MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 2, 13 April 1877, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

The Otago Guardian of a recnt date setys i—"' A wee for ten miles between a horse and a locomotive is something rather unusual. The passengers by afternoon train from Port Chalmers had the pleasure of witnessing snch an erent. As the train left the Port Chalmers Pier, a rider, wejl mounted on a highly meM'fd steed, was seen dashing through the township. As $unedin was approached the frequent stoppages enabled him to redeem lost ground, and also to give his horse an occasional spell. As Ravens* bourne was reached, tha utmost interest in the result of the race began to be mam* feated by the passenger^, many of them encoiragiug the rider in bis self-imposed task. Crossing Pelicbet Bay he was alongajde the train,, and as the pickets had to be collected at the station there, he most nave reached the city some minutes be|pte the train's arrival."

Speaking of the Fame Islands, the Newcastle Chronicle says :—" An important work—the erection of fog signals —has been for some months in tbe course of erection at the Longstone, the scene of , the famous deed of Grace Darling. The Messrs Armstrong, of Elnwick, bave the contract for the work ; and by some misfortune the men on their return from home got to the island without their provisions, which were to follow them immediately, but tbe continuous storms coming on it was impossible to reach tbe rocky island, and the men were reduced to the greatest straits for want of food. The flag signals for flesh, flour, and water vrere bung out in vain. For a whole week they had to subsist upon three small " ham shanks," with hardly any meat upon tbem. One of tbe men, when attempting to shoot a Norwegian crow, nearly lost his life, tbe rijn of water among the rocks being so sudden and violent. At high water it would have been fatal to attempt to go beyond the rampart that surrounded the lighthouse, for the boiling surf was continually dashing over it. The workmen dried their tea leaves and smoked them for tobacco."