WELLINGTON.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 157, 22 April 1859, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

The Independent "published a summary for the outward mail on the 22nd alt. We extracttho following :— Land Purchases. —An important movement has recently commenced in the north, with a view of effecting a change in the system of land purchasing from the natives. A section of the Auckland community are desirous of returning to a system allowed for about two years in the long past clays of Fitzroy misrule—they desire that the Grown should waive its right of pre-emp-tion in favor of individual purchasers. The northern ; public generally consider . that there are evils connected with this system which would render its adoption most unwise, and is reported to find little or no favor at head quarters. The system when tried 15 years ago did not apparently answer the expectations formed of it,'but with its practical working we do not profess ourselves acquainted ; the district comprising this province being then under the -control of the New Zealand company, the waiving of the pre-emptive-right did not extend to it. • A letter has been printed for circulation throughout the northern district, signed by ■several influential political persons, in order to form a society for advocating the change above referred to. This letter informs us that Auckland is being far left behind, both in accession of population and increase of ■exports, by the southern provinces of the colony, and that its land sales have dwindled in three years from £60,000 to £2,500. The enormous falling off is said to rise simply fram there being no lands in the hands of. the Obve.rn.ment to- supply an undiminished demand, as evinced by the departure to the south of many capitalists who have arrived from, time to time in Auckland for the purpose "of se.tt.ing there, and by the return of others in ' hopelessness to the -country from which they came. Whether the above statements are true we have no means of deciding. The Southern ..Cross maintains they are; the JSew Zeahndcr is equally positive they are not. In the belief that there is "something rotten in the state," the one proposes -extreme measures to effect a cure; but ■on the assumption that the sinking of the land pulse during the last three years is only a symptom of a return to health from the fever of 1855, the other is satisfied with ■things as they are, confident that there will be enough to meet every bona fide demand, including the free grants to the immigrants •expected to arrive from England under the now probably disallowed regulations elsewhere described. The statements contained in this letter have created considerable surprise, being an admission of a fact strongly contested by our Auckland friends heretofore, viz., that the seat of population and wealth is in the South and not in the North. This admission, together with that of the Southern proportionate increase being so much larger than that of the Northern, is no small argument towards the inevitable removal ©f the seat of Government to Wellington. The letter is too long to reprint here, but a3 affecting the present and future position of •this Province as a part of the South, we cannot do less than quote the introductory .paragraphs. : "Auckland, Feb. 15, 1859. " Sir,—We invite your serious attention ;to the unsatisfactory state of the Province -of Auckland, which is being fast left behind, both in accession of population, and increase of exports, by the Southern Provinces of the colony, as evidenced hj the valuable and carefully compiled statistics published by the General Government, from which it is unnecessary to quote, the information contained being equally acceesi-' ble to you as to us. "It is an admitted fact that many .capitalists have arrived at Auckland, for the purpose of settling, who, having been disappointed in their expectation of obtaining land on which to employ their means, have abandoned this province for the South, or have returned in hopelessness ■io the country which they have quitted." The Wdikanae District, — Positive infdrmation reached us on Saturda}^.last of the completion of a small purchase on the West Coast. It is a strip of two or three ■miles of sea coast extending inland to the mountain ranges. It is of very little value in itself, but of some consequence as being the insertion of the thin end of the wedge, in a district which would form a valuable adjunct to the agricultural capabilities of .that portion of the province. The Waitotara District. —The natives in this district are for the first time most anxious to sell the valuable block which Europeans have so long coveted. It comprises from one to two hundred thousand acres of well watered and timbered land, and in the event of its speedy acquirement must have a most favorable effect on the commerce of-the Port of Wauganui. Some disagreement about the King movement -in-the North has occasioned this desire to sell, and the natives have been busy preparing fer the daily expected arrival of his Excellency, on his overland journey from Taranaki to Wellington. We sincerely trust that the disappointment which the non-arrival of his Excellency will be sure to create may not impede the sale, but that Mr. McLean, who it is be- . lieved is still coming on,: will be able to make terms promptly and effectually. If this is accomplished the prestige of the ■, purchase of Waitorara will greatly facilitate I Mr. McLean's acquisition of theManawatu, j on which several settlers are running their flocks, in opposition to the law. j ■ JPiiblic,Works. —Public Works, regarded j as subservient to public convenience, naturally excite a general interest, not only throughout the community but amongst those who in Australia or England are anxious for information relative to the advantages afforded by the various provinces. We may, therefore, be allowed to state that the various public works of this province are being pushed forward With the energy

which has hitherto characterised them, and which enabled us, in our last month's summary, successfully to challenge our sister provinces in amicable rivalry, to -equal the comparatively great extent of 127 miles of well-made macadamised roads, which we then showed we possessed. The department, however, has not relaxed in its activity, and this month witnessed the completion of the Three Mile Bush Road, in the Wairarapa District, hitherto so great an impediment to communication, but which now, owing to the judicious adoption of a system of: small contracts, is finished before the arrival of winter can render it again the almost impassable series of mud-holes and swamps it usually became in that season. The Featherston portion of the Te Kopi Line is also just completed, while' the contracts on the Waihincra, a portion of the same route, are favourably progressing; and since our last summary an important extension of the Ohariu Valley Road has been finished, and the Hul't Bridge, one of the greatest thoroughfares in the province, again opened for traffic. The three large and important bridges over the Wanganui, the Wai-o-hini, and the Turakini rivers are also in hand, at an aggregate cost of nearly £10,000. Of these, the Wai-o-hini bridge, which forms the most important connecting link in the now almost unbroken line of road, communication between Wellington and Mastertpn, a distance of 65 miles, is, we are happy to say, rapidly approaching completion, and when finished, which it is expected to be in May, will prove one of the greatest conveniences yet afforded. We cannot as yet boast of the more imposing- engineering works of rail ways, canals, dockst and telegraphs, although the day is fast approaching, doubtless, when the rapidly 'increasing resources of even this remote dependency of Great Britain will imperiously demand their construction, with other facilities so general in the mother country; but as no surer indication can be afforded of the extent of a country's trade, or even of its advancement in civilization, than the existence of good and sufficient means of internal communication, we can, with some degree of pride,.point to the important public works which we have just adverted to, and which cannot, considering our present position and resources, afford too much occasion for public congratulation. The Maori War at Wanganui. —Now that peace is restored, we propose to lay before our readers (most of whom, we believe, are wholly uninformed on the subject) a brief sketch of the late outbreak amongst the native tribes at Wanganni. For many years past the question of title to land has been the great bone of contention with the aborigines of this country. Nine tenths of the commotions which have from time to time occurred have been traceable to this source. Prior to the advent of the Paheha the question of land title was never -entertained by the Maori. His wants were supplied by hunting and fishing, and in the prosecution of these pursuits his only care was to "keep within those limits which would bring him into dangerous, proximity with'his warlike; neighbours; these limits varying according to the discretion of the adventurer. . = At a later period, when pigs and vegetables were introduced, agricultural pursuits engaged a share of his attention. A value, now attached itself to .such portions of" land as were best adapted to cultivation. Priority of occupation established a right, which, however, lapsed when the occupier - ceased to cultivate. Subsequently, some few whites, wliohad located themselves in the country, sought to obtain a title to large tracts of territory, and made overtures to the supposed proprietors for the purchase thereof. The astonished natives gladly availed themselves of the offer, and, in consideration of the veriest trifles, they willingly parted with a visionary right to any amount of land the purchaser stipulated for. Under this mode of purchase, large dominions came under the possession of a few individuals, whose names have often enough been paraded before the public. At a still later period, when the tide of emigration from the mother country was directed to New Zealand, and the extinguishment of the native title was com-j menced under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, the native territorial rights assumed a much more important aspect. Finding that the influx of settlers gave the land a certain intrinsic value, the; question of respective tribal rights to land hitherto ignored, now became a subject of fierce contention. Their land had become marketable, and each tribe was eager to appropriate and dispose of, for its exclusive benefit, the largest possible district. A hundred different plans were resorted to. for establishing something like a plausible, title. Old. tribal invasions and conquests ■ were most frequently advanced in support ; of a claim, and under this rule many of the , difficult questions brought before the Company's agents were satisfactorily adjusted. \ The number of these conflicting claims is now considerably diminished, but there are many still unsettled. ; Now to our story. -The right to a valuable district cf land in the Upper Wanganui had i become the subject of dispute between the Ngatitaipoto and Ngatitu tribes. About | six months ago the dispute had readied its I climax, and the contending claimant's, unable.'1 to settle the dispute amicably, were bent on extreme measures. At this critical juncture the Rev. Richard Taylor, with i his usual zeal and earnestness in promoting j the welfare of the natives, stepped in, and succeeded in obtaining the consent of both. parties to place the • question "before his ■Excellency the Governor, on the spot, and accept his decision as final.:. This was decidedly a step in the right direction, and only needed to be followed- up. Mr. Taylor immediately communicated with the Colonial Secretary on the subject. Vexed with the indefinite answer, weary (of delay, and impatient to decide the ques-

tion, Topine,. the'Ngatitaipoto chief, proceeded to take possession of the disputed land."-On-the other hand, a small party of the Ngatitu tribe, whose claim r was thus repudiated, planned a murderous scheme of revenge. An. opportunity of carrying it into'effect was'not long wanting,' Intelligence had reached them that Topine, at the head of an expedition, was on his way up the river. The small band of warriors immediately repaired to a spot on the bank of the river, where the enemy was expected, to encamp for the night. Armed with muskets and tomahawks they secreted themselves amongst the brush wood and awaited their approach. The canoes of Topine and his main body of followers at last appeared, but instead of landing, as was anticipated, they passed on up the river. Not so with a small party who were some distance in the rear. They landed, fastened their canoe, entered the whare and prepared their evening meal, wholly unconscious of the danger which lurked, so near them. While these domestic arrangements were going on in the whare, the ensconced warriors, whose position enabled them to keep a strict surveillance, primed, their muskets and prepared for the dark tragedy they were about to enact.! Patiently they awaited the fall of the night, knowing well that darkness would aid them in their plan of attack. Midnight found these treacherous savages stealing forth from their places of concealment. -The entrance to the whare stood open, the central fire was nearly out, and around about it were stretched the sleeping forms of the unsuspecting victims. Sharp eletonations rang simultaneously from the mouths of several muskets, and were answered by a fierce yell from within the whare. The Chief Waiata, pierced in the shoulder by a bullet, sprang to his feet, and seizing his gun, fired it in the face of the assailants, when he received another ball in the stomach, which laid him prostrate. The murderers now rushed into the vyhare, and closing with their tomahawks,.fought fiercely under the glafre of the smouldering fire. The conflict was short but deadly. The assailants were repulsed with a loss of two, having butchered five of the Ngatitaipoto— one of them an infant; and immediately retreated to a small pa, called Mataiwhetu. The mournful tidings soon reached Topine, and its announcement to the tribe was received with " lamentation and great weeping." Topine summoned together his council of war, and deliberated as to the course he should pursue. The Icorero was long and animated. "Various plans were suggested; and it was finally resolved that the Pa should be besieged, the supplies cut off, and the inmates reduced to famine. In the heat of his wrath, Topine determined that every inmate of the devoted Pa should perish. The Karen traversed through the whole district, and reinforcements came in from all quarters. Topine concentrated his forces around the almost impregnable Pa, which was defended by a brave party of about 50 Ngatitu warriors; and thus commenced the siege of Mataiwhetu. The main Ngatitu body coincided in the justice of this movement, and many of its members joined Topine's forces, being willing to forget their tribal tie, and join with the injured in punishing the crime. They viewed the cruel murder of a helpless infant with unbounded indignation for, as they expressed it, "he could not ward the blow." Topine adopted precautionary measures for the non-molestation of the European settlers; nor were the latter at all inconvenienced, unless perhaps occasionally by the imposition of the^Tapn," or sacred interdict, on the upper portion of the river, whereby all traffic was prohibited. Time rolled on, and the commencement of this month found the small Ngatitu party still beleaguered, and reduced to the verge of starvation. Several attempts had been made to storm the Pa, but had failed. Several of the besieged, however, had been . shot. Famine was now pinching them, and they sued for quarter. Topine, whose wrath had considerably cooled, limited his demand to the ten persons concerned in the murder of Waiata and his party. This alternative was complied with, and the doomed ten were given up. Thus ended the siege of Mataiwhetu. The prisoners are still in the hands of Topine. That humane chief, unwilling that more blood should be spilt, and viewing the number of killed on both sides as about equal, is disposed to receive as their ransom a tract of land in the Upper Wanganui. district. A large body of his tribe have coincided in his plan of mercy, but another party are pressing for summary punishment. This question of life or death is to be referred to Mr.: M'Lean, the chief Land Commissioner, on his arrival at Wanganui (now daily expected), both parties having consented to abide by his decision. AN OPERATIVE NOBLEMAN. The Earl of Rosse is the Tubal Cain of the Irish Peerage, a noble Vulcan —a smith, and an astronomer, equally at home in the forge or among the stars. Most people have heard of his Lordship, or if they have not heard of his Lordship, they have heard of his great telescope, 53 feet long, and six feet in diameter, through which the celebrated nebula of Sir John Herschel, was first seen, in its most distinct aspect of myriad clustering stars; and last summer it was asserted his Lordship had an early private view through the same monster instrument of the approach of the hot weather, and was thereby enabled to erect sheds for his cattle. The first is an admitted scientific fact, but the latter .was founded upon no better grounds than the circumstance that the Earl chose to construct accommodation for, his herds, at a time of the year when work'is most comfortably done. ■■'~,, The great telescope stands in the middle of the demesne, and is swung between two massive stone walls, something like a pier of the' Suspension Bridge without the

arch connecting the side masonry. It would require a more scientific person than myself to describe the mechanical aids and contrivances, all of his Lordship's devising, ■which enable him to move this great mass, this tremendous tube, with as much ease and precision as though it were a toy instrument. The first thing that strikes you is, that it is like a gigantic piece of wooden ordnancejtoeing put together with tremendous staves, like a cask. Being on the Gregorian or reflecting principle, I need hardly say you do not look through it, you look into it. Nay, you may walk into it like a tunnel, for I could see the traces of footsteps in the interior, as though persons had been down the tube to have;a nearer view of the speculum at the bottom. The instrument is pointed at a given angle towards the heavens, and down in the bottom of the huge cylinder or cask, if you choose to call it such, is the speculum or reflector, the largest that has ever been made, and the manufacture of which under his own superintendence was the triumph of Lord Rosse's mechanical powers. In this metallic mirror is reflected the heavenly body under observation, and on a stage ■near the opening at the top stands1- the observer, who, looking through an eyeglass on a smaller speculum fixed to the side near the aperture, makes his observations at leisure on planet, fixed star, meteor, or nebula, just as the case may happen to be. Here pigmy man reviews the heavenly host. ' . . . , But Lord Rosse is no pigmy. If his \ father had worn a blacksmith's apron in- | stead of ermine or sables, the son would, ! have risen from the cinders of the forge to be a Stephenson or a Herschel. The Duke of Wellington is reported to have said of a dissipated member of the Peerage, who possessed high mental qualities, " It is a pity he was born a lord, for he had to earn his bread, he would have been a useful member of society." This does not apply to the Earl of Rosse, nor is he, to use the sarcasm applied to another, "a sayan amongst peers and a. peer amongst savans," for while he is everything that becomes the chieftain of a county, the most intelligent mechanic in Birmingham would acknowledge him a master in his own arts, while the Astronomer Royal would receive him in his own observatory upon equal footing. His residence, Rosse Castle, is a most amusing picture of the forge and the feudal fortress. You enter into the grounds by a gateway in Parsons-town; I passed the lodge without let or impediment, and was soon arrested by a large and imposing but not very picturesque or well designed castle, massively built of limestone. The greater part of the structure is comparatively new, but portions of the old castle, which, in the Jacobite wars stood a brief siege, still remain and bear upon them traces of cannon ball. The present nobleman has surrounded the building with rampart and fosse, so that in a sudden emergency it might be turned.to strategical account; fortification is, I believe, one of the many branches of knowledge to which he has turned his thoughts. But when you got within the line of defences, what a contrast to baronial or military forces the objects that met your eye afforded; the genius of Watt triumphed over the imitations of Vauban. Where cannon might have bristled, a tidy steam-engine worked; great lathes turned under the tower that frowned defiance at James's forces ; in the stables, where racing stud or war steeds might have been sheltered, a most ingenious and powerful apparatus for polishing a great speculum are fixed ; in the corner of the castle-yard was a furnace, and close by. stood the mould, in which the monster reflectors were cast by his lordship, with face and hands begrimed with sweat and coal dust, an event more important, but not so worthily, as the casting of the Schiller's bell. Scraps of iron and smith's coal strewed the ground, and instead of the baying of the hound or the horn of the hunter, you heard the sustained deep breathing of a pair of forge-bellows, above which rang the measured clang of sledge and anvil; for his lordship is never idle. He must be at work with his workmen, and he has numbers employed under him; when not constructing some wonderful invention to view the heavens or trace the planetary revolutions, he sets about making gates or iron bridges, or hydraulic pumps to drain morasses. But it was quite evident, however rude or coarse the work in hand, nothing was left to the rule of thumb—everything is calculated properly and scientifically, and the number of books upon mechanics which lay about in forge and lathe-house, showed that his lordship's journeymen were taught by principles and not lay chance to regulate their labours. His lordship, I believe, is not much of,a sportsman, and, With a little of the absence of the philosopher, he is said hardly to know his own horse. When Lord Oxmantown, he represented the King's County in Parliament/and when attending his duties in London would sometimes escape from a (lull debate'to the forges of Birmingham -, or the ship building yards of Blackwall. Some amusing circumstances occurred during these incognito visits. His Lordship is a strong-built mechanical looking man, and many a time has a brother operative in admiration of his ability pressed a pot of porter upon him. It is even said that he has once or twice shared the honest pewter on such occasions with the file-dusted engineer, sooner than part with a clear-headed handicraftsman. One anecdote is well authenticated; he was at some manufactory (the name I have heard but have forgotten.) In walking through the works he met with the principal, who finding him well versed1 in the subject, and taking him for a practical man* explained some improvement he was about to make. His lordship discoverecl a fallacy in the plan, and predicted that it would fail; but the other was confident in his calculations;' and so they parted. Some time afterwards when his lorclship was

walking to the House of' Commons, he was accosted in the street by one who turned out to be his too confident acquaintance, and who said, " I have been often, since we last met, wishing to see you—you were right, and I was wrong, and I am going to make you an offer: my engineering foreman is going to leave me, and if you will come down and construct the work your own way, I will give you' the post." "I am much obliged," replied'liis lordship, " but I could not accept your offer without consulting my father." "One would think you were old enough," said the other with some scorn, "to be out of leading strings. And when can you hear from your Daddy?" "I can give you an answer at once," said! Lord Oxmantown, who savv his father, the then Earl Rosse, approaching. When the latter came up he was informed of the offer, and entering into the joke, said he was quite: willing his son should accept the post, if it did not interfere with his parliamentary duties. " And who the deuce is he, and who are you, old gentleman ?" roughly de-r manded the Brummagem man. "I am Earl Rosse," was the reply,, "and this is Lord Oxmantown." Eventually- the;latter consented .to look down for a few 'days into Warwickshire, and give his friend the bene-r fit of his best advice, which ended-this-time in the thoroughly successful completion of the improvements in hand.— -Bristol Times. Politenes. —The Parisians are laughing over the last story from the German watering places. It appears that the Prinpess N., who resided in a sumptuous chateau near the baths at Neuwied, sent a dinner invitation, according to her hospitable custom, to the Major P., an officer on service at the garrison near by. The major chanced to be on duty, and was obliged to decline; but on sending his excuse by his faithful sergeant, he told him to bring his dinner as he came back—meaning of course, that he should go for it to the neighbouring restaurant. The subaltern chanced to be very literal in his habit of mind, and he delivered the two errands at once at the gate of the chateau. Very much astonished at first that her proposed guest should send for his dinner, the princess soon entered into the joke, and ordering a huge tray to be sumptuously laden from her kitchen, she despatched it by the hands of the sergeant and her own footman. Astounded at the magnificence of the "dinner for one," the major summoned his messenger, and soon, came to an explanation; but quite too spiritual to lose the enjoyment of the luxury, he invited in a couple of brother officers, and they made a capital feast. Only, before sitting down, he gave the sergeant five dollars, and instructed him to go to the confectioner and procure a splendid castle of sweetmeats, taking it with his compliments to the princess. All dutifully .done —but her highness, in consideration of the subaltern's so well performing his duty, sent him out a dollar, for his perquisite as messenger.—" Excuse me!" said the literal sergeant, as he looked at the one dollar and supposed that of course it was to pay for the confectionary he had bought— " Excuse me, but it cost five! Four dollars more, if you please." The princess by this time understood the character of the man, and she gravely sent out the other four dollars. The major was still at dinner with his feasting brother officers when the faithful sergeant entered with the military touch to his cap, and laid down the five dollars on the table. How many of his military buttons the gallant officer burst off in containing his rage while the return of these five dollars was explained, is not told in the story.' — Paris Paper. For Ready Money Only. —" Talking about that," he began, " I married a man the other day for the third time. Man in my parish. Capital cricketer when he was young enough to run. ' What's your fee ?' says he. ' Licensed marriage ?' says I. 'Guinea, of course.'— c I've got to bring you your tithes in three weeks, sir,' says he. • Give me tick till then.'— 'All right,' says I, and married him. In three weeks he comes and pays his tithes like a man. ' Now, sir,' says he, ' about this marriage fee, sir? I do hope you'll kindly let me off at. half-price, for I've got a bitter bad 'un this time. I've got half a guinea about me, sir,'if you'll only please to take it. She isn't worth a farthing more —on the word of a man, she isn't, sir!' I looked hard in his face, and saw two scratches on it, and took the half guinea, more out of pity than anything else. Lesson to me however. Never marry a man on credit again as long as I live. Ready money— eh ? Ha! ha! ha! 0, yes! ready money next time V—Dickens's Household Words. Virtues of Crinoline.— -The Philadelphia Bulletin points out the following advantages resulting from the use of crinoline:—■' It frees women from a needless weight of skirts, strengthens the system by exposure to cold, and aids manufactures, stimulates the whale fishery, improves figures, displays ankles to a delirious extent in: getting up stairs, and gives editors subjects for articles. ..All things considered we see no great reason to grieve over the institution. It is not every fashion which develops so much or such varied industry as crinoline.' Destruction of the iSutlef by Fire.- —On Thursday evening last, a magnificent ball and supper was given to the elite of Calcutta on board the well known splendid screw steamer Calcutta by Capt. Blackmore and his officers. The ship was decorated with great taste and elegance, and the flags of all nations were displayed to a great advantage on the quarter-deck. Mr. Lewis' well known band discoursed most eloquent music, and 'all went merry as a marriage bell.' ' But hush! hark I a deep sound strikes like a rising knell!' Not far from that gay and bappy scene of festivity lay a doomed and fated ship, which in all the majesty of naval architecture, had called forth the admiration of all who saw her, in calm.repose, floating like^ a sea bird on the river's bosom. Alas the demon of destruction had marked her for his own;

and the cry arose, "A ship on, fire!" Sad, though beautiful, was the awful sight which presented itself—the Suttej burning to the water's edge, and the shriek of despair mingling in the roar of that element, f all powarful to destroy! Five souls perished in seeking escape by rushing into the treacherous river, and in almost less time than it takes to write this .faint and imperfect description the noble vessel was a charred and shapeless mass, a thing of beauty and of life.no/raofe. The origin of the fire is as yet unknown, but a strict and careful investigation will at once take place, and we have no doubt will show that spontaneous combustion, caused by the proximity of saltpetre, jute and other inflammable substances, was the cause of this stupendous disaster. Captain James had been a guest on board the Calcutta during the preceding hours ,of the night, and we offer him our cordial sympathy for the deep loss which he and his owner have sustained. A subscription list has been opened by Messrs Peel, Bel- ' lairs, and Co., for the sailors, who have been left destitute, and we shall gladly receive any contributions which may be forwarded to us for their relief.— Argus Calcutta Correspondent^ Feb. 9. Father and Mother. —Some writer, (a glorious fellow, whomsoever "Be may be) embalms these two holy names in the following beautiful thoughts:—" Sweeter praise can never be than that of a dying parent, as he blesses the hand that led him from sorrow, and is even now soothing the cold brow, damp with the spray of ' Jordan. And dear are your thoughts ass your tears fall upon the sod that covers the grey headed father, that you- were very kind and loving to him; and you gave cheerfully of your abundance, and never caused him to feel that you were doing a charity. Never can we repay those ministering angels we call father' and mother. Angels, though earthly, have they been from the time that Adam and Eve gazed upon their firstborn, as he slept amid roses, while the tiny fingers, the waxen lids, and the cherub form were all mysterious to them." . . . 7 It is said that, the French practice of giving children to nurse pccasions curious. social features. On the Northern Railway are special nurse trains on Saturdays. At the Paris station is a room were the children may be deposited, if the train be not ready to start, while the nurses go gut to gossip with their lovers and take leave of them; so, when the last bell rings for the; starting of the train, there is a general rush of the nurses, and as all very young children look much alike, and all- French children are dressed alike, in the confusion a wrong selection from the mass of babies' is easily made. Should the second nurse notice that her child is a stranger, she must put up with her fortune, as gentlemen do' when hats are exchanged. With the nurse it is a matter of indifference; and so a change once made, the affair rests a secret for all parties. How sublime the thought, that the spirit of man is of more value than all the stars which glitter in the midnight firma- : ment, and shall outlive them all in peerless beauty, if sanctified and regenerated in the Holy Spirit.. There are some people in the world who may be classed as the indomitable. Difficulties never daunt them, and they are sure to go ahead. Among these we would class, a country dame of whom we read in the newspapers. Here is the story:—She was preparing to start for market with her rural productions, when she found she was short one egg of two dozen; in vain she, ransacked the nests and hunted about for a stray one to makeup the desired number. It could not be found; but observing a hen sitting on a box, she clapped a basket over biddy, and placing the fowl thus secured in the wagon started on her way. On arriving at the market she found her' calculations hadbeen correct? biddy had paid for her ride by laying a fresh egg, which just made up the dozen. Now, this farmer's wife, we will wager a big apple to a pin's' head, had a resource in every emergency, and if she has a dozen sons they will all be successful in life. A Wicked Boy. —A mischievous boy, having. got possession of his grandfather's spectacles, privately took out the glasses. When the old gentleman put them on, find-' ing he could not see, he exclaimed— "Mercy on me, I've lost my sight!" but. thinking the impediment to vision might" be the dirtiness of the glasses, took them off to: wipe them, when,, not feeling them, he still more frightened cried out, " What's come now? Why, I've lost\my feeling too!" Personal respectability is totally independent- of a large income. Its great secret is self-respect. Poverty can never1 degrade those who never degrade themselves by pretence or. duplicity. . Curious Epitaph? but prolablij True.—Among the epitaphs to be found in the bury ing-ground at Rindge, in the United States, is the following:— - ■ "/This bed is cold, but 0,1 love it, 'For colder were my friends above it."