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Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 156, 31 December 1853, Page 9

Hydrophobia.—We extract from the Cornwall Chronicle, (Van Diemen's Land) the following editorial remarks upon the supposed introduction of this fearful disease into that colony. "We have noticed, and we presume it has not escaped the observation of other persons who have seen canine madness in Europe, that the dogs which have been affected by this disease lately have shown similar symptoms; the stupor, and occasional starts, and uneasiness in the head, with loss of appetite, which first mark the disease, have been followed by a dry tongue —an evident thirst—yet refusal to drink,—a dread of water in fact; then a twirling round and round as puppies with the distemper will twirl, and kittens in fits; then they start off, running directly ahead, and [into water, if it lies in their progress. We met, in two instances recently, dogs running down Charles-street at their full speed, and into the river, where neither of them made any attempt to swim ; these dogs, in our belief, were mad, and were in a state to infect any person they had bitten with their madness. Surely, the circumstance of a person having been bitten, should operate for the adoption of precautionary measures, now rendered absolutely necessary— if canine madness be in reality introduced into tins country. It is reported to us that a resident in St. Johnstreet died last week from the effect of a bite of a dog ; —he was well in health, and when enjoying a walk was bitten by a strange dog;—certain it is, that he complained of illness almost immediately after he returned to his home, and that in a few days he died. We were not aware of the circumstance until the body was interred, and have not heard from any medical gentlemen of any extraordinary circumstances attending the man's illness or his death, but we cannot avoid feeling that the case might, for the advantage of the living, have merited some public enquiry. According to an old adage,, " prevention is better than cure ;" in the case of dog-madness, the advice is particularly worthy of attention, for that most horrible visitation may be prevented, but cannot be cured. We ) know of no State interference that can be imposed, nor of any indeed that is not suggested by individual care and self-preservation ; and we hope by these remarks to induce our fellowcolonists to believe, that it is not impossible, that dog-maduess and hydrophobia may become known among us by fatal experience." The New World of the South. —At this moment there is forming at our antipodes, a new world, and one differing altogether from the old world, and also from that of America. The emigrants who are peopling Australia do not resemble in any respect those who peopled America and founded the United States. They are not like the sombre, severe, enthusiastic Puritans, who crossed the ocean singing psalms, and who took with them, into the depths of the American forests, the Bible and liberty of conscience-as their only treasures. The new population of Australia is composed of the most varied ele-

ments, the most confused and most disorderly. We see there, by the side of the poorer emigrants, seeking their place on the soil, a numerous class of adventurers, consisting of men of letters witbout employment, lawyers without briefs, doctors without patients, ruined nobles, and indebted spendthrifts. It must, also, be remembered that Australia has long been the penal colony of England, and that amongst the colonists and. inhabitants there are many convicts and sons of convicts, and that, at the news of the discovery - of gold thousand of them have broken bonds ani escaped to the diggings- In the same way as we sometimes see in our towns vagabonds commit a theft solely to obtain a refuge in prison, we have seen men inEngland commit offences, in order that they may be transported to the land of gold, at the expense of the state. Join to these, some shiploads of Chinese, and to them a considerable number of Americans, who arrive with their independent manners and their impatience of all authority, and you may see the sort of society which is forming ; a society having no other motive than the violent pursuits of riches, no other motive than the thirst of gold, no other law than liberty of doing as it thinks good. After all, this is the way in which Romulus and Remus commenced; and, although the carrying off the Sabine women was a somewhat irregular mode of founding a society, yet Rome, nevertheless, became the greatest empire of history.— John Lemoihe, in the Journal dcs Debtits. Romance and Reality.—The Naskville American tells the following good story:—A scene of some interest came off at the Adelphi theatre, during the performance of Lucretia di Borgia. The curtain was up, and the audience were intently gazing upon the poisoning scene, where five individuals were about to "give up the ghost," in consequence of partaking of Syracuse wine. The death-like silence which prevailed was suddenly interrupted by the sobbings of some tender hearted female, whose sympathetic heart was keenly alive to the unfortunate condition of the aforesaid victims. A modest young man began to be interested in discovering the female, whose heart, like his own, was so susceptible to human feeling. While the young Romeo was looking round from the paraquette scanning the countenances of the fair ones, he thought he experienced a sensation as if something was upon his head; he raised his hand, and found to his delight that some lady had accidentally dropped her catnbricpiandkerchief from the boxes directly above. Our young Romeo began to discover that there was an opportunity .to display his gallantry ; he arose, and after privately pressing the cambric to his lips, extended it, delicately secured between the tips of his finger?, for the fair claimant to take possession of. At this moment ahead protruded over the gallery above, and cried in a low but distinct tone, " Chuck it up, massa!" The young man suddenly raised his eyes, and beheld the blackest wench that ever white man looked upon. It is needless to add, that he dropped almost lifeless into his seat, while the favoured few who chanced to witness the ludicrous scene burst iuto an uncontrollable fit of loud laughter. The French axd English Fleets.—-Ex-tract of a letter from a naval officer in the English Fleet, dated Besika Bay:—"We all looked forward with great interest to our meeting the French squadron, on account of the opportunity that it would afford us of comparing with ours the state of their ships as to order and discipline. I think that there is no doubt that they have greatly improved since the war; for the order and discipline of their ships is magnificent, and in outward appearance they completely throw ours into the shade. I cannot say what would be the result if it came to fighting, but there is one thing which is greatly in our favour, viz., that an English ship is the sailor's home, in which he is made as comfortable as possible, whereas the French ships are no better than floating workhouses. Their ineu have no tables, or even stools, and sit down on the deck. Moreover, they have only one hammock between two men, so that when one watch comes below, the other watch turn out of the hammocks to make room ; whereas in our ships each man has a comfortable hummock, with blankets and a mattrass to himself. Our men have four suits-oP-clothes ; theirs no more than three. Our sailors in fact live like men, but theirs like dogs ; and they do nothing all day but scrub, polish, and holystone,"

Rhodes' Bat.—The Foundation Stone of a new and commodious building to be erected in this Bay as a residence for the worthy and much respected proprietor, R. Rhodes, Esq., was laid yesterday the 28th instant. After the ceremony, a most substantial a7id*excellent dinner was provided, consisting of the good old English fare— roast beef, plum pudding, Sec, &c.,to which most ample justice was done by the workpeople in the employment of the abovenamed gentleman, by the residents in the Bay, (Mr. Rhodes' tenants,) their wives and families, also by the Maories: in all about sixty people. After- the loyalty usually displayed upon such occasions, the health of R. Rhodes, Esq. j-witli three times three, was proposed by Mr. Chancy, the contractor and builder, in a very neat epeech, to which the worthy host made a most suitable and feeling reply, more particularly alluding to the welfare of his tenantry, who are cultivating a large plot of f round in Sandy Bay. The next toast was y Mr. Kendall,—"W. and G. Rhodes, Esqrs., brothers," to which Mr. Rhodes likewise returned thanks: the health of Mr. King followed, to which that gentleman, who is highly respected in the Bay, responded. A .variety of excellent songs by Messrs. G. Loder, Thomas, &c, &c, enlivened the evening. Especial attention was claimed by Mr. Rhodes to the building of stone and brick houses as permanent homes, instead of the more temporary wooden buildings so much' in use at the present time; and it is to be hoped that that gentleman's example may be followed. — Communicated.