Miscellaneous Items.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 75, 22 September 1894, Page 4

Miscellaneous Items.

Mrs Medhurst, who died on August Bth, at Sydney, is supposed to have been the oldest Sydney native. She was born in Sydney, on Christmas Day, 1800, twelve years after the landing of Captain Phillip- She was therefore 94 years of age. The old lady's descendants wore eight children", 71 grandchildren, 70 great-grand-children, and over 20 great-great-grandchildren. Tn sentencing a vagrant, against whom 25 convictions had been recorded, Dr Lloyd, J.P., North Mcl bourne, remarked ihat tbe goals of the colony were far too comfortable, and simply places of eaee for "lazy, loafing, scheming Fcounrirels, and it was a great pity confirmed depredators of society like the prisoner did not get a taste of the cat*" Reynold's portrait of Lady Betty Delme and her children was sold for 11,000 guineas at Christie's — the largest sum ever realised for a picture at an auction in England. Another portrait by Sir Joshua fetched 7500 guineas. " The Prodigal Son" by Bubens, went for 800 guineas. Amongst a collection of relics, a Prayer-book belonging to Henry Vlll in which that Royal Blue-beard wrote, "Trewe repentance is a beste penance," sold for 610 guineas. A tenth ceetury M.S. of the Gospels fetched £570. A Henry JV farthing sold for £15 los, and an Edward IV silvei farthing for £7 15s. ' What are the elements V asked a Texas teacher of a pupil. 'Air, fire, water, and whisky.' ' Why do yot call whisky one of the elements V * Because when pa comes home full oi whisky ma says he is in his element.' Magistrate : ' Now, what have you to say ? Did this man hit you first ? ' Prisoner : •' Yes, your Honour, 'twas a hit — a palpable hit, as Shakespeare says.' Magistrate : ' Never mind what Shakespeare says. He will be summoned to testify for himself, if be knows anything about the case.' A Londoner, aged 97, has just witnessed his 73rd consecutive Derby. The old boy ought to ' know something ' by this time A reporter has just won his spurs by an article headed 'Desperate Bloodshed— The Murdered Man not Expected to Live ! '