MISCELLANEA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 69, 1 May 1852, Page 8

MISCELLANEA.

Wreck of the "Isabella Watson," Emigrant Ship, and Loss of Life.—(From the Argus, March 24).—8y the arrival of the ApLrasia, steamer, yesterday, with the survivors of the above ill-fated vessel, we are put in possession of the details of this melancholy occurrence. It would appear that at dusk on the afternoon of Sunday last, when making the emrance of Port Phillip Heads, she was caught by a sudden squall, missed stays, wheeled round, and struck stern foremost on an isolated ro ;k, carrying away her helm, am': driving in her stern : everything was tried that could be suggested to get her off, but all proving unavailing, between 8 and 9 o'clock the Captain's gig was lowered, and eight persons descended into itf consisting of three sailors, one cabin passenger, Mr. Gray, two steerage passengers, Messrs. Kingsley, and Mr. Paterson's child, wl o providentially reached the shore in safety ; of this circumstance, however, those left behind were left in doubt until their own arrival on Monday. Darkness increasing, and with it the force of the gale and the raging of the sea, it was deemed imprudent to' attempt "any further landing. However, at the earnest entreaties of some of the passengers, the Captain was induced to lower the life-boat, and eleven persons got into her, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Paterson, Mrs. Artulas Derrick, Miss Terry, Mrs. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Langford, Miss Mary Allen, and Mr. and Mrs. Orphett; the Captain standing upon the boat to steady her, and using every exertion to place them in safety, during which period he was three times washed overboard end recovere i, the last time with great difficulty. Just as they had ail taken their places, shocking to relate, the mainmast came down, and striking the boat across the bows, overturned her, and immersed the whole in the water. Two of them, Mr. and Mrs. Paterson, however, were recovered, the remaining nine, we regret to say, perished. The passengers were then collected together in the cuddy, where they remained in awful suspense until daylight of Monday morning, during which period the sea was dash in «■ over her, and the vessel fast settling down. At that hour, Mr. Tobin, the pilot, having divested.himself of his apparel, and fastened a warp round his body, and made fast to the shore, committed himself to the waves, and by dint of extraordinary exertipn, readied the ship in safety. He was soon followed by another, and by the united exertions of these

gallant fellows, the rest of the passengers, as well as the captain and crew, were landed in safety. Immediately after all were landed, the sea becoming calm, the crew commenced saving the moveables belonging to the passemers. The " Isabella Watson" is a ship of 514 tons burthen, belonging to Messrs. Russell and Racburn, of Glasgow, Scotland, and was commanded by Mr. John Fullarton, who during the whole of this dreadful scene, maintained bis presence of mind, and rendered all the consolation in his power to his terrified passengers. They speak in the highest terms of commendation of him, and describe the passage, up to this event, very agreeable.

The Singular Zoological Problem Solved. —The blanket or wrapper swallowed by the boa constructor at the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park, was disgorged by the reptile in the night of Saturday the 9th instant, after beiug five weeks and one day in the animal's body. The watchman on going his rounds that night saw the animal labouring to get rid of the blanket, a part of which protruded from its mouth, and he assisted it in doing so by taking hold of and pulling the blanket gently, for which act of kindness it was thought that the boa seemed grateful, inasmuch as it offered no opposition, and did not strive to injure him. On examination the blanket was found to be much shrunken in size, and it was divested of the greater portion of the loose wool or hairy filaments composing its surface; it was much saturated with moisture, and in many parts covered with a slimy saliva. Originally the blanket measured about five feet by four, but, like all those used in the reptile house, it has been folded in half and sewn together. There seems to be no doubt that the following circumstance led to the gorging of the blanket :— Every Friday afternoon live rabbits or pigeons are given the boas, and these are devoured by them or suffered to remain in the cage, according as these reptiles are hungry or otherwise. On the night of the occurrence in question, tv.-o rabbits had been given to the boa, only one of which was eaten. It is conjectured that when the boa coiled its body and seized the rabbit it must also have taken hold of a portion of the blanket, which it slavered over, as well as the body of the rabbit, and then swallowed the blanket as a continuity of the rabbit. The boa v/as a present to the Zoological Soe'ety; it was brought to England by an officer, who gave it about four months ago ; it is a very fine one, but had not been in a healthy state, and wis just becoming lively and agile when the casualty took place ; it has now an extremely attenuated appearance and drinks frequently, probably of the great absorption of the liquids of its body by the blanket. No blame whatever can attach to any person for neglect or want of attention to the boa, because Mr. Hunt, the head keeper, who was in bed, wben the watchmen went to him, immediately dressed himself and hastened to the reptile house; but bis apartments are on the opposite side and at a considerable distance from the tunnel, and when he reached the place,-the whole of the blanket had disappeared. To guard against a similar occurrence it has been determined to take away the. blankets at the time the reptiles of this class have their food left in the bags.

A Telegraph to the Pacific—Senator Gwin introduced into the United States Senate, on the 17th December last, his bill granting the right of way, to aid in the construction of a line of telegraph from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean.

A Literary Magdalen. —Daily, about noon, the loungers under the " Linden"' at Berlin are startled by the extraordinary appearance of a tall, lanky woman, whose thin limbs are wapped up in a long black robe or coarse cloth. An old crumpled bonnet covers her head, which, continually moving, turns restlessly in all its directions. Her hollow cheeks are flushed with a morbid coppery alow; one of her eyes is immoveable, for it is of glass', but her other eye shines with a feverish brilliancy, and a strange and almost awful smile hovers constantly about her thin lips. This woman moves with an unsteady quick step, and whenever her black mantilla is flung back by the violence of her movements a small rope of hair with a crucifix at the end is plainly seen to bind her wasit. This black ungainly woman is the quondam authoress, Countess Ida. Hahn-Hahn who has turned a Catholic, and is now preparing for a pilgrimage to Rome to crave the Pope's absolution for her literary trespasses.

Alleged Discovery of the perpetual Motion.—The Courier de la Gironde • states that a civil engineer of Bordeaux, named De Vignernon, has discovered the perpetual motion. His theory is sa:d to be to find in a mass of water, at rest, and contained within a certain space, a continual force, able to replace all other moving powers. The above journal declares that this has been efFected, and that the machine invented by M. de Vignernon *orks anmirably. A model' of the machine was to be exposed at Bordeaux for three days, previous to the inventor's departure with it for London.

During the past week, the police have been in formed of three men having been killed by tigers at Sirangoon, Eyo, Chu Cang, and Pyah Lebar ft is estimated that at least one man is killed daily by tigers in this small island. The Government some years ago reduced the reward for killing these ani mals from 100 dollars to 50 dollars, because they seemed to be then pretty well extirpated; but al though they have again increased to an alarmm~» and destructive extent, the Government reward still remains at the minimum. Experience has shown that the reward of 50 dollars for each tiger killed is not sufficient to tempt natives to devote them selves to tiger hunting in Singapore.— Singapore Free Press.

A Prudent and Merciful Man.—A Mr. P W. Median, who has the good fortune to be'the V owner of a farm on the frontier—in order, no doubt V to secure himself in all time coming, from hostile feelings on the part of his coloured neighbours— has issued the following notification in the local journal:—" Notice is hereby given, that from this date any male persons of colour found wanderinoupon my property without a satisfactory pa<s, will decidedly be shot dead—dead ! And may the Lord have mercy on their souls!—P. -W. Mech*n "—- C. T. Mail.

" Wanted, an Honest, Industrious Boy."— We lately sa-v an advertisement headed as above. It conveys to every boy an impressive moral lesson. " An honest, industrious boy" is always wanted. He will be sought for; his services will be always in demand; he will be respected and loved; he t will be spoken of in terms of high commendation ; he will always have a home ; will grow up to be a man of known worth and established character, He will be wanted. The merchant will want him as a salesman or a clerk ; the master mechanic will want him for an apprentice or journeyman ; those with a job to let will want him for a contractor ; clients will want him for a lawyer, patients for a physician, religious congregations for a pastor, parents for a teacher of their children, and the people for an officer. He will be wanted. Townsmen will want him as a citizen, acquaintances as a neighbour, neighbours as a friend, families as a visitor, the world as an acquaintance, nay, girls want him as a beau, and finally, for a husband. An honest, industrious boy! Just think of it boys ; will you answer this description? Can you apply for this situation? Are you sure that you will be wanted^ You may be smart and active, but that does not fill the requisition, are you honest? You may be fiapable, are you industrious? You may be welldressed, and create a favourable impression at first sight, are you both honest and industrious? You may apply for a good situation, are you sure that your friends, teachers, and acquaintances can recommend you for these qualities? Ob, how would you feel, your character not being thus established, on hearing the words "can't employ you!" Nothing else will make up for a lack of these qualities. No readiness or aptness for business will do it. You must be honest and industrious, - must work and labour; then will your "calling an election" for place of profit and trust to make sure.

Gold Mines in Canada.—The discovery of gold in the valley of the River Chaudiere has caused no little excitement during the present summer among the inhabitants of the surrounding country, and numbers have been induced to try their fortunes in searching along the numerous tributaries which flow into either side of that liver. No fewer than five hundred Americans, and many from New Brunswick and Lower Canada, have been " prospecting" the place, but as few have any knowledge of gold washing, disappointment has generally been the result, and nearly all have returned home, .finding it more profitable to pursue their ordinary occupations. There still remain five different companies, some meeting with good success, and others finding sufficient to warrant more extensive preparations: it is an important fact that no one has returned without carrying away specimens of the precious metals, thus showing 2onclusively that every stream throughout a large extent of country contains a deposit of gold, though, which not yet discovered in abundance, may, after thorough exploration, enrich the adventurer, and become an important source of*-' wealth to..the country.— Quebec Times. Happiness, like mocking, is catching. At least none but those who are happy in themselves can make others so. No wit, no understanding, neither . riches nor beauty, can communicate this feeling- » the happy alone can make happy. Love and jop are twins, or born of each other.