MISCELLANEOUS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 942, 7 May 1880, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Rangoon Gazette records a very sail occurrence at Port Blair.:--“ One of the SOlh Regiment, named Kenny, went out to the hay to have a swim- -a daily recreation between 5 and 6 p.m. When ho was out a distance of ISO yards from the jetty he. found himself attacked by a small shark, which bit off one of the fingers of his left hand and lacerated another and the thumb. The man, being a good swimmer, bravely resisted the attack, and, it is said, nearly had succeeded in choking his enemy, when lie found himself attacked by a larger monster, which seized him below the cap of the right k’-ee, causing an incision of about four inches by two deep. The wounded man still fought his way bravely, swimming towards (be shore with his right band, while with his other mutilated one he defended himself. While doing so the second and fiercer antagonist managed to seize his wounded leg just behind the knee-cap, rendering it perfectly useless. Life, however, is sweet, and notwithstanding his crippled condition Kenny struggled on towards a boat he saw coming to his aid, when a third shark attacked him from behind, and tore off a considerable portion of the flesh from bis back. Even in this dreadful state lie managed to swim fifty yards further, and to reach the boat, when lie was picked up. He was immediately conveyed to the shore, laid in a doolie, and carried to the hospital, where he received every care and attention ; but after lingering for thirty hours, and suffering the greatest agony, he expired. When the corpse was examined, the intestines were plainly visible through the exposed ribs, three or four of which were broken The’ilimeiidons of the last bite were 14in by 12in. The deceased was only 23 years of ago.

Yankee grab is to lie abolished in California. At least we read that there has been introduced in the Assembly a bill which provides for the punishment of any saloon keeper, or proprietor of any other place where liquor is sol I at retail, who shall allow any game of cards, dice, bagatelle, or other game of chance to be played for the purpose of determining who shall pay for the drinks, and to punish any persons who shall enuo.ee in such Damns for such purposes.

The life of the late Marquis of Anglesey was insured in various companies for an aggregate am amt of not less than L 750,000. The present Marquis will come into a magnificent and unencumbered property with an estimated income of.'Lloo,ooo a year. The brothers (if the present Marquis are likewise sprinkled by the gold shower ; and previous common place, but obstinate, difficulties being thus happily removed, the long-talked-of marriage of one of them with a lady of high birth and distinguished beauty will shortly be announced. It is quite true that Lord Alexander and Lord Berkeley Paget come into L4OOO a year by their half-brother’s, the late Lord Anglesey’s death ; Lord Henry Paget, the present Marquis, having promised them some years ago that, should he succeed to tho title, he Would settle that income on them for their lives.

Cabbage grow wild in Siberia ; buckwheat originated in Liberia ; celery originated in Germany ; the potato is a native of Porn ; the onion originated in Egypt; tobacco is a native of South America ; millet was first discovered in India ; the nettle is a native of

Europe ; the eitrou is a native of Asia ; oats originated iu North Africa ; rye came originally from Siberia ; parsley was first discovered in Sardinia ; the parsnip is a native of Arabia’; the sun-dower was brought from Peru ; spinach was first cultivated in Arabia; the apple is from Europe; the horse-chesnut is a native of Thibet; the quince came from the island of Crete ; the radish is a native of China and Japan ; the pear is supposed to he of Egyptian origin ; (he horse-radish came from the South of

Bumps.—Chicago Medical Journal. The Army and Navy Gazette of the 24th January says :—“ So ‘ Frou Frou ’ is to ho restored to the hoards of Uer Majesty's ships, and the rustle ’of the petticoat, the patter of little feet on the poop, and the spooning of the signalman and nurserymaid will again have their place in the interior economy of our men-of-war. Ten

years have made the Admiralty forgetful of those causes which led to a stringent order being issued against the residence of women on board ship, and married commanders of training ships were recently granted the pleasure of their wives' society. And now the Flag Captains at Portsmouth and Devon port have been given permission to shift their residence and take their wives and families on hoard the flag ships. It is a capital thing tor the captains, being equivaleut to a very considerable addition to their pay, relieving them as it docs of bouse rent and accompanying expenses, but the system was not foun 1 to work well in days gone by, and we fail to see any reason for believing that the former objections will be found to have been removed. The establishment of nurseries afloat will give rise to the belief that there really is a ‘Pinafore’ and ‘ Bib ’ in her Majesty's Fleet.

A well known citizen of Prooklyn, U.S., alike renowned for his wealth and eccentricity. died a few weeks ago, and Ids last will and testament was found by his sorrowing relatives, with whom he had boon

■it odds during his life, to contain thu following curious bequest “ I own seventyone pairs of trousers. It is my desire that they be sold by public auction after death, and that the product of their sale be distributed among the deserving poor of my parish. They must, however, be disposed of severally to different bidders, no single individual being permitted to purchase more than one pair.” These directions wore duly carried out by the heirs-at-law. The soventy-oue pairs of trousers wore successively knocked down to seventy-ouo purchasers, and their price was handed over to the parochial authorities- A few days after the sale one of the buyers took it into his head to make a careful examination of his newly acquired property, and found a small canvas bag neatly se vn up ill the waistband. Upon opening this bag an agreeable surprise met his gaze in the shape of ten one-huudred-dolhir notes. The tidings of this amazing discovery spread like wildfire throughout Brooklyn and Xew York, and each fortunate possessor of a pair of these precious pantaloons was rejoiced to find Ida investigations rewarded in the same manner.

The Taupe district is the happy possessor of an expert horse-otealor. The Hawke’s Bay Herald records his exploits ; “The fellow stole a horse some little time ago at Woodthrope, and having disposed of it near Tarawera, stole another horse there and roue to Cambridge, in the Waikato, where he got rid of the second and stole another. Ho then redo to Tauranga, disposed ot the third horse ; stole another and made to Ohinemutu. There he again si ole a horse- and rode to Taupo, at which place he appropriated the telegraph line-man’s horse, which was not missed until the horse-stealer had passed Tarawera with it. The telegraph wires were thou resorted to, and the horse belonging to the department was found at r.essingtpn quite knocked up. The man’s swag, saddle, and bridle’were found in the scrub between Ucasington and Woodthrope, and the last that was heard of himself was that ho had been to Omahu.”