FROM OUR EXCHANGES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1373, 18 October 1886, Page 2

FROM OUR EXCHANGES

THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS

Th mas Alexander, in his book entitled ‘ Game birds of the United States," soya that wild ducks unaided by the wind fly fr.-.in 60 to 100 miles an hoar, and that the blae teal, “ going down the wind st the top of his speed, will make ful ! y 150 miles an hour, possibly more.” T r e bird on the wing is the frigate bi d, a sort of naatioal bird of prey. Sailors believe that it can start with the peep c f dawn from the coast of Africa, and following the trade winds, land on the American coast before sunset. It can undoubtedly flv more than 200 miles an hour, but we do not know of any trustworthy record of the speed of which it is capable. MRS BONANZA. MACK AY. Having dazzed all Paris by the magnificence of her entertainments, and married her daughter to Prince Galatea-Oolonna, Mrs Bonanza Mackay has taken a house in London, and has become one of the recognised queens of society. On a recent occassion, her large ball room was transformed into a conservatory, and she gave a musical and dramatic performance in which the Bus an choir singers, M, Coqnlin and Mile. Pierson, of the Oomedie Francaise, MMe Eejme, of the Taudeville, took part. Mrs Mackay is said to be one of the most accomplished women of the day, speaking French, Spanish, and Italian as flnent’y as English, and being also a skilled musician.

AN INTERRUPTED HONEYMOON. A marriage which created acme commotion recently took place at Birmingham, the parties being a man who claimed to be a visitor from America named Dr Vivian, the possessor of half a million of money, and Miss Emily Wilkes, a young lady of good social position, residing at Aston. No fewer than 17 carriages conveyed the weeding p*rty to and from the Church. The hr dL-groom appeared possessed of an abundance of money, bnttha honeymoon was interrupted by her husband being identified by the police as a notorious convict. He was arrested, and stands charged with committing extensive hotel robberies. The conple bsd been staying at the Langham Hotel the two rooms occupied being charged for at a rate of six guineas a day. The young lady has re* turned to her ft lends. CHINESE ACTORS. In China the actors are all males, and live and eat in the theatre. Though they receive very iargr salaries they ra ely go into the streets. As instances of the sums earned may be mentioned Tobee Ho and Pang Ah Soo, of the Jeckson Street Theatre. The former is the comedian, and receives £1,400 a year; the latter is the impersonator of th? dainty heroines, and bis nodest remuneration is £I,BOO. His l<fe Is passe i in two small rooms, having a probable area of about 140 square feet. He has a wife to share his captivity, but the rich man sleeps upon a strip of matting spread upon a shelf. The stage la not more than 14ft deep, and la very “ springy,” a condition designed to help acrobatic performances, which either form parts of plays or are introduced between the acts. No Chinese auditor ever exhibits any emotion. Neither pleasure or disapprobation is ever expressed. For all apparent effect the actor produces he might be playing to an audience of ghosts.

POPULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL TOWN* OF NEW ZEALAND The following, according to the last census, ia the population of the principal towns In New Zealand; Auchland ... ... ... ... 33,161 Dunedin (with Caversham) ... 27,691 Wellington... ... ... ... 25,943 Christchurch (with Sydenham) ... 24 730 Napier ... ... ... ... 7 680 Nelson ... ... ... ... 7.315 Onmaru ... ... ... ... 6,330 Invercargill ... ... 5,212 Wanganui ... ... ... ... 4.601 Thames ... ... ... ... 4 44t Lyttietou ... ... ... ... 3 993 Timarn ... ... ... ... 3,754 Qreymonth ... ... ... 3,133 Blenheim ... ... ... ... 3,094 New Plymouth ... 3,063 Hokit'ka ... ... 2,687

A GAMEKEEPER ATTACKED BY WEASELS.

A correspondent in Oalthnes* -shtre sends an account of the following remarkable incident: —Mr Maolaren, a gamekeeper, of Wlok, the other day had a narrow escape of bis life from an attack made npon him by weasels on Mr Olyne’s field, on the farm of Stirkoke. While he was on his knees setting a mole-trap he waa suddenly surprised by a strange sonnd, as If coming from a hive of bees at his bacx; and immediately a swarm of weasels appeared on either aide of him, and began to climb upon him. Instantly realising vhe dangerous position in which he waa was placed, he sprang to his feet; bnt meantime the animals attacked him with the utmost ferocity, screaming as in great rage. Maclaren, with a stick which he carried, struck them from his legs, killing no fewer than nine of them. As showing the desperate nature of the enconnter, the correspondent states that Msolaran’s legs were black and blue aboyo the knee, fnm the strokes of the stick, Thera seemed to be two young broods located near the hedge, and as many escaped as were killed. Maclaren brought home eight of the animals as evidence of the battle. This is the second time be has been attacked by wea els. On the first occasion he bad to beat a retreat in order to save his life. —Liverpool Post-

AN UNPOPULAR FRINGE. The growing unpopularity of Prince Alba t Yic'cr is giving both the Queen and the Prince of Wales serious anxiety. The yonng man will take no pains to propitiate people. He is dense, apathetic, short-tempered, and sulky. The Marl? borough House set make him their butt. His father alternately scolds or exhorts, whilst his mother pets and protects him. The young Princess of Wales openly derides Victor’s “ stolidity," and even “ brother George " must feel a certain amount of contempt for his elder's lack of savoir faire The Queen alone treats the heir-presumptive with consideration. At Windsor or Balmoral the young Prinoa is always sure of a cordial welcome, though Her Majesty makes no secret of her cisappointment at his repeated failures in public. Considering how well most cf the Royal Family deliver common place speeches, Albert Victor’s utter inability to string together hslf-a-dorm sentences coherently seems inexplicable. For years past the chief work of his life with Canon Dalton has been studying this very art, yet he his not even mastered the A B O of public speaking. Even if it is merely a case- of rein ning thanks after dinner, the speech has to be written oat for him. _ When he repeats it he does so like a' parrot, without feeling or expression, and then, plumping down in his chair, takes no feither interest in the proceed* ings whatever they may be. At several public dinners lately his Royal Highness has given offence by chatting loudly to his neighbor whilst speaking was going on. His guttural repnests too ; “Where can I have my suggurette t’’ comes as often as his parent’s “ I really mast have a cigar”; and at Edinburgh, not long ago ha completely disorganised a whole day’s arrangement.— Star correspondent.