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Dunstan Times, Issue 609, 19 December 1873, Page 2

Wo are rxccci’injly phased to notice that at die distribution * f prizes am> ngst the scholars of the DiineUin High School, Master Low, the son of Mr Low, Arrowtown came in for hj very ’ large number, ho being by the published list’at the too of the top of the tree in elas ios, riiathemaries; English and Natural Science .(Geology)— amongst his prizes'are two gold medals. At the Oamarn Grammar School, we also notice that Master Ji seph Wright, of Cromwell, was a wauled sev'eri prizes. 1 The sub-marine boat, which Ins for so long a time vast been the subject of discussion was safely launched on the 13th‘ instant in the presence of a large number of spectators Sin was christenol in the usual manner by Miss Acnes Grant, a daughter of due of the dirctorS, and' named the Platypus. It is intended /ifter some necessary e-cti-.a work has Innii complete 1 to have her submerged. Mr. Weston, the • Champion' Billiard Player of tho Cobiriies announces by Advertisement his intention to play a Loral Amateur at En’nrcs’a Hotel on Thursday night next the 25‘h infant. Onr looal athletes and- lovers of a good day’s sport will do well to con the advertisement i sued by'the Sports’ Committee, comprising tho programme of Sports tor Wednesday tho 31st’instant, It will he seen to he .a m >st liberal one, arid should draw rood fields of competitors. The Provirioial Secretary, Mr. Turnbull, and tho Gold-fields' Secretary, Mr. Horace Bastings visited Alexandra on Friday last: we believe they were met by the locol authorities. hut we havemot hoard with what resu t. In the-evening they passed on to Clyde where they romairic 1 till tho following morning, when they pushed on to Cromwell. Whilst, on Clyde they were mot by Mr. Hariott. M.P C., the Mayor and several members,of the Council. A mechanical contrivance, to be used instead of birds for trap shooting, has been introduced into Dunedin by Mr. S. G. Smith the well known shot. We would advise our local sports to ohiain 6ne, and thereby put an end to the murderous ta'k there is during anil after each’ shooting match in tho district. Tho following description of it we take from the G.uardian. finely tempered s'eel, as nearly.as possible, the size of a pige m, with wings extended, and rcsrmb'cs, .in its quiescent state, a screw propeller. It is fitted on two pins, which arc made to revolve rapidly by means of a spring, and tho whole apparatus can be stationed about the same distance from the matksman as* the pigeontrap in ordinary use. On pulling a string,/ the “bird ” takes its flight, and very like! a live bird too, sometimes rising to aheight of one hundred feet, sometimes skimming tho turf, and sometimes taking -an .erratic course ; but in each case requiring from sportsman as much skill as a good “ rock ” to bring down.” A most curious, fact in relation to the electric telegraph.is t dd in connection with the Bank of England. One Saturday njght the folks at the Bank could not make (he b dance come right by a him Ired pounds. This was a serious matter in that little establishment : not tho cash, of course, ! but the mistake in the arithmetic, for it occasions a world of scrutiny. An error in balancing has been known to keep a whole delegation of clerks from each office at work sometimes through tho whole night. A hue and cry was of coqrse made for 10!)/, as if the old lady of Thrcadn-jcJic would be bankrupt vithoiit it.' ’.Luckily on Saturday morning a clerk felt a suspicion of tho (ruth to dart through his min'd quicker than a flash of the T telegraph itself. Ho told the chief cashier on Monday' morning that perhaps the mistake might have- Occurred in packing some hoXPST'of specie for the West Indites,’which had bead sfeHtlfcnSoUthampton for shipment The suggestion was immediately acted upon. Hero wasaiaco lightning against steam, with -Cight-aud

forty hours |kpS wires asked wheijher hai' ||gs'| the harbor. 'VJust.^gh|iif'a&hor,’’ w , the answer. < ‘-Bt^ihMl'' allyS! shouted the done. “ Have up on deck certain boxes marked so j weigh them carefully.” Th y were weighed,_and one—the delinquent—wls fojnd to lifflJst§one‘pickj^of'a bundled eovereigns'lie ivler than it builit to heJi 1 “Let her go” said the telegraph. The with , land prror’qarrectaii without eve|ldykTug iritiVHio boxes, or delaying the voyage an hour.