MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 256, 16 January 1886, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

The Mount Owen reefs have recently been brought prominently before the public on more occasions than one, and there can be no doubt that many besides shareholders are looking in that direction for some relief from the present depression, as, if the country proves as auriferous as many believe it to be, there will before the present year has expired be a considerable population located there. What the public are anxious to obtain is some definite information relative to the reefs from one in whose judgment implicit trust can be placed Such an one there is a present in Nelson in the G-overnment service, and if it could be arranged for him to pay a visit to the reels and report upon them, a rea 1 ben* fit would be conferred upon the place. The gentleman we refer to is one who was regarded as the highest authority upon quartz reefs at the Thames, where, as well as in Australia before coming to New Zealand, he had very con* siderable experience, and his opinion was always regarded both by judges and litigacts as thoroughly reliable. Such an examination of the district as is wanted would not necessitate a longer absence from his duties than a week at the most, and we trust that the G-overnment may be inductd to grant him leave for that time His report would be simply invaluable, and would be just the sort of guide that many who are disposed to speculate are just now sadly in need of.— Nelson Evening Mail, January 7th. The new system of payment to contractors under the Public Works Acts came into force after the first c f the coming year. At present there is an amount of circumlocution which is very vexatious, as great delay is always experienced in getting accounts passed through the Treasury and Audit department. Under the new system the District Engineers will audit and pay accounts at Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland. It is said that under the new sysiem a saving of 10 per cent, will be made in departmental expenditure. Donald Dinnie, the Scottish athlete, has taken a public house in Melbourne. Donald expects to do a strictly cash trade, and the probability is that the expectation will be realised. It doesn't do to fool with •athletie landlords. The Waimate railway, which is now 'the property of the colony, is probably the sleepiest railway in the world. During the period it was owned by the Waimate Kail way Company, says a contemporary, two trains a week rattled over its rusty rails, and during the last sixteen weeks of the Company's regime the gross earnings were £llO, and the working expenses £126. In Queensland if a telegraph opera* tor makes any mistakes in the checks he returns to the bead office, he is fined by the despatch of a telegraphic message, made l; collect," apprising him of his error, on receipt of which he must pay the price of the missive into his own 1 ill. A well-known commercial traveller, with a genius for statistics, has kept the following record of his last quarter's operations, and has banded it to us (Marlborough Express) for publicat'on. Travelled 3864 miles, carried 5 trunks, shown goods 180 times, sold goods 63 times, been asked the news 5061 times, told the news 2243 times, lied about it 2160 times, didn't know 691 limes, been asked to drink 1884 times, drank 1884 times, changed politics 102 times, daily allowance by the firm, 28s, average ex penditure 25 *, clear profit 3s. cash on hand 10s 6d, been to church once, quarrelled with housemaids daily, threatened the cooks very often. Thin is a record which will " take a lot of beating." In South Australia there is a town called Eurelia, pronounced lately Yooreelya,originally Toora ? iar. '• This is Turner's Flat isn't it ?" said a stranger, as he entered the township, to a man who was working on the road. M Yooraliar," laconically replied a metal spreader. " What!" eiaculated the traveller sharply. " Yooraliar " " Oh, I am, ami?" eaid the stranger dismounting " Now then come on here." "What's the double bank's the motter with you?" queried the navvy, " the goiy township is named Yooraliar. I aiu't got "tiuie tc fight about it. I've had two or three ups and downers over the sanguinary place already. Go and punch the Town Council —they're meeting to-day." The smallest punishment under the law of India for a second conviction for larceny is imprisonment for life The Judge of the High Court, Madras, so sentenced a native for stealing to the value of five shillings. He said he had no power to pass a less sentence.