MISCELLANEOUS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 654, 30 October 1874, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

—o— The other day John Rosebury, a hawker, aged 105 years, of Leeds applied at the Halifax borough police office for the purpose of having his pedlar’s certificate endorsed. He was hoin at Whitby on the 30th April, 17C9, and has lived in Leeds since 1793, the-year in which his father died at the age of 99 years. In addition to his father and his wife, he has buried at Leeds seventeen sons and five daughters. His wile died on the 20th April, 1869, at the age of 99. He followed every one of them to the grave. The eldest of his children died at the age of 81, on November 5, 1872 ; and the youngest at the a»e of twelve. His present re idence is at Leeds. He has a surprising memory. For {onyears he lost the use of both eyes, but the sight of one has returned. He never travels by coach or vail, but walks all his journeys. —Leeds paper.

Describing the new 80 ton gun, a London paper states ; —“ This monster piece of ordnance will, when finished, be greater than twice the size of the largest gun in existence, and its destructive powers at fighting range equally proportionate. With a 16-inch projectile, weighing 16501b, and a maximum charge of 3001b of powder, it will pierce the best iron plates, 20in thick, at 5000 yards, 16in pistes at 5300 yards, and will pitch a 16in shell into a ship or fortress at a distance of 10,300 yards. The steel block forming the inn r tube was the largest ever cast, weiglii- g over 12 tons ; whi'e the trunnion piece, about 18 tons, was the largest forging ever produced at the arsenal. The actual cost ef this fearful engine of war will not fall short of L 8500.”

A novel use of the telegraph is about to be put in operation in New York. The cmiit-rooms in the city are to be telegraphically connected with the offices ot the leading lawyers, so that the state of the calendar and the progress of trials can be announced, and the parties summoned when wanted.

A judoe. in taking a married woman's acknowledgment of a deed, blandly asked, “ Did yon execute this instrument without fear or compulsion ot your husband ?” “ Fear ! Compulsion ! He compulse me ! You don’t know me, judge,” grimly re■ponded the wife.