MISCELLANEOUS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 732, 28 April 1876, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

- o Cold muffins—ragamuffins. Grave subjects—tombstones. Bumps of curiosity—chignons. A loyal citizen of Madras aveloomed tho Prince of Wales on his visit to that city with tho following loyal motto:—“ God preserve the Prince of Wales—direct importer of marmalade, jams, English stores, ale, wines, spirits, and boots and shoos." An Englishman travelling in Ireland remarked to tho driver of the coach upon tho tremendous length of the Irish miles. “Hangyour Irish miles ! Why there’s no end to them I" “ Sure, sir,” said the coachman, “the roads are bad about here, and so we give good measure.” As au instance how long some insects retain life avhile immersed in fluid, a avriter has been assured by a very ingenious and accurate gentleman that being present at the opening of a bottle of Madeira wine avhich had been brought from Virginia to London, three flies were found in it. He immediately observed that they had a fair opportunity of trying the truth of the common opinion that a fly cannot he drowned, and desired the company to lay the flies in the sun tho day being very warm. The flies avere accordingly laid on a china plate, and in less than an hour took aving. M. de Reaumur kept bees under water nine horn s, and all came to life. The Christchurch Press, in an article against the Otago Government, respecting the great land job, says—They stand charged avith having not only committed a flagrant job, but with having abused their official powers and opportunities to perpetrate a deliberate fraud on the public. An important Bill has been brought foravard in the House of Commons by Mr Ashley and Mr Clive in reference to the law of evidence in criminal cases. It is intended to enable prisoners, defendants, and their wives and husbands, to give evidence in such trials. Evidence given is to be subject to cross-examination. Besides giving evidence, a prisoner or defendant may address a Jury. Before Magistrates, avith respect to persons charged avith indictable offences, a prisoner may make a statement upon oath or not, and may bo cross-ex-amined. Such statements are not to be used against a prisoner or defendant if he intends to offer himself as a avitness on the trial, excepting as to previous statements. The Dunedin Evening Neavs says.—“ The bridge over the River Molyneux, in Otago, will probably be finished in June. The span will be 174 feet, with au approach of 45 feet in length at each end. There anil be four piers of massive stone avork, and the total cost of the structure avili be about LCOflO.”—Now, as there are three bridges in course of construction over the River Molyneux, in Otago, which is the one our contemporary is speaking of. Flooded out. - Our Grey River contem porary, of the 11th instant, thus apologises to its readers for its non-appearance on the previous day :—“We shall probably receive their condonation when we state that it avas only when the flood was nearly a yard deep in our offire that we felt compelled to desist from further operations. As it is, the confusion occasioned by the inundation has so far complicated our usual arrangements that imperfections in our present issue are unavoidable.” The half -yearly meeting of the Bank of New Zealand report skowed a net profit to the 31st of March of L 58.440 12s 6d., giving with premium on new shares and the balance from last quarter, L125.59S 10s 8d available for division. Out of this a dividend of 10 per cent, and a bonus of 5 per cent, was declared, L7OOO carried to the reserve fund, and L 6848 10s Sd carried over. The dividend and bonus are payable at the head office on Monday, April 24, and at the branches on receipt of advice. The report and balance sheet avere unanimouslyadopted, and a resolution proposed altering the deed of settlement so as to admit an unlimited extension of the reserve fund. This avas confirmed at a special meeting held after the ordinary meeting. A Chinese G.C.M.G.—The Melbourne Argus learns from Singapore that the Hou. Hoah Kay (Whampoa), M.L.C., has been made G.C.M.G., the first Chinese ever decorated. The public is much pleased.