MISCELLANEOUS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 695, 13 August 1875, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

A correspondent torwards us the following : —“ A clever capture was effected the other day by two storekeepers residing on the New River. Two miners in receipt of good wages, averaging from LG to L 8 per week for the last twelve months, thought proper to levant. Business required the storekeepers in Hokitika, and on their return to Staffordtown observed the two runaways in the coach. This aroused their' suspicions—they were then asked for payment of their accounts, and in return only received abuse. They still proceeded to Hokitika, when they found their creditors were at their heels, stopped the coach, paid their fare, and said they would return home. They then returned homewards through Staffordtown towards the Waimea. The storekeepers asked them a second time for a partial settlement, and only received a repitition of abuse. Asa warrant could not be obtained at the Waimea they returned to Staffordtown, where they met the Resident Magistrate of Hokitika, who at once granted a warrant -for their apprehension. Meanwhile ■the absconders had taken the coach for Greymouth and had two hours start of their pursuers, who gained information at Greenstone Junction that they had doubled and taken the coach for Greenstone. They then followed and captured and lodged them in the lock-up ; tried eight days after at the Waimea and received the sentence so justly merited—two months with hard labor. Let this be a warning to all of the same stamp, as the storekeepers are forbearing in the extreme, and it may be the means of deterring them from giving credit to many a deserving person. Had there been any extenuating circumstances in the case no such prompt measures would have been taken, but people in business on the goldfields have been too frequently imposed upon of late.” In an article on the revival movement in America, the New York Hemld says : —“ For one poor, rapt, uncertain soul which finds its way into an insane asylum to fret and gibber over effectual calling and eternal punishment, there are thousands who fall into the prisons and workhouses and pauper asylums because of their sin and shame. There are more hearts tainted this morning because of what we have tasted and read of Brooklyn theology; more fresh, virgin minds polluted because of the revelations of this pernicious trial; more real, irreparable injury to society and good morals, than would result fiom a thousand years of the revival efforts •of Moody and Saukey and Varley. Let our clergymen, therefore, who mock at the work of plain, humble men, rise up and preach Christ crucified. Religion does not want an opera or a hymn, but the ringing of tocsin, the alarm boll in the night, the summoning of every agency of truth to csrabat vice and to revive a disheartened and flying faith.” Says the Lyttleton Times of the 31st ult.:—Mr S. Boyd, of Leithfield, who lias lately been pig hunting on the Waikan Flat, captured, on Thursday, a sow with fourteen young pigs ■running by her side, one of which attracted his special attention. On examination of this one, it was found that it could only travel on its fore feet, the hind ones growing upwards over its loins. It is about six weeks old, perfectly stiong and healthy, taking its food as pigs usually do. All that have seen the little animal pronounce it to he a most curious specimen of the pig breed, and the capturer intends to give the little animal more ■care and attention than that usually bestowed upon the same race.