MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 260, 13 February 1886, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

A machine for unking runs ofvarn, wool, or any kind of cast-off clothing or clippings, has been brought out recently. To make a rug a foundation is first formed of some stripped fabric, on when the material or waste cloth is sewn bv the machine, which is of steel, and is capable of working a lU4 in a few hours. L >rd Palmerston once remarked that the drawbacks and objectnns to war are somewhat mitigated by tin fact that it teaches geography to persons who otherwise wou d neve» learn it.

The enormous sum of £74,600,000 has been expended in rebuilding and embellishing Paris since the year 1852. The new City TTall cost £12,000,000, and £8,000,000 has been expended in 'our parks. The World says that owing to the Paradox scratching, Sir Fred Johnstone and Lord Alington, who had jointly proposed and secondel Mr Clorts for the Turf Club, have withdrawn their nane from the paper. A ghost had great success in a certain neighborhood at Derby, England, recently, until it was arrested, and a matter-of-fact magistrate con fixated the sheet and fined the owner for carrying concealed deadly weapons An*ong the more serious results of the pranks of the spirit—a siiteen r year* old boy—was the critical illness of an old lady whom he scared nearly out of her wits

Bishop Kaimondi, of Hong Kong, HKsertn that the native christians in the Chinese Empire who have been converted by Koman Catholic missionaries number 545 000 Those converted by Protestant missionaries would probably be mucn smaller in number, because the latter have not been in the field so long as the Romm Catholics, they are not so numerous, and they are understood to be more Ciuitiouf in satisfying themselves of the reality of the conversion before finally including a native among their converts

Lord Carrington's family name is, or was, " Smith." T,he first gentleman of that name who is recorded as ihe possessor of freehold property was distinguished from other members of an inconveniently large section of the community by the Christian name of ** John," and we learn John Smith owned land in the parish of Tetheby, rear Nottingham, in 1623 Our future G-overnor is not suscepiible on this name of Smith, and can both' take and make a joke on the subject as well as another

Many of our readers are doubtless aware that there are organisations at Home for rescuing the destitute and neglected children thronging the streets of the large cities from the life of misery and degradation that apparently awaits them. Prominent among the promoters of this good work were the late Lords Cairns and Shaftesbury, and Dr Bernado, Mr Win Fowler, M.P, and others, are still as energetic in it as ever. The former edits a monthly record ot these missions, which isentit'ed "Night and Day," and it is at all times interesting to read about the work done in such a good cause. The November number is just to hand, and contains among other things a full report of the last annual nieeting of the ° Homes " associated with Dr. Btrnado's name'

" Daniel in the Den of Lions," that fine picture by Rubens, has just been sent bark to Hamilton Palace, and again occupies the place where it had hung for so many years previous to its removal for the pale. This picture wan sold to Mr BeckeH-Den» i-on for 4900 guineas, and when his collections were disposed it was re purchased for the Duke of Hamilton for 2300 guineas. The picture and frame were carefully retouched and renovated when in Mr Beckett.Den ison's possession, so that both have been considerably benefited' by their temporary change of ownership. The salaries of the British Cabinet are—Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Lord of the Treasury, £lO 000; Chancellor of the Exchequer, £5,000; Lord High Chancellor, £10,000; Lord Lieutenant oi Ireland, £20,000 ; Lord President of the Frivy Council, £4000; Secretary of India, £5000; Firs' Lord of the Admirality,£44oo; Lord Chan cellor of Ireland, £6000; President of the Board of Trade, £2OOO The reservoirs of earth oil in Burmah, says the ' Spectator," rival those of Pernsy'variia or Batoum, and there Are large fields of coal ready for work ing. Gold is believed to ex ; st ii la ge quantities; Burmah is the native land of the ruby, the sapphire, and the emtrald, which have been exported for generation* with little effect on the supply. The country commands the only easy rout»s into Western China, and it is not only probable, but certain, that under British rule Bhamo would

becom? the greatest inland emporium in A*ia, rivalling Bombay itself as a receiving warehouse tor the trade of two great peoples. The depreciation in land has resulted in diminishing the revenue of Guv's Hospital, the wealthiest endowment ir» England, by £lO 000 a year, aud a small payment is now exacted Irom those occupants of beds who are iu a posit/on to give it. The Bible contains 3.503,339 letter*, SIO,O9 7 word*. 31.173 verses, 118 i chapters and 0(3 bmks The 27th chapter of Kara contains the alphabet. The 10 h chapter of the Second Hook o! K'njs and the 37th chapter of Isaih are alike The first mm recorded at> being buried in a coffin was Joseph—50th chapter of Genesis, 2oth verse. The expression of the eyes o' persons killed by violence iti considered an important matter in criminal jurisprudence, but its value has been greatly lessened by reason o p its evanescent nature. A French scientist has found a means of restoring the life- ike expression. It consists in applying a few drops of gb cerine aud water to the cornea. How is this for hijjh ? Some months since the Uajah Iftdkar, while on a visit to Lord Duffenn, saw his lordship going through the process of cutting his newspapers and reviews The Indian potentate asked for the ivory paper-knife, promising another in return The prince returned recently to the Government House, taking with him a young elephant The animal had had its tusks shaped and sharpened, and between the Rajah's two visits to Calcutta had undergone a training in secretarial work. When led into Lord Duffenn's presence, it took up some newspapers with its trunk, cut them, and placed them on a carpet in an orderly fashion.