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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1493, 29 November 1872, Page 2

There is some probability of sleeping carriages, at’ior the American pattern, being shortly introduced on some of iho English railway lines. A horse died under most remarkable circumstances in Auckland a few days ago, being literally stung to death by bees. It seems from an account of the occurrence in the New Zealand Herald that the animal vas tied up in a paddock iu the vicinity of a number of beehives. Some of the busy little insects lighted upon him and made play with their stings upon his cuticle. To free himself from the annoyance, the horse rolled himself over, and iu doing so he kicked over several hives of bees, which thereupon attacked him literally by thousands, and gathered upon his head in a perfect swarm. In vain he tried to free himself from his persecutors, i When they ultimately left him he lay upon the ground stung in every part of the body, his head especially being swollen up to an enormous size. After suffering great pain through the night the horse died the next morning from the effects of the attack upon him. Some people (says the London City Press) must entertain queer notions of what a newspaper really is, and by what sort of persons it is conducted. Not long since a dealer in umbrellas offered to supply any journalist who would pufl his wares with umbrellas at wholesale price ; and the other day | be received half a column of closelyprinted matter, and with it a circular*, ; stating that if the slip were inserted, balf-a-crown would be forwarded in return for a couple of copies of the number containing it. As yet we have not wanted the half-crown badly enough to earn it on those terms; but it is interesting to know that we can have it if we like. Meanwhile the bait held out does not seem to have attracted the attention of any metropolitan journal. Sham manoeuvres, unparalleled in military annals, are taking place in eastern Franco. The young German soldiers in training are being shown how the French were routed from Woerth to Sty ring, and from Argonne to Sedan, and the French authorities received a list of the towns and villages to be occupied during the operations. What may happen lo a man that accepts the loan of a horse (says the Darling Downs Gazette) will bo ascertained from the experience of John Simpson, who, on Friday, the 25th October, was committed for trial on the charge of Lorso.-stealing. The circumstances con-

nected with the case are as follow ;—ln , June last a black mare, the property of ■ Mr John Roessoler, was missed from the Four-mile Creek, near the town of Stanthorpe, and nothing more was heard of her whereabouts until the 19th October, when she was discovered j in Simpson’s possession, equipped in t saddle and bridle, and evidently engaged in the performance of the trip 5 from Stanthorpe to Brisbane. Simpson, who was apprehended on the charge of L stealing, stated that he had obtained . the mare from Mr M‘Eli I lop, of Newtown Boyd station, New South Wales on the order of Mr Fosberry, of Sydney. According to Simpson’s statement, he was engaged in travelling on foot from New South Wales to the ' Queensland tin mines, and happening to fall in with Mr Fosberry at Grafton, that gentleman offered him the use of O the mare he is now charged with having feloniously stolen. The weather was warm, “my feet were none the better for walking,” and so, says Simpson, “I accepted the offer.” Mr Fosberry wrote an order for the delivery of the mare, and all things having been properly arranged, Simpson proceeded in the diiection of the Queensland Border, and thence—in an unlucky moment towards Toowoomba. In reply to a telegram, forwarded by Mr Sab- inspector Harris to Glen Inues, the officer in chaige of the police nt that station observed—- “ Mr M'Killop states lie knows nothing about the horse or Simpson.” Mr Fosberry was “out of town,” so said the message received by the police from Mr Wrench, of Sydney, and the horse having been identified by the Messrs B >essler, unfortunate Simpson was committed for trial. On the 29th October Mr Fo* berry “wired ” a-> follows—“ Order to Simpson for delivery of horse by M‘Killop all right;” and again yes lerday—“Black mare bianded AA off shoulder, both hind feet white, short tail, procured from Ferris, storeman at Collins’, of Deepwater, in exchange for a horse.” For obtaining possession of the marc, however, Simpson must remain in dmance vile until the sitting of the District Court, which will take place about the 11th November. A church is now in course of erec lion at Beeftou for the Wesleyans. Respecting the. late riots at Charters Towers, the Port Denison Times supplies more particulars:—A mob of loafers of loafers pulled Symes and Trevet ban’s butchers shop at Milrhesier, Charters Tower-, because the price of meat was raised to 6d per pound. Three ringleaders were arrested and liberated on bail at the court house. Next day a laige mob uied to prevent Trevetlian giving evidence. They shot him in. the o O head. It is not coitain whether he is dead or not Another witness, David | Weir, being mobbed, shot two and then rode oft. Three shots wore tired after him. Diggers rolling up to hunt the ruffians. We take following from the Thames Advertiser, Nov, 20 : —An export of fungus is something novel for the Thames. By the Hero, Au Kew, of Pol leu-street, ships to Sydney 13 bales of dried fungus, bought by him at his place of business. The bales were shipped per Golden Crown yesterday. The same steamer also took five boxes of fresh patiki for the Auckland market, and agency having been established in town for the sale of daily supplies of this fish sent from Short land. A rather curious memento (-ays the Geelong Advertiser) has been saved from the wreck of ihe Sussex. There is now lying at the Custom-house a family Bible which was saved from the wreck, and was apparently sent out by a father to his married daughter here. It contains a registry of the births of the members of the family from as far back as 1790, and the date of their vaccination, and when they bad hooping cough, measles, and other infantile complaints. Accompanying the book is the following memorandum: —“I give the Bible to my daughter, Sarah Eliza Morris. . (Signed) John Reeves, April, 1871.” J A statement, remarkable if true, ap i pears in a late home paper, to the ettect 1 that “ there are now 207 fixed points ] in London where policemen can be < found when wanted.” \

A select committee of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria ordered an official (Mr. Skene) the other day to produce a certain return. There were some difficulties in the way of his complying witli the repuest, for no such document was in existence. Would he have it compiled 1 ? That ho feared Avas impossible; it would occupy too much time, and cost too much money. Would he allow the select committee to prepare the paper? With pleasure. Accoidingly the next day two drays heavily laden with official letters made their appearance in the Parliament yard. The committee collapsed; the work was rather too much for them. Messrs A. Fergusson and J. Robins, (says the Timarn Herald, Nov. 20), have left at our office samples of various kinds of useful stones which they have discovered within thirty miles of Timaru One of these is a red sandstone, which splits readily, so as to be suited for paving, hearth-stones, &c. Another is also a red sandstone, harder and superior to the limestone hitheito used here, but more workable than the bluestone, besides which it would in a building be lighter and more cheerful looking. It will cut any way, and is admirably suited for building purposes. Mr Fergusson states that the city of Glasgow is built of very similar stone. The third is not a sandstone, but seems to be principally composed of minute shells; it is very hard, with no disposition to break in flakes, ami would bo a splendid building stone. The remainder are specimens of slates, which our in formants state split without difficulty into roofing slates. Some of it is slightly veined with white, and would, if woikod and polished make very handsome mantelpieces, or other ornamental work. The Southern Cross states that “ the importation of sheep into the province of Auckland is considerable From one of the papers laid on the table of the Provincial Council we learn that between the Ist January last and the 31st October no fewer than 34,887 sheep were landed and inspected. This is at the rate of over 3,448 sheep a month, or, in round numbers, 42,000 per annum. Our farmers should try and meet this large demand for sheeep. The fees paid for inspecting those sheep were <£43(3 Is 9d. There is surely room here for more local effort being put forth.

The New Zealand Herald says the statement that all the plans of the Waste Lands Department were destroyed by the late fire, turns out, happily, to be untrue A good deal of anxiety was felt on the subject, and reasonably so, for inconvenience arising from such loss would be incalculable. No occasion, we are glad to say, exist* for such anxiety. It will be been upon the authority of the Provincial Executive, that of most of the papers lost there are duplicates.

The Thames Advertiser, Nov. 16, says:—Mention has several times been made in our columns of the discovery of copper at a place about three-quar-ters of a mile beyond the Pnra stream, and specimens ot the ore have been exhibited. The discovery was made by Mr Williamson, some years ago, but up till a short time ago no effort had been made to prosecute the discovery. Now, however, thirty acres of the ground have been secured by David Vet-don and Thomas Roberts, and several Auckland gentlemen have interested themselves in the matter. There are two lodes cropping out on the beach, one containing yellow and grey ore. The ore is known as copper pyrites, and holds portions of iron* silver, and also gold. Captain Goldsmith, Miuing Inspector, has visited the place in the course of his duties, and has made examinations of (he ore, which will be of great value to those holding. the ground. We understand that ihe ore might be " dressed up " to about 15 per cent, of copper —an amount which is considered very good, ana which would yield a handsome profit after paying the cost of taking the ore to South Australia and Swansea lot' further treatment. A shaft has now been sunk to the depth of thirty-five feet, and further information as U> the character of the lodes will boon be obtained.

The Fiji Times gays :—" The question of the annexation of Fiji by Great Britain is attracting attention in various parts of the group. The out-dis-tricts are discussing as to which is the best course to pursue; the cry of annexation is not a local but a general one. The present Government appears to be a failure, and settlers aro generally of opinion that a mixed Government cannot bo otherwise. The native mind requires education before they can take an efficient part in the conduct of public affairs, and we cannot expect with reason that they should become sufficiently educated in two or three years as for them to throw aside their savage prejudices, and feudal system ot government, and unite in aiding the workings of representative institutions."