NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Grey River Argus, Issue 153, 5 January 1867, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Professor Unger, the celebrated Viennese botanist and paleontologist, has recently published some remarks on the bricks of . the ancient. Egyptians, especially those of the pyramid of Dashour, which was built about 3400 beforil our era. One of them being examined by the Professor through the microscope, he discovered that the mud of the Nile, out of which it was made, contained not only a quantity of animal and vegetable matter, but also fragments of many manufactured substances ; whence ■ it may be concluded that Egypt must have enjoyed a high degree of civilization upwards of 5000. years ago. Professor linger lias been enabled, the aid of the microscope, to discover in these bricks a vast number of plants which at that time grew in Egypt. The chopped straw clearly discernible in the body of the bricks confirms the description of the manner of making the latter, such as we lincl it in Herodotus and in the Book of Exodus. Mr Alexander Smart, a Scotch poet, died ou October 19, in his GBth year. He was the author of " Songs of Labor," "Rambling lihymes," &c Mr Smart was a native of Montrose, but came to Edinburgh in early life in search of employment, and where, not finding- it in his lirst vocation, that of a Avatchmaker, he served a second apprenticeship at the press, and at which he continued until, six years ago, distress, mental and bodily, put a period to his active labors. On a recent night some fishermen caught in Southwold Hay a very large specimen of the crimp skate. It weighed 24 stone, measured 8 feet from nose to tail, and was five feet- six inches in breadth.. The fish is being preserved, and will be sent to London for exhibition in the British Museum. It was stated at the meeting of the Mersey Dock Board the other day, that .the surplus for the current year would, have been L 70,000, instead of L7OOO, had not the Board been mulcted in the payment of poors rates and arrears for past years. The Times says the New Zealand war is now-, we may presume, at an end, at least as far as regular troops and Her Majesty's ships are concerned ; and as we look through the list of promotions, brevets, bestowed — and in most cases "^ 7 yeiy justly bestowed — on the officers who were engaged there, the question arises, were the officers only engaged ? and if not what have the men, the blue-jacket, and the private soldier, got to show for all the hard lighting, hard work, and exposure to which :they, wei;e subjected in New Zealand } For China, for Burmah, for the Cape and Kaffir wars, the Government granted a medal ; why not for New Zealand 'i. The number' of actions, and the lists of killed and wounded in this latter war,, will bear comparison with the others meutioned. Its success may, indeed, be disputed ; but even so, it is not surely . the fault, of the men that it did not succeed more 'thoroughly, but of those officer who have, already, received their reward. lii China, in addition to the medal, a considerable quantity of pimvmoney was; distributed ; in New Zealand there was none ; and if any of the authorities would take the trouble to walk through tne barracks of those regiments already returned from that colony, they would hear many a growl that no medal, nor even thanks, have been given to the men for their hard service. At Surfleet, October 3, Mr James Jackson, carpenter, died in Iris 96th year. He lived in the parish all his life, and has left nine children, 55 grandchildren, and 52 great grandchildren. About six years back he made his own coffin ; the breastplate he cut out of wood, and he printed his name on it, leaving space for date and age. He had liever been ill, or taicen any medicine until within three months of his death. Being an old ringer, a dumbpeal was sounded for him at his interment. The Mary Sheppard has been chartered by the Government for the conveyance of reinforcements for the Royal Artillery, Ist battalion of the 3 2th Regiment, 2nd battalion of the 14th Regiment, 2nd battalion of the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment, 40th Regiment, 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment, 57th Regiment,, and other corps, to New Zealand, and is ordered to be in readiness to embark her officers and - troops at Gravesend on the 15th of Nov. The Town Council of Liverpool have sanctioned an expenditure of L 250,000 for the purpose of effecting improvements in various parts of the town. The memorial to the late Sir Tatton Sykes, which has been erected at Garton Hill Top, the highest point of the Yorkshire Wolds, was inaugurated the other day by Lord Hotliam. The memorial consists of a tower, in the early decorated style, and is a very handsome structure, which can be seen for a very great distance. It has cost about LIBOO, the funds having been obtained by subscriptions from all parts of the county. In a few days there will sail from the Mersey for Galveston, a ship with 300 emigrants. About 240 of this number will be Scotch agricultural laborers, and the remainder will come from Devonshire. On the arrival of the vessel at Galveston, the emigrants, after a delay of a few days, will be forwarded into the interior ol\\ Texas, where they will be employed as ;mti agriculturists. The ship in which these <-^^emigrants sail takes out a large quantity ' ; k *~-«i«nH»ral implements made purposely : - r^k they are intended for. In a . /fts another batch of English and > ■j^- : v-^h laborers will sail from the Mersey : destination. ;

Along with other distinguished visitors at present residing at the Clyde Hotel, Bothwell, are the widow and daughter of the late Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America. A-<n-eat teform demonstration took place at Leeds, last Monday. 150,000 working men are said to have been present from the surrounding districts. Five platforms were erected, at each end of which there were chairman and speakers previously selected. A flourish of trumpets was the signal for silence, when simultaneously at all the five platforms, the following resolutions were moved:—l . That this meeting enters its solemn protest against, and its denial of the charges of venality, ignorance, drunkenness, and indifference to Reform, brought against the working classes during the last session of Parliament ; and hereby pledges itssif to advocate for the future .registered residental manhood sufferage and the ballot, as the only just and proper ba3is of representation. 2. That this meeting desires to acknowledge the services of the Kight Honorable AY E Gladstone, Mr John Bright, Mr John Stuart Mill, and all those who have supported the people's claim and vindicated their character in Parliament ; and further express its confidence in Mr John Bright as the champion of the national cause hi the House of Commons. 3. That this meeting expresses its indignation at the conduct of thusc members of Parliament who have refused to aid the work ing classes in their endeavour to obtain a fair share of the franchise, and hereby pledges .itself to units with the men of .London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, i^ortlmmber. land, Glasgow, Dublin, and elsewhere in their determination to press the question of Reform to an immediate settlement, to maintain the peace and secure the contentment of the country.