GENERAL NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 467, 31 March 1871, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

At Ballarat one Sunday evening a young lady dislocated her j>w in church, by giving way to a fit of yawning during the sermon.

A meeting of si ygrog sellers was held at Gray town, (near Bendigo.) recently, for the purpose of protesting against a fine inflicted upon a lady for selling liquor without a license. The proceedings have not transpired. From a Victorian contemporary we learn that the last day the old insolvency act was m force in that colony there was a perfect rush to the Insolvent Court. It is said that there were a dozen applications for the office of hangman, at the late execution of Anthony Noble, at Hokitika. In Canterbury, flour is quoted at £ll per ton delivered in town, and wheat at Is 4d. to Is. Gd. per bushel. In the provision market butter is getting rather a drug at C|d. to GJd. ; new cheese realises oid- to sd. j hams and bacon of really prime quality are in some demand at BJd. to Od.

The young King of Spain certainly ascends the throne with a most significant and bloody warning before him Ini he violent death of Prim he must behold the first act of a new revolution which is silentlv preparing in the country to which Amadeus, a foreigner and a stranger, comes as a ruler. Prim had distinguished himself by bis inexorable determination to force a monarch upon Spain, and the liberal Spaniards are probably right when they say that it was Prim and Prim only, who was responsible for the final settling of Amadeus upon the throne. The unfortunate General had , publicly expressed his satisfaction at i the success of his scheme, and had an- I nounccd his'intention of retiring for ! ever into private life. General Prim otherwise Count of Hens, was fifiy.six years old, and was in tire full vigor of life when lie fell by the hand of the assassin. Ho held the rank of General in the Spanish army for over ten years, and had passed through all the grades of the military service of his country. (To was always an active, plotting and daring man. In ISGG lie planned a military insurrection ; the division of the army which-he commanded at Aranjnez arose against the Government of Isabella. The rebellion was crushed out, though not until after groat agitation and disorder throughout Spain. Prim gave up the contest, and marching into Portugal, laid down his arms. He prudently kent out of Spain until the flight of Queen Isabella, in ISGB, made it possible for him to return. Ho joined the rebellion of Topete, and became a member of the Provisional Governmmt which was afterwards formed. Subsequently, he chosen President of the Council, which position lie held at the time of liis chptli. King Thakomban, of/*Fiji, has adopted a novel method of supplying himself with drink He has fined a number of bis subjects a bottle of champagne each.

As the Clio did not call at Hokitika on her way south, the members of the County Council and a few friends “ disposed of” the banquet that had haciunreimred for His Excellency the ,£l(v?Snor, and “ they all dbl ample the spread.” We don't on entenngjms office, Tmd seeing his appmuicoJoov cutting some queer capers, called lent to him. “ Jim, what are you ikping on the floor 1 ?” “Why, sir, I lave had a shock!” “A shock?” “Ves, sir. ” “ What kind of a shock? ” “ Why, sir, ” said the lad gasping, ” “ one of your subscribers came in during your absence—said ho owed for two years subscription—paid if—and also paid another year in advijpco. ” “In advance! ” gasped the editor, nearly as much overcome as Ilia lone apprentice. “ Yes, sir ■ and ft has produced such an effect upon na, that [ have been perfectly helples* ever since. ” “ And well you may, Jim. But get up ; if you survive this you are safe, as there is little prospect of such another catastrophe in the offccc. ” A Sydney paper refers tl certain proposed reductions in the civil service of that Colony in the following grave manner:—lt i« rumored that in view of the proposed reduction in the salaries of subordinate civil servants, the clerks in the telegiaph office have decided on discontinuing-to wear socks and sliiris, OS' unnecessary luxuries.

In giving evidence before a committee of the Auckland Provincial Council', relative to prospecting for gold on the west coast of the North Island; a man named John Gajyjaid he obtained alluvial prospect one to two ounces to the

The latest thing in electioneering is the following circular, signed “A Church Member,” which was issued in Wellington at the late election. “To Sabbath School Teachers and Church Members. Your vote and interest are most prayerfully requested against the return of Mr. J. C. Richmond to Parliament, be lie being an ‘infidel.”

Captain Hall has bis in tention of staffing on 'another Arctic expedition, and sprites lie, will not return until he sets foot oift the nine ■ teentli parallel of North latitude.

When the news of the fall of Paris reached San Francisco, the Germans of that eitygotup a greatdemonstration of rejoicing. A grand torch light procession, composed of eight thousand persons, marched through the streets.

A terrible railway accident occurred in the State of New York,out benight of the Gtb of of February, caused by a petroleum train breaking down and throwing a passenger train off the line and setting it on fire. The following particulars of the disaster are from an American news papers—-The freight train which caused ’accident consisted of about cars, most of which carried tanks Njf oil. Before leaving Albany every car was carefully inspected by woi kmen, and no defect discovered. When the train reached a wooden bridge over Wapenger Creek New Hamburg, a sudden shock passed through the entire train, almost throwing it from the track. On examination it was found that the axle of the tenth car had broken, and the car bad then broken loose from the couplings and careened on one side, struck the frame work of the bridge, and lay a total

wreck on the track. At the Kamo moment and before a note or signal of warning could be raised, the express train which left this city at eighto’clock came rushing along at th® rate of thirty niilesanhonr. The enginestruck the wrecked car with terrible force, setting tire to tire oil and scattering the inflammable material and burning fragments in all directions. The force of the collision instantly throw the engine over the bridge into the creek. Tin: ice was very thick, but was unable to bear the locomotive, which broke through and sunk. The tender also fell into the creek. Immediately behind the engine were two baggacre cars, which were followed up by a sleeping car load of passengers. The flames from the oil-tank set fire to these ears, W Inch after strikingthe wreck fell over into the creek a burning mass. It is said that somepassengersin the burning cars succeeded in leaping out in time to save themselves from tjeatli, but the rest were the car-over the bridge and either drowned or burned to death The other sleeping cars were also destroyed, as also was the bridge. Twenty persons were killed and a large number badly injured.

The fate of the world renowned African traveller, Dr. Livingston, £®is still to he wrapped in mystery, jMßrSderick Murchison however adbelief that he is safe in Wron the Germans at Sutter Creek, California, were preparing 10 celebrate the fall of Paris, somebody spiked the cannon with which they intended to fire their salute They managed however by some means to fire the salute.

Three men, disguised as policemen wentonenighttoabaukin Philadelphia, and called out to the watchman that the bank was to be robbed that night, and that they were detailed to remain in the bank to capture the robbers The watchman admitted the men, and was immediately gagged and handcuffed, The robbers then very methodically went to work, remaining in the bank until 3 a.m., and finally decamped with a booty worth sixty five thousand dollors.

The Boston Advertiser has the following:— Last night must have been the coldest night of the season. A thermometer was set outside the window of this office when the mercury instantly fell four stories, carrying the entire thermometer with it. Cardinal Antonelli threatens that unless the Pope is restored to his temporal power to preach a crusade amongst the Roman Catholic nations that will compel the King of Italy to make restitution.

Hatching eggs by steam, ploughing by steam, brushing hair by steam, and getting killed by steam, have all been wonders in their respective days, but now comes a big garden where veget ables are raised by steam. It is two acres in '.situated at Lake View, near Chisago. The entire space is covered with glass, and a powerful engine and boilers supp'y through a network of pipes laid beneath the beds, the warmth and mosture required. Already, lettuces, raddishes, onions, cress and other solid “stuff,” are above ground, and in a week or so will be in the market. Cauliflowers, cabbages, beets, turnips, and other vegetables, have been sown, and will make their appearance in duo time. This is cheating Jack Frost with a vengeance.

In America and England largo sums are being collected to aid the French people in procuring food and seeds.

Since the siege commenced, suicides are unknown in Paris, and the Morgue is empty. The Bavarian enrps d'urmre which numbered 300, 000 men at the comwar cannot now muster more tlianfJfoOO.

The City Council of Wellington seems to be about as impecunious as the Provincial Government. According to the Post, “ the rates will not allow the Corporation to pay ior the gas for a few lamps,” and, “it seems hopeless to talk of drainage or waterworks.” Of one hundred thousand horse originally in Paris sixty six thousand have been killed for food. A colored gentleman in Texas went into a blacksmith’s shop with his coat tail full of powder. He came out through the roof. A recent New York despatch thus briefly relates a Story :—“ Eliza Kohl a domestic in Newark, used kerosene to light the fire this morning. Her funeral takes place to morrow. A writer in the Melbourne. Leader says “ A Victorian, of (he name of Buckley, formerly a partner in the house of Dalgety and Co., was, I am informed, the first person to enter Strasburg after its surrender. How he managed the feat I do not know, but perhaps he has a special liking for such things. I rememlmj’ he was the first to surrender at Uie of Victoria, Ballarat, whe&tt was attacked by bushrangers some sixteen years ago. His conduct upon that occasion was duly commented upon in the next half yearly report of (he bank. So he left that institution, went into business, and made a fortune.” At the meeting of the Golden Pyke claimholders says the Bendigo Advertiser, “Mr. Holm mentioned that the water level of the quartz district of Bendigo was lowering every year. On the Comet line, on which no engine, so far as is known, is working, the water during the past eleven years has been reduced from from one hundred and twenty feet to two hundred and thirty five feet. The operation of so many engines to the South of the Bendigo Creek appears to be producing this effect.”