Gleanings.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XII, Issue 1, 5 January 1892, Page 4

Gleanings.

At last the cause of the influenza epidemic has been discovered, at least, so says the Pelorus Guardian. This year a general census was taken for the first time in history, and an attempt was made to have it taken at the same time throughout all countries. At first sight it may not be perceived that there is any connection between the census and la grippe. But a little reflection will remind the reader that in days of old the Jews suffered from a pestilence which raged amongst the people in consequence of King David having had them numbered. The influenza epidemic is certainly of a pestilent character, and is as universal as /the census was. The next thing to discover is an effective preventive Or remedy. 'there is a young woman in Dunedin on the eve of marrying an elderly man, and the son of the old gentleman will very shortly be united to the lady’s sister. There’s a how-d’-you-do !” Doctor Schnabel, an expert from Germany, who is experimenting at Broken Hill, N. S. Wales, has discovered a means of treatment of the low grade sulphides by which a new leaso of life will be give's to all the mines. By the doctor’s process ore Carrying only 12oz of silver to the ton can be dealt with profitably. The royal standard of Persia is an apron. Stout old Goa, the Persian blacksmith, raised a revolt which proved successful, and his leathern apron, covered with jewels, is still born at the van of the Persian armies.

Queen Pomare, the copper coloured monarch of Tahiti, became an inveterate gambler, and by piercing the cards of her opponents with a pin according to the value of each card, was enabled for a time to considerably augment her privy purse. Her Majesty's triumph lasted nntil a Yankee sea captain-, discovering the trick, marked her pack of cards while she was absent, and increased all the marks on those she had from him to play with. The Queen lost £.40, and, what was worse, her royal cloak, which she in desperation staked on a card. She gambled no more.

Certainly the best medicine Known is Sandeß and Sons’ Eucalypti Extracts Test tis eminently powerful effects in coughs.colds, influenza ; the reliefisinstantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of all kinds, be thej’ wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy—no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, swellings, Sc.: diarrhoea, dysentry, diseases of tire kidneys and urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the glolre. patronised by His Majesty the King of I taly ; crowned with medal anddiplotnat International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article and resets all others

Two tailor-made dresses imported from Paris by Mrs Astor, wife of the New York mi.lionaire, were •declared as worth £'2o. The Custom House authorities decided that there was an umier-valuation, and put. up th-e. dresses at auction, when £l2B was bid for one and £152 for tire other. By Ragimunde's win in the Cesarewitch Home breeders and racing men have had their eyes opened to the fact that they have in their midst a good but neglected stud horse in bis sire Petronel, who is the onlj’ living’ son of

the now defunct famous old Musket in England. ‘ Ragimunde ’ (says the Sportsman) is not only a thorough stayer, but can be pulled out to run any number of times Without detriment—a game, hardy horse, as sound as a bell, without any lumber to trouble him. Ragimunde does, in point of fact, con-, tain the qualities of stamina, endurance* and gameness Which are so dreadfully rare among horses of today, and We know that he does not get these qualities from any mere chance but as the direct descendant of the stout Musket, who, by bis stock, revolutionised the Australian turf.’

His Excellency the Governor paid a visit to the Maori Pah at Kaiapoi re* centlv. Of course there Was a lot of speechifying, the Governor doing the lion s share in response to addresses presented to him, and speeches made at the conventional luncheon. At this latter Lord Onslow scored well. He said :

It had been his privilege to assist at several entertainments such as this. On one occasion he had been given a feast in the true Maori style, but he could safely say that he had experienced nothing more hospitable or cordial than the reception given to him by the Maoris of Kaiapoi. (Applause.) Seeing that Mr Taiaroa a member of that body which had not of late met man y complaints (laughter) and Mr Pratt, who belonged to that part of the Legislature which had been complimented skyhigh (renewed laughter), were present, he looked upon the reception, not only aS being on the part of the Maoris of Kaiapoi, but on that of the whole of the Native race in the South Island. Subsequently the toast of “ The Honorable Hui, the future Governor of New Zealand ” was proposed, but in doing so the proposer, While endorsing the wish that some day the yonng gentleman might be called to rule over them, said he tonld not help expressing the hope that the time would come when their Governor would be selected from amongst the men of the Colony. His Excellency, in responding, said that at one time it was bis privilege to respond to the toast of the ladies; afterwards to the health of Lady Onslow, but he never thought that it would fall to his lot to respond to the health of a boy only a little over a year old. (Laughter). Referring to the remarks of the proposer of the toast, he hoped the time would never came whea the people of the Colony wished iheir country to be anything but part of the great'Empire of Great Britain. (Loud applause.) The Rev Mr Mutu, on the occasion under notice, said, in referring to the naming of ihe Governor's little son, that Huia Was the name of a bird ; the word also meant nutting people together. He hoped the Europeans and Maoris would be “ Huia.”