THE EDUCATION OF HUSBANDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 85, 13 April 1869, Page 2

THE EDUCATION OF HUSBANDS.

(From Punch.) How suggestive is the new year of bills ; and bills of house-keeping ! It is fearful to reflect how many persons rush into matrimony totally unprepared for the awful change that awaits them. Husbands ought to be educated. We should like to have the following questions put to young and inexperienced " Persons about to Marry -." — Are you aware, Sir, of the price of coals and candles ? Do you know which is more economical — the aitchbone, or the round ? How far, young man, will a leg of mutton go in a small family ? How much dearer now is silver than Britannia ? Please to give the average price of a fourposter ? Declare, it you can, rash youth, the sum, per annum, that chemisettes, pelerines, cardinals, bonnets, veils, caps, ribbons, flowers, gloves, cuifs, aud collars, would probably come to in the lump. If unable to ask these enquiries, we would say to him, " Go back to school." He that would be a husband should also undergo a training, physical and moral. He should be further examined thus : — Can you read or write amid the yells of a nursery ? Can you wait any given time for breakfast ? Can you maintain your serenity during a washing-day ? Can you cut your old friends ? Can you stand being contradicted in the face of ail reason ? Can you keep your temper when you are not listened to ? Can you do what you are told without being told why ? In a word, young sir, have you the patience of job? ; If you can lay your hand upon your heart and answer " Yes," take your license and marry — not else.

Both by the steamer Kennedy and the Murray some passengers proceeded from Westport to Nelson, for the purpose of attending the races and welcoming Prince Alfred to the Province. Others intend taking their passage by the Charles Edward and succeeding steamers. A correspondent writes us that West Coast men visiting Nelson during the Prince's visit, should wear some distinctive badge, but he does not suggest of what description it should be, or how an understanding should be arrived at on the subject. — Westport Times. The Lyttelion Times of the 31st ult. says that Dr Haast returned to Christchurch on Monday night, from a trip of several weeks into the Central Alps, during which he revisited some of the principal localities round Mount Cook, first explored by him in 1862. The object of the journey o£ this year was to collect specimens in all branch. s of natural history, a work which the public will be glad to learn, he has accomplished satisfactorily. He was accompanied by Mr Edward Seeley, an amateur photographer of considerable eminence, who, under great difficulties and privations, obtained some magnificent views of the grand scenery of the Southern Alps. • The Oamaru Times of Friday says :—"Yesterday some rather curious tidal phenomena were observed, the ebb and flow being very variable, so that while the boatmen were at work they, while at one moment only up to the knees in, water, were at another up nearly to the armpits. Rumor reaches us, too, which however, we have been unable to verify, that yesterday morning there was an unusual recession of the tide, which left the Landing Service boats (anchored in eleven feet water) high and dry. This is said to have occurred at 5.30 a.m. Latest from Waikoa. — We learn from our correspondent at Wairoa, that 200 natives, supplied with provisions and amunition. by the Government, started from Wairoa on Friday last for the purpose of attacking Te Waru at his pa near Waikarimoana. Mr G. B. Worgan accompanied the expedition. We hope soon to be able to give a favorable report of the result of this expedition. Nothing was known at Wairoa of Te Kooti's whereabouts. — Hawke's Bay Times. There must be a great deal of ingenuity brought to bear upon the composition of snake stories in the country papers, so as to introduce circumstances of novelty into them. One of the latest is the narrative of a snake-killing adventure on the Tatong station, Beualla district. In the snake were found 14 young ones, which were " feeding luxuriously on a young bird."—Melbourne Argus.