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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 64, 18 September 1862, Page 3

The Great Exhibition.—Story of a Poor Clockjiaker. —The ambition of a village clockmaker, known to me, determined him to make an immortal name in horology in our Great Exhibition ; and he has just fallen a victim to a task which overtaxed his physical powers. In 1851 he had nearly completed a clock which did not only mark the time in various novel and ingenious ways, but marked also the changes of the moon, the time of the sun’s rising and setting, and even the state of the temperature. It was nearly finished within the prescribed time, but its thorough completion was impossible. He wished to exhibit it in its partially unfinished state, but the commissioners refused to receive an incomplete work. The dissappoiutmeut was more than his already overtaxed wits could bear, and he was carried to a lunatic asylum, where he remained till the exhibition was over and forgotten. About two years ago he came out again restored; but, unfortunately for him, there was another exhibition coming on- This time, surely, the great clock might be finished. His progress was rapid. Month after month the work grew towards greater completeness than he had ever hoped. The time drew near —success appeared certain—when a crushing stroke of apoplexy stopped both the clock in the workshop and the clock of life in the poor overwrought frame at the same blow. — Builder. Pet Preachers and their Affected Style of Speaking. —Punch some time ago showed up this class in the act of reading the banns of “ mawidgea French writer in London thus hits them:—“ The rich of London, especially the ladies, are great patrons of particular priests of Church of England, who generally write poetry and possess a pleasing address and engaging voice. Whether the national churches are not large enough to receive all the Christian congregations of the higher classes, I know not; but certain it is, the reformed Church of England lias many private establishments for a select public worship, where the officiating priest is paid well, invited to dine with the nobility, and made what in England is called ‘ a pet.’ He is a religious luxury—in fact, for the rich only; and preaches, lam told, a polite and fashionable divinity. I have visited one nf these places for prayer and devotion, but it had not much the appearance of a church outside, and I could only understand a very little of what the preacher said, as this class of clergy, like artistes of the stage, put on an artificial voice.”