English Extracts.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 1723, 5 February 1862, Page 3

English Extracts.

The prospectus bus appeared of tho “ Venezuela Cotton Company,” die object of which is lo cultivate cotton upon a tract ot 236,400 acres of land, part of the patrimony nl die Liberatoi Bolivar. The capital is £200,000 in £5 shares. I'he vendors receive £lOO,OOO. but under conditions favourable lo the company ; and the estale is said by competent authority lo be excellently adapted for the growth of cotton.

The Stormy Petrel.—This bird possesses a singular amount of oil, and has the power of throwing it from the mouth when terrified. It is said that this oil, which is very pure, is collected largely in St. Kiltla by catching die bird on its e oft s > where it ails very closely, and making it disgorge the oil into a vessel. The bird is then released, and another taken. The inhabitants of the Faroe Islands make a curious use of this bird when young and very fat, by simply drawing a wick through the body, and lighting it at the end which projecta through the beak. This unique lamp will burn for a considerable period. Routledge's Natural History. Florence Nightingale on Crinoline. It is, I think, alarming, peculiarly at this time, when the female ink-bottles are perpetually impressing upon us “ woman’s particular worth, and general misstonariness," to see that the dress of women is dally more and more unfitting them for any “mission” or usefulness at all. It is equally unfitted for all poetic and all domestic purposes. A man is now 9 more handy and far less objectionable being in a sick room than a woman. Compelled by her dress, every wontar. now either shuffles or waddles ; only a man can cross the floor of a sick room without shaking it. What has become of woman’s light step—the firm, light, quick step we have been asking for? A nurse who rustles (I am speaking of nurses professional and unprofessional) is the horror of a patient, though; perhaps, be dues not know why. The fidget of silks and crinoline, the rattling of keys, the Creaking of stays and of shoes, will do a patient more barm than all the medicines in the world will do him good. The noiseless step of woman, the noiseless drapery of woman, are mere figures of speech in this day. Her skirls (and well if they do not throw down some piece of furniture) will at least brush against every article in the room as she moves. Fortunate it is if her skirts do not catch fire, and if the nurse does not give up a sacrifice, together with her patient, to be burnt in her own petticoats. I wish the Registrar-General would tell us the exact number of deaths by burning occasioned by this absurd and hideous custom, I wish, too, that people who wear crinoline could see the indecency of their own dress as other people see it. A respectably elderly woman, stooping forward, invested in crinoline, exposes quite as much of her own person to the patient lying in the room as any opera dancer does on the stave' But no one will ever tell her this unpleasant truth.—Azotes on Nursing. Progress of Western Australia,-—At present the colony is very thinly peopled. A country as capacious as some eight United Kingdoms possesses less than the population of many a quiet English town. In ihnf, however, we may hope that the rich loam in the Hereford-shire-like district beyond the Darling range, vaguely known as “ the country over the hills ’’ will be thickly dotted with farmsteads, and pro. duce not only corn enough for the colony’s consumption, but a large surplus for exportation. There was a considerable increase in the exports ofWestern Australian produce for 1359. The value was £93,037, against £78,648 in 1858. Copper ore, timber, sandal wood, and wool were the articles which contributed most largely to this increase. At the end of 1859 twelve mines were working in Western Australia—eight cop. per and four lead. Western Australian timber has already won a wide celebrity for its endurance. It defies the borers and crttmhlers which by land and sea soon riddle and rot the majority of wood. It also preserves from rust iron driven into it. There is a great demand for it in India for railway sleepers. The sandal wood is chiefly exported to Singapore. Wool, of course, depends upon grass. With great pleasure,, therefore, we read in a Perth paper that the pasturage of Western Australia is remarkably improved. Besides those already specified, the exports of Western Australia are horses for the Indian army, oil, whalebone, raisins, currants, olives, and gum.— Australian and New Zealand Gazette’. News from Sarawak.—Sir James B.ooke had returned from Brunai, where he bad met with a most cordial reception. The Sultan and bis ministers have made over to Sarawak the govern, ment of the various districts between Banjong Kadurong (including Binnula), and those formerly placed under the authority of Sir James Brooke. This will'secure the peace of the coast, and materially advance tie trade of Sarawak, as well as of these outlying districts. The interests of the Sultan and his ministers will also be promoted by this measure,-as they will be secuted a certain and'liberal revenue, instead of being obliged, as heretofore, to enforce a fluctuating tribute, by violent measures, from a disorderly and often hostile population. The trade of Sarawak is brisk, and the affiirs of that province look more prosperous and primising than they have ever been before.- Sir Jnmes Brooke is, we presume, on his way to England,, as he was to leave by the first mail in October. — London and China Telegraph. The Yelverton Case.—This remarkable case will, in a few days, be again brought prominently before the public. The exceptions'taken to the charge of Chief Justice Monahan will be argued before the full Court of Common Pleas next week. Mr. Whiteside and Mr. Sergeant Sullivan will appear for Mrs. Yelverton, while the same council as before will, we understand, represent Major Yelverton, Although the arguments will be chiefly of a legal nature, they will, no doubt, excite considerable public interest. As regards the Scotch case, we learn that there is no probability of a decision being given in it for in least a year or more. The evidence taken last week by Major Yc-lverton's commission at Manchester was of such a conflicting nature that Mrs. Yelverton’s advisers have decided on what in Scotch legal phraseology is termed “ leading a counter proof." This'will occupy considerable time, and will | revent nny decision being given by the Court of Session for a long time.— lrish Times.

Inn Irish Law Courts and the Royal Commission,— I lie result of this commission, it is believed, will be the consolidation of tho law courts, and i| l( * reduction of the number ofjuilges. At present (and it is cn-dtt.il le to the country that such M assertion can be made) the judges have not business enough to occupy more than ball their lime, and during last term several of them dirplayed no little aktll in making the most o! the cases they lad to hear. It is understood, too, that (lie powers of certain courts will be so extended as io embrace cases that are now Inefficiently dealt with by inferior courts—courts whom many serious abuses exist. Great Eastern Sum Company.—At n meeting ( ,f the Great Hasten Ship Company yesteuiay, the report read stated that £BOOO was necessary for repairs, and £25,000 would be requited to fit her for a new voyage, the latter sum to be raised in debentures at 10 per cent, on the mortgage of the ship. lhe report expressed confidence in the ultimate success of the ship. Ihe report w ss ndcp'ed and a resolution passed for raising £25.000, of which sum £15,000 has already been subscribed.

Something Novel.—Some weeks ago, Rn old woman living near Bansha sustained a"compound fracture of (lie leg when near a thre-hiog machiiH at Bansha, and site was forthwith removed to the poor house hospital in Tipperary. No consideration would induce her to allow herself to be dismembered, and she appeared to be sinking gradually. Dr. M„ r ,jssy having heard that she enjoyed the reputation of l.eiog wealthy, caused it u, be it,tin ated to her friends that she was in a dangerous state. They ‘•flocked to her bedside, anti asked what she would wish to do with her money. She replied that she had nothing but chalk, which rather amazed some of the expectants. She subsequently explained lhe matter. She was worth about forty pounds, nearly all of which was lent out in small sums; she could neither read nor write, and yet she kept all her own accounts by the following method : 'lhe left side of the back of the bed was devoted to one account, the number of shillings lent being marked by a series of small circular marks, and the pence by single strokes. The right sides’ the bottom, and posts of the bed were "also used lor the same purpose, as was also the hack of the door and windows, &c. With the utmost minuteness she told over the lot, naming her debtors, and on what particular part of lhe furniture their accounts were entered. Contrary, however, to all anticipations, the olrl dame is now recover* ing, and will doubtless be enabled in a few days to be again in lhe midst of her business at Bausba.—Tipperary Free Press.