MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

Inangahua Times, Volume III, Issue 86, 7 March 1877, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

ThfrOtagoGnardian of the 13th Fet lutry contained the following :— By th ijinaarooma arrived, and is now in thi city, a colonist who perhaps more tba any other has exercised an influence ove tne destinies of New Zealand— Mr Thoi Bomeit. Not merely as a most success fnl colonist and a remarkably able mar nor yet as a prominent negotiator in con nection with the transpacific service, i Mr Rnwll kn->wn. But it is generall conceded that in the initiation of th 9 gres coloniging policy of the past few yean popularly associated with other namei and In the initiation of the great constitu tional policy that has shaken the colon to its foundations, Mr Russell has bee; "the power behind the throne." W beiive that in both the one case and tb «ther things have not eventuated accord ing to its original conception; that th reckless extravagance that more thai aught- else has characterised the Vogeliai policy was exotic to bis scheme, and tha bis Abolition was not intended but for th "Worn ont Provincialism of the JNortl Island. We believe that in the one cas and in the other Mr Russell has beei grieved and disappointed, anrl that hat he been in N«w Zealand instead of Eng land during the progress of events ,> affairs would nnt have been in all respect f,' as they are. Mr Russell, whose family jfc «till remains in England, has just arrivec EL via Suez, and is on his way northward IfcfcPuring bis stay in Europe, intimation; ■pave from time to time reached us thai Knot merely in the f larger questions ol concern has he been engaged, but Ajhe has been interesting himself actively MHtn the thousand and one affairs which his long and varied experience of colonial life Itave shown him to be of benefit to New Zealand. Indeed, Mr Russell differs widely from the great mass of those who have amassed immense fortunes in the colonies, in never allowing his affection to wane for the land of his adoption ; and though, like all successful and prominent men, he has plenty of enemies, we venture to say that New Zealand has welcomed back to her shores no more enterprising and useful and valuable colonist. A fnnny occurrence has happened at Charleston. One "St. Michael, a miner, an adept at " playing possum, recently, with a rueful story and a sad countenance, interviewed his creditors, and pleading poverty got each to refrain from pressing for payment of their ac« counts until better times prevailed. Thus comforted be prepared to travel for Melbourne, but 'ere his departure had a farewell bout with some boon companions, and got gloriously tisht. In his moments of oblivion he seems to have fallen among —well not Samaritans— for one eased him of bis possessions, to wit, sundry £5 notes, a bank deposit for £75, and some Melbourne Gas Company scrip, all portable property, wherewith the povertystricken St. Michael proposed travelling. The appropriator of! these unconsidered trifles at once proceeded to realise, and at a certain hotel persnatled the barmoid to give him chancre for the deposit receipt, as for a £1 note. Elated with thJs successful financial stroke he went a little further on his way and e«snyed to negotiate the gas scrip on similar terras, but here a stern myrmidon of the law stepped in and the little came was up. The resalt is that on Monday last the one interesting individual was arrested on a charge of felony and the poor povertystricken digger found arrayed against him a posse of indignant creditors, deter" mined to have their dues out of the spoil, even to the uttermost farthing.— Westport Times. The Maori contributors to Te Wananga eeera to appreciate the notion of chro« nicling remarkable events. Here is an instance, contained in a letter to the Wananga from a native with a very long name :— " To the Editor.—Thisis another word to you. I have a female Dig, which you can notice in your paper for the information of the Maori and European. This pig has had young ones, twelve in all, two of which have been eaten by another pig. I now have ten young pigs. One of these, which was born with the rest, has only three legs ; the fourth leg was not made complete by God. Hence, I think I ought to let this be known. . The fourth leg was placed close, to the tail. It was born in September last, on the 24th day, in the year 1876. I hays not spoken of this before, as I wished to see if it would live. It is living at Kaiiwi now. I think this is the first of sucti which has ever been seen here. But hert is also another thing I wish to be known We have a dog which has two noses, bm only three nostrils ; and a fowl with tw( beads ; and an egg with two yolks. Als< a caterpillar which came from the clouds It bas two bodies, but only one head All these things are from this place only But all have died, and the pig only i alive. These were sent by God. An English paper throws out the sug' gestion that tobacco might be made ■ powerful agent of reform in all prisons i it were given as a reward for industr; and good behavior. It remarks th severity and monotony of 'prison lifei probably the cause of many re-committals because prisoners on being released, ar tempted after prolonged abstinence frot what they regard as luxuries, to plung headlong into dissipation, .'and so ofte relapse into crime. A sheep breeder in the Wairarapa In t boiled down 1160 aheep. The wool m tcoared by "Mr Tyer, of Ngahaurenga, i whose establishment the sheep were boik down. It was »old in London at an averaf price of If Bd. the tallow fetched 41b 6 per ewt. The legs, &0., were sold in We ungton. . Tbe proceeds of all this amounte to tbe nice little sum of £611 8s 2d, or aonn thing near a penny over 10» per head. Weflingtoa butcher saw the sheep on tl itation, and although much in the want mutton, offered only 10 per head for a pick 00.