MISCELLANEOUS.

Kumara Times, Issue 206, 1 June 1877, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Berlin special says that 200,000 German colonists in Southern Russia intend to' emigrate to Brazil and other parts of America, to avoid draft into the army. The emigration has already begun.

The foundation-stone of the new Masonic Hall at Palmerston, was laid on the Queen's Birthday with full Masonic honours, by the D.G.M., J. H. ; Harris, Esq., assisted by the following officers from Dunedin : J. Joyce, Esq., -acting D.D.G.M.; A. H. Burton, Esq., 'D.S.M. jMr Smith, D.J.M.; Mr D.K. I'-Rhodes, director of ceremonies and marshal. Several brethern from Oamaru were also present. .-The. being a holiday, the ceremony was Witnessed by a large number of the inhabitants. A banquet.was Held afterwards, at which a, great number were present—Mr James Duncan, Empire Hotel, being the caterer for the occasion.

A telegram in tbe r Masterton News Btates that the Governors, of Nelson College will require the Rev. J. C. Andrew,; M.H.R., to choose between resigning his'seat in the House and hia mastership. The manager of the Brunner Coal Company has reeeived a,.letter from His Excellency the Governor, ordering 10 tons a month for the use of Government House.

Mr John Hollingshead, of the Gaiety Theatre, in London, has made arrangements with various insurance companies by which the 1 nearest of kin of any person killed in his Theatre will receive the magnificent sum of £10;000. It"is almost worth dying at such a price. According to the " Broad Arrow" " notice has been "issued at Portsmouth for all naval pensioners under fifty-five years of age to hold themselves in readiness to be called up for active service in ease of emergency. Should the seagoing ships have to be recruited from the Coast Guard the pensioners will fill the void in the "Reserve." Britain is clearly prepared for war should it be unavoidable; she has placed a man of war at each end of the Suez Canal, and has ordered officers on leave of absence to return to their regiments.

. The Goulbourn Herald has the following : While Mr L'Estrange will astonish thousands of admirers to day in his aerial trip across Sydney Harbor, there is another young hopeful, preparing for even a more daring and clever performance, viz., that of crossing Sydney Heads on a piano-wire. This person, (we are privately informed), is a resident of Darling street, Balmain. He has, during the past fortnight, given several private performances, two of which consisted in his walking from the training ship Vernon ts Bilocla. off which island she is now moored. Thia person, with his associates, are sanguine of this wonderful and daring attempt, should thev succeed in getting the necessary wire.

"We learn from a sketch of the life of the celebrated acior, Henry Irving, furnished by himself to the Pictorial World, that one of his earliest instructors in elocution was our old friend Mr Hoskins, bo well known on ihe New Zealand stage. It was Mr Hoskins who first brought Mr Irving to the knowledge of Mr Phelps, the manager of Sadlers'Wells. By an order in council it is required that all original telegrams shall be kepb by the general manager at Wellington for two years from their date, after which they shall be either burned or re- I duced to pulp.