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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 266, 28 February 1889, Page 3

Mr Bryce, who his just written a highly successful book on Amo ica, has not been an Uuder.Secretary for Foreign Affairs and a negotiator of c pywright convenions for nothing. He ook the very sen-ible step of having two chapters of his hook written by a-i American author, and'-ecured thereby the American copyright. As the book is creating quite a furore in the .States, Mr Bryco is likely to he considerably tho richer fur his forethought; Prado, tho notorious murderer amused his last hours with Jules Wrne’s rom uces, considering them, perhaps, a useful preparation for the last long voyage. “ The Literature of the Condemned Cell ” might form the subeet of a curious study. What books arc lest fitted to seize the attention and solace the fancy of men on the brink of etend y ? If s-aiis ics could be collecled. devotional books would, of course, head the list, if for no bet er re>son than th.it prison regulations give them the preference. Where freedom of choice has been perm tted, however, dying men have often turned to very undevotionil literature in their ast moments —witness the invalid who thanked Heaven that his summons would probably be delayed long enough to enable him to enjoy the last monthly part of “ Pickwick.” While Thaddeus Stevens, the late celebrated American statesman, was a young liwyer, he once had a case before a bad tempered ju Ige of an obscure > ennsylvanian court. Under what he considered a very erroneous ruling, it was decided against him ; whereupon he threw down his books and picked up his hat in a high state of indignation. and was about to leave the court room, scattering imprecations all round him. The judge straightened himself to his full height, assuming an air of offended majesty, and asked Thaddeus if he meant to * express his contempt of this court f’ Thad turned to him very deferentially, made a respectful bow, and replied, in amazement, * Express my contempt for this court! No, sir, I am trying to conceal it, your honor,’ adding as he turned to leave, ‘ But I find it deuced hard to do it.’

Now that all the stragglers have been mustered, and each station is in a position to say what the actual loss is, it will be interestiug to many to Know the result of the snowstorms of July 1888 in the south Island. In the Mackenzie eouutry (says the correspondent of the Lyttelton Times) of the 21 stations in the Mackenzie Basin only six have escape 1 with a loss of less than 3000 ; and the remainder range from a loss of 4000 up to 8000 each. Balmor 1 lost 7900, Glenmore 6100, Tekapo. 5800, Rhoborougn Downs 6000, The Wolds 4000, Grey’s Hill 5000, Rollesby 2500 ; the total loss for the Mackenzie being 83,300 sheep, which, at low average of 2s 6d per head, means £10,412. Allowing a clip of 4Jlb to each sheep, equals 374,850. b wool, at 6d per lb, valued at £9371. Total loss of sheep and wool, £19,783; irrespective of deterioration of value of the whole clip 1888 9 the ruin of the constitution of the surviving sheep, and the fact the lambing of 1888 has beeu nowhere, It is admitted that the suowstorms of 1876 were if anything tne most disastrous.