MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 278, 19 June 1886, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

German explorers in East Africa have been compelled to make a sudden retreat from the interior of Zanzibar by the adverse climate.

A Frenchman died recently in Salem Massachusetts, while striving to drink twenty glasses of whiskey in immediate succession.

The production of gold and silver in the United States in 1885 showed an increase in each over the preceding year of about $1,000,000. The elevated railroad in New York is about to dispense with £14,000 worth of oil lamps from the cars, and substitute electric lights. An examination of forty-seven female candidates for appointments as telegraph operators recently took place in Melbourne. Fifteen succeeded in passing. The Crown jewels and the priceless rubies found in the palace at Mandalay are to be sent to London to be sold. The most valuable furniture of the palace will go to Government House at Simla.

The late John B. Gough, the temperance orator, left property to the amount of only about £15,000, a very small sum considering, the large sums he earned on the lecture platform ; but it is said that Gough was a man of a generous disposition, who gave away money freely. The latest advices from Berlin state that 011 the occasion of the departure of the Russian Court for the Crimea, the utmost precautions were taken for the safe journey of the Imperial family, the railway lines being guarded by 100,000 men.

A terrible tragedy took place at Belleville, France. A carpenter named Vaubier strangled his mistress, and then shot himself through the heart. The couple agreed to die together, and drew lots which should kill the other. The advance in the value of real estate in New York city this season is remarkable. Even the East side of the town is bringing prices never dreamed of before. It is said that the increase in the value of the Astor Estate is not less than £1,000,000.

The Baroness Burdet-Coutts, Lady Wolseley, and others, have started " scrap " carts, which collect broken food in Belgravia and Mayfair. It is carefully cooked and made into soups, stews, pies, and puddings, and sold at a penny a dish to the poor. A novel sentence was that pronounced by Judge Church of Meadville, Pennsylvania, on two young chaps convicted of riot: "Go to hear Francis Murphy, sign the pledge, keep sober, be industrious and sentence will be suspended if this order is obeyed.

Continuation of News, sec 4th Page.)