MISCELLANEOUS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 171, 18 May 1871, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Inside Parts. — The first thing that strikes you on reaching the streets is the complete absence of cabs, and the rare intervals at which a 'bus passes by. j The.ro are plenty of boys and men ready jto mrry your ba^tv^e or yourself ! wherover you please ; an ! there is a crowd of hand-carts and »• rotchers to contract for the multifarious uses they may be called upon to perform. Next in prominence is the air of lassitude which pervades the citizens, and the terrible quietness of the streets. •" Then the shops have a faded look, nothing sprightly in the windows, and one in every four closed. The cafes look dowdy, and waiters worn out, just asif short of sleep or over-fatigued. -The streets were uncommonly tidy, but tha - facades of the houseß require a cleaning up. Not a policeman visible to take your measure in a glauce, as in days of yore, as he iuight " want " y v sub- ■ sequenrly. No private carriages, no - waggoners, none of those immense Haussmann trucks laden with blocks of white stons, the least a ton in weight and drawn by a tandem of five horses. The provision shops have still more cans and boxes in their windows than food — but then, the costmongers' carts are fairly freighted, and roll into every byeway, where the poor people purchase gladly. What was peculiarly striking the same class of people seemed to have purses as well-filled as ever, and tossed and examined fish, flesh, and vegetables to make a choice, as if the famine had I never been sore in the laud. Butter appeared to be still at famine prices (five fracs per lb.) At Versailles it costs less than half this sum. Tlie restaurants keep up -their old habit of high ■ prices. I saw in the streets herring sold for three sous each, for which I was charged sixteen in a restaurant. An orange may be had for four sous outside a tavern door, but becomes twelve on crossing the threshold. The butchers wer busy cleaning up their establishments, after being defiled as any other abnormal depots ; the brass weights were shining as of yore, and though not full to the roof with meat, .the display of legs of mutton in paper, and half carcasses of oxen was cheerful. Commercial Honour. — Mr. T, B. Gillies, the Superintendent of Auckland, recently told tho electois of that city that he thought it might do well to abolish the recovery for debts under L2O. If that were done, people would give small credit only to those whose character they kuew. Debts would then be regarded as debts of honour, and debts of honour were the best pwi debts. They could then do away with a great number of resident magistrates and resident magistrates' clerks. That part of the cost of Government would be saved. It is repoted that a parish priest in the county Limerick, up to February 15th, netted the sum. of L2OO for marriage fees this Shrovetide. "This 1 fact," says the "Limerick Chronicle," " "is most significant of the prosperity of the agricultural class in this county." A correspondent of a leading fashion journal, in commenting upon the current fashions for ladies, says that girls from fourteen to eighteen years of age should be warned against destroying their own hair for all the future by wearing the false hair now in vogue. If it has been kept short, as it should be until 12 years old, it will be just the right length to braid and leave flowing, if it be too long for that, let them braid it loosely and tie at the top with ribbons, so as to form braided loops; but let them on no account mount a heavy chignon.