PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 210, 8 February 1872, Page 7

PROVINCIAL AND GENERAL.

A man who has recently been fined several times in succession for getting drunk coolly proposed to the magistrate that he should take him by the year at a reduced rate.

Lord Falmouth the owner of Kingcraft, it is understood, never bets, is a spotless sportsman, and breeds, .trains, and runs his horses from the pure love of a noble sport.

The following extraordinary advertisements — one of those whims to which so-called pious people are occasionally subjected — appeared in a late Hokitika paper: — "The week of special prayer 'will be concluded by a meeting to commemorate the Death of the Loi-d Jesus Christ, to beheldinthe Drill Shed on Friday evening next, at half-past seven o'clock. Believers intending to communicate will occupy the other part of the building. It is hoped that none except believers will seek to communicate." "The, United Communion Service to close the week of special prayer will take place'thjs evening (Friday) in the Drill Shed, at 8 o'clock. Believers in the Lord Jesus of all denominations are affectionately invited to be present, and to occupy the front seats. All who desire to be present on this interesting occasion as spectators will kindly occupy the back seats. Addresses will be delivered by various ministers and friends."

Commenting on Mr. Gavan Duffy as Premier of Victoria, the" Spectator of a recent date says : — It is so everywhere except in Ireland. In Australia, in New Zealand, in Canada, in the United States, in India, in Spain, in Austria, the first quality an Irish- r man displays is a capacity for° soldiership, the second an aptitude for government of the bard, personal, practical kind, the very aptitude, that is, which we suppose him never to possess. Whether D'Arcy M'Gao, General Sheridan, or Mr. Duff), or even Mr. Sweeny, of New York, the Irishman abroad is always a stern clear man, j not unlikely to be unscrupulous, and almost invariably hard ; but inventive, .resourceful, far seeing, and brave, a man who can per fas aui nefas, make other men accept his ideas and obey his will. An Irish Civil Serv'ce, composed of such men, picked lor the work, trained for it, and encouraged to be independent, would govern the country as it has never been governed yet, with a force, directness, and honesty which in very few years would suppress opposition, and make the law what it has become under much more difficult circumstances in India, the final arbiter. And that we may rely on, it is the kind of government which suits the national genius, is the onlj one which in Ireland will ever reconcile freedom with the order that the bayonet, wielded by men of a different race, has in vain tried to maintain.

The following Bill is under the consideration of the New South Wales Parliament : — " No reporter, editor, or proprietor of any newspaper shall be liable to any prosecution civil or criminal for a fair and true report of any judicial, legislative, or other public official proceeding or of any statement speech, argument or debate in the course of the same, except on proof of malice in making.such report, which shall in no case be implied from the mere fact of publication. Libellota remark^ oc comments connected with matter privileged by the last preceding *aection shall secure no

privilege by reason of their being so connected." A proof of the development of the interior of the continent (says the I " Argus)" is afforded by the publication of a newspaper, the first number of which is now before us. It is the " Central Australian and Bourke Telegraph," and it is published at the far inland town of Bourke, New South "Wales. The New York correspondent of the " Sydney Morning Herald" writes: — The people of Chicago accept the situation with characteristic heroism. One " true story" about the fire shows the temper with which they again begin the world. A friend of mine, a newspaper correspondent, was wandering among the smokiug ruins, when he met an old merchant, whose hospitality he had frequently received. The old man — over sixty — had screwed up his hard-featured western face to an expression of philanthropic fortitude, and was actively employed in squirting tobacco juice on the blackened bricks. "Here's where my ttore was," said he. " Ah," said my friend, " when are you going to build it up again?" "Waal" — viciously expectorating in a new place — " that's what lam waiting here for now. Jest as soon as I can spit on a brick without hearing it hiss, I'm goan to work again." The value of gold exported from the West Coast during the first week of the year was £82,808. The Alpiue Company, Eeeffcon, brought clown to Westport last week, 51?oz;s. 13Jwts, the produce of the quicksilver ripples from 40~ tons of quartz. Australia, during the first nine months of last year, absorbed twentytwo millions worth of English-manu-factured cotton goods. During the 14 years that responsible Government has existed in South Australia, the average annual cost to the colony for elections has been £4,547. The " Pilgrim's Progress " has been translated into the Chinese language, and printed with illustrations by native artists. The figures are, of course Chinese, and our friend Christian disports a tail. Not one half of the dreadful incidents attending bush fires are ever reported (remarks aMelbourne paper.) The scene attending the late destruction by fire of the Hon. Wm. Campbell's flock of sheep (5000 in number) has had the effect of impairing the mind of the superintendent of the station, who has been sent to Melbourne to be treated for the disease.