in mair taining and defending it from damage or spoliation, and should necessity arise for a custodian, they undertake to provide reputable and acceptable persons who will, io turn take charge during the hours tha Museum is open on that da;*-*-.-" Some crusty, rusty, musty, fusty, dusty, gusty, curmudgeon of a man gave the following toast at a celebration :— *•■* Our fire-engines-—may Ihey be like our old maids— ever ready, but never wanted."