News of the Day.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1575, 12 May 1874, Page 213

News of the Day.

Aerolite. The fall of an aerolite of immense size is reported as having taken place in Hobson's Bay, on April 2. Mr Charles Brown, of Emerald-hill, states that, accompanied by some friends, he proceeded on a fishing excursion early in the afternoon. The weather at the time was somewhat boisterous, and the sky overcast, with occasional squalls corning up from the south. As the boat reached a spot some little distance from No. 2 white buoy, Mr Charles Brown heard a hissing noise, and, turning round in the direction from which the sound proceeded, he observed what seemed like a large boulder falling some twenty yards distant from the boat. Judging from the splash made by the falling body, it was considered that it would have weighed several 'tons. A squall was passing over the Bay when the phenomenon was observed. Deep Mining. Writing of the "Bright Smile" claim, which is now engaged in operations 281 feet below the surface, the Grayhamstown Star says :—lf this reef is a new lode—which it most likely is—the Bright Smile have a considerable addition to the value of their property. The fact of good gold being found on the Thames 281 feet below the surface is a pretty significant item in the mining world not only to the Thames but to the colony. Sir Roderick Murchison, one of England's best geologists, for years contended that gold did not go down to any considerable depth. We have in the Bright Smile another positive contradiction to this theory, which should spur our own folk to further efforts in trying to find it. What if (and some folk think much ' if' about it) Thames mining has only been as yet mere surface scratching. The Thames in such a case would not only continue prosperous, but would from its mining wealth be thought a very great deal more of by the other Provinces than is done at present." Operations in. this claim are at present delayed by influx of water, which is being removed by powerful pumping machinery. Tasmanian Prosperity. In consequence of the low rate of discount in Tasmania, bills are now sent across the Straits from Victoria to the Tasmanian banks, which negoeiateithem two per cent, under the Melbourne rate. Money is abundant, and hence the comparative low rates of interest ruling here. Of the public debt of £1,455,900, the sum of £585,700 has been raised, and is payable in the islands, besides Treasury bills to the extent of £30,000. The Customs revenue for the first quarter amounted to £51,000, exceeding last year's returns by £9,000. The railway rate for 1873 has been paid up. The sales of Crown lands at Hobart Town realized £15,1G0, and at Launceston £6,600. This is considered highly satisfactory. A movement is on foot to establish steam communication between Launceston and Sydney. A Poor Player. The Goulburn Herald (New South Wales) of April 1, relates that" an amusing contretemps occurred on Saturday night on the stage of the Victoria Theatre, during the representation of Watt Phillips's "Poor Strollers." One of the dramatis persona was a donkey which had not attended rehearsal, and introduced in consequence several incidents not in the bill. He was not induced to make his entree without a good deal of persuasion, and some of those peculiar twistings of the tail which are popularly supposed to facilitate or hasten the progress of quadrupeds; but once he got on the stage he was evidently so well satisfied with himself that he determined not to quit his vantage ground. It was more necessary that ho should make a speedy exit from the fact that he kicked the jeune premier violently in the .stomach during the delivery of a sentimental speech, and causing much alarm by reaching for any of the company who came within reach of a pair of very active hind legs. The situation was perplexing ; the stubborn performer would not be persuaded to make his bow and retire by right or left, upper, or any entrance, but defied the management, and was only, after many futile endeavors to dislodge him, prevailed upon to take his conge by being forcibly carried off by three lusty members of the corps dramatique." A Second Babel. • < • The latest Yankee notion is an iron tower, to celebrate the centenary of American independence, and to be 1000 feet in height, or double the height of the highest building in the world—the spire of Cologne Cathedral. Plans and engravings have already been published by the Scientific American. The tower is to be circular, 150 feet in diameter at the base, and 30 feet at the top. Access to the sminit is to be given by four elevators and a spiral staircase. The elevators are to ascend in three minutes, and descend in five. The proposed site is in Fairmont, Phildelphia. It is calculated that tho erection of the building will occupy one year, that its cost will be one million dollars, and that it will make a splendid I observatory when completed.

Tin in Tasmania. The tin mines of Mount Bischoff are reported upon very favorably. An experienced tin miner says that the yield of the Mount Bischoff district is not unlikelyto prove sufficient to sensibly lessen the price of tin all over the world. The Mount Bischoff Company, working with the rudest and simplest of appliances, washes from six to eight tons per week, employing about twenty men. Of this sixty per cent, is pure tin. The works are in the south-west corner of the island, and about fifty miles from Emu Bay—a convenient shipping place. Railways are likely to bo freely introduced into China. Prince Hohenlohe has been appointed German Ambassador at Paris. The Italian Parliament has voted £79,000,000 for fortifications. The population of Japan has been taken, and the result shows 30,000,000 souls. Major Ropata, accompanied the Hon. the Defence Minister on his visit to Sydney. The Landowners of Louisiana are beginning to sell their plantations in small lots to the negroes. An enormous mushroom, 3 feet in circumference, and over 21bs weight, has been found at Reedy creek (Victoria.) An unclaimed consignment of fifty-three boxes of tea, landed in Victoria in 1870, has been found to consist of a little tea and a great deal of iron filings and sand. Mr James Murray has written a masterly and exhaustive treatise on the dialects of the south of Scotland, which the London Philological Society has printed, Asaitic cholera is raging at Buonos Ayres, causing from 30 to 40 deaths per day. Fifty thousand persons, including President Sarmiento, had fled the city. Dr Bcke reports the discovery, near the Gulf of Akaba, of the true Mount Sinai, with the remains of sacrificed animals on the summit, and Sinaitic inscriptions lower down. The Poverty Bay Herald learns on good authority that a Southern capitalist is in treaty for the Pipiwhakao bush on the banks of the Big River, adjoining the Patutahi Block. An herbalist of the name of Collson, and who claims the title of Doctor, has been apprehended at Onehunga, on a charge of stealing a valuable gold watch, the property of Dr. Zinxar, resident there. The revenue of South Australia for the quarter ending March amounted to £2G6.000, inclding £IOI,OOO from Customed, £58,000 from land sales, £40,000 from railways, £IB,OOO from postal and telegraphs. Great damage has been done on the Irish coast and elsewhere by a gale in the Atlantic, and simultaneously high tides in the Baltic have inundated the shore and the easterly coast of Schleswig-Holstein, and committed great ravages. Peter Pindar's manuscripts are to be sold at auction, in London. They include ballads, songs, tales, fables, dialogues, proverbs, and fragments of that prolific humorist and poet of the days of George the Third, whose real name was Dr John Wolcot. Great distress prevails in Vienna, where 30,000 workmen are without employment. The distress extends throughout Moravia, Silesia, and Bohemia. In the latter province falling fever exists. The Government have been memorialized for help, and some public works will be pushed forward. The German Crown Prince has definitely signified to the United Freemason lodges of Germany, of which he is Grand Master, his long-expected resolution to resign the honorable post, his duties to the State having so greatly multiplied since his father's illness as to take up his time completely and leave no leisure for freemasonry. Sole-fish are now being supplied in large numbers, and of fine size, in the Dunedin fish-market.. By the enterprise of Captain John McLean and others, in furnishing a well-fitted fishing cutter, it was demonstrated some years ago that these fish were abundant along the Otago shores, and they have become a stock article in the local market. Legal expressions must not be taken too literally. So, according to the Poverty Bay Standard, a Gisborne plaintiff recently discovered. "It is useless, as the Court will perceive," said the learned counsel for the defendant, "to proceed further with this case. The plaintiff is out of Court." " Indeed he isn't; I'm here," replied the individual referred to, rising from his seat ; while the Court Avas convulsed with merriment. A piece of cool assurance is reported by a AVestland paper. A man named Knopp sued a watchmaker for the value of a watch left with him for repairs, and detained till payment should be made. The R.M.,MrFitzgerald, who knew nothing of the case, was surprised at receiving a summons to give evidence in the matter, and on asking the reason, was coolly informed by Knopp that it was to prevent him (the magistrate) sitting in the case ! On finding that the magistrate did sit, despite the subpoena, ho requested an adjournment. The magistrate's only mistake, the Greymouth Star says, was in not committing Mr Knopp there and then for contempt. A curious affair is at this time pending before the Paris Court of Appeal. In 1851, a watchmaker of Breda, in Holland, named Nundorff, put forward a claim to be a son of Louis XVII, who he alleged had not died at the Temple, as supposed, and demanded to be reinstated in his litles and fortune. The Cival Court of Paris then dismissed a suit for ejectment brought against the Court de Chambord; but as the claimant now declares that he has discoverered some fresh papers which he believes will substantiate his rights, he has brought an appeal against the former judgment. M. Jules Favre is counsel for the pretender. The case was adjourned for a week.