MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 41, 19 July 1845, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

Danger op Credit. — To persons of limited income credit holds forth a dangerous inducement to extravagance in outlay. Tt ' induces many a man incautiously, but quite literally, 1 to overeat himself. There is sure to be an exten-

sive consumption of things that can be ha< merely by the sending for. Three-pence wortl here, a shilling's "worth there, and three-haportl in the next place, are items which at the tin* hardly cost a thought. They are really so yen small — and so. they arejr -but- whem-tfießeHhree pences, shillings, and so forth, com 6 to be mul tiplied by 365, it is perfectly astounding ho^ they run up. The first impression, indeed, uppr the receipt of a Christmas bill generally is, thai there must be an awful blunder somewhere The sum total .wholly exceeds belief. Som€ other person's bill must have been sent instead of yours, or perhaps there is an error of £10 ir the addition. In a word, the whole thing must be a mistake from beginning to end — not a real genuine Christmas bill, but a capital Christmas joke. When one discovers, however, that there is no joke at all about it, that the error of £10 in the addition was purely imaginary, and thai •the items are set down with a correctness and detail perfectly excruciating ; the general result is a loud resolution to run no more trade accounts from that day forth, during the terra of one's natural life — a resolution which has the remarkable property of requiring a renewal as regularly as the return of Christmas. Another mischief is, that a man's credit is not limited to the extent of his means, but by the extent he may run in debt — and the extent to which he may do this may be learnt any day by a purusal of the Courts of Bankruptcy. "So and so," observes the draper to his confidential clerk, " has £200 a year — no risk with him, at all events, for £50 or £60." Perhaps not, but the grocer says exactly the same thing, so does the baker, the butcher, the tailor, the malster, and the wine seller. It is echoed l>y the' banker, the doctor, and lawyer. The entire circle run away with the self-same idea, and are each ready to trust the annuitant with £50", on the spot, upon the strength of this comparatively miserable pittance of £200 a year. The operation of these credits, indeed, as respects the trader and his two customers, the solvent and the insolvent, is oftentimes a mere game at " beggar my neighbour," but with this peculiarity in the game, that although every one loses, nobody gains anything.- It is the Irish fable over again of the two cats that fought until there was nothing left but their two tails. Grand Juries. — At the Surrey Sessions, the following important document was handed in by the gentlemen composing the Grand Jury : — " We, whose names are- here subscribed, being the Grand Jury of the county of Surrey in session assembled, do present— that it is the opinion of the Grand Jury,' in the present improved mode of administering the public justice of the country, that the institution of Grand Juries, though at the time they were established they were of great value, are now not only unnecessary but actually injurious to the public interests. 1 . Because the careful investigation of the cases by the committing magistrates, aided by professional men who appear for the prosecution' and in the defence of the accused, have fully sifted the case in its preliminary stages. By this the institution of Grand Juries are rendered unnecesssary. 2. The opportunity for tamperingwith witnesses, in order that the evidence given before the Grand Jury may induce them to ignore the bill, although the evidence given before the magistrates fully justified the committal of the prisoner. 9. That the province of the Grand Jury is often abused by having bills preferred which relate to accusations that never have been previously investigated by magistrates, and which are often the result of a desire to extort money from the parties accused, or for the purposes of revenge. For these reasons "the j Grand Jury consider their functions are no' lon- 1 ger beneficial, that they are often injurious,- and might be well dispensed with." — London Paper. Tallow. — We are happy in being enabled to report the continued satisfactory returns of the Messrs. Henty's melting establishment under the superintendence of Mr, W. H, Barnes. The last lot melted down 'consisted of 1 1 head of cattle averaging 855 lb. each, which produced 25cwts. 3qrs. 231b. of tallow and 3Scwt. Oqrs. 61bs. beef for salting, on an average of 2541b. ,of tallow and 3871b. of beef per head. The whole, with the hides, tongues,_3tc, estimated at the lowest colonial prices, and exclusive of cost of melting gives a net average of £4 : 13 : 3 per Head, which is we believe, thfe^highest re^ turn, yet shewn in the province.— -P&r^ltotGue.