DIAMONDS.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 150, 16 September 1876, Page 2

DIAMONDS.

A NOVEL and clover swindle Was perpetrated in Paris last week. A well dressed lady visited one of the most eminent mental doctor, and asked him whether he could do anything towards curing her son. “What is his special delusion ?” asks the physician, to which the mother replied that “he was con-< tihually fancying that some one owed him 30,000 francs for diamonds he had sold.” “ Bring him to me in an hour’s time, and -I will sec him alone,” remarked the doctor, and bowed out his visitor. The lady went at once to one bl the best jewellers, and choosing 30,000 francs’ worth of diamonds, asked the shopman to send his assistant with them to Dr J.’s, who was her husband, and would pay for them. Tnc name was well known, and a young man was at once despatched with her to the doctor’s home. In the anteroom she remarked, “ I will see if ray husband is in,” and accordingly informed the doctor that her son was in the house,-and was told to send him to him. This she did, having requested the man to leave the diamonds with her., Arrived in the doctor’s study the iffl-j fortunate jeweller was handed a chair, and courteously asked after his general health, habits, &c. After politely replying for some time, the young man

hinted that he. was; rather pressed for leißiire, and would be glad it the doctor would kindly pay him for the diamonds. “ Ah, true!” exclaimed the doctor, « the SO-,000 francs ? Well, by and by.” A very comical scene then ensued, Which finally ended in .both parties going in search of the mother, and finding that she had got tired of waiting, and had not eared to leave the diamonds behind her.

few people there arc on the \Vcst Coast who have not heard of the original Cliartcs- . ton bellman.,.' Like Brigl.Ung.tho fortunate > piscatorial■ bottlist, ho has gained a fortune but, if Almost as suddenly, not in so satisfactory a manner. The facts arc communicated as follows : “ Yet another example of perseverance bringing its regard. This time it Is a bellman, Now, don't slurt—this is a fact, I have it on unquestionable authority that the real original bellman of Charleston is at the present time chiving bis carriage in the old country 1 A donkey cart did yon say ? No sir, but a first-class carriage and pair. The secret of bis success is this ;—Leaving hern, lie visited India, and there obtained a splendid recipe for curing corns. Kctuvning to 'England, be started in business as a chiropodist, atul succeeded so well that he now occupies a splendid residence at the West End, London, and that he is patronised by the nobility and gentry may bo known by the long string of carriages to bo soon every clay waiting opposite the ■ entrance to bis establishment.. ’ A recent telegram from Alexandra to tbo Waikato Times, furnishes the following information respecting the movements of the King natives*—“ Large numbers ol! natives ai'o busily engaged in the work ‘of ■planting, and preparing ground for maize, potatoes, kumcras, &c., llikurangi, while others are at work on the erection of a largo liUnanga or meeting house in the vicinity of Kopna, so as to be m readiness for the visit f ot the Defence Minister next summer, which the natives arc looking forward to with no little interest. Large detachments' of the Waikato and Ngathnaniapotas are moving down towards the . frontier to take up permanent residence there, to be near a market at Alexandra! and thus avoid carriage of produce. There 'is plenty of first class land in the vicinity of the frontier, and if once the notion of becoming large producers seizes them, they will probably make trade busy next year. Unfortunately, other matters have great hold of the native mind just at present, and one of the subjects occupying their-attention largely, is. the question whether Tawhiao the King, is the Supreme 'Being. This is the principal question-now discussed at all meetings of the Tareaos. The much talked of paper, to be issued by the King at KopUa, as a means of influencing the minds of his people, will soon make its appearance. The press and type have already gone up to Kopua, but I have not learned who will take direct charge of it.”