THE WRONG TESTIMONIAL.

A fatal blunder wra committed in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington 011 Saturday by a man who vus giving evidence on bia own behalf. I.'he man was on liis own defence for an assault upon his wife, and he was pouring into the ears of the Stipendiary Magistrate a catalogue of his woes, ii was, ho declared, a much injured man, and notwithstanding that he was tho possessor of innumerable credential ■ as to character, ho was unable to obtain employment. ' Here is one testimonial, 1 lie said, ' which proves that lam a respectable man.' He handed a grimy-looking letter to the Magistrate—' Please read it,' lie said, and Mr Martin did so. To the horror of the witness, however, it turned out to XnancctoiV ■■ '' m>. -ts- 1 • IA e dant was not a lit or proper perstwrti f bold a City Council license. ' All! ' your Worship,' said tho man, ' I'v e given you tho wrong testimonial! The Court was oonvulsod with laughte: for tho next few minutes. 11 A STRANGE MARINE MONSTEIi 0 . The waters along the Northeri » Coast appear to be yuito prolia • o s ' monsters ' at the present time, a t another peculiar speaiiuen was brough up oy tho schooner >, c-stOiday It is about six feet long and about fou M feet broad, and is a curious-lookinj - creature altogether, closely resembling a turtle, but without tho shell, tin t head being very like that ox a turtle e it has been inspected by a number o. ll people, and one old whaloman r.r.y: that it is what is known amongst tha class of sailors as a ' loatherback, 0 being supposed to be a cross betweei s a turtle and sunlish, and is said to b> f very good eating. The capture wo: ' made on Sunday last when the Medor. 1 was off Whangaroa. Captain Sub ' ritzky and the crow of tho schoono; a no.'cing a jieculiar fish sporting ahott in the water, immediately lowered till 0 boat, and gave cbase, coming up to i e in about an hour's time. The capta.it s hn .t provided himself with a harpoon s and being an_ adept in it 3 use spearct r tho fish through the neck. The fisl " showed considerable fight, but wa: " soon oyercome, und taken on boarc tho schooner. Captain Subrito sky in j tends presenting the fish to tho e'uick land Museum.—Star.