MISCELLANEOUS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 587, 18 July 1873, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

—o— We have received the last number of the Australasian Sketcher. This is an exceedingly good number, the engravings being numerous and good, which comprise a number of portraits, also sketches of general interest. Dr. Gumming, lecturing at Cheltenham on Easter Tuesday, told his audience that a young Scottish nobleman has promised 5,000f. a ycor towards building tho Roman Catholic Cathedral in Westminster until its completion. A man in Jersey City, who hail ravished a kiss from a school girl, was fined by the magistrates, horsewhipped by the big brother, and scratched bald-headed by his own wife. And it was not. much of a kiss after all. A woman named Sarah Ann 801 l was found guilty, at the Auckland Supreme Court, of stealing a letter containing 11 Of., addressed to a person of tho same ’name, ami was sentenced to three years imprisonment. When sentence was passed she swooned away. Her life is iu danger. A curious scene took place lately in tho Court .of Queen’s Bench, Dublin. A gentleman came info Court, and announcing himself ns King of Ireland, handed to the Judge a IOOL bank note, as a testimony of his Royal esteem, adding that he would make similar presents to his colleagues as soon as they should appear. The judge ordered his friends to be sent for. At tho quarterly meeting of the Sydney Small-bore Jlillo Club, bc-ld on Saturday; tho 21 st of June, nine members contested. The first range fired at was 200 yards, seven shots each, and of the nine competitors four —Messrs. D. Gee, J. Cooper, K. Brownlow, and J. J, Slade—scored all bullseyes, J, Bushcllc marking six bullseyes and one centre. The next range was 300 yards, and here Mr. Oco again scored seven bullseyes ; thus in 14 shots ho scored the highest possible number, viz., uG points. Under the heading “Unprofessional Language,” tho Wanganui Chronicle says : —“ In a ease of great magnitude, which was heard before tho R.M , on Tuesday, a learned gentleman, no doubt feeling most strongly where such grave interests were at stake, by hj lapsus linguae came out with a sentence ‘ What the deuce', &c. The Bench immediately called the learned gentleman’s attention to Die phrase, an apology for which was at once offered and accepted. A private letter received iu Melbourne from a friend of the late Lord Lyttou, who was with him shortly before his death, con--1 tains the following intei'csting passage : “ It was a lamentable thing for poor Lord Lyltoa to ho carried off, and strange that his last words were to be sure to examine the body, to see that he was not in a trance In walkihg round the castle at Knobworth one fine night, I asked him what ho thought of a future state ? ‘Well,’ho said. ‘ I will tell you ray opinion. If I die, and am sentenced by the powers above for anything wrong that 1 may have done on earth, I , shall argue the question, anil request to know why I was permitted to do it.’ ” It will bo remembered that Bums and other distinguished authors have expressed similar feelings in relation to tho justice of future punishments. — A ustralasian. The N~ew Zealand Tablet says: “Our opinion on tho Fermissive Bill has not met with the approval of its advocates. Wo never thought it would. Some strong letters on the subject luvo been addressed to us. The first that came to hand appears in our issue of to-day, and wc regret to.be unable to afford space for another addressed to us by a courteous correspondent from Wellington, who was kind enough to enclose his card. We arc unwilling to have any controversy iu this journal on tho subject. All agree as to tho absolute necessity of doing something reasonable to diminish drunkenness as much as possible. As to the moans, however, there is a great diversity of opinion. The Permissive Bill has its advocates —wo arc amongst its opponents, because wo are of opinion such a law would do more harm than good, and bo an instrument of injustice, da Surely wc may hold this opinion without justly exciting the wrath of its advocates !” Referring to tho death of Mr. W. Gray, Secretary and Inspector of Post Offices, the Taranaki Herald says ;—“ The deceased gentleman had boon in ill health for some time, and the Government granted him leave of absence to go to England, it being hoped that with the bast medical advice ho would bo soon restored to good health again, but he only reached San Francisco, where he died on tho 14th Juno. Mr. Gray was a most energetic public officer, and the efficiency of our postal service is mainly owing to his .exertions. His loss will bo severely felt by tho department of which ho was so long and ably boon the head. Mr Gray was au old settlor of this town, and all who knew him will, wa feel sure, read with regret the announcement which it is our painful duty to make.