ECHOES FROM THB CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1592, 16 September 1882, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THB CAFE.

The most absorbing topic of conversation during the past week has been the inquest on the body of Mrs Thomas Cleaver, the evidence in which has been of the most extraordinary character. . All the witnesses united in testifying that the deceased was treated with the greatest kindness by her huaband, his relatives and Mrs Butler, in whose house she was staying. It was when the medical evidence came to be given that the difference of opinion was seen. Dr. Richardson and Walker stated distinctly that the symptoms of the deceased's last illness were those of arsenical poisoning, and that, as the result of their post mortem "examinations, they had found arsenic in the stomach of the deceased. On the other hand Dr. Purchas said he considered that the symptoms of the disease were those of English cholera, and Mr Pond, the analytical chemist, deposed that he had made a careful analysis of the portions of the stomach, &c, given to him, and had found not the slightest trace of arsenic. Despite the verdict of the coroner's jury, it is quite certain that the public will not be satisfied until the result of the analysis made by the Colonial Analyst is known. Some time ago Punch recorded a conversation between two English doctors. One of them made a remark about the correctness of the diagnoses of diseases made by French physicians. ••Yes," replied the other, "and they generally verify their diagnoses by post mortem examinations." Judging by the conflicting nature of the evidence given at this inquest, it would seem that a post mortem examination is not an infallible means of verifying a diagnoses, for doctors differ, even after the patient is dead. Mr Javley's waxworks, I mean Mr Kohler's warworks, have gone away by the "City of New York" to San Francisco. After showing us the Queen, the Princess of Wales, Arabi Pasha, and other notable and notorious characters, the proprieter treated us to a group representing "Moses striking the rock," and then lie struck his tent and sought fresh fields and pastures new. There can be no doubt but that he "struck a patch" here, and no one begrudged him his success, as ho is a very respectable old gentleman, and very clever. At the Opera House Mr J. Burdett Howe and a rather " sick " company have been playing to poor houses, though they deserved a better fate for the variety of entertainment they have offered the public, presenting a different play almost every evening, varying from the " legitimate drama " to the " blood and thunder " trajedy. Next week we are to have Bland Holt's company performing 11 The World "# at the Opera House. I believe that the play is remarkably well mounted, and that it is sure to draw good houses. I have been told that there is a comet visible at about four o'clock in the morning, nor am I likely to see it. If that comet has any desire to be seen by mo it must put in an appearance not later than midnight, as I do not approve of remain--ing out of bed till four o'clock in the morning, and rising at that time would be too much like getting up the night before. I think that astronomers ought to make arrangements for all comets to be on view at a reasonable hour of the night in future, so as to obviate the necessity of staying up all night, which may induce intemperance, or getting up at some outrageously early hour in tho morning, which may lead to colds and certainly ill-temper. Some of our members have returned from Wellington, looking remarkably well, despite ail that has been said about the unhealthiness of Wellington and the defective drainage of the Houses of Parliament. I was speaking to one of them, a supporter of the Government, about the North Island Loan Bill, and was much, re-assured by his statement that there was no doubt about the' loan being ! raised and expended on the WaikatoTaranaki 1 ailway, and for no other purpose. Talking about railway matters, there was a tremendous difference in the lowest aiid highest tender for* the reclamation for the Auckland station, the former being £6,420. and the' latter £16,721 -a slight difference of £10,000.' The general opinion is that the successful tenderer has made a mistake in his calculations, and that he will lose one or or two thousands by his contract. A difference of a' penny per yard In the cost of removing the earth makes a difference of £700 on the cost of the job. I have much pleasure in congratulating the people of Hamilton and surrounding districts on the fact that Messrs Whitaker and Whyte have succeeded in getting the Hamilton bridge freed from toll. Of all disagreeable ways of raising money, a toll is, perhaps, the most obnoxious. Like the rain, the tax falls alike on the just and on the unjust, on the rich and on the poor. It is particularly objectionable to have to stop on a cold, wet night and fumble in you pockets for a sixpence. > There used to be a very disagreeable collector at the Otahuhu toll-gate. One bitterly cold night some young men, riding to town, found the gate locked,, the collector having gone to bed. After hammering at the toll-house for a quarter of an hour, they succeeded in rpusing'ih'im. , fl|e carte out, received the toll, and. abused them like pickpockets for f Being -so'" late.- r They passed through, the, gate,- rode a mile or two towards town, turned their horses, and rode back. t After some .trouble they, roused the collector again. Js& came out raging, and called them anything but gentlemen. After he had opened the gate, they said, " We only came back to tell you that you had forgotten to say ' good nig'Kt,' " and rode* away. " "'* , > ,• St. Mungo.

The salaries of French Ambassadors vary more than any* other iforejgn ;diplo? matic , representatives^ , sThiur *tHe Ambassador, to,ss. /Petersburgfrepeive* £10,000, , the London, .Ambassador,,, .geta £8,000," the Vienna'Jed;Boo>and.the' Berlin onlyj £5,6000. The' Hem'pojpjaary ** The iSfclst* Tnvesiigatioif %s&£%* that the States -contaiHsufi;333 blind men, crandjB977,c r andj8977, blindjwonaen— £n all ;20,3S^.f > Of '^thesC- unf^wates,** 2213 * j wcrc/'io uixct jin^tN fliv^j orfc iKJtwufljvit^'*^ t / n^*