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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 279, 31 October 1889, Page 2

As showing the improved state of affairs in Auckland, tho Heraid mentions that the number of persons who have gone ia arrear in the building societies is steadily decreasing, and that the payments are now remarkably well kept up.

Te Wniii was the defendant in a civil oase before the New Plymouth R.M. Court the other day, and had judgment) reoorded against, him. He is said to bo pretty deep in tha books of New Plymouth tradesmen, and to have a rooted objection, to dieouarging his liabilities. In tho case referred to Te Whiti was ordered to pay into Court before the 29th November £195 14a lid in all, or to be sent to Taranaki gaol for three months.

Mr M'Lean raised a laugh in the Supreme Court at Napier last week, He was applying for the dißoharge of a bankrupt, when the Chief Justice put trie usual question : "Any opposition? " "No, your Honor," was the reply, " the bankrupt has paid 20a in the pound. "Ahl l " responded his Honor, in evident surprise at this phenomenon. 11 Yes," continued Mr M'Lean, with unmoved gravity, ♦' only one creditor proved, and his amonnt was £3." "Oh!" was the only comment of his Honor.

The New Zealand Methodist has a very severe article on " The Sullivan Scandal. " It says : — " A more plausible man never appeared in the character of a Christian worker, and to have been deceived by him at the outset involves no disoredit whatever. Assuming that what ho said about his ante* cements was true, there was everything about him to invest his work as an evangelist with unusual interest. His excellent Binging alone would suffice to make his services popular. That a man would, or could, play the hypocrite on a scale so colossal was what many found it impossible to believe, even when doubts as to his genuineness began to be whispered abroad. The moral of this painful occurrence is too obvious to need pointing out. It will be surprising and discreditable, after what has recently taken place in the colony, }l the most searching investigation is not made into the iona fides and character of any man or woman who may henceforth claim the sympathy and support of the' Christian publio as a Christian worker. New Zealand has suffered enough in this instance to lead all concerned for the good name and fame of Christianity, to resolve that, if faithfulness and watchfulness can ensure it, the colony shall never suffer again, ''

General Booth, head of the' Salvation Army, has decided upon the separation of New Zealand from the remaining Australasian colonies, and making it an. independent territory, responsible directly to international headquarters, The special correspondent of the Melbourne Age, who has just completed a tour of Brazil, writes : — " There seems to be a general consensus of opinion amongst politicians of every shade of opinion that the abolition of slavery has worked well. Tho negro, now that he is a frea man, is less indolent than heretofore ; his labour costs less, since his master can now dispense with the army of overseers and drivers whom he formerly had to employ, and the negro is a far belter customer to the merchant than at any previous time in the hJEftory. of Brazil, The free negro dresses better, 7 feeds batter, and in' the Southern pro*' vinces, at any rate, is developing a taste for pretty furniture, bibelott, and niok-nao'ks generally. Some of the negresses whom I saw were very well dressed, were neatly shodi and wore a profusion of Brummagem and other imitation jewellery. Most of them carried parasolß and fane, only they oarried tbern, not ;n their hands, but on the tpps. pf their .woolly heads, 'The ßev .Mr Jsitt, preaching at Inveroargill on the half holiday question, related an incident by way of illustrating the inconsistencies that sometimes mark precept and proatico. A gentleman in the North Island, who had taken a prominent part in denouncing the " sweating " system, lately visited Cbristjchurch, and while there went into a shop to buy a pair of shooting boote. The prioo asked was 37a 6d — cbo customer demurred, and offered 35e. This antiaweater, this philanthropist, this leader in the attack on a giant evil, then haggled with the shopkeeper to reduce tho price to 32a 6d. [phis was not done, and r,ho customer reluoo anfcly paid iuo Zt-i but aß e handed ov«r the money he added— " Of course yoti give diacouofc for cash!" This climax was too mnoh for jihe gravity of the congregation, acd they laughed, but they sobered 4°T7n when tho preacher asked— ''Art thou the man! Have you ever glowed with indignation When reading the ' Bitter Cry of Outcast London, 1 and then rejoioed when you had beatun a man down p, few Rhillings. in the price of some oommodity? WiiaS we want is sll-round generosity — the exorcise of $he live tiDd lot-livo spirit,"