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Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1218, 29 January 1878, Page 4

Mr Joseph Gallop, at the advanced age of ninety-two yeais, still officiates as clerk of the parish church, Blagdon. He has held the appointment over fifty years. His father also held it before him. Trout Fishing ik Otago, —Two devoted disciples of Isaak Walton have just returned from a raid on the rivers of the south. The following items furnished us by one of them will show wbat success they had; and the fact that such magnificent fishing can now be found in New Zealand must be no less gratifying to the friends of acclimatisation than to the lovers of the gentle art: —Lee Stream, 124 trout, weighing 6611 b ; Deep Stream, 53 trout, weighing 53ilbs ; total, 177 trout, weighing HQi-lbs. The above was the work of two rods ; time, 8| days. The two baskets one day numbered 56, weighing 291bs; another day, 18, weighing 201bs, Tho best single basket in one day had the magnificent take of 9 fish, weighing ISJibs.

The Pound at Ashburton.— For some months past the pound at Ashburton has been in such a dilapidated state that animals impounded had no difficulty whatever in walking out. The consequence of this is, that all day, bpt more especially towards dusk in the evening, the streets of the town are thronged with horses, some of which have broken out of their paddocks, but by far the greater number have been turned out, to crop the grass on the side streets, which wonld otherwise, no doubt, be wasted; no small auioupt of inconvenience is experienced from this state of aff.i}rg, gfioqld anyone who hag a garden unluckily forget to shut his gate at night, he finds it in a very altered state in the morning. At the last sitting of tho County Council Mr Bullock brought this subject undpr its notice, and tabled a notice of motion for the next ipeetlng, op {sth proximo, to the effect that the County Council be requested to erect a new pound for Ashburton. As the members p£ th? Council took up the matter favorably, and baye so fay cyirippcj a (jesiye to benefit the town, it is hoped they will not overlook this moat desirable and necessary work.

Californian- Heroism, Perhaps the most magnificent act of heroism ever heard of in California was, says the “Francisco Post,” witnessed during the performance of a circus at Reno, and certainly, assuming the account given to be correct, a more striking example of that quality known as “ presence of mind ” can hardly be imagined. The lion tamer was giving an exhibit.on of his control over the ferocious beasts under his charge, when suddenly he was observed to turn paleand tremble. The largest lion of the six in the cage had displayed unusual sullenne-s, and now refused to obey its master. With glaring eyes it crouched in the corner, and evidently meditated a spring. The trainer recovered his self possession in a moment, and, keeping his «ye firmly fixed upon that of the huge beast, dealt it a t rr fic blow with a raw hide over its face. With a roar like thunder the lion now bounded forward, absolutely foaming with fury. Seizing one of its open jaws in either hand, the powerful man held the brute off for a desperate moment by sheer strength. An electric thrill of horror ran through the crowd which tbrouged around the cage while the terrible struggle was pr greasing. The beasts in the other dens shrieked and roared in ohorus, and the din was deafening. It is in a moment like this that the true heroic element asserts itself. Without turning his head in tho least the brave man hoarsely whispered, “Pass me a small bov,” One was instantly seized by a dozen kindly hands and squeezed through the bars. With a superhuman effort the trainer thru'-t the boy into tho hot, closing jaws, and then bounded lightly aside. There was a snarl, a few savage “ scrunches, ” the beast turned again for its prey. But the hero was gone, Tho do -r snapped behind him, and gasping “Saved !” be fell fainting at the feet of tho concourse of spectators, who cheered and wept by turns, many of them deliriously embracing each other ia the hi §jtcjtfi»o»t of the moment.