MISCELLANEA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 188, 17 June 1873, Page 7

MISCELLANEA.

| An Irish gentleman in Western Australia was telling a colonist what a fine country j behind \yas, of course adding more than was I true. After listening patiently for some time, i the colonist said, " I believe the frost and mow kill all the vermin in > Ireland."-—" Oh yes, quite correct," returned the other. " Well, then, how the d—l did you manage to come out of it V A Grahamstown telegram dated June 4, says :—" An important discovery was made this morning. It was found that the Pumping Association had drained the water from the Caledonian claim, and the water in Tonkey's claim is also going down fast. It will enable the Caledonian to go on sinking a shaft which has been stopped for many months. It is expected the Pumping Association will out the reef in a few feet or more. The drainage of the shaft and works have cost £50,000, and it was at one time feared the Association would not be able to drain the mines adjacent. All the Caledonian shares have been withdrawn from the market." A correspondent sends us the following receipt, taken from the Field, for waterproofing woollen cloth. The solution neither injures the quality or appearance of the finest j eloth,and fie plan has to our knowledge been I adopted by many for years past in Auckland I for waterproofing coats, and trouser-legs from a little above the knee downwards : | Procure half a pound of powdered alum, and | a quarter of a pound of sugar-of-lead. Steep ! the coat (buttons to be taken off) in a tub conj tabling the above ingredients dissolved in j two or two and a half quarts of water ; keep jin for six hours—the longer the better. If j dried in the open air it will be better than J dried before the fire. The ingredients will j take twelve hours dissolving. More comfort- | able than a mackintosh ; not so hot. It is thoroughly effective. The water runs off I like water off a duck's back.— Auckland 1 Paper. The following story is told of a young lady and a gentleman at a fashionable party at Nashville, U.S.:—"The young man was handsome and happy, the young lady arrayed in lavender, rose, &c, with gold-powdered hair flowing over her swan-like neck. Finding the heat of the room too much for them, they sought the cool shade of an arbour, where they might listen to the fountain's fall. The j music rose and fell, time flevvon silver pinions, j and after an absence of at least an hour, our | young friends re-entered the brilliantly illuj initiated parlours. The lady passed ou'in the j dance, but the young man was slightly taken aback by his next neighbour informing him that round his neck wa? ths unmistakable print of two arms in chalk and diamond dust, on one shoulder a large pile of yellow powder, and on his upper lip and cheek diamond dust, bloom of youth, and yellow powder mixed up generally. The lady's hair was observed to be several shades paler." Thefollowing,regardingMarshalM'Mahon, lis from "Men of the Third Republic":— j " He lives a retired, unostentatious life, and I though he displayed extraordinary pomp | when sent a few years ago on an embassy to j Prussia, Ins manners are unpretending, and | his dress plain. He seldom appears in uni- | form, and the only mark of distinction is a j red ribbon. His most marked characteristics are a love of children and a fondness for study. He made his triumphal entry into Milan with a little girl, who had offered him : a nosegay, perched upon his holsters. He is probably as well versed in military history as j Faidherbe, and i 3 often busy with a child and I a map upon his knees. His favourite amusement is riding. In society he is shy, almost sad, and seems ill at ease. He likes to saunter about the Boulevard, with his hands in his pocket and a cigar eternally in his mouth, when he is not on horseback ; and he is seen to most advantage at home, surrounded uy his family." Chinese witnesses, as most of our readera know, (says a Queensland journal,) are sworn by blowing out a candle or a match. It appears from a case recently tried at the Towers that the Chinese do not consider such an oath binding, and that evidence given on it is no more reliable than if the ceremony were not gone through at all. One Ah Quee'summoned Ah Pack in the Petty Debts Court, and being sworn in the above manner gave conclusive evidence to prove his case, and got a verdict. But Ah Pack moved for a new trial on the ground that the lucifer oath was not considered binding, and his application was granted. On the case being 'recalled, Ah Pack came provided with several young cocks, the plaintiff and witnesses to be sworn by decipitating the said cocks. Ah Quoe was not ''game" for this oath, and would not repeat his evidence ; so that Ah Pack got a verdict in his favour this tune, and Ah Quee retired discomfited and presumedly a perjurer. It appears the Chinese think that if they give false evidencd on this oath, they will be condemned to remain headless 'in the other world. We would recommend the above to the notice of the police magistrates, policemen, and all who may have lawsuits with Chinese.