MISCELLANEA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 217, 23 January 1865, Page 3

MISCELLANEA.

A Youthful Genius.— We take the followingfrom the Lyttelton Times : —We observe by the Otago Daily Times that at the examination of the High School, on the 21st instant, the senior prizeman, who came out as head of tire school, was the eldest son of Mr. F. Billion Bell, the well known political!; and Mr. Bell’s second son, a lad of twelve years of age highly distinguished himself in the senior form, especially by a prize essay written in school in a limited time, and without assistance of any kind. The essay, which is upon “ The English Navy of the Time of Elizabeth,” won a handsome prize given by the proprietors of the Daily Times, and is printed in that paper. In length and style of arrangement and composition it is equal to most leading articles which we are in the habit of seeing. Mr. Dillon Beil will be congratulated, not only by his personal friends, but also by every one who takes an interest in the future of the Colony, that he has sons of such quality to take hia place in the next generation of New Zealand.

Some time ago, the captain of a small brig trading to one of our intercolonial ports was very unlucky on his voyage. He sailed from Sydney with a deck-load of valuable sheep on freight, and, had bargained to be paid as usual, a certain rate per head for all he safely landed at the port to which he was bound. One stormy day a sea carried away part of his bulwarks, and at the same time washed a sheep overboard, when, to the astonishment and dismay of the captain and all hands, they saw the remaining sheep Jump overboard one after another ; and before the excited crew could stop the gap in the bulwarks nearly every sheep on the deck had voluntarily followed its leader into the surging wave, to be food for sharks.

I’ue Ahehican Question. —The Western Daily Mercury contains a report of a lengthy speech, delivered on Friday evening by Mr. Bernal Osborne !o his constituents at Liskeard. In opening his address the hon. gentleman said, alluding to the American question,—“ Why do we talk one thing to Russia and another to America ? (Hear, hear!) What could be so foolish, what so wrong, as our interference with I'oland? (Hear, hear!) What so right, or so wise, as our conduct towards America? (Hear, hear!) But I want to know why the same rule has not been adopted in both cases P Why should you have more sympathy for the Boles than you have for the slaves of the Southern States ? (Hear, hear !) You sensibly did not interfere. You know America is a very good customer ; you know America will stand no nonsense. (Hear!) 1 refrain from giving any opinion on this struggle iu America. I say ws are pursuing a right course ; we have no business to interfere. That war is to be lamented ; but at the same time, as Englishmen, wo cannot help taking a pride in those people on both sides—both North and South—who are allowing this indomitable perseverance, this magnificent gallantry, for they are descended from ourselves. (Hear, hear, and applause.) We must feel a pride in them. The stake with them is great. If the Southern States are separated from the North, the greatness of America is set for ever. (Hear, hear.) Therefore it is a great struggle. 1 cau fully understand it. I can fully enter into the feeling. I give no opinion as to the results; still less would I attempt to be such a fool as to predict what the close is likely to be. But, looking at it as a sensible man; looking at the circumstances of the North, its wealth, its capabilities, and its financial position, I cannot help thinking that, however long the contest'may be, it must be like two gladiators in the arena, where, science being equal, the weight will tell. (Hear, hear.) I believe that the North will, eventually, make a solitude and call it peace. (Cheers.) What will follow afterwards it is not for me to predict. It is for us to stand by and be as little offensive to either party in our expressions as we can, (Cheers.) Therefore I have no .hesitation in saying that if 1 decry the conduct of the Government in its interference with Boland I give them every credit for the neutral attitude they have assumed with regard to America.’’ (Hear, hear.”)

Maize. —We learn from a contemporary that the people of New South Wales intend to abandon in many phces the cultivation of wheat, and they purpose to grow maize, which grain is more suitable for the climate. The study of the var.ous uses to which maize-meal can be applied begins to bo general among thrifty housewives. Among the numerous preparations may be ranked three kinds of Johnny-cakes, like the three degrees of comparison, Indian pound cake, butter cake, ginger cake, corn-meal cake, and corn dodgers, hoe cake, corn muffins, Yankee brown bread, brown bread biscuit, hasty pudding and hasty bread, corn-meal pudding, baked pudding, boiled pudding, Indian dumpling, green corn pudding, hominy, and corn-and-liour bread—the best kind of bread in the catalogue. So far well resolved, and we will be glad to hear that these good resolutions are carried out.

Which is at once the easiest and hardest of occupations ?—The musician's,, for ho plays when heworks, and works when he Splays.