JOTTINGS FROM ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 390, 12 September 1874, Page 3

JOTTINGS FROM ROXBURGH.

Sir, — Business of a very pressing nature called me to Roxburgh last week, and on my arrival (about 10 a.m. on Wednesday last). I was much struck with the unusual appearance of that busy little town. Everywhere groups of two, three, or four persons could be seen talking (or rather I should say whispering) to each other, as if the town was in a state of seige, or they were concocting some huge conspiracy. Upon enquiry, I found that the people were about to elect their first Mayor. I can assure you this information greatly relieved my anxiety, and I was glad to find that nothing more serious was about to happen. As I have many times witnessed the election of Mayors in different parts of the old country, 1 felt a great desire to see how they manage these things in New Zealand ; but judge of my surprise when informed that this very important business was to take place not in the Courthouse, but in a " public" house. Upon entering the room, I could not help contrasting the appearance and demeanour of the persons assembled with what I had previously seen on similar occasions. In the centre of the room sat two very " grave and reverend seignors." These, I was told, were the Returning Officer and the Town Clerk. I unnaturally expected to hear a fluent speech from the gentleman who had the honor to occupy the proud position of Returning Officer on such an interesting occasion ; but I was greatly disappointed. He merely read notices from the " Gazette," which was immediately followed by a scene which I am unable to describe. Three gentlemen were proposed and seconded, but the nominations of two of them were decreed to be informal. To my mind, the whole affair from beginning to end was very informal — especially the personal squabble between one of the candidates, the Returning Officer, the Town Clerk, the revising barrister, and the Mayor elect, in the midst of which I left the room thoroughly disgusted with the proceedings. I was afterwards told that had a poll taken place, Mr. D. Le Bedel, a gentleman who seems to be highly respected in the place, would have secured the much coveted prize, as threefourths of the inhabitants had promised to vote in his favor. The election for Town Councillors takes place next week, which, I hope, will be conducted in a more seemly manner. — I am, &c, Lexicon.

Cremation. — Another phase of the question " Cremation or sepulture ?" is presented in the following piece of information received from a resident of Melbourne. He had been sitting up with a sick friend, at an evening party, or what not, which involved his being on the road home during the ahort hours of the morning, and coming to the road of Collinsstree't East, in a darkened part of one of the cross streets, he observed a cart standing, from which a heavy package was being unloaded by two men, and was carried between them up a right-of-way common to the dwelling of a celebrated surgeon. A door opened at a slight knock, closed, and re-onened, the two men again jumped into their cart, and drove off. From certain surroundings and circumstances, our informant concludes that this was a case of " body snatching," of course for purposes of examination in the interests of anatomical science. !

Why is a blu9h like a little girl ? Because it becomes a woman.

" How can we part ?" as the barber said to bi« bald-headed customer.