ITEMS BY THE MAIL,

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1763, 30 March 1874, Page 2

ITEMS BY THE MAIL,

The Act of Parliament passed in August came into force on the day of the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness has, by the 29 Vie., cap. 8, L 15,000 a year, and by the statute of the late session an additional annuity of LI o,ooo— making L 25.000 a year. By the last Act the Grand Duchess will have an annuity of L6OOO in the event of surviving His Royal Highness. The allowance of the additional LI O,OOO dates from the marriage, and on the next quarterday the proportionate amount is to be paid free from all taxes, assessments, and charges. Iron' mines have been discovered in a place called Decommel, a townland in Down, situate almost at equal distances from Banbridge, Rathfriland, and Castlewellan. The meeting of the Home Rule League, announced to take place in Dublin on 20th January, was postponed in conquence of the indisposition of Mr Butt, Q.C. At a recent election meeting at Herberts town, near Ballyhickan, County Limerick, a serious riot occurred. The meeting was in support of Mr O'Sullivan, the Nationalist candidate, but a hostile mob charged the platform, from which the candidate was pulled down. A general melee ensued, in which blows were freely exchanged on both sides. A force of police were present with fixed bayonets, and charged the mob, and prevented a serious encounter. O'Sullivan's opponents, were escorted out of the place, and the meeting proceeded without further interruption.

Tho Highland piper who accompanied the mission to Yarkand seems to have been an object of great admiration to the people at large. On one occasion, when Mr Forsyth invited the Prime Minister to be present at a performance by the kilted musician, the worthy dignitary, who appears to have been greatly pleased with the music, persistently kept his face turned from the performer. Mr Forsyth was at first afraid that something had offended him, but on hi 3 mentioning his fear was assured by the Minister that he only turned away le3fc the Highlander should be disconcerted at the thought that it might be observed that he had forgotten his trousers.

A daring attempt to escape from the garrison guard-house, at the Royal Artillery Barracks, has recoiled disastrously upon the adventurer. A bombadier who was entrusted with L 7 to pay part of the battery to which he belonged absconded with the money, but his sergeant, who was answerable for the amount, cleverly tracftd him to Windsor, apprehended him, and brought him back to Woolwich. He was placed in the guard house to await his court-martial, and being expert at running and athletic exercises he appears to have resolved upon making a bold dash for liberty. While taking exercise in the airing-yard, in charge of sentries, he sprang to the top of the rear wall, which is surmounted with formidable chevaux tie frise, and leaped over, but fell on the pavement outside and broke his le?. He was accordingly removed to the Herbert Hospital.

The latest and most lofty idea of what to do with thejinterior of Leicester Square is that of a gentleman who is anxious to erect on the present space a tower which shall rival that !>f Babel, and attain a height of 1500 ft. He purposes that the summit shall be reached by means of an hydraulic lift for the use of those who are scant of breath, and promises to those who reach the top in safety a view of the sea and all the advantages of fresh air. He also proposes to have rooms, which he will let furnished or unfurnished to such as wish to live beyond the reach of London smoke and noise, and at rents varying •with the altitude chosen. This idea of a gigantic tower has already been adopted in America, and at the International ExhiUtion to be held in Philadelphia in 1876 one of the chief features will be a toy er a thousand feet high, to prove to tho world that even in such things the. States can build taller than the rest of cre-ition.

Kputteringsf rom Jitcfy'sPen. —* ' There's raisenin everything," as Pat said to the plrm-pudding. — " What's port to you is de th so me," as the gouty man said to his son.— Christmas waits. No, it goes and comes again. — Des Fenmes Savantes: Some men say that ladies look better in muslin than print.— lt has been stated that the Ashantees are bad marksmen. Thoy don't look very aimiable fellows. — What is the best argument against young ladies standing up to play at cricket ? Because they never ought to be bowled.— What bone is best developed in policemen? The "collar" bone.— " You must take the Will for the deed," as young William said when he proposed to the young lady he had just saved from drowning. — What celebrated musical composer is never long away from home (often back)— (Offenbach) of course. — A 1 roof which covers a very . noisy tenant — the roof of the mouth. — Supposing a person asked you f jr a change for a sovereign, and stipulated that the change should be in shillings and sixpences only, and that there should be one more sixpence than there were shillings^ how would you manage it? Itoan be done. Try. • '■■' . ■ ■ ■ •'■