GENERAL EXTRACTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 36, 13 February 1869, Page 2

GENERAL EXTRACTS.

In an article on New Zealand affairs the St James' Chronicle makes the following remarks: • The fact is, that there is just at present in England a tendency to sympathize with all rebels, and especially with rebellion that is agrarian in its character. The true position of the Maories is that they want the island for themselves, and will thank us for nothing except going about our business. That is the ground upon which, whenever they condescend to argue, they justify the inveterate and utterly faithless nature of their hostility. If they had to settle matters with their white neighbours, they would soon be compelled to acknowledge that mere priority of situation does not entitle a retrograde and waning race to monopolize a large and improveable area. But, unfortunately, there is an energetic party in this country on whom the mere mention of the word " land " acts as the sight of scarlet is said to do on the bovine species. The same politicians are, as a rule, on the watch for every slip made by anybody in the position of a Government official, and they constitute with their allies, a band of critics whom no politician is anxious to provoke. This spirit, which attained its worst development in the Jamaica Committee, operates with more or less force throughout the country ; and it has had no small share in producing that mixture of supineness and interference from which the colonists have suffered. A terrible story of the ravages of' a bush n're is told in the Gipps Land Times, It is related that, for some days previous to Christmas, the dangerous enemy was seen hovering round Freestone, Maxwell's Creek, aud Gladstone, but it was not thought that the scourge would come as near as it did. On it did come, however, and on Christmas Evening, a Mrs Barstale, who lived some distance from the township of Gladstone, saw the fire approaching her dwelling. Paralyzed with fear, she stood until the fire was within a few yards of her house ; but then, knowiug a minute's delay would be death to herself and her little ones, she placed one of her children upon her shoulders and another one under each arm. She pursued her way up the creek, springing from rock to rock, crawling under fallen trees and performing what, under other circumstances, would be impossible feats of endurance and strength. She reached Gladstone in safety, but had not time to rest long, for the ranges on both sides of the creek were soon covered with flames, and the whole of the residents of the township were compelled to make their way through smoke and through fire, into a drive, the men then standing at the entrance to keep the burning lava from falling on the women. One man lost his presence of mind, and made the confusion worse confounded by his conduct ; but he found a safe waterhole to jump in, just in time to prevent himself being pushed in by his companions. Other men made for abandoned shafts, while the flames surged and roared around like a raging sea. The noise was deafening, and the smoke unsupportable, and for hours the sufferers were in agony. Not a vestige of a house was afterwards to be seen. The entire township had been but a morsel in the mouth of the devouring giant, and no longer was visible. This was Christmas Day at Gladstone. It was remarked by a London journal in reference to the scenes of violence that had occurred on 'nomination day,' that ' the casualties exceeded those which were sustained by the British forces in the Abyssinian Expedition.' A small child being asked by a Sundayschool teacher," What did the Israelites do after they had crossed the Red Sea?" answered," I don't know, ma'am; but I guess they dried themselves."

Whilstthe Impounding Act is generally ■looked upon as entailing a great dear of expense and annoyance on the owners of cattle impounded, it seems that sometimes it illustrates tbe proverb that 'it is an ill wind that blows nobody good.' A short time back a horse which, like Pbaroah's kine, was 'lean and ill-favored,' strayed upon the property of a neighbor, who promptly placed it in a suburban pound, the keeper of which, as in duty bound, had to supply it with three weeks' sustenance, according to tbe Act, 'iv the case made and provided? An advertisement in the Gazette duly notified that the animal would be sold lasfc week, and a friend of the owner attended the sale, when it was knocked down at the low .price of Is., looking very much better for its three weeks' sojourn in the poundkeeper's paddock. The owner of the beast has a few more cattle in very low condition, and no dcubt he would be glad if some neighbor kindly impounded them at the same price. — Melbourne Argus.