MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 19 July 1880, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Occasionally the tone of tbe New Zea» land Parliament is not particularly re* fined, but it has never come to the standard of New South Wales or Vie* tofia. In the latter Assembly the other day, daring a discussion on the Payment of Members Bill, Mr Vale, alluding to Mr Jones, called him " a penniless brags aart and trained begger of billets, with* out which he would hare to go into the Benevolent Asylum, or else run away to America, and leave his wife and family to the charity of the cruntry.' Mr Jones retorted on Mr Vale as being hired to defend rogues, Then Mr Mason's insult to ladies was referred to, and he retorted that he did not visit the back«slums of the city at early morning. The Press says : — At the .Resident Magistrate's Court, Ashburton, recently, upon the Magistrate oidering Mr Purnell to sit down, the latter declined to do so ; not on the ground that he was a solicitor of the Supreme Court, • and therefore the Magistrate had no right to ordrr him to sit down," but that he was properly ia possession of the ear of the Court, and Ins sitting down at that juncture would l^e prejudicial to his client's interests, as it conceded the right of his adversary to raise a nonsuit point at a stag? of the case when only one of the plaintiff's witt nesses had been heard. The Magistrate told Mr Purnell that he was an officer of his (the Evident Magistrate's) Court, and bound to obey his orders ; to which Mr Purnell responded "that he was not an officer of the Resident Magistrate's Court, but was an officer of the Supreme Oour', and was not obliged to obey il '■g;\l orders. Mr Guinness ordered Mr Purnell to sit down two or three times, but the latter still refused, at the same time studiously disclaiming any wish to be disrespectful to tbe Court and excus* ing his refusal for the reason before stated. Mr Purnell was placed under arrest, and was being removed from the Court before he was offered any time for consideration, and it appears that ha tendered no apoloey, but in compliance with the request of the Mayor of Ashbur* ton and other persons he did return to the Court and repeated what he had said throughout, namely, that he had refused to sit down, not out of any disrespect to the Court, but simply in the interests of his client. His Worship said he waa glad to have tbe opportunity of receiving even that • qualified apology,' and ordered Mr Purnell to be releasad forthwith.

The whole matter has treated a strong sensation in the district, and seems to be one which requires further investigation. Th* so-called " Jersey costnme " for ladies is thua described in on advertise- j ' ment of a London tradesman; Uhej bodice of this costume is composed of material specially voven for the purpo"H either in sill Tor wool, the texture of which is so elastio that a perfectly*fitting dress can be mnde without the ordinary seam. The dress is arranged to lare np the back, and fitting to figure, as well as a kid glove should fit the hand, produces a remarkably good eflvct.' That is provided the wearer has a good figure. Pro* bably none others venture on a display at their persons. The business of the. Government Insurance Department for the year ended 30th June, shows the foflowing results : —Over 3000 proposals were received for more than a million sterling. Of these proposals upwards of 2.200 became policies assuring a snm exceeding £720, 0)0 ; the new premiums exceed £27,000 which i 3 considerably in excess of last year notwithstanding the depression which has prevailed. Tbe quinquennial investigation has now commenced, and the results, after being examined and certi« fied to by eminent actuaries, will be laid before Parliament next session in ac» cordance with the 4ft.