Untitled

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1740, 22 June 1886, Page 4

The nationalist of recnt date has the following -.—Here is a fact which the superstitious may account for m connection with the late eruptions. About four weeks ago, on abright starlit night, and on an otherwise cloudless Bky, wo ( with several bthew) witnssed from the Auckland wharf an immense black cloud m the shape of a hand, aud outstretched fingers; the "palm" rested over the south-eastern section of ihe skies, five, fingers stretching out m the eighth of a circle between the points north and west. This was visibleat Bp.m., for at leasthalf an hour. A new vermin plague is threatening devastation of grass and crops m New South Wales. The Coocamuudra Herald is informed that kangaroo nits are proving a devastating pest on ihe Bevthongrnn. They dig up the {{raps by the roots and completely destroy it; and it is raid that hundreds of acres of grass have been thus treated. They are also destructive of the wheat, potato, and turnip crops. It is feared thai* this pest will prove worse than the rabbits, as their natural enemies, the black men and tl>o wild dog, have both become extinct there, and, as a consequence, the rat is rapidly increasing. A last century story of heroism, which has a certain Axistralian in-terest,-lias just been revived by the presentation of an old silver urn to Mr. Campbell, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mr. (Jamphell, is the grand son of the original owner of the urn which was m 1798 presented l>y the Lords of the Admiralty to Malcolm Campbell, Carnaigh, Coll, an island off the Argyllshire coast, Scotland, for his bravery m safely guiding H. M.S. C» 3 ar into Toherraory Bay during a violent storm. While cruising off the Scottish coast, the Ceesar wan driven by streH< of weather down among 1 the western islands. Unsuc essful attempts were made by the ship's crew to effect a landing m their boats. Campbell, seeing the groat peril m which the ship was placed, declared that, friend or foe, he would endeavour to save her, and taking a bout and men he boarded the ship, took charge of her and brought her to a sufe harbour, The hero of the story was the uncleof Captain Alexander Campbell, so lonjr, and so popularly known m connection with the Harhounuaster'B Department m Melbourne, and also of B|fc Archibald Campbell, of Oeeioog.