INTERESTING EXTRACTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1619, 26 July 1887, Page 3

INTERESTING EXTRACTS

A Romnn Catholic Provincial Council will shortly be held at Sydney. A mutual Improvement Society m Dnnedin \b discussing the burning question, "How to Make New Zoaland Prosperous " The Minister of Justice of New South Walei stated m the Assembly a few diys ago that he had under consideration the re-opening of the Mount Ronnie outrage case. The paternity of om of the prkoners (a Maori girl) on trial at the Supreme O .jurt m Ohristohurch a few (Teyj ago, is somewhat remarkable. Ber father married his granddaughter, and therefore he is both father and great grandfather to his daughter, Mr McMinnlß, the recently appointed Profesaor of Agriculture at the Adelaide University, has had to roaign on account of cancer m the throat. Mo is dange. ously i!», and will return to England. Mo ai d Mr Olydeßdale, of Oanmu whose »ges ac eighty and Bixty-nine respectively, eel brated their golden wedding a few days ago. The " Mail " says the old gentleman is still able to do a good day's work. Therß are seven persona m New Zealand who give m their occupation as ferret - breeders, 14 rabbit agents, 4 rabbit inspectors, and a great multitude of rabH.crs F.fty-aevea men are described as Bwsggen. Five billstlckers come under tbo heading of persons working and dealiDg m animal and vegetable substances. A New York man advertised that for 82 he v.ould . advise you 'How to get to California without a cent for transportation.' A rain Btinted his spending moacy and sent, when tt ore came aa the answer a single wuri pr'ned on a strip of paper « Walk.' Doubtful looking Gueat : 'Landlord, have you a fire-escape m tM3 hotel ? ' Experienced Landlord : c Yes, Bir, bat we generally keep the bull dog chained at the bottom of it,' The London police force are being taught shorthand to enable them to pot on paper quickly the results of their investigations and examinations. According to the " Wanganul'Herald " the New South Wales members are not all b!ua ribbonites by a long chalk. A Northern writer who has' lately been In Sydney Bays it is nothing uncommon after the supper adjournment to see half a dczen members tacking like a Bhip m a head-sea and wind up the aisles of the Bocae, bringing themselres to an anchor on one of the benches, where they recline and snore until their vote is wanted. < It is stated by the Adelaide correspondent of the " Sydney Mall " that oue half the members who occupy Beats m the Lower Houaa of South Ans<ralia, have recently passed through the Insolvency Court, and are without any visible means of support. Daring the hearing of a libel cisc against the "Western Australia," newHpaper, recently tried at Perth, it oame out m the evidence that many natives who are engaged In pearl diving nro frequently Bold and changed hands with the boats, some of the owners using a brand to mark them with. One witnoes swore to Boeing a native with two or three brands on him, and that a regular system of slavery exiita m tho Northwest. An extraordinary catastrophe is reported from tho Russian town of Neaohlr. A circus 'company was performing m a wooden building, which wa3 crammed from fbor to ceiling, when a euddeu storm arose, blowing off part of ihe roof, from which waa suspended a number of petroleum lamps. In an instant tho blazing petroleum was pouring down over the tightly packed masses of poople. A fearful panic ensued, and m the rush tho whole building collapsed, and but for this casualty tho entire audience would have been conßumed. Aa it waa, a large number were burned and trampled to death, while over 300 were seriously injured. A queßtion of interest to policy-holders, raised by an action brought by the British Equitable Assurance. Company againßt a policy-holder named Muagravo was recently decided m a London Orurt. Tho company alleged thai; when Musgrave insured his life m 1881 he suppressed the fact that he had suffered from heart disease and rheumatism m 1875. Mr Justice Kay was satisfied that tbero had been suppression of tbe facts. He ordered the policy to be given up and the premiumß to be forfeited, and the defendant to pay the cost of the action. The "Montreal Herald" of the 17th ult. records two magnificent donation? towards a 6tting memorial of tho Quean'a Jubilee, made by Sir George Stephen aud Sir Donald A. Smith, who tffered between them 1,000,000 dollars (£200,000) for the erection of a hospital m Montreal, to bo known as " The Royal Viotorla Hospital," the conditions being that tbe municipality should But apart the aite and erect the building as soon as possible. The effar was gratefully accepted, with the remark that its princely munificence had never been equalled on the continent ; o{ Amerloa.